I flirt less in real life, but only because real life people, for some strange reason, expect people to follow through.
The art of casual flirting had previously been lost, but with the advent of the internet, it is coming back.
I'm pretty safe with the guys that I flirt with IRL ~ 70yr old golfers do not expect too much ~ they're quite happy with a little banter and a slice of cake
But I agree, there are some nice guys to flirt with on here
I sincerely doubt that anyone is the same IRL and online. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest if they were, that would speak of quite a rigid personality. After all, people are not the same in different RL contexts (work, home, socially, with partners, etc) depending on the setting and the people around them, so why should we expect them to be the same online? Equally, I would not expect people to be the same on all the different sites they visit. They will present a different set of facets everywhere they go.
Of course, there's likely to be an underlying core consistency, assuming there's not an attempt at deliberate deceit. But the idea that one can be the same online and offline strikes me as just as implausible as the idea that one can be same in all the different offline contexts we function in.
I don't think I'm that different online or IRL. Different social situations do sometimes require an adjustment of attitude ~
I try to be very polite here, the way I am with strangers IRL... but with my friends I'm completely rude and annoying
Exactly! Your friends know you and love you so you can drop some social constraints.
I think I'm a little more amiable in RL. My colder side tends to come out a lot more online. I guess because I make less effort to be interesting/funny/sexy, especially here. Probably because I don't know most of you all that well. There are some people you just don't want to encourage.
So, I'd say, yes, I definitely have an online personality that differs somewhat from my RL personality. Some parts of myself are suppressed, others magnified... it's not the easiest medium through which to find the true measure of a person... although you can have certain hints over time.
As to the obsessive shopping, gambling, bullying... erm, nope, I don't think that's me, that's probably only a very small percentage of internet users, and they probably have pre-existing psychological problems, rather than something that is inspired by the internet alone.
True.
An Officer, you have always come over as interesting/funny/ and caring (see how I changed sexy there but that's just to me

) but I agree it's easier to be slightly more removed online ~ a RL smile goes a long way
I'm the same person wherever I go, allowing for context.
I get a kick out of all these Mr Hydes who must let their hidden anger and frustrations run rampant on the Internet. I'm just the opposite. On the Internet, especially the smaller boards I belong to, I get to relax and be as nice as I want to be.
Very much so.
I think I'm quite similar online and IRL. I have the same views and ideas but I'm happier demonstrating them in real life.
I understand how text can be misconstrued and I do not want to offend anyone. I'm aware that what I type, maybe not well thought through but will be there for all to see, so I think before I type.
IRL I'm much better at getting my ideas and feelings across with body language, facial expressions and the ability to read other's reactions immediately.
Apparently I can be quite scary (

) ~ I have a very good 'don't f*** with me face' which on occasion is handy, but I can swiftly read the situation and adjust IRL.
A true IRL smile and laugh, and not forgetting a little touch of the arm can never be recreated online.