Classify the personality of the Internet

[Loren Booda]

Classify the "personality" of the Internet

What personality types and traits would you assign the Internet as if it were human?

Use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_type and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trait_theory for examples of assessing personalities.

 

[Drakkith]

All of them.

 

[chiro]

To use a medical term: schizophrenic.

You could possibly even throw in pathological, psychotic, bipolar, anti-social, schizo-affective, disassociative, dissonant, sociopathic, psychopathic, hypocritical, egotistical, caring, considerate, consolidated, creative, cynical, disruptive, deceitful, defending, repulsive, responsible, insightful, intriguing, curious, awesome and somewhat surprising.

 

[rhody]

To use a medical term: schizophrenic.

You could possibly even throw in pathological, psychotic, bipolar, anti-social, schizo-affective, disassociative, dissonant, sociopathic, psychopathic, hypocritical, egotistical, caring, considerate, consolidated, creative, cynical, disruptive, deceitful, defending, repulsive, responsible, insightful, intriguing, curious, awesome and somewhat surprising.

Every trait people willfully decide to act out if they were in fact anonymous, except for mental illness, they are what they are regardless of interacting with net. I am amazed at what people will say and do in video's on the net, and (edited for phoenix, in chatrooms).

Rhody...

 

[phoenix:\\]

except for mental illness

No, people have done that in chatrooms.

 

[Loren Booda]

To use a medical term: schizophrenic.

You could possibly even throw in pathological, psychotic, bipolar, anti-social, schizo-affective, disassociative, dissonant, sociopathic, psychopathic, hypocritical, egotistical, caring, considerate, consolidated, creative, cynical, disruptive, deceitful, defending, repulsive, responsible, insightful, intriguing, curious, awesome and somewhat surprising.

How do you define "schizophrenic" here? (Off the top of your head.)

 

[Ryan_m_b]

To use a medical term: schizophrenic.

You could possibly even throw in pathological, psychotic, bipolar, anti-social, schizo-affective, disassociative, dissonant, sociopathic, psychopathic, hypocritical, egotistical, caring, considerate, consolidated, creative, cynical, disruptive, deceitful, defending, repulsive, responsible, insightful, intriguing, curious, awesome and somewhat surprising.

excellent answer

Every trait people willfully decide to act out if they were in fact anonymous, except for mental illness, they are what they are regardless of interacting with net. I am amazed at what people will say and do in video's on the net, and (edited for phoenix, in chatrooms).

The negative aspect of this is seen in the online disinhibition effect

 

[Galteeth]

Anarchistic. In the positive sense.

 

[Loren Booda]

How about the Internet as psychologist:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/dsm-5-mental-illness-bible-list-internet-addiction-illnesses-article-1.1020979?localLinksEnabled=false

 

[chiro]

How do you define "schizophrenic" here? (Off the top of your head.)

I won't use the medical definition, but for these purposes people that really have a split mind: in other words they act in ways that completely contradict what they have said previous on such orders of magnitude.

I understand that people change their mind and acknowledge the changes and their their past and present viewpoints but those are not what I am talking about.

 

[micromass]

I won't use the medical definition, but for these purposes people that really have a split mind: in other words they act in ways that completely contradict what they have said previous on such orders of magnitude.

I understand that people change their mind and acknowledge the changes and their their past and present viewpoints but those are not what I am talking about.

You're talking about multiple personality disorder, which is often misnamed as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a different disorder which (for example) induces hallucinations; delusions and poor emotional responses.

 

[fluidistic]

Wise, nice, submissive.

 

[chiro]

You're talking about multiple personality disorder, which is often misnamed as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a different disorder which (for example) induces hallucinations; delusions and poor emotional responses.

Remember that I said that I am not using the medical definition. I didn't intend to put this in a medical context which is why I made the specific statement I did in the first line of my reply.

I used the interpretation of 'split mind' which is what schizophrenia corresponds to in the context of attributes found in the internet: I am not talking about a medical diagnosis in the field of psychiatry.

 

[chiro]

Thanks for that link Loren Booda.

I think by the time DSM-5 comes out I will need to see ten different doctors for ten different disorders. Thanks go to the medical community for making internet addiction a mental disorder or illness.

While we are at it, why not make being a gymn junkie an illness. Let's not stop there: why not make up an illness called 'reading addiction disorder'.

Might as well just look at every human activity and put "addiction" in front of it and throw it in the DSM-6.

Then maybe the drug companies can come out with a pill that "fixes" mild Indian-Curry and Gourmet-Thai-Cuisine addiction.

Absolutely unbelievable.

 

[chiro]

While I don't forget, here is another good characterization of the 'personality of the internet':

http://xkcd.com/386/

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Remember that I said that I am not using the medical definition. I didn't intend to put this in a medical context which is why I made the specific statement I did in the first line of my reply.

I used the interpretation of 'split mind' which is what schizophrenia corresponds to in the context of attributes found in the internet: I am not talking about a medical diagnosis in the field of psychiatry.

This makes no sense. Words have meanings and should be used correctly. If I said the internet's personality was like a cat but then said I wasn't using the taxonomical definition of cat and really meant dog would that be fair?

For the record I think schizophrenia is a good, and funny, way to classify the "internet's personality" but to use the term when you don't mean it is inappropriate.

 

[chiro]

This makes no sense. Words have meanings and should be used correctly. If I said the internet's personality was like a cat but then said I wasn't using the taxonomical definition of cat and really meant dog would that be fair?

For the record I think schizophrenia is a good, and funny, way to classify the "internet's personality" but to use the term when you don't mean it is inappropriate.

The term schizophrenia does mean "split-mind" and if you look in the DSM you will find that actually making a diagnosis of the disease is not a trivial matter as it contains things that make it hard to differentiate against diagnoses of things like schizo-affective disorder.

Like I said, the word means split mind. Here is something for you since you brought it up both in your favor and in mine:

In my favor:

Despite the etymology of the term from the Greek roots skhizein (σχίζειν, "to split") and phrēn, phren- (φρήν, φρεν-; "mind")

In yours:

schizophrenia does not imply a "split mind" and it is not the same as dissociative identity disorder—also known as "multiple personality disorder" or "split personality"—a condition with which it is often confused in public perception.

But again for the record I already said above that I was not talking about it being in a medical context and if you want I can quote my own post above.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

But again for the record I already said above that I was not talking about it being in a medical context and if you want I can quote my own post above.

I still disagree that just because you use a disclaimer it is acceptable to use words for things that they don't mean. Using the etymological root of a word doesn't make sense, all that's going to happen is you will have to spend more time and words explaining what you mean.

 

[Pythagorean]

People on the Internet are a lot braver than in person. They're also a lot more callous and arrogant.

Sometimes even more honest, but also more ridiculous lies, too.

 

[chiro]

Ryan, I will keep in mind your perspective for any future communications that we or other members on this board will have and I see where you are coming from.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Ryan, I will keep in mind your perspective for any future communications that we or other members on this board will have and I see where you are coming from.

I hope I'm not coming across as overly pedantic.

 

[chiro]

I hope I'm not coming across as overly pedantic.

Don't worry I see this as a lesson in communication and since this is open forum (and a scientific one), I can see that your point is valid.

Again, you had an important point to say and a lesson has been gained from the experience.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

About the only constant over the last nine years of my involvement with PF, is that PF is never the same. Not only the size and scope, but also the personality of the forum is in a constant state of flux.

In 2003, it was terribly exciting just to be able to sit down and have a conversation with people from five or six different countries. And while I still think this has great value, the novelty has run out. In fact, many people no longer appreciate how amazing this is because from their point of view, it has always been this way.

It has been fun and interesting to watch the nature of the forum and the internet evolve.

 

[drizzle]

Honest to the point of audacity.

 

[OmCheeto]

About the only constant over the last nine years of my involvement with PF, is that PF is never the same. Not only the size and scope, but also the personality of the forum is in a constant state of flux.

In 2003, it was terribly exciting just to be able to sit down and have a conversation with people from five or six different countries. And while I still think this has great value, the novelty has run out. In fact, many people no longer appreciate how amazing this is because from their point of view, it has always been this way.

It has been fun and interesting to watch the nature of the forum and the internet evolve.

I concur. [STRIKE]Though the novelty of talking trans-globally...

Um.

Oh crap. We do it every day now don't we.

I remember, back in the day, when having a new friend in Italy, without having to go to Italy, was a real novelty...[/STRIKE]

I hate you Ivan. I always have.

 

[rhody]

Honest to the point of audacity.

How can Drizzle change their name to Gad...

Must have pull with the mentors I guess.

Rhody...