Originally posted by RedTop
I have wondered exactly that same thing.
Me...I am the same in game as real life. Mostly happy go lucky. I have my moments of whinning in AH. Think everyone has. But for the most part , I just toodle along and have a laugh here and there and a good fight when they come.
THis "I'll be a jerk" in game....I dont buy.
I agree. I'm pretty much the same in here as I am in real life. It never crossed my mind to make up some persona to get my virtual rocks off night after night, shooting down cartoon airplanes has always done that trick for me.
I strongly disagree with the idea presented here that people act in a different way than they are in real life. If anything I think they act
more like their true selves here than they do in the real world.
In life there are social constructs and pressures among other various reasons that keep most people in check. In a virtual world, the things that hold us back are removed, allowing the true uninhibited self to come forth. Actions that would get your bellybutton kicked in RL can be taken in the vittual world with little fear of reprisal or discipline, or better yet downright pain (think fist in the face). Sure, you might get muted or banned, but those aren't really things that are strong enough to keep a troublemaker in check.
When poeple claim it's all just an act and that they aren't truly the way they present themselves, I say rubbish. How many times have we seen the same person over the years apologize, act like they're going to change yet revert right back to the same antics that got them in trouble in the first place? In this anything-goes online world where consequences of actions are largely removed, the true self can't help but show itself, free to be who and what it really is.
I feel I have to comment on the difference between an Adonai and a SkyRock as well. They have both claimed the "act" bit, but as I stated above I, in the words of RedTop, just don't buy it. There is one huge difference though. In all his rants on 200 and here on the BBs, I never saw anything SkyRock said be malicious in any way. Sure he was calling poeple out, but always tongue in cheeck with smiley faces or a-ok emoticons, in essence saying hey it's just a game lets have some fun playing it. Add to the fact that he is more willing to help people learn than just about anyone I've run across here, you get the full picture of who Mark is and what a genuine good guy he is, in game and out.
Now in Adonai on the other hand I have seen the opposite. All his comments bear contempt for those he chastizes on 200 nightly, never being light hearted, just dowright rude. Whenever asked to back up his smack, we get the typical blowhard responses... name calling and cowardice.
It's amazing he was able to get away with it for so long, until thankfully a highly respected member of the community called him on it. But make no mistake this was coming sooner or later. My only hope is he can learn from this grow as a person and become a positive member of this community.
