Do you socialize as poorly online as you do in real life?

[awkwardamanda]

Sometimes. I'd prefer to communicate via messengers, however my friends are not the same way. I'd talk to them more often if they'd come online more. I hate talking on the phone, but I'll text them sometimes. Online, I'm fine in forums. There's some sense of anonymity there. But when I've chatted individually with people I've met online, yeah, sometimes I still suck at conversation. It's nice to have that buffer of the internet. It gives you more time to think. Often I'm okay when I first talk to somebody, and then we'll only end up talking a handful of times. I've met a few people who I happen to get along with well and can talk to often, but with most people I think I just run out of things to say. I hate when you just hit a wall in the conversation and don't know what to say next. Either it's something I don't know how to respond to, or the topic is pretty much said and done with and I don't know how to change the subject. Then there's an awkward lull, and I just hope the other person can keep the conversation going. Sometimes I'll try too hard to keep talking but it comes across wrong and then it's awkward and the chat just dies. And when it comes to starting conversations, I'm just as bad online for sure. I can start a conversation with someone I'm comfortable with, but with someone I talk to less often, its hard. Sometimes I'll want to, but I'll sit and fret over it for a while, and often end up just not bothering. It's easier if I have something in particular I want to say, but even then, sometimes it's not. If I just want to chat for the sake of chatting, then it's hard to just say hi, because I worry I won't end up finding anything to talk about. Sometimes that happens. The conversation goes stale after a few lines. Then I just feel awkward. And since emotions don't tend to translate well online, I don't always know if the other person can tell if the conversation feels awkward, or if it's just me. And then I end up avoiding talking to people after an awkward moment. I hope they'll start the conversation next time, and maybe they will after a while, maybe they won't. And the longer I put off talking to them again, the harder it gets. Then I never know what these people actually think of me. I wonder if they think I'm unfriendly, or if they're just kinda neutral, or maybe they're shy and would like to still chat but don't know how either. I dunno.::

 

[stephen]

I find forums suit me pretty well. I have time to formulate my thoughts before I put them out there. Sometimes I ruminate afterwards and stress myself out about what I've posted but mostly I leave it once I post. I think sometimes in live conversations where there are a number of people talking I will have something to say but I never seem to find the break in conversation to say it. If I really force myself to talk often I will end up interrupting someone else and then I feel even more clumsy and stupid which puts me off expressing myself clearly. Well I'm sure people know how it goes.

 

[WorldEndsWithMe]

No, I'm way better at talking online than in real life. In real life, I'm really quiet and shy and don't say much to anyone I don't know really well.
Online, I can say a lot more, but I still do get anxiety over what I post, but it's not as bad, since I'm more anonymous.

 

[secretly awesome]

I was too shy to socialize online until i was 30!! Nevertheless I am better socially online!

 

[madness_lover]

I very rarely chat online with people I don't know in real life. Sometimes it gets awkward but most of the time I socialize just fine. Forum boards are certainly easier though.

 

[boosh]

yes, i get anxious to go on facebook or msn and always set my status to appear offline. i wish i could get out of this rut. i haven't talked to someone i actually know online for ages. i only go on forums because i don't know anyone personally

 

[Social_Monstrosity]

With the right person, I can socialize online just fine.

ONLY through typing though, if I go webcam to webcam I freak out.

 

[Tiercel]

I'm really about as good at socializing online as I am in real life. Too often I just say or type something just to get it out there. I still always feel like nobody really pays me any mind, but at least I make the effort now. And I'm getting better at not worrying if something I type doesn't get any responses; instead of thinking "did I say something wrong?" it's now "oh well."

But I'm still terrible at communicating with women. Especially the pretty ones. I always feel my comments go something like: open mouth, insert foot.

And I've always sucked at making smalltalk. And asking people questions. I just figure that if they want to tell me, they'll tell me without my prompting. But that just usually makes things awkward and silent.

 

[mary116]

yes but i don't try much

 

[Pookah]

Easier to be articulate online.

 

[jaypee06]

for me, yes

 

[Danfalc]

Sometimes I think I do socialize poorly,but sometimes I seem to click with people and really get on so maybe I cant be that bad idk.

 

[BlueDays]

..................

 

[Tiercel]

I was giving this more thought while watching the Flyers game tonight. In person I usually just sound like everybody else. I use common phrases, a simpler vocabulary, and tend to say only what needs to be said. I also tend to use more profanity, and use a more liberal dose of the kinds of humor that would probably get me a day's ban on here. ::

Online, to be blunt, I tend to ramble. Especially when writing more personal messages (PMs, email, etc.) and with people I know better than just as a random online acquaintance. Sometimes I think I probably come across as boring, as I often display a tendency towards a larger and more varied vocabulary, along with a penchant for wordiness. Instead of saying I had a good day, I'm more apt to inform you that my experiences during daylight hours were most delightful.

So I guess I have two different personalities. Short, direct Luke and longwinded, dry Luke. Unfortunately, neither one has yet built a lightsaber.

 

[Sorta]

I find forums very difficult. There are so many threads I want to respond to but don't. I'll go through what I would say or even type it out and then erase it all. I think it mostly has to do with the permanence of the words on a forum.

 

[Lorraine Manca]

yes, social interaction online is just as difficult. they are not as tangible and solid as knowing people. people can use you just to ease their boredom until they find something else more entertaining and not think of you as real. its much harder to trust people online than in life for good reason. to me it is just as intimidating and causes me just as much anxiety and stress to open up my depression prone, over-emotional self to people's whims.

 

[dooby-duck]

The only socialising I do online is posting on here. It was hard at first but has got a lot easier, although I still haven't used the chat features.

 

[AGlife]

It's a bit easier because i don't see the persons reaction or don't have to suffer from an awkward silence, but still just a bit.

 

[Tmeister]

Yes i do..

 

[spect01]

im way more talkative online.