General

I'd consider my influence from online friends to be on par with that of my irl friends. I was never too different in person/online, maybe a bit more open to new friendships via the internet but for the most I'd like to think I hold the same value for both. The last year has sort of solidified that fact, I went through some severe depression and for a good half of the year I had literally no one to talk to outside my immediate family except for people I knew online. The friendships/relationships I've made irl since I got out of that alienated state I hold equivalent to the friendships I made online over the last year. I'd say the online world really helped me ween back into being a functioning person of society. There's only one thing about the internet vs the real world that really sticks out to me, and that's the lack of personal attachment. I don't really hold hard feelings over friends who fade away/get too busy with the real world/drop contact, etc. There's a sense of self consciousness with real life friendships (you wonder if someone someone stopped talking to you because they don't like you anymore, etc.) that doesn't exist for me online, but I think I'm beginning to find a median between both feelings across the online world and the real one.

@sirkibble yes, the beauty of the internet is that everything has the potential to be anonymous - but like alcohol, can illustrate our raw and "truthful" side. contributing something even semi-meaningful to a group of anons w whom you have 0 relation to speaks for itself. shows thought, emotion, .. care. most people don't even bother, y'know? what do you mean "formal" situations? the more serious parts of the adult world? if you're talking about office-talk, then i wouldn't worry. though setting up an interactive work environment may be the better option, it won't kill you if you don't

hahaha - i definitely feel you on trying to reason basil. last year i was pretty fond of a handful of people here and in the /chat, but most of them are gone. i recognize only a few basilers + hardly interact w them. for me it's probably the mix btwn boredom and nostalgia. some of the most meaningful/influential relationships i've made were through online platforms, but i don't keep in contact with them much now. so this is sort of a way to .. commemorate them? haha, not too sure quite honestly

omg these responses are tl so i dr -

I would say I've been heavily influenced by the internet . <3

@sirkibble i asked a similar question on reddit, but i also wanted to pose the question here. i'm definitely more familiar with the personalities on basil, and can at least have a better understanding of their experience through their other replies, posts, etc.

and yes, i agree almost fully with your idea about developing social skills; but at the same time i believe you can manipulate and transform your online skills into valid, offline skills. there's only a thin barrier you need to break between you and somebody else to becoming friends. and quite honestly, you seem to have a lovely personality and much of this community is fond of you. i don't mean to coddle you, but i'm surprised at that

@killeem lol funny you say that about your online relationships, i can definitely attest to that. learned so much about myself and definitely helped me grow as a person

@shamieekill oh hello! you're CP boy, correct? haha - that was the biggest response i received from reddit; the internet harbors every opinion imaginable.

@audio so your accent was irish? swedish is .. almost close! thank you for sharing, i'm so happy it worked out for you (and quite early too!)

thanks guys for sharing! i didn't type much in my first post, but it's been a wild journey up until now with people on the internet. now that i'm not online nearly as much as i used to be, i have such a crazy newfound appreciation and love for what certain forums, maplestory (lulz but srsly), msn (another luls), etc., taught me and am super stoked to see people sharing a similar passion

I calculate that I've spent an average of 4 hours every day on the internet, over the past 6 years (because I got a computer of my own 6 years ago).
That is quite a bit of time every day. I remember entire years when I would just be on the computer for 80% of the time I wasn't in school. But I eventually started working part time so that took up time as well, otherwise my average would be like 6-7 hours.

Anyway, it's hard to avoid being influenced by the online world if you're on it so much. Basil and 9GAG have influenced me a lot, as well as downloading movies and downloading music.

I'm pretty sure that my typing speed increased by about 60 WPM within two years or so just from playing Maple and being on Basil so much. I also learned a lot of my writing styles by being on Basil.

@sirkibble: Wow you really switched the topic up with the last paragraph. But nonetheless you're right. As I've grown older, I have noticed that the people who will be "successful" are the "popular" people. These are the people with social skills and it will definitely help. Even if they're not smart, they know how to network. And quite frankly (you probably heard this before) it's not what you know in this world, its who you know.

But I honestly believe you(you personally) should go out more often. It's going to be hard. You're going to feel anxiety but dw, no one really cares in the outside world. Everyone is preoccupied with their own things that they could care less about one more person walking past them. I feel like pacing (this might sound crazy. But find an empty room, preferably a long one and just walk back and forth and just talk to yourself. Find out who you really are, what are your goals, and what are you here to do. Are you just here to exist or are you going to actually live?) I've had MANY MANY (and in a way I still do) insecurities, but you know what helped? Looking right at yourself in the mirror. Finding that you're at least somewhat beautiful. Is there something you dont like about your face? Change it. Wear make-up if you have to. Just do something different. Nothing is going to change just by you saying "O dam, life sucks and im insecure."
Set goals. If you have goals in your life, you WILL continue moving forward. My goal this month is to gain a mere 5 lbs. It's just 5 lbs, but it is a start. I personally think it should be EVERYONE's goal to be fit. I mean why the hell would you not to be fit dam it. It's healthy and you will be more confident than ever.
I'm not saying that the looking at yourself in the mirror will suddenly make you confident (I still don't like taking/being in pictures), but hey it's a start. And the phrase fake it till you make it has some truth to it.
There are some fantastic people in the world. Some online and some in the "real" world.
TLDR: Set goals.

(Sorry about the long message, I just felt like typing.)

I love the diversity, it's a very fresh breath from day to day life. I would have never met some of the greatest minds I've collaborated with over the years had it not been for being in the place and time that I was online. I love online culture and I feel I might call myself an advocate.

@windowlegs: LMFAO

For one, when confirming with myself the spelling of a word, I will imagine typing it on a keyboard in my mind.

people like to get really serious and type out speeches when leaving guilds

in the same boat, i'm a lot more social and personable now but pretty much all of my socialisation in my formative years was online. i was real shy and nervous around people at school/whatever so the internet was the only way i was comfortable talking with people (example: first girlfriend i had in junior high school & i were both literally too shy to speak a word to each other in real life, the only way we ever spoke or interacted was on msn lmao. needless to say it didn't last too long)

i made a bunch of great friends online and grew so much as a person, if i hadn't met all the people i did i'd probably be a repressed, politically-ignorant bigot like everyone else my age in northern ireland. guess that's why i didn't fit in too well, which is the main problem i had as a result of sequestering myself in the internet. when it came time for me to leave home and go to college at 18, i had literally no idea how to speak to another human being/how to make friends and socialise. long story short i ended up severely depressed, had no reason or desire to get out of my bed most days and ended up dropping out. it was a reality check that i desperately needed but it set me back pretty huge, and i probably could've avoided it if i'd just pushed myself out of my comfort zone more when i was younger. on top of that i was sometimes a pretty bad friend to my online friends too lol, i definitely have some regrets
not too many though, i'm happy i had the experiences i did & i'm a much better person for it all

Tinder taught me that 9/10 guys are just looking to get in your pants..

Pretty much grew up on the internet. I never really enjoyed socializing. It's not that I can't make friends, it's just that I'm too different from society altogether. I'm not much for drinking, partying, or gossiping/complaining about things, nor do I smoke weed like so many people out here do apparently. And since that's what 99% of the people seem to do I don't really care to hang out with them. The internet serves as my social outlet that allows me to talk to people... outside of my area. That and it's more fun to talk with someone who can keep up with what you're talking about than spending 3x as much time re-explaining what you're saying.

That's a very interesting question.
I too am a redditer, but I go beyond reddit's front page. There's so much more to reddit than the front page. Weird why people dont want to go and explore.
Gaming-wise it's also interesting to me. Interesting how I can play maple (but League of Legends now a days) with people around the continent. Hell I made a friend from all the way in Washington State and I live in NJ. If it wasn't for the internet, I would have never met this person at all.
Information-wise the internet is also interesting. Like, I can Google ANYTHING and I will have the answer to it in mere seconds. (Need to know how many kilometers equals a mile, ez). You can even Google questions that you would otherwise be too embarrassed to ask your parents or friends(yeah I do this incognito lol)
But its not even like facts that makes the Internet amazing. It is made up of so many opinions its mind boggling. The Internet is the definition of freedom of speech (not in all places but overall). You can go to forums like these and already you have some alike and some clashing opinions. Some opinions you agree, some you're like "wtf this person probably has half a brain", and then there are the trolls: people who I just see that are probably really really bored and have nothing else to do.

But the thing is, you shouldn't rely on the Internet if you're, let's say, depressed. The Internet, though feels like you connect more with people, is no substitute for real(for lack of a better word) people. I really want to see if people, who are on social media 24/7, are truly happy.

Sorry I typed so much (could've typed so much more, like soo much more, if I had time). I'm a little high rn and your question was very fascinating, so thank you

tbh, the internet made me. like sure the real world did impact me in some way, but the internet has influenced me in so many different ways. if it wasn't for the internet, i'm sure i'd be a lot dumber than i am now, i'd be a lot more ignorant, and i wouldn't be as open minded.

as for the relationships i've had over the internet, they're by far greater than any relationship i've ever had in person. both friendship wise and dating. i've online dated twice. the first time was the most life changing, i learned so much from this girl. i never knew people like her existed. everybody i knew irl were never as kind hearted, open, and loving as her. she's practically responsible for the reason why i'm as sensitive as i am today. the second time i got cat fished, but w/e. the realest people i've ever met were through the internet as well. i really don't know know where i'd be or who i would've become without the internet. i love my internet friends, regardless if i've ever met them in person. but i really do hope one day i can, because it's too f***ing hard to come by real people.

and yeah i used to be one of those dumb asses that thought relationships online were a joke. relationships can be made anywhere and anytime. f*** outta here if you think otherwise.