AIBU to think Charlie Brooker, by and large, has this right?

[DoesntBodenWell]

Reading his column today about sharing information on the internet. Halfway through he says..

'People already create exaggerated versions of themselves for online consumption: snarkier tweets, more outraged reactions. Online, you play at being yourself'

Now I'm not suggesting that this is the case for everybody, but just lately I've read quite a few 'aggressive' posts on here and thought 'you would never say that if the OP was stood in front of you'.

I, myself, have posted under a different user name my more 'snarky' responses. I know for a fact that I would probably never have the guts to say it in RL.

I don't necessarily think that I'm being more honest (saying what I acually think), because I could say the same thing in a less 'snarky' way if I wanted to, but I don't because being anonymous makes me less considerate, if you like.

Anyway, this is my musing for the day!!!!

The thing is sometimes you dont mean to say things in a snarky way but its very hard to convey tone in text unless you :P or lol...which doesn't go down too well on here as we know...

I agree too to a degree. I think it's easier (well it is for me) to be a bit more upfront. Im less likely to say my true feelings in conversation because im a scaredy cat to avoid trouble, but its easier on line to 'hide' behind a computer screen. Of course some people are the same either way, but I let loose a bit more on here as I sometimes I forget people are reading it.

I have the same opinions here as in RL but un certain situations I am a bit more...shall we say, diplomatic than here!

I don't get people who make up stories though, that is so odd to me but apparently it is quite common?! That is very sad and weird.

I am milder online than I am in RL. More diplomatic.
Conversely, I am a lot friendlier in RL than I appear online!

Figure that one out!

Charlie Broiler has everything right. Of course YANBU.

(And of course I'm exaggerating - I hate that he collects his columns together, sticks them between two covers and sells them on again in book form!)

Sod off! Who made you the forum police? Who do you think you are judging others for their posting style?

I dunno. We probably wouldn't say half of what we do but it's not the same situation usually in RL, is it? So responses change because the people in RL we'd be having these conversations with are much closer to us, so we know the backstory and make allowances or we are nicer because we have to see them every day. Compared to that, of course we're all meaner on here.
Having said that, if AIBU questions were posed on the tellybox in a Ricki Lake style format, I can see the same responses coming from a studio audience. I would say the same things to a person's face, but maybe not to someone I knew IYSWIM.

Broiler? Damn auto-correct! Charlie Brooker has everything right.

I post very similarly to the way I talk to people in real life. Even when someone is being an idiot or offensive, it's important to remember there's a human being behind those words. Lowering yourself to the same level IMO reduces the power of your own viewpoint.

It's true, he's always right. I think it's the same as when people are driving - people push in, cut people up, yet would never dream of pushing into a que in a shop.

Charlie Brooker is always right about everything.

So, YANBU

CumberdickBendybatch, I love your username.

Thank you! I am a little bit proud of it

Charlie Broiler

I'm not saying he's the God of common sense or anything, just that he had a point here..

I'm sure plenty of people are thinking CB is a pratt, therefore YABU!!

I'm definitely braver online. In RL I'm a complete daffodil.

Not a fan of Charlie Brooker but what he is describing is the phenomenon of the Keyboard Warrior

I'm like you pictish - I am much more measured on here - I often type stuff and then delete without posting - whereas in RL I just spout forth. Also, on here you realise how everyone has their own take on what you say, depending on where they are coming from. And how easily offended people are. And there is no real tone to what you say on here, whereas in RL people can tell when you are joking, well, most of the time.

Keyboard warrior, love it. Perfect description .

No, you didn't.

NO SHIT SHERLOCK

i mean, yes, erm, I agree with you....

Thanks redroof. Don't suppose you could tell me why (needs lessons).

When it's a plural you don't use an apostrophe.

An apostrophe is used in two ways:

• to indicate possession:

" it was David's cup"

• to indicate that a letter has been missed out/two words contracted together:

"you're going to have to give David his cup" - where 'you're' actually means 'you are'

The one that confuses most people is 'its'.

If you see 'its' then this is a neutral form of 'his' or 'hers' - in other words, it is a possessive form:

"did you give the dog its bowl?"

If you see 'it's' then this indicates that something has been left out, in this case the word 'is':

"it's cold outside" = "it is cold outside".

Hope this helps!

(Helpful me, innit?)

That was very helpful BIWI...many thanks

DBW - I think a keyboard warrior emoticon would be very useful and not at all likely to further enrage said-keyboard warriors, causing them to increase their angst to catastrophic levels, reulting in the downfall of MN as we know it

It would be a fantastic emoticon Panda. Imagine the fun to be had .

Enragement ahoy!!