I hear a lot of people on here say "it's just the internet, it's not like the real world". I have to say I think that's one of my biggest pet peeves. Because, that's a very naive thought process to think that somehow people online are different from people you meet in your daily life. People are people, the internet doesn't change that. Just speaking from personal experience but how people treat me online isn't really much different then how people treat me offline. I'm not cynical and jaded or have trust issues just solely based on my bad online experiences. Anything I feel now started in the offline world and than others just added to that already burning fire of insecurity and self doubt. We spend so much time warning people about the internet but not enough time warning them about the world. So, here's some things to consider before you decide that the internet and the world are two separate entities.
1) Sure, we have to beware of internet liars and those that like to prey on the weak. I'm sure everyone fears if the person behind the screen is actually true, I know I do. However, don't be so navie as to believe that because someone is looking you straight in the eyes, that it can't be a lie. Because, it most assuredly can. There's a lot of good liars out there and a lot of them are offline. Keep that in mind.
2) There are people online that are good at picking the weak out from the strong and will take advantage of them and prey on their vulnerabilities. However, before the internet ever existed there were people preying on the weak and exploiting them. So, lets not act like the internet created those people or that they only exist online. Because, that's not true! They're everywhere. So, always beware.
3) I suppose it might be a tad be easier to pretend to be someone you're not online. However, people in your life can pretend to be someone they are not, as well. Just think about all the woman that date men that say "I'm not married" and turns out they've been married for 15yrs and living two separate lives and neither women knew. Anybody can pretend to be who ever they want to be. So, again don't think because someone is looking you in the eyes that what they're telling you about themselves, is true. Because, they can always be pretending. Try to remember that.
4) Should you blatantly trust someone you meet online, no. Does that mean because you meet someone in the world that you should blatantly trust them, no. Trusted is earned, not automatically given. So, it's quite a stupid move to just trust someone without knowing if they're worthy of that trust. That's something else to keep in mind.
5) People online can be immature and mean, but they don't just exist online. I'm sure if you spent one day observing everyone that you walk past or see. You'd notice a lot of them are probably immature and insecure about the samethings people on this site are. You'd notice a lot of them are mean for no reason at all, other then fact that they can be. You'd see people saying things that don't need to be said to someone they barely know, but they do it because they barely know them so they figure it doesn't matter. People are mean in general, the internet just gives them a screen to hide behind. Remember that.
To conclude, what you see on here or on the internet in general. Is nothing that you're not going to find in the quote "real world". Do you know why? Because, the people that make up the internet and use the interent, are people in the real world. So, what they bring online is probably no different than how they are in their daily lives. As I said before, the internet doesn't make people who they are. It just takes people that are already that way and gives them a screen to hide behind. So, next time you feel like uttering the words "it's just the internet", remember what I said. Because, it's not "just the internet", it's the whole world online and off. Thanks, for your time : )
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