Why are people so miserable online but so smiley and polite in person?

[the29thhuman]

Which behavior is more truth?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I’ve recently come up with a theory about this. When we enter anonymous online spaces, much like this one, we allow ourselves to function within the confines of our shadow selves.
“What’s a shadow self?” You ask. It’s a psychological term coined by Carl Jung to describe the parts of our personality we don’t like or actively suppress, usually negative traits such as apathy, selfishness, anger, etc. What I’m essentially saying is that we, as people, don’t show our “true” selves online, but rather the parts that we suppress regularly. We allow it to flourish, to act on those feelings we would otherwise ignore because we have no other outlet for them. Does that justify the actions one takes online? Not really, it just explains it. If you meet someone who is so happy in person and their online persona is constantly depressed, that’s what they’re constantly suppressing throughout the day. If you feel so inclined, you can ask them about it, give them a space to be vulnerable and let the two halves connect for a little while. It’s usually better for our overall mental health to work with our shadow selves rather than continue to suppress them and integrate them into our lives.

[the29thhuman]

Uh okay! Or I don’t like private messages by guys

[the29thhuman]

😂😂

[molonski2]

Bravery behind the keyboard , but it makes them miserable and angry.

[jshm2]

If it makes you feel better thinking that, more power to you...

[eagle1951]

hiding there true feelings

[Anonymous]

Curb appeal.