Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Be Yourself Online

I read a blog post recently about The 10 Commandments of Social Networking for Writers. It's a great post so you should head on over and read it. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Good, you remembered to come back. Here's a cookie.

Anyhow, the article got me thinking about how easy it is to pretend that your someone you aren't online. You can 'show' the online world whatever you want. You can pretend to be younger or thinner or hide behind an avator or image. But why would you want to pretend to be someone you aren't?

It's a lot easier to just be yourself. And being real, I think, makes a person so much more relate-able. Makes a person more friendly. Makes a person someone I want to be friends with.

So keep that in mind when you tweet or are on FB. Who are you pretending to be? Or are you just being yourself? It makes a difference.

Me? I just like to be me. I hope you like me too. :)

23 comments:

Jessica Bell said...

I agree. It's useless trying to be someone else. How is anyone going to keep that up too, when they get published for instance? It would be horrible having to act all the time.

Unknown said...

Totally, 1,000,000 % agree.

Well said, Nicole.

-EJW

Unknown said...

Totally agree. You got to be yourself no matter what. Great post.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Agree! I've always been me, but now I being true to my talents, too.

Bast said...

I'm me (albeit with a pen name). I think it's entirely pointless to be someone other than yourself. Good post.

Carol Riggs said...

Absolutely. Some avatars are fun and creative, but I always like to see the real person. I go ahead and post my old, plain self because well, that's who I am. LOL

Trying to be someone else online would take waaaay too much energy. If I want to be someone else, I go write on my novel!

Cherie Reich said...

I like being me too. :)

Colene Murphy said...

Not being you is hard work. Hard to keep up with lies. Lots easier and more fun just being you!

Must agree! Thanks for the link!!

Talli Roland said...

It's very easy to put up a front online, but the real you will come out in the end. So true!

Golden Eagle said...

I like being myself, too. :)

Jamie Gibbs said...

I tried in the past to put forward some kind of other persona, but I quickly realised that just being myself was far easier (and far more enjoyable) on all levels. If people don't like it, then tough :P The problem with being able to be someone else online is that there is the risk that you either forget who you are or you begin to hate the person you are in the real world.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm having a blast being myself! Where else do I get to rattle on about movies, music, games, books, and tech toys?

Angie said...

You're right. I try to be myself too. Hopefully I'm a likable person.

Angela said...

Cute post.

Beth Fred said...

I agree being yourself is very important, but it's not always the easier. ;) I like your post.

Theresa Milstein said...

I agree - we need to be ourselves. That said, I think sometimes certain aspects of our personalities come out in our various roles: mother, teacher, writer, blogger, wife, and so forth. But between posting on my blog and Facebook, commenting on my blog, other blogs, and on FB posts, I couldn't possibly censor myself or play a certain role. I don't have that kind of time to think about it!

Rachele Alpine said...

I couldn't agree more! Great thoughts (and great blog...I'm glad I found it!). :)

Sheila Deeth said...

Many thanks for the link. I love those commandments. All very logical and sensible and wise.

Janice Seagraves said...

I like those commandments and they seem to me to be right on the money.

I try to be myself and have my own photo on my blog and bio page on my website. I'm getting older, grayer and flabby but that photo is recent and its the real me.

Janice~

LTM said...

excellent point, and I agree a thousand percent. Thanks, Nicole! :o) <3

Caroline Starr Rose said...

Agreed. I'm not especially cute or funny; I'm trying what works for me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Donea Lee said...

Honesty is always the best policy. Lies are imperfect little creatures and true colors show eventually. I'm happy to be me - not so thin, kind of old and all! :)

Rachael Harrie said...

I've gotten a bit behind in my blogging and just read your post today. You're so right about being yourself. I can only imagine how tiring it would be if you had to pretend to be someone else - how long would everything take while you made up the answers according to who you're pretending to be!

I've been blogging under an avatar - for no reason other than I had trouble uploading a pikkie at the start. But I "came out" today, so thought it a good omen to read your post ;)

Rach