More on online identity: blogs

In my previous posts I mentioned that there are serious drawbacks when talking about online identity. But in this post I would like to stress one really good thing – your identity in blogs, building blog community and networks.

Formally we all have a freedom of speech but in real life there are several things that bother to use it completely. Shyness, no options to meet people in real life, retired people or just bothered persons sitting home alone. What to do not to go insane?

One and perhaps one of the best options would be start blogging.

It is said that almost all information in the world is in the net. I would be more precise and say – all the information are in the blogs. Just type in a search engine and you’ll find many useful tips and tricks. For example, I was really confused what Bloglines mean and I found a great user-friendly post. In this context the main blog advantages are informal language for easier comprehension and interactivity for straight contact with the blog author. From this follows a chance to meet these authors on-line. Experience exchange is invaluable. These are some professional things. But blogging advantages also refer to community building in everyday situations. For example, people who for any reasons can’t communicate in a different way and choose blogging. It’s like a new world for them. Perhaps even sense of life for desperate ones.

Within these cases I completely support different online identities. Cause you’re always a bit better when blogging*. And even only pretending better you become better.

(please don't judge this blog, these are only my personal thoughts and I realize that there are also many cons against blogging)

*quote of Kristaps Petersons in the BISS lecture about Corporate Blogging

Is the Sexy31 so sexy in real life?

“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.” (anonymous)

Some years ago writing an e-mail or checking news on internet was something really extraordinary. Now about half of Latvia’s population is in our most popular internet community site www.draugiem.lv, we all are using different kinds of technologies, programs, and enjoying the possibilities that digital media gives. To exaggerate a bit I can say that now meetings in real life are extraordinary. Now your real name and face is something extraordinary. On internet you can be anyone.

Blogs, chats, community sites, social networking, forums, multiplayer online games, Skype or Windows Messenger, etc. – so many places to be in, and so many identities to take on. Internet gives an opportunity to make yourself better and to fulfill you would never dare in real life. Internet is full of different nicknames that sometimes make you think: “What’s wrong with them?” Just an observation – a user called Sexy31 in chat will be much more popular than Ieva31 (an ordinary Latvian name). But perhaps Sexy31 is just an old man wanting attention.

To sum up my thoughts I have come to some pluses and minuses of online identity.

Pluses:

• Independence from modesty and psychological problems. On internet nobody sees your (mostly imaginary) imperfection (“Oh, I am so fat, I can’t go to him and ask for a dance” – a possible conversation in nightclub ladies’ room).
• More space for your opinion and interactivity. As there’s no shyness you can freely add comments and send messages on things you are concerned with.
• Social networking – on internet it is easier and faster to build up new contacts that may become useful meeting in real life also.
• No other factors influence other thoughts of you. Perhaps in a way it would be called objectivity.
• (place for your opinion)

Minuses:

• More space for criminals and illegal or just unethical actions. The drawback of anonymity.
• Poorly established laws on internet policies. This especially regards Latvia and other countries where internet came into later than others.
• Messing up with so many identities. What really are one’s qualities and weak points?
• Living on internet. Second life becomes first life.
• (place for your opinion)

Feel free to ad your comments and for further information check the links below.