Sidwarrious
That's fake though. I hate people who "try to be something they're not". Besides, hasn't Holliwood and such taught you to be yourself?

It isn't necessarily "fake." I don't talk about myself, my personal life, or my beliefs online. BUT, I don't talk about that stuff in real life either. It isn't being evasive or mysterious. I just don't think "me" is an interesting topic of conversation. (If someone asks me something personal, I'll be happy to answer, but I don't assume beforehand that they want to know.) Not everyone feels the need to be a walking autobiographical rant machine. As Inkmonkey said, it isn't "professional," but it is also a rather shallow approach to any kind of discussion to be always spouting off all the little boring mundane things about your job, girlfriend, haircut... If you really have to say those things, keep a blog somewhere, so the only people who have to read it are the other self-absorbed people blogging about the same boring garbage.

If you are a self-absorbed asshole, by all means, keep acting that way on forums or whatever, but don't assume everyone who doesn't act the way you do are "fake." Not every person on the internet is out to tell their "life story" to anyone who'll listen.

usedbooks
If you are a self-absorbed asshole, by all means, keep acting that way on forums or whatever, but don't assume everyone who doesn't act the way you do are "fake." Not every person on the internet is out to tell their "life story" to anyone who'll listen.

Does that mean something is wrong with those that want to share their thoughts and feelings or those that don't?

marine
Does that mean something is wrong with those that want to share their thoughts and feelings or those that don't?

Neither. But whichever you are, don't try to be the other -- and whichever you are, don't assume everyone who isn't like you is being "fake."

(I personally stop reading when people go into personal rants, but some people like that, and some people do that, so go ahead. I don't, but don't assume it's because I'm "hiding things." ;))

O__o You didn't read anything except what I said I was talking to Ink who said he/she changes the way she acts on purpose. If you don't say things in RL then you're being yourself-AOK. Check the facts man, before you just rant.

I read it. ;-) Inkmonkey also said "Part of it is not wanting to be one of those douchebags who rants about himself at every chance he gets." I can relate to some of that.

I wasn't directing the reply to you specifically but rather to the thread in general. I wanted to say those things, because too many people go overboard with the boring intimate details of their lives. Putting effort into not saying personal stuff and deliberately being mysterious is kinda "fake," but I also gathered that Inkmonkey could also be similar to me in refraining from being ego-centric. (Sometimes, I do edit a post I've written when I realize I made it more intimate or self-centered than intended. That's not fakeness; it's discretion.)

That's good and dandy, but what I was talking about was people who act a certain way because they are trying to manipulate. Anyways, no hard feelings. Wanna hug?

Sidwarrious
That's good and dandy, but what I was talking about was people who act a certain way because they are trying to manipulate. Anyways, no hard feelings. Wanna hug?

lol. Sure. Funny how benign threads produce misunderstandings...

I usually see most points of view and will bring up any that haven't been discussed, which makes it appear like I disagree with someone with whom I actually "agree but also..." That's why I stay out of the Debate/Discussion Forum.

Which I guess is all relevant to the "Author Mystique" topic that we've strayed from.

Meh, I actually like to portray the opposite of what everyone else feels, just for sadistic mindf*ck fun. I actually turned a paper into my english lit class arguing all classic and medival heroes to be evil and self centered. And if I got the chance I'd do the American History X thing and do a paper about Hitler being a civil rights hero, just to do it. Not that I believe any of it, but I like to show all views.

How this relates to mystique? This is how I would portray myself. But I like to be more open. If people like my comic and see I can be a ncie guy it lends the comic some credance. I'd say more but trick or treaters...

You both got interesting points here.

But my take on people ranting away... It actually DRAWS ME IN. Yeah I'm weird... lol... and I understand that MOST PEOPLE dont like that. But regardless of agreement or disagreement with the rants... if its spoken in a "hellfire and brimstone" way I'd like it. lol!

Back in the old drunkduck, I remember losing readers because of ranting away in the authors notes. Usually angst-filled drivel and strong political opinions that majority of people disagree with.

So thats why now... my authors notes are filled with "you know I did this and that on this page... blablabla"... and responses to people's comments. Sometimes 1 or 2 sentences of talking about my personal life or politics.

I just needed an outlet thats why I do that and I do not trust people in real life. Because in the internet I'm somewhat "anonymous". I had a misconception at first that doing comics makes you like a sort of celebrity like in music. Because I noticed musicians and actors/actresses are the subject of gossip and it makes people love them or something.

But no. Webcomics is different. I noticed low tolerance for ranting about tough shit. I was just branded a whiner and shit hit the fan and ended up in flamewars.

So now... if ever I wanna rant out something that has a possibility for offending people, I do it in other forums that lend a sympathetic ear or offer technical advice... not the 'STOP WHINING OK' bullshit.

And besides... I'm no longer under 20... and that was the time when I had alot of anger inside me.

Anything done for the sake of doing something is moronic..i.e. Art for art sake; being mysterious just for the sake being mysterious. Acting or doing anything in this fashion seems contrived and fake. I think there is a lot to being just you and not some false image of you that you think you want people to see whether on-line or in the world.

I think the discussion strayed from the original assertion...

It's not "Be mysterious for the sake of being mysterious so you look cool and mysteriously draw ppl's curiosity."

It's "Don't talk too much because it makes it easier for ppl to hear your voice in your characters, which breaks the immersion of your story."

Actually I'm of the opinion that your presence in this forum only contributes in minority to your readership, which is why I'm content to type away. But I try to restrain myself periodically in my Author's Notes. If I had a long self-righteous rant in the previous update, I try to keep it brief in the next.

I figured mlai or I'd be calling you a hypocrite! ^__^, but sometimes you jes gotta go with the flow. And anyways, I do leave alot of notes but mostly to explain alot of the obscure references made by me X__x;;

Sidwarrious
I figured mlai or I'd be calling you a hypocrite! ^__^, but sometimes you jes gotta go with the flow. And anyways, I do leave alot of notes but mostly to explain alot of the obscure references made by me X__x;;

I'm sorry who are you addressing?

mlai

heh
you're missing a comma and a period

Oro?

I'm mystique enough to make people confuse of my gender. Either that or I happen to be good at creating a false identity of myself on the net. lol!

Eunice P
I'm mystique enough to make people confuse of my gender. Either that or I happen to be good at creating a false identity of myself on the net. lol!

Thats easy. All I have to do is riddle my posts with...

XD, ^^, ^__^, ^.^, ~_^, etc. etc. etc... and people will think I'm a girl. (Aside from having a girlie avatar...) lol!

Not cool Kyupol! I do that too much to have you make me out as feminiinity.

Nobody'll mistake yous for girls.

That's cuz I keep full length nudey shots of me in my profile.




If I get more hits after saying that I swear to almighty god! grumbe grumble.

mlai
Nobody'll mistake yous for girls.

I disagree.

thats one prank I played with one dude in a LAN place back in the Philippines. We had this places that are PACKED with at least 100 computers and people play counter-strike or starcraft or any of those online games. (most played CS during my time)

Anyway I picked a "target"... then I taunted him sexually in the game chat... and kept making remarks that I'm a girl or something.

I played along for 30 minutes...

Then I made fun of him for being an idiot to buy my bullshit.

I swear to God I heard someone SCREEAAAAMMMM at the back of the shop. lol!

And because of his avi when I first got on I thought kyu was a girl. X__x. But what else did I have to base it on really? Eheh.

kyupol
XD, ^^, ^__^, ^.^, ~_^, etc. etc. etc... and people will think I'm a girl.

Is that the trick? I'm getting pretty damn tired of being mistaken for a man. No offense to men, but I find it insulting for some reason.

I KNEW you were a girl usedbooks from your demeanor. Well, I hoped you were lol. Eheh ^__^.

Eunice P
I'm mystique enough to make people confuse of my gender. Either that or I happen to be good at creating a false identity of myself on the net. lol!

I think it has to do with the fact that you usually have male avatars, and that "Eunice" is an unusual name that could easily be seen as masculine.

To be honest I have no idea what Inky is...

I believe Ink is a Cherokee male. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Oh. I thought he was a she.

I see, you thought Ink and Skool made a pair.