Multiple Personalities at JU

-a Conspiracy Theory ?


I enjoy my anonymity at JU. I think it’s fun to meet different people from diverse walks of life and exchange views with them without the social barrier usually associated with, well, personal encounters with strangers. The registration at JU becomes a de facto string that unlatches the gate to a blogsphere that says “enter at your own risk (it’s really not much of a risk)”. Since it’s an open venue, as long as you retain your anonymity (and sanity), you’re armed enough.

Somewhere along the way of blogging,as you get comfortable, the paper mask you hold before your face starts to peel, as you start to relate, in no uncertain terms, how strongly you feel about certain aspects of your life, your work, or other folks, etc. In some instances, some bloggers would just scream “whattheheck, I’ve got nothing to hide”,and throw the mask away.

I remember this thread where the host(ess?) came right out with it and blurted “Can we have your names, please?” Most in the friendly(?) community of JU responded, with mostly first names, which was good enough, for an ice breaker, but not good enough to have you trade in that precious commodity – your anonymity (and credit card number). I think for bloggers , it’s mostly what you want to say –a strong passion, emotion, gutfeel that you want to scream out to the anonymous world without fear of a disturbing return call later. For chatroom users, it’s usually who you might meet that’s important, so anonymity becomes selective. Anyway, I think JU has mechanisms for bloggers interested in meeting each other or at least trading email addresses.

But, lately, a sprinkling of anonymous users randomly appear in some registered blogger’s thread not just to give valid comments but to incite reaction (read negative reaction). Knowing how easy it is for one to come in as an anonymous user, and even multiply-register using varied email addresses, one could actually have multiple personalities at JU, theoretically. So, imagine one registered blogger giving out his honest-to-goodness view then meeting up with 5 different blogger identities commenting how absurd his view is when it is actually the same person commenting? It’s called role-playing and schizophrenics are good at this.

Like I said, it’s a hypothesis. Multiple personalities of one person are strewn around to incite reaction. We’re like one interactive video game. It’s a thought.or maybe it’s paranoia.

What do you think?
5,022 views 16 replies
Reply #1 Top
A very good and interesting article, but I dunno, it's awful hard just being me...
Reply #2 Top
A very interesting article indeed. The masks that peels away, eventually, I guess when people begin to feel comfortable with blogging and baring their souls - so to speak - they do unmask themselves.

LW I had no idea that happened. I always wondered about some of the anonymous postings, they can be inflammatory at times. What's the use of hiding themselves? It's just like being a coward. There's an old saying, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!"
Reply #3 Top
Very interesting thoughts you have posted...I know that ppl shouldn't resort to bad behavior in the blogging world out of decency, but...when you do put yourself and your thoughts out there, you leave yourself open to all sorts of opinions and reactions from other ppl...it's something a blogger needs to be aware of.
Reply #4 Top
My personality isn't multiple. My username is my pen name, my preferred name (I don't use my birth name for two reasons: One, I didn't choose it, it was forced upon me, and two, I live in a VERY small town, and relative anonymity is essential to living peaceably with some of my neighbors who may hold vastly differing political/personal views).
Reply #5 Top
>> Multiple personalities of one person are strewn around to incite reaction. We’re like one interactive video game. It’s a thought.or maybe it’s paranoia.

It's valid. Being a moderator of a game forum once (which explains my entire burnout with that activity...), me and the team I was with have caught people who use anonymity or register under a different nick to flame and stir up trouble because they wanted to 'protect their reputations'. They don't know that we can see their IPs.

It's not schizophrenia or personality disorder, like Little Whip said, it's just that they think they can get away with it on the internet, flaming as someone that they think can't be traced back to them, and then coming back to their "clean reputations" after they have blown their steam as if nothing has happened at all.


About the name stuff, I won't tell people publicly online my real name, only because I want to have my privacy as I'm blogging. I don't want to be found by people I've known in previous communities and I don't want them to follow me here, so I use a nick I like. But I am me, all the time.
Reply #6 Top
This primary persona is usually something they've worked hard to construct, as false as the day is long, all honey and sweetness and caring, but now and then the dark side of their nature insists on getting a little exercise, so they let it out to play while refusing to own it.


One couldn't have hit the target as accurately as you did, LW. Getting your confirmation,at least I'm glad it's not my paranoia.
Reply #7 Top
It's valid. Being a moderator of a game forum once (which explains my entire burnout with that activity...), me and the team I was with have caught people who use anonymity or register under a different nick to flame and stir up trouble because they wanted to 'protect their reputations'. They don't know that we can see their IPs.


I'm certainly glad the IPs are a giveaway, RB. It's helpful knowing we're not that vulnerable/helpless about it
Reply #8 Top
it's awful hard just being me...


That qualifies you to be an interesting person. Thanks for making this world go 'round.
Reply #9 Top
There's an old saying, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen!"


"They" probably prefer to peek right now and make lightning jabs. Who knows? Maybe someday, they'll grow up too.
Reply #10 Top
it's something a blogger needs to be aware of.


exactly. I was bent on just giving a "what if.." scenario, actually, without actual confirmation. The comments have been an eye-opener for me as well.
Reply #11 Top
My personality isn't multiple.


So glad to hear that. The world is confusing enough as it is.
Reply #12 Top
Personally I've always found the anonymity of blogging one of the most fascinating things about blogging. Rather than being constricted by the things you have to pretend to be in real life, you can be honest about what you really think about an issue. That's why I don't allow my friends to use my real name on my blog. That and I don't want people to know anything about me, lest they start assuming that I have a particular opinion only because of who I am. I want people to engage with what I have to say, rather than make generalisations about what sort of group I belong to.

I don't see the problem with someone constructing numerous identities and debating things with themself. In fact I think it could be an interesting insight into the way a person sees an issue from more than one side. Rather than needing to temper each argument in relation to what they've already said, they have the freedom to fully develop more than one contradictory point.

As for those who are regulars who log on to say something without their usual persona, again I think that is a very interesting facet that can only add to JU. Some people who have gained notoriety on JU are able to step out of their skins and make a point they feel people won't engage with properly unless they change personas.

These are also the reasons I never call Draginol by his real name unless we are referring to something he is doing in real life. As far as I am concerned, Brad Wardell is another person I have little concept of. It's Draginol I'm interested in debating with. I like the idea that his personality online migt be different to his offline personality. I know mine is.
Reply #13 Top
I like the idea that his personality online migt be different to his offline personality.


Actually he has said as much himself. His online persona has much stronger political views than those he expresses in his personal life. I on the other hand am pretty much the same asshole in real life that I am on here. Good article.
Reply #14 Top
Confession: I once (and not all that long ago, hahahaha) registered as a different user and wrote a blog to solicit...hmm...advice...thoughts, maybe?...on something that I couldn't (at the time) share on my personal blog. A JU or two who know me well immediately knew it was me by my writing style and the situation described, and that was cool...I just didn't want a specific person to read the blog.

I have NEVER and would NEVER hide behind an anonymous nick and make comments that I am not ballsy enough to make under my TW nick, however. On JU and in real life, I feel that if I am too scared or ashamed to say something to someone directly, then it's best left unsaid.

Very interesting article.
Reply #15 Top
Good article


Thanks, greywar. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of it.
Reply #16 Top
Rather than needing to temper each argument in relation to what they've already said, they have the freedom to fully develop more than one contradictory point.


That's interesting. I remember reading an article where the blogger was arguing with himself within his blog. It really was confusing. If a different identity came out with the counter-argument, I guess the whole issue could've been more clearly expressed. Hhmm. Different strokes.