Online Avatar

[Panic57]

I just notices that while I would hesitate to have an intense discussion where I'm deliberately taking the opposite stance, I have no issue with it online.  I enjoy getting into an online rumble in the comment section of Youtube.  I find the conversation really interesting, even with the trolls.  I guess it's the ability to go back and then research the perfect counter argument and then seem them argue themselves into a hole but they won't stop digging.  I have the anatomy of arguing with a troll down to a science, to the point, I know when they are going to flip their stance and pretend they had mind from the beginning and I'm wrong.  But if I was talking with these people in life, I would have just kept quiet or walked away.  How about you?  Do you find yourself more confident online or do you still have anxiety because of the trolls?  Maybe somewhere in between? 

 

[Jasmin Cottontail]

I can say that I am confident in writing and expressing myself through writing as well as sharing my thoughts online. However there are times that anxiety attacks and I would just feel mad or irritated with other people's opinion, which I don't like as well (feeling that way). Keeping quiet or simply walking away is a bit hard for me since I'm the type of person that would fight for my belief. Especially if I know that I have a point and I am right, I would definitely fight for it. Sad part is, not all people have wide understanding and most people would simply ignore what you're saying and still insist their point of view. With that, I can then shut up and walk away since I have already done my part and explain my side.

 

[TheKnight]

It's not that I'd find myself more confident online but more like being at home laying down and typing is a lot easier than being in the presence of someone you're arguing with. In person, I would be too lazy because I have other things to do and places to be. I'd rather be at home than argue with them but online, I'm already at home and I can reply whenever I want. If I'm arguing about something I'm passionate about in person, then I might stay and argue for a few minutes but after a while, it becomes annoying. If they're trolls, I try to troll them back too. It's funny sometimes.

 

[Lyndra]

It's not that I'd find myself more confident online but more like being at home laying down and typing is a lot easier than being in the presence of someone you're arguing with.

It is a lot less intimidating to argue with someone online than in person, especially if they are the type to lose their temper or lie about the discussion (getting it in writing is good). Anxiety can hit a lot hard face to face than when you have time to put your thoughts in order and make a reasoned point.

For myself, I find I am more likely to put my point across online than face-to-face. Face-to-face I just get quiet and resentful, especially when I know someone is wrong, but online I can take the time to look up cites and supporting sources and then include them in a post. It gives me a lot more confidence, and if someone starts ignoring facts then I know the argument isn't worth having so I don't waste my time.

 

[TheKnight]

It is a lot less intimidating to argue with someone online than in person, especially if they are the type to lose their temper or lie about the discussion (getting it in writing is good). Anxiety can hit a lot hard face to face than when you have time to put your thoughts in order and make a reasoned point.

For myself, I find I am more likely to put my point across online than face-to-face. Face-to-face I just get quiet and resentful, especially when I know someone is wrong, but online I can take the time to look up cites and supporting sources and then include them in a post. It gives me a lot more confidence, and if someone starts ignoring facts then I know the argument isn't worth having so I don't waste my time.

I also tend to stutter a lot when I'm trying to explain something so then that makes it seem like I'm unsure about something. Some people even think I'm losing an argument just because I stutter but I know exactly what I'm talking about. It's just something I've had since I was very young.

Online, you can type as best you can and people will judge you by your thought and arguments other than how you sound like. The smartest child with the highest-pitched voice can have the most valid arguments in the world but because he/she sounds young, most won't take them seriously. Text is a great way to get people to focus on the facts instead.

 

[Kaynil]

I agree with @Lyndra that online is less intimidating than face to face. My anxiety is just too much to take when someone tries to go alpha on me. As soon as I get a raised voice in an accusatory tone, I just tend to nod and re-word what they say so they see I got their point. I usually find that this avoids the confrontation and the moment soon becomes past. Unfortunately, this means that even at the times where I should stand my ground I tend to find myself at loss for words to do so. I guess the image of something devolving into a physical fight or losing a good friendship, job opportunities, etc makes me rather passive. In general I try to steer away from disagreements if I can help it.

That said, I like learning other points of view and this si why I don't mind posting the way I do in online communities. I kind of feel we have a topic in common, which is why we joined. Even online I rarely would try to fight to get my point, even if I feel certain I am right. I just find it not worth it. Same topic, same arguments, Different people. In the end, they had made their mind so it was a waste of effort on both sides.

 

[misszerable]

I try to avoid both face-to-face and online confrontation because they're both negative to me and leave me feeling bad hours and even days after they happen. The consequences for losing one's temper or exposing oneself too much can be worse offline, though, so I tend to 'speak' more freely online. The cloak of anonymity and relative safety of online confrontation can be something that some people take advantage of specially the kinds who don't want to lose an argument whether online or offline and those who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I've seen online communities where some members start a thread for the purpose of discussing another member's style or attitude in a derogatory manner. It's the equivalent of gossiping openly about a person within his/her earshot in real life. I wonder if they actually do that sort of thing offline.