Hey guys, has anyone here ever pretended to be someone else? Or taken on a completely different personality in general? For example, I am majoring in Psychology and one of my projects was to "Observe the human mind, if a grand change in personality were to occur"
So I made up Chrona, and also began to act like an asshat. And the result was pretty self explanatory. People *I think* believed the Chrona persona and began to hate the asshat persona even though I had been friends with most of the people here for a while.
Of course I have done this more than on just this occasion, online and in real life.
So I wrote my paper on that, and said that most minds *IMO* work on what they see, and not on what they remember.
I got a good grade on my paper :3
So back on topic x3. Has anyone ever done something similar? Online or in real life?
Well my entire character is a persona, of course!
The truth is IAMBATMAN!!!!
Oh darn. I did not see that coming.
I've never attempted doing this "in real life," but I've definitely thought about it. (Quotations because people on the internet are real people, and "in real life" needs a new name quite honestly...)
In my mind I think about different personalities on an occasional basis. I consider what it's like to be a different kind of person, then try to fit my life in that person's shoes and see how different things may turn out. Despite most of these pretend, thought-up personalities being more extroverted people, I always find that I like just how I am because then I would just be someone else, not my own unique "me."
Despite this... I did make up an identity on the internet to begin with. When I was 12 and first signed up on the original NSider forums, I originally acted my age. However, I eventually noticed people were beginning to ignore me because of how immature I acted. I lurked the forums for about a week and over that week I greatly matured. That's when I decided I'd be a 19 year old in college who has a younger brother named Link who's 12 years old. I made up a story that Link gave the account to me, and I was taking over. Everyone I talked to in the Town Square and Lounge/Pool/etc. chat threads actually believed I was the age I claimed to be because I seemed to portray that kind of maturity I guess. I made a lot more friends than I would have if I continued to "act my age," although I don't think I could really act 12 anymore because it was at this point I began mentally maturing faster than I would physically mature. I'd explain all of that here, but that's a completely different story and not completely on the topic at hand.
I continued to go on with this identity, joining new forums, meeting more people, and then one day it hit me that I was pretending to be something I couldn't be, something that didn't really exist. I figured my only out was to tell everybody that I was switching colleges and wouldn't have time for the internet anymore, and to register a new account, new AIM, new email, etc. as myself; a thirteen year old who doesn't necessarily act thirteen. However, I ended up telling all of the friends I made about the lies I told them, and explained everything to them. This was mainly because I knew I couldn't hold in the lie very long, and because I really felt bad that all of these people were losing someone that never existed and they'd be thinking about a lie for however long they decided to remember me/him. Unfortunately, as a result of admitting what I'd done many of the friends I made lost trust in me, and over time they dropped like flies. I still have a few of these friends today, but when I say a few I mean like one or two, possibly three.
Moral of my story: Always be yourself, and keep your "alternate personalities" to yourself so that you don't end up hurting anybody, including yourself.
I have done something similar, once.
I lived with four in my head for close to seven years. One, Tsunami, the oldest, was close to nine years, I believe. They've left, now... but now I have Requinsward to keep me company, so it's not all bad.
Oh, and my voices left when the four did, as well, so... yeah. That's good.
Allegretto is such a bastard. I thought Chrona was real, too. ;_;
If you looked at the Bad Apple thread, you would've at least had a hint of doubt...
But to answer the question, no. I don't really have any other persona's.
Hey, I think I count as a persona in some ways.
Quote from: Simea on April 18, 2010, 09:00:18 AM
Allegretto is such a bastard. I thought Chrona was real, too. ;_;
If you looked at the Bad Apple thread, you would've at least had a hint of doubt...
But to answer the question, no. I don't really have any other persona's.
Hey, I think I count as a persona in some ways.
It was for a paper x_x. FORGIVE!
...Bad..apple thread? I know I started it but what's the hint D:
I read DSG's huge post and felt like an ass. The truth is, I have a host of personalities at my disposal online for a variety of causes. Mackormoses happens to be the one you're all familiar with, but I've completely different backgrounds at Shakespeare forums, as well as music ones. It's not that I lie about myself - but I change my being to blend in, or excel. Not sure how you'd classify that.
I have a formsprings persona, I can ask about anything and they'd never know, I'm not more of a dick or anything, in fact it seems like it is liked more than my regular personality by one person, that person even named my anonymous persona, it's called Jose.
Though I don't consider it a persona, my personality is different on the internet and in real life, it's not that I'm lying to anyone, it's just easier to not be shy with people when I can think about what I want to say rather than be expected to respond right away.
Persona's?
I actually don't have one true completely 100% altered identity. I've acted very differently but inside I'm still the same person. It's just that...Nobody has ever seen all my true colors and nobody ever truly will. I even hide myself from them at numerous times. I wouldn't really consider it a Persona or anything of course due to the fact I'm still the same person inside. I'll still be truthful about certain questions per say instead of saying somewhere that I'm 18 and another place 14 - I can't bring myself to lie about those things so easily.
Quote from: Sherlock on April 19, 2010, 12:32:21 AM
I read DSG's huge post and felt like an ass. The truth is, I have a host of personalities at my disposal online for a variety of causes. Mackormoses happens to be the one you're all familiar with, but I've completely different backgrounds at Shakespeare forums, as well as music ones. It's not that I lie about myself - but I change my being to blend in, or excel. Not sure how you'd classify that.
You act differently dependent on the people around you? I do that too, less so here, but depending on which friends I'm with I act completely different. I switch from introvert to extrovert a lot.
Quote from: Sherlock on April 19, 2010, 12:32:21 AM
I read DSG's huge post and felt like an ass. The truth is, I have a host of personalities at my disposal online for a variety of causes. Mackormoses happens to be the one you're all familiar with, but I've completely different backgrounds at Shakespeare forums, as well as music ones. It's not that I lie about myself - but I change my being to blend in, or excel. Not sure how you'd classify that.
Different people would handle the situation differently. If you aren't necessarily too abstract in whatever persona you made up on other forums, then people you've met could still be inclined to trust you and be your friend. There was also much more to the whole story than I went into detail about, mainly because it's hard to remember specifics and for the most part it'd be hard for me to separate the frivolous aspects from the important ones.
Everyone acts a little differently around different people. Only you define you.
Quote from: Arcane Saiph on April 19, 2010, 03:35:05 PM
Different people would handle the situation differently. If you aren't necessarily too abstract in whatever persona you made up on other forums, then people you've met could still be inclined to trust you and be your friend. There was also much more to the whole story than I went into detail about, mainly because it's hard to remember specifics and for the most part it'd be hard for me to separate the frivolous aspects from the important ones.
Everyone acts a little differently around different people. Only you define you.
To me, personas aren't necessarily to the point of being abstract - they allow me to express different traits. I can be quite arrogant as Mackormoses, but it's not something that defines me IRL. I think my other personas are closer to the truth in how I act in that sense. That said, the arrogant/brash part of me can really come out in debates and performances IRL, so it is a true part of me. Am I being true to myself holistically? Yes. But not on each individual persona.
I have the tendancy to adjust my behavior depending on who I am around.
At school, if I'm not with my friends, I'm usually rather calm, quiet, only chiming in when I know others wouldn't mind too much (don't want to draw negative attention, ya know ;D). When I'm with my friends, I'm usually crazier, and nerdier. At home, I'm usually rather goofy too. When I drive, I'm usually rather serious and focused highly on the road...I usually don't pay too much attention to my passengers, unless they're yelling, "OH SHIT I'M BLEEDING TO DEATH" or something (okay, it doesn't have to be that serious, of course lol).
Then there's the conflicting thoughts in my mind I have most of the time. wheeeee fun
I don't believe in faking a persona, unless it's for an act or play or something.
I have to be myself, since I firmly believe that honesty and truth are two of the most important things in the world.
Although I did always believe Chrona was a fake, I have to admit you succeeded in making me rage.
And I tend to portray myself as an idiot when I'm at school. I completely welcome people to call me an idiot because it'll just help my efforts.
The reasoning behind this? It's to keep people from trying to cheat off of me, it keeps expectations of me low, and overall makes an easier life.
Don't get me wrong, someone who really needs help I'll help, but I'm not going to help someone who's just saying they need help because they're too lazy to do anything.
Funny, often when people look at me, they see the quiet, but smart, loner in class, so they come over and copy off me, then are like "WTF" after their score sucks.
I've seriously stared to act like this with people who try to start fights with me.
Needless to say, they leave me alone quicker than if I were to get smart and treat their lives, or deliver a nice hook punch to the face. Less hassle.
Quote from: JrDude ჱܓ on April 21, 2010, 08:20:11 PM
Funny, often when people look at me, they see the quiet, but smart, loner in class, so they come over and copy off me, then are like "WTF" after their score sucks.
So I take it you've adjusted yourself accordingly for NSF. As we don't see you to be quiet and smart. You're rather brash and forthcoming.
Quote from: Sherlock on May 01, 2010, 10:42:30 PM
So I take it you've adjusted yourself accordingly for NSF. As we don't see you to be quiet and smart. You're rather brash and forthcoming.
Are you implying that JrDude is an poop hole?
Quote from: Jeff Probst on May 01, 2010, 10:46:23 PM
Are you implying that JrDude is an poop hole?
Absolutely not. You seem to be quick to arrive at that conclusion though.
Quote from: Sherlock on May 01, 2010, 10:47:16 PM
Absolutely not. You seem to be quick to arrive at that conclusion though.
It made sense to me.
Quote from: Sherlock on May 01, 2010, 10:42:30 PM
So I take it you've adjusted yourself accordingly for NSF. As we don't see you to be quiet and smart. You're rather brash and forthcoming.
Basically.
Also, Rob sees me as an poop hole because he's too sensitive, in fact too many people are too sensitive.
When you don't know me very well, you see me as an poop hole, when you get to know me... you still see me as an poop hole, but when you REALLY get to know me, I'm an OK guy.
In real life, when you don't know me, you see me as a quiet smart guy, when you get to know me, you see me as an annoying poop hole, when you REALLY get to know me, I'm an OK guy.
That's how I see it anyway.