Does Anonymity Breed Unconditional Friendship?

[Human No More]

Anonymity generally means not being identifiable as a specific person. Generally, the internet is relatively anonymous (although in actual fact, a lot less than many people think, if you know how) - but as you can register as any username, and connect yourself to it as much or little as you like, you can often post relatively anonymously, and unconnected to to others where you may be less anonymous.

[Aquaplant]

I would rather not be anonymous. I think that people would better understand what I write if they knew me as a person, because it seems I often get misunderstood a lot. But I guess that's always present when conversing on a purely electronic level without actually seeing or hearing the person you are talking with.

I came into this conclusion when I was talking with Eltu and HumanNoMore about all the problems that were going about, and I think all three of us are pretty much alike. Yet we go about things in different manners, and when you add misunderstanding into that, there will be unnecessary tension and confusion when we can't understand one another.

Maybe that's because I'm not good at converting my thoughts and feelings into words, and when I try, people always seem to misinterpret my intentions, and sometimes that makes me want to keep my mouth shut and just keep on lurking.

[txen]

The only way to get better at writing those words and that is practice. I used to be terrible at it. I hope that I have managed to get to the point that sometimes I can get my point across. I have a hard time slowing my brain down enough to match the speed at which I can type. Somehow I don't think that I will ever get to the point that some other poster are able to achieve. There have been many words of beauty here and back on AF. I know that the only way I will ever be able to do so is to try.

[rapunzel77]

Anonymity is very easy to do on the internet. The inhibitions that prevent us from opening up in face-to-face conversations fall on the keyboard. On here, we can speak and tell just about anything. This is a double-edged sword since it can be good or bad. I know from experience that relationships started on the internet can be real and heartfelt. It depends upon the person though. It is all built on trust. Without that, no relationship/friendship could develop. This is true if the friendship/relationship starts face-to-face or on the internet.

[txen]

While the anonymity can make it easier to post without the fears and self censorship that can occur in a face to face situations, it does have a down side. Any bonds formed are weak and can get broken with comparatively little provocation. The events here of late have shown this to be true. Now I don't really know what transpired, but recently several members have left due to the whole AF and ToS issues.

For something totally unrelated. Sorry for the rant that follows.

Many say "I made great friends here." I kind of challenge that. To me it's more like "I made many great acquaintances here." When I call someone my friend it is a more enduring bond. I stand by them through good and bad. If I call you my close friend, you basically become part of my family. I'm also not a fair weather friend kind of person. A fair weather friend is no friend at all as far as I am concerned.

It's a basic limitation of the internet. The anonymity and just plain physical separation get in the way. It's not impossible though. For example I'm headed out to a gathering in the California desert the weekend after next. It is from another internet forum that I belong to. There will be about at least 30 of us and maybe more. Some are flying in from around the country. At least half of them I am happy to call my friends.

OK rant over.

[Human No More]

I'm not so sure... There are many people who I've talked to a bit, but other people, I have talked to a LOT, and they know me better than just about anyone else. With everything that's been going on recently, I've been finding things quite hard at the moment, and people I know from here have really helped by talking, they know who they are

[txen]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I'm not so sure... There are many people who I've talked to a bit, but other people, I have talked to a LOT, and they know me better than just about anyone else. With everything that's been going on recently, I've been finding things quite hard at the moment, and people I know from here have really helped by talking, they know who they are

I was a bit on the harsh side with my post. I think it was a bit of a post out of anger which is almost never a good thing.

I think an nonarticulated part of what I was trying to convey has to do with time. You see I have a different perspective due to life experience. It is something that you may come to know over the many years that you have in front of you. If you are lucky enough to stay in contact over years and even decades this entire event will fade. You may even laugh about it. I know that I laugh about things in my past that were hardly humorous at the time.