Social Perception and the Internet

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 3:53 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
 - I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it

Is that why your drunk?

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 3:58 am

Originally posted by Vehemence:
Is that why your drunk?

I'm not drunk actually, I'm just drifting with hangovers

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:02 am

Originally posted by Xandax:
I'm not drunk actually, I'm just drifting with hangovers

*clap clap clap*

Very good

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:21 am

Hmm... Mid morning Veh has dissappeared, and been replaced by Spam Veh... Interesting...

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:26 am

Originally posted by Aegis:
Hmm... Mid morning Veh has dissappeared, and been replaced by Spam Veh... Interesting...

As the day progresses, my concentration diminishes so, spam gets the better of me

Sailor Saturn · Post by **Sailor Saturn** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:28 am

About the age difference thingy:

I personally prefer to talk to and discuss things with older people, for a couple of reasons.

1.) They tend to have more knowledge in general.
2.) When I'm around those who are younger than me, I'm usually either spending too much time flirting or babysitting(depending on exact age

).

One problem thoug with spending time around older people irl is that "Older people usually don't like it when someone younger than them is smarter than them," a problem I've had to deal with all my life, and the "children should be seen and not heard" mentality. And, when I do try to start up a discussion-type thingy such as the type of things we're discussing here, those younger than me seem to lose interest quite fast.

Here, however, there are people like fable and C Elegans. Fairly intelligent people who are older than me that, from what I've seen so far, aren't intellectually biased against those who are younger than them. It may be that online they subcounciously imagine that they are chatting with people their own age in such things or it may be that they act the same way in such situations irl as they do online; I don't know which, but I'd bet that it's the latter.

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:36 am

The way I see it, In SYM there are several different classes of people:

Intellects: These sort of people are the ones who are informative, always have something important to say, and have amassed a great amount of knowledge in their life, and feel like sharing with the rest of us. This is probably the smallest catagoery (Keep in mind, some people fit into multiple catagoeries). In this one, it's people like C Elegans, and Fable.

Opinionated: These people have extremly strong veiws on life and it's going ons. They well learned, and are quite adept at making statments and gathering attention to certain topics that have a strong ethic value, or social value. People in this, are again, Fable, C Elegans, Myself, Vehemence (at times) SS, and Mr. Sleep.

Socialists: First, I don't mean communists. These are the people who read all the threads, do most of the lurking, and post when it tickles their fancy. They usually spam their post, but it is spam that is on topic. These people don't appear very often, but they are always around. SOme people in here are Mr. Snow, Eminem, Nippy, and so forth. This is by far the biggest group of people here.

Spammers: They are always around, and usually posting a mile a minute. They usually have nothing really important to say, but every now and then it happens. People in here ar Vehemence, Georgi, Gwal and myself sometimes.

Those are a few of the social aspects of SYM which make it unique and diverse.

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:41 am

So your saying I'm an Opinionated Spammer?

That's a nasty combination

Cooooool

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Vehemence ]

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 5:37 am

I personally act exactly the same here as i do IRL.

I have conversations with complete strangers about the Weather or whatever, i am charming to waitresses, i flirt a little as well

.

Don't get me wrong though i do not confuse the two, i know where my life begins and Gamebanshee stops.

I like to think that we come here for mostly fun. That we chat about things that matter to us.

But whatever i was going to say has been summed up excellently by SS and Veh so i am off to do what i love best...... post insightful and witty posts........oh wait no i am confusing my self with someone else, i meant spam

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 6:05 am

@Aegis - so where do I fit in then? Go on! - I can take it...

(Ysh awaits new category

)

I will answer to this - I am doing quite a bit of cut and pasting so I may take some time...

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 6:51 am

Posted by SS -

Yes, I was a pokemaniac then, though not near as much of one now

Go on! test me!

I have a six year old Pokemaniac...

Posted by SS -

Also, those of us who spend most our time online at places like SYM are more cultured than a lot of people who spend their entire life in the "real" world

I am not sure I would have chosen the word cultured. I do not think you become more refined by having access to the internet, I think if you take the 250 million or so people that have access to the net as a community - you will find there is a balance of all types, as there is in real life...cultured/uncultered/racist/passivist/witty/serious...I could go on.

Posted by Vehemence -

I agree in the sense that it eliminates the normal discriminatory things such as race, colour of skin, gender, etc and forces people to look at what your saying.

I agree to a point. You are also given the option to speed read if a conversation is not particularly interesting...you cannot speed listen down the pub, and you cannot opt out of taking part in a conversation down the pub without appearing rude

Posted by SS -

I don't quite agree with the technology poor thing, though. If someone really wanted a computer and internet access, it's possible to get

Yes but for some it would involve getting into debt if they cannot afford to buy cash, and for others it may not be physically possible. Some countries do not even have a telephone line or a tv in every house never mind PCs and internet access...

Posted by SS -

My English Composition class is done on computer, thus "basic typing skills" are necessary. The professor mentioned this at the beginning of the first class and said that if any of us didn't have that, it would be best to drop the class and sign up for one of the Eng Comp classes that isn't done on computer.

It is a real shame if people are being unable to study a course of their choice just because they do not have access to a PC. I trust the alternative course studied the same material?

Posted by Georgi -

Admittedly, not all chatrooms are like SYM (ie. not full of 13 year old boys wanting to cyber ) but the variety of SYM - the different people who come here, and the breadth of topics discussed - is excellent. I certainly learn a lot here

That is what I find so great about this forum.

Posted by Vehemence -

Branching back to the first issue, how does everyone feel with the comparison made between the internet and Television. Would it be more fair to perhaps compare it to the telephone in it's use, since it is not only a passive media, but an interactive social medium?

The only comparison that could be made between internet & tv is sitting and looking at a screen, and maybe the lack of spoken conversation. But one is passive and one is interactive. You cannot really compare it to a telephone either, the conversation is rarely as fluent, it confuses the listener to consistently jump between topics - you cannot follow numerous threads at once, and you are most likely talking to a known friend or family member than someone you have never met. You can learn more from a stranger sometimes...how often do you ring a family member for a deep conversation about the meaning of life? How often do you phone them just to spam?

I think the net can be perhaps more easily compared to a quiet pub or coffee shop where everyone is welcome, ragardless of age/race/gender and no-one minds getting into a conversation with the stranger at the next table...

Posted by Xandax -

I think that it is quite possible to have social relations over the net, we are communicating with each other.
If some people then fail at socialsing IRL because they've done it online, then I really think they would have failed at it anyway.It is always easy to blame something else (people, things, internet, gaming) for problems some people have - IMO they should just get a hold of them self

I agree. If it was not the net that was the route to causing antisocial behaviour it would be something else. We have had this discussion before where the net was blamed for breaking up marriages, increases the risk of paedophilia etc.

20 years ago we did not have the net and marriages were still breaking up. 20 years ago it was the trafficking of child porno videos that was an issue. These things happen, as we move on a new media will be blamed...

Posted by SS -

Here, however, there are people like fable and C Elegans. Fairly intelligent people who are older than me that, from what I've seen so far, aren't intellectually biased against those who are younger than them. It may be that online they subcounciously imagine that they are chatting with people their own age in such things or it may be that they act the same way in such situations irl as they do online; I don't know which, but I'd bet that it's the latter.

I personally do not stop to consider peoples' age on this forum. I believe everyone has an opinion - regardless of age.

When my six year old comes to me with a strong opinion on something I listen. I may not agree with what he has to say and I will discuss this with him - but I do not say he is wrong, I do believe he should have a voice and be listened to.

A simple example - he used to be a picky eater (and still is to some extent, though on average his choices are healthy - if limited). I thought right - get him involved rather than just plonk my choice of food in front of him - 'what do you want for lunch and do you want to help me make it?'

The transformation was amazing. He had been given a choice of foods and asked to make a decision. He ate his lunch. We have not looked back.

When he misbehaves I warn him of the consequences of his actions and ask him to make the decision as to whether he is going to reconsider his behaviour. That way he takes responsibility for his own actions and makes the decision as to whether he needs disciplining or praising!

Involve them. We can learn so much from people younger than ourselves - as much as from those older...I hope this does not sound patronising - it is not meant to be

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:10 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
The only comparison that could be made between internet & tv is sitting and looking at a screen, and maybe the lack of spoken conversation. But one is passive and one is interactive. You cannot really compare it to a telephone either, the conversation is rarely as fluent, it confuses the listener to consistently jump between topics - you cannot follow numerous threads at once, and you are most likely talking to a known friend or family member than someone you have never met. You can learn more from a stranger sometimes...how often do you ring a family member for a deep conversation about the meaning of life? How often do you phone them just to spam?

I think the net can be perhaps more easily compared to a quiet pub or coffee shop where everyone is welcome, ragardless of age/race/gender and no-one minds getting into a conversation with the stranger at the next table...

This is the bit I like

How often do you phone them just to spam?

I can just see it now... Hi mum... SPAM! *hangs up*

Comparing it to the pub/cafe is very interesting. Essentially your proving the point that the internet is not an asocial activity. It is in effect a tool to connect to an extended virtual community.

Some good points there Yshania

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:17 am

@Veh - hehe!! how often can you respond to your mum on the phone with just a smilie - she'll think you have hung up or are ignoring her

There goes your Sunday dinner!

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:26 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
@Veh - hehe!! how often can you respond to your mum on the phone with just a smilie - she'll think you have hung up or are ignoring her

There goes your Sunday dinner!

LOL

<--- Where as this is acceptable

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:36 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
You cannot really compare it to a telephone either, the conversation is rarely as fluent, it confuses the listener to consistently jump between topics - you cannot follow numerous threads at once, and you are most likely talking to a known friend or family member than someone you have never met. You can learn more from a stranger sometimes...how often do you ring a family member for a deep conversation about the meaning of life? How often do you phone them just to spam?

Using an instant messenger, like ICQ, AIM, whatever, is more like having a phone conversation... but I can quite happily carry on 5 different ICQ conversations at once, with various people who I may or may not know IRL. The internet is brilliant for keeping in touch with my friends from home who are at different universities, as well as talking to people on the other side of the world. You don't lose touch with your friends when you see them online every day.

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:44 am

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
LOL <--- Where as this is acceptable

Next thing you know you'll be saying things like LMAO and ROFL. Bet your mom would really appreciate that

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:46 am

@Mr Sleep - LOL!

In balance though, unlike a telephone conversation where you can detect tone of voice, or a face to face conversation where you can see expressions, smilies are vital to help people understand where you are coming from so as not to cause offense or misunderstanding...

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 7:57 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
In balance though, unlike a telephone conversation where you can detect tone of voice, or a face to face conversation where you can see expressions, smilies are vital to help people understand where you are coming from so as not to cause offense or misunderstanding...

Very true, and the range of smilies is expanding as people want to make online chat as close to chatting face to face as possible

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 8:05 am

Posted by Georgi -

Very true, and the range of smilies is expanding as people want to make online chat as close to chatting face to face as possible

Hmmm...then I query Kayless' dancing trolls...how true to life are they

Kayless does have the best library of smilies

but it only takes a simple '

' to change the whole tone of your post and avoid the flames you were not expecting...

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Fri Aug 31, 2001 8:16 am

Originally posted by Yshania:
Hmmm...then I query Kayless' dancing trolls...how true to life are they

I think they fit Gruntboy pretty well