Differences

Okay, I'm going to touch on a subject that teeters along the lines of online vs. "in person". I've noticed that people practice caution amongst online encounters wherein they would practice a greater sense of freedom if the same situation happened during a face-to-face encounter. While I am not an advocate of just baring your whole life to a person online, I do not see why reason why there is this inherrent fear of basic information transferral online.

The main thing I'm speaking of that really gets to me is the basic exchange of NAMES. How you can talk to someone online, become friends with them on Yahoo, AIM, or whatever, and chat them up, yet you are ultra hesitant for people to know your real name? A name is someone's birthright, and a lot of times, if you venture deep enough, you'll probably discover someone else in the world has the same name as you (I can't tell you how many hundreds of men are named Brandon Harris). People can enjoy talking to you like crazy, but when you ask people their name (particularly their last name, for some reason), they suddenly become stupid overprotective.

If this was the only part to these events, it would be no problem. However, you find that the same people who would flip out online would willingly give this very basic tenant of human communication. People who would introduce themselves in meetings, articles, and even professions (teachers, preachers, etc.) as par for the course.

What is the basis for this? I've led a crusade to inform people that there are VERY few TRUE differences between online communications and tangible communications. Of course, you wouldn't go ratling off social security numbers and credit card numbers online, but would you do it to someone you talk to face-to-face? A "creep" or "pervert" who you fear being an online stalker could be a stalker in person. Actually, it would end up being WORSE in person, because they can see you, follow you, find your vehicle, etc. I don't mean to try to scare any of you, but I mean, before you think about judging by some weak double standard, just think about how much you're leaving yourself open for.

-B