Internet secrets....

[Gumbrelle]

The Internet and anonymity of it (such as nicknames-like on this site) allow users to create their own identity, and share problems and worries in confidence which they might not want to share with anyone else face to face, with the comfort of knowing their true identity won't be revealed.

I am curious to what people think of this aspect of the internet. Why do we feel comfortable to confess our problems and confide in a computer, is the internet simply an extension of our social lives, or might it eventually replace important face to face contact?

[TheVisitor]

I never give anything out on the internet that I'd be worried about going to a wider audience. I do believe that people do forget how public it is.

[mousesma]

Well I personally never put anything online that I wouldn't be happy to become public knowledge. Even though I am anonymous that anonymity could be compromised and once something is on the internet it is pretty much impossible to remove.

I think social networks and chat sites are a fun time killer but for me it could never replace face to face contact.

[Gumbrelle]

I agree that they are a good time filler and that people forget how public and massive the internet is, but I can understand however why people would want to get problems off their chests such as an affair or personal problems like that, as confiding in anonymous people would give them an honest, unbiased opinion.

[SoupDragon]

is this the subject of your next newspaper/magazine article?

[Gumbrelle]

No, it isnt.

[SoupDragon]

What an interesting first post on a parenting site then.

[Mamaz0n]

I would say that there are a great many reasons people use internet forums.

With respect to your question about revealing information of a personal nature, i would suggest that people will sometimes want to ask the opinions of like minded folk whose opinions they trust, but die to the nature of the questions do not feel able to confide in those Rl friends/family.
they ask here as they get a wealth of knoweldge in a short amount of time, yet still remain relativly anonymous

[Gumbrelle]

Im studying a module about the internet and it is internesting to think how massive the internet is now.

[Gumbrelle]

Yeah exactly, it is cmoforting to know that there is somewhere you can go with a problem and you will get the opinions of unbiased people and also you might find someone who is going through the same things as you. Chat forums might help people to feel less alone esp if there is nobody in their social life they can turn to.

[Punkatheart]

...because I gave up on priests a long time ago. When one of them called me by name in the confessional. Put a real damper on my Hail Marys. I think life is very compartmentalised these days and yes, there are things I may share online that even my family don't know. Like killing that farmer in Idaho.

(I AM kidding, btw - he was just a smallholder.... )

[catinthehat2]

"Im studying a module about the internet and it is internesting to think how massive the internet is now."

lovely
I love what passes for intellectual rigour and academic learning these days

'studying' involves having a little chatty poo with some interwebby types like we all do day in day out ,writing it up and getting your pass mark

why don't you just cut to the chase and just write some POS of the top of your head won't take you more than 40 minutes then go for a walk

[Punkatheart]

I think a chatty poo sounds truly revolting. It should be silent, surely. Or as silent as a person can manage. Who wants a poo that talks back? [shocked]

[Pandemoniaa]

Yes. Internet poos should definitely come into the category of secrets.

Although this is a particularly crap attempt to get your dissertation written by everyone else.

[catinthehat2]

I think the chattypoo will shortly turn into a steaming POS which the OP will pass off as an 'essay'

[Tee2072]

Same reason people tell strangers on a bus/train their life stories. In that case you'll never see them again. In this case you probably won't ever see them at all.

I now expect to be named as second author on your paper. I'll send you my fee schedule.

[SarahStratton]

T'would be so useful.

[Gumbrelle]

Haha, dissertation done, essay done, yep send on over the fees :)

[buggeroffandhaveabiscuit]

Blimey this internet thing is massive innit.

[catinthehat2]

you did very well, thought it would take you until ten past but you managed to rush it through even quicker

isn't education wunnerful

[WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper]

What's POS?

[catinthehat2]

I would like you to think of it as Piece of Stuff (polite form)

[Serenitysutton]

I've come across too many nutters on line to reveal too much. I think people forget how small the world of forums is- most people in this country don't use them. When you're on different forums you could well be speaking to the same people. I think thats why they're all so alike, actually.

[SarahStratton]

Pile Of Shit

[WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper]

Ah. Gee thanks :o