Do you have more than one persona?

At work recently, I sat down with my boss for a "one on one" meeting. We meet periodically just to touch base and see how things are going on the unit I manage. She also uses that time to coach me on my performance as a manager. One thing she said to me that really rung a bell was that she notice that I put my "game face on" when I'm at work and that I needed to smile and laugh more.

She's absolutely right. I do! I am very work oriented. When I'm there, I am right on it!! I get down to business. I don't get into the office gossip, which is probably why I don't know any of the gossip around here at ageless either. :p

But, what she said really made me stop and think about myself. It's true that I have different faces. I have my business face. And then outside the work setting, when I am with people who really know me, I have my funny side on. I love to laugh and cut up. Remi and I are a perfect fit in that way, because he's the same way. When I am just getting to know someone, I am more shy and reserved until you get to know me.

I think here at ageless, I am the same way that I am in my private life. I reveal alot of myself to you all each day. Whether I'm posting publicly on the boards, or to people in PM, what you see is what you get with me... the REAL me. Not my business side. Not my shy side. The REAL McCoy. I even said to someone at work recently that I feel you all know me better than most people in my life.

So, I'm wondering, when we read your posts, are we seeing the REAL you? Are you the same as you post publicly? When talking to people in PM or chat or email that are members here, are you still the same as when you post on the boards? Or do have a different persona? Do you feel that you post the same way that you treat people in PM or when you email them off the boards? And, I'm talking about people that you know... people that you PM regularly.

Just curious. I'm a people watcher. I'm the kind that could spend hours at the mall observing human behavior. I just wondered what you all think. Are we all really consistently the same privately in PM as we are publicly on the boards?

Hi Whiterose....
In one word....NO!!!For in real life,Im very very quite.Also very reserve.At times,go thur the whole day without saying one word.For me actions,speak louder than words will ever will.As I have been called a "strong and silent type".
Remember what we spoke about,about my emotions.Realy don't know how to put in down,on paper.Wish I knew how.Words fell me....
Well going to try...ok.....so bear with me,everyone
For when my emotions hit me....they all hit me at once.I feel happy,sad,xitced,scared,depressed,
proud...basical all the emotions hit me at once.So my emotions goes in to system over-load.
So....with that said hope everyone,understands The Shadow,a litte better....



The Shadow

Well yes and no. I am the same person on this board as you would meet in the street, except I can talk for hours so much so most folks tell me it is time for them to go (so I can stop talking sometimes) and those who know me (especially my Mom) will say "Cheryl Ok I can't talk long" LOL. I think it is somewhat now at this "tender" age of 44 that I am alittle lonely and because I am so much more interested in rounding myself out more, learning new things as if the hour-glass is almost empty. I think in person too I talk so long it kind of runs folks away LOL.
ANyway, I do love to talk. I love to write, but since I feel as if I "messed up" in my personal life, you won't see me comment on many relationships too much. Of course if you talk about being a Mom that I can account for - thank the Creator (so far its the only thing I have done right so far. I tend to rattle on (as you can see) to give my opinion and this is in person too I want to make sure I am understood. I went thru childhood the "black sheep" of the family so I always feel as if I missed saying something. I am very sensitive, I tend to watch what I am saying to make myself clear and not to step on toes. I can read (books, magazines, and newspapers are all over the house) and like a child have got to tell someone about it be it positive or negative. Of course my 12 yr old does this now - hmmm wonder where he got that from?
I am still proud of myself personally so alot of times you will see books by African/Native Americans that I recommend. I love music so much more now and you will see my posts about those as well. I am still family oriented so you will see those posts as well.
Someone the other day asked me if I would ever get married again, I answered yep if he can listen to me talk.:D

IF you talk to Polly and other folks around where I live, I'm the exact same way in real life that I am online. I like to joke around....like to flirt in a fun manner...like the innuendo's...

But, I can be serious when needed and appropriate...

Problem is...about 75 percent of the folks on the Internet are different. It's EASY to be someone who you aren't...who you really aren't.

Dragonfly, you reminded me about a facet of my own personality that I did not mention. I also have a temper and a sharp tongue when the need arises. I don't use either much, but when I do, watch out. I think that alot of people both here and work would be surprised at that about me. ;)

I don't think that we are hiding anything from each other here when we don't reveal everything about ourselves..... I just think that we all present different personas in different places in our every day lives.

My original question is aimed mostly at understanding if your persona is different here in PM as it is when you post publicly on the boards. Because it's like two worlds within one here on ageless -- the public posts and the PMs. I ask this out of curiousity because I wonder if people present the same side of themselves in both worlds here on ageless -- the public posts as well as the private ones.

depends on the day who ya see ;)

actually i'm a very private person...you'll know me in PM's much better after i finally get to thinking you might be ok to know the real me... ;)

And I'm so glad I have gotten to know you through PMs, Chris. :)

I am exactly the same way here as I am in real life. No difference. The only thing that is at all different is that no one here knows my past......I was such an incredibly wild woman that my experiences would be enough to make even the most liberal of you blush, lol:eek: But then again, even my friends in real life don't know a lot about how wild I was, lol. It's my little secret. I'm a very discreet person.

Jeremy knows about all of my past and loves it because he says he can mentally live out any fantasy he's ever had just by imagining the things I've done.

whipser,
Me too ! Wild women. What a deal.
I am pretty much like I am on the boards but sometimes, I think on the boards I "seem" different to others than I am. I have a very dry sense of humor that is often missed. Comes across as a wisecracker. Sarcastic..........hmmmm That applies ! I just finally reached a stage in life where I am what I am. All the time. It's a great feeling.

Originally posted by meshunny
whipser,
Me too ! Wild women. What a deal.
I am pretty much like I am on the boards but sometimes, I think on the boards I "seem" different to others than I am. I have a very dry sense of humor that is often missed. Comes across as a wisecracker. Give it some time. After the members get to know you, they'll understand you better. It takes a while sometimes.

I think I'm pretty much the same, but I should ask that to the ones who met me in real life! :)