You often hear people say, “I’m completely different in real life, meet me for a beer and you will see.” And to be fair, that probably is true. It would almost have to be.

Because if somebody spends sixteen hours a day online being argumentative, inane, smug, hypersensitive, passive aggressive, snarky, anal retentive, correcting strangers over absolute nothingness, and launching into multi paragraph diatribes over complete tosh, then surely they must transform into an industrial strength delight once the laptop closes.

I picture some of them in real life as wonderfully calm dinner guests. Soft spoken. Warm. Generous. Patient listeners. The sort of chaps who gently asks the waiter to take something back because it is slightly undercooked, instead of writing a twelve paragraph forum diatribe titled “The Worst Meal I Ever Had In Bangers.”

Then again, maybe not.

Maybe the bloke who spends all afternoon online calling strangers plonkers because they used the wrong type of cable to charge their earbuds is exactly the same in person. Maybe he is also cornering people at barbecues explaining how to survive in Thailand on 300 Baht a day while everyone quietly rolls their eyes and looks for an escape route.

I suppose the internet just strips away the normal social consequences. In real life, if somebody behaves like a complete knob at social gatherings, people stop inviting them. Online, they just put up another 12 page thread about topics they know nothing about, grab 100 more negative emojis to add to their collection, and five new ignore list entries.

So it does make you wonder. Are online numpties actually more likable in real life, or are they simply operating with fewer guard rails once they are behind a keyboard?

Edited May 10May 10 by 123Stodg

Age differences by forum type

Hobbyist/Niche (e.g., Audio, Watch, Auto)	35–55	Skews older due to higher disposable income and technical expertise.
Gaming/Tech	18–34	Heavily Gen Z and Millennial; dominated by rapid discovery and troubleshooting.
Professional (e.g., LinkedIn Groups)	30–49	Focused on networking, industry news, and career advancement.
Community/Local (e.g., Facebook Groups)	35–64

23 minutes ago, 123Stodg said:

You often hear people say, “I’m completely different in real life, meet me for a beer and you will see.” And to be fair, that probably is true. It would almost have to be.

Because if somebody spends sixteen hours a day online being argumentative, inane, smug, hypersensitive, passive aggressive, snarky, anal retentive, correcting strangers over absolute nothingness, and launching into multi paragraph diatribes over complete tosh, then surely they must transform into an industrial strength delight once the laptop closes.

I picture some of them in real life as wonderfully calm dinner guests. Soft spoken. Warm. Generous. Patient listeners. The sort of chaps who gently asks the waiter to take something back because it is slightly undercooked, instead of writing a twelve paragraph forum diatribe titled “The Worst Meal I Ever Had In Bangers.”

Then again, maybe not.

Maybe the bloke who spends all afternoon online calling strangers plonkers because they used the wrong type of cable to charge their earbuds is exactly the same in person. Maybe he is also cornering people at barbecues explaining how to survive in Thailand on 300 Baht a day while everyone quietly rolls their eyes and looks for an escape route.

I suppose the internet just strips away the normal social consequences. In real life, if somebody behaves like a complete knob at social gatherings, people stop inviting them. Online, they just put up another 12 page thread about topics they know nothing about, grab 100 more negative emojis to add to their collection, and five new ignore list entries.

So it does make you wonder. Are online numpties actually more likable in real life, or are they simply operating with fewer guard rails once they are behind a keyboard?

More skeptical about those who claim they are themselves here, and are totally A-Holes while online, and still think they are okay.

I'm actually dying to meet the forums biggest bell end because I'm into creepy stalkers. She just hasn't invited me out yet...

Op you must feel quite relieved to get all that off your chest.

Would love to throw a party for those on my Ignore list, and those who who have me on theirs. Whoooo !

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

More skeptical about those who claim they are themselves here, and are totally A-Holes while online, and still think they are okay.

Agreed. But site reputation numbers are usually a pretty good metric to help separate those orifices from the others.

I wonder if the people who post irrelevant YouTube videos are the same when you meet them in person?

You're having a group discussion about mental health on chat forums or the impact of the Iran blockade and he suddenly shows everyone a video of some random old song as if he making some deep statement. Very strange behaviour, but surprisingly common on AN, and now there's a new forum rule to try to stop this weird activity.

1 minute ago, Kinnock said:

and now there's a new forum rule to try to stop this weird activity.

There is one regarding one word/short answers, but it doesn't seem to be working.

5 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

You're having a group discussion about mental health on chat forums or the impact of the Iran blockade and he suddenly shows everyone a video of some random old song as if he making some deep statement. Very strange behaviour, but surprisingly common on AN, and now there's a new forum rule to try to stop this weird activity.

Seems to be perfectly OK if it's some 60s or 70s rock song everyone has heard a million times. The off topic information tables are great too. And now we have all those AI prompt response screenshots. The level of slop content just keeps getting better and better!

1 minute ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Seems to be perfectly OK if it's some 60s or 70s rock song everyone has heard a million times. The off topic information tables are great too. And now we have all those AI prompt response screenshots. The level of slop content just keeps getting better and better!

So it's OK for someone to post a Def Leopard track on a topic about animals who cannot hear, yeh? 55 .

Would I be OK posting The Blue Danube Waltz, heard multi-million times, on a post about lack of water in Thailand? 555

Don't limit your musical preferences to just 60/70s.

Edited May 10May 10 by wil iam not
Typo correction

24 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Would love to throw a party for those on my Ignore list, and those who who have me on theirs. Whoooo !

It would be great to see the two lists of who has put who on who's list

5 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

So it's OK for someone to post a Def Leopard track on a topic about animals who cannot hear, yeh? 55 .

Would I be OK posting The Blue Danube Waltz, heard multi-million times, on a post about lack of water in Thailand? 555

Don't limit your musical preferences to just 60/70s.

Good point. People could actually do so much more to add additional off topic drivel to their posts to help slow down the site even more and needlessly increase the server load. No need to stop with the YouTube music videos. I’m thinking everyone should add a TikTok K Pop dance video to every new post just to take it next level.

7 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

It would be great to see the two lists of who has put who on who's list

The lists might become a bit overbearing with some users having put the same member on their ignore list at least 15 times.

28 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

I wonder if the people who post irrelevant YouTube videos are the same when you meet them in person?

You're having a group discussion about mental health on chat forums or the impact of the Iran blockade and he suddenly shows everyone a video of some random old song as if he making some deep statement. Very strange behaviour, but surprisingly common on AN, and now there's a new forum rule to try to stop this weird activity.

Sorry to tell you this but you guys are not going to solve the ME issues by chat. If you have health issues don't come here.

1 minute ago, BilllyGOAT said:

The lists might become a bit overbearing with some users having put the same member on their ignore list at least 15 times.

Still be fun to read who are really on ignore lists rather than their false claims!

23 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

So it's OK for someone to post a Def Leopard track on a topic about animals who cannot hear, yeh? 55 .

Would I be OK posting The Blue Danube Waltz, heard multi-million times, on a post about lack of water in Thailand? 555

Don't limit your musical preferences to just 60/70s.

Just reminded me of my Dad, who used to blast Classical through the house much of the time, and is where my appreciation for good music started.

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Just reminded me of my Dad, who used to blast Classical through the house much of the time, and is where my appreciation for good music started.

Does that mean that you do not like classical music now? 😆

18 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Does that mean that you do not like classical music now? 😆

18 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Always have and always will. Roots are what makes us.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

More skeptical about those who claim they are themselves here, and are totally A-Holes while online, and still think they are okay.

I can tell a good person from a bad one in 5 posts. Really not difficult to see who the misfits are.

Just now, fredwiggy said:

Always have and always will. Roots are what makes us.

Always like Bach the most. Great stuff.

1 hour ago, Kinnock said:

I wonder if the people who post irrelevant YouTube videos are the same when you meet them in person?

You're having a group discussion about mental health on chat forums or the impact of the Iran blockade and he suddenly shows everyone a video of some random old song as if he making some deep statement. Very strange behaviour, but surprisingly common on AN, and now there's a new forum rule to try to stop this weird activity.

Whats your thoughts on those who post personal attack threads because they are so wrapped up in what others post ?

Someone's posts actually cause you so much distress you have to rant on by posting an entire thread about it. To me that would indicate the person posting such a thread is either not sound themself or are doing exactly what they are talking about in the body of said thread.

52 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Yep. Some really sad examples here.

Yeah, it’s totally insane. An absolute tragedy. Hard to understand why everyone doesn’t honor his presence on the site. By far one of the greatest and most prolific posters the forum has ever had, the likes of which the world has never seen before.

Why don’t you take him out with you on one of your regular nights out in Nana, show him your usual haunts, introduce him to some of your Nigerian friends, and post photos from your big night out together? No doubt he’d love that, and it would definitely cheer him up after all the undeserved abuse he’s been taking lately.

4 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

An absolute tragedy. Hard to understand why everyone doesn’t honor his presence on the site. By far one of the greatest and most prolific posters the forum has ever had, the likes of which the world has never seen before

Who

Multiple posts removed. If you continue with personal commentary and attacks this will be closed.

11 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Always have and always will. Roots are what makes us.

You can beat an egg but you can't beat a good root.

I’m exactly the same wherever I go.

I even recycle jokes. Like I said that watching the autistic Bogan talk about economics was like watching a dog trying to do brain surgery and that is definitely one that I will reuse.

I guess in real life my speech is filthier. But I respect that they are trying to keep this joint classy.

12 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

I can tell a good person from a bad one in 5 posts. Really not difficult to see who the misfits are.

I hear you

While there will be exceptions I reckon most of us can be judged by the manner and tone of our written communications.

you'll find most are bedridden or tucked away somewhere other than Thailand.

#facts