Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 6, 2011 15:22:24 GMT -5
The PsychologyThe Internet offers the gift of anonymity. One of the most well-documented traits of human psychology is called the "false consensus effect". It stipulates that we "fill in" unknowns about other people from our own perceptions, morals, and attitudes. Habitual liars are more likely to be mistrustful of other people. Bad drivers are the most vocal and unforgiving critics of other bad drivers. People who enjoy certain activities (sports, reading, role playing games, etc.) often blindly assume that other people will as well. Or consider an 'odd look' from a stranger. A racist might interpret the look as "he's critiquing my ethnicity". A fashion-conscious woman might interpret the look as "he's noticed something 'off' about my makeup." A highly courteous individual might wonder, "what have I done to offend him?" The stranger, meanwhile, might be thinking, "that person looks a lot like my dog". This same principle holds for EE. We have all "filled in" a vast number of assumptions about each other that aren't correct. Sometimes, it's interesting to explore and uncover these misconceptions. There are several exercises for doing this, but the following game is one of the more interesting ones. The GameYou are given five descriptions below. Suppose it is an absolute, undisputed fact that each description matches one and only one EE contributor (500 or more posts). That is, there is 100% certainty that one and only one EEer matches each description. Given this fact, who could possibly be the following and why: - 1 - this individual is the CEO of a major US-based tech firm and possesses a powerful business sense. His/her business savvy is never overtly demonstrated on EE but it occasionally "shines through" in some posts. Throughout the day, this individual handles tough business decisions in a high-stakes industry. But EE is his/her "relaxation zone". No rough n' tough business here... although the type A personality might slip through occasionally.
- 2 - this individual was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in December of last year. According to the oncologist, he/she now has only two months left to live. His/her posts are usually lively and convivial, although there is a haunting sadness to some of them. He/she has come to accept the painful fact of his/her mortality, but wants to live happily among his/her online friends before he/she passes on. All but the keenest observers would assume that nothing was wrong, but there are times that make you wonder...
- 3 - this individual is a 12-year-old savant--a young, eccentric quasi-genius with an enduring curiosity about human psychology and human behaviour. The poster is (most of the time) able to convincingly portray a 'normal', much older personality. But two things are 'off' from time to time. Firstly, this individual is a little too overt at times in his/her attempts to manipulate and test the emotions/behaviour of others. Secondly, on rare occasions, this individual's lack of "adult worldliness" makes you wonder about his/her age.
- 4 - this individual is a "furry" in real life. He/she is normally incredibly shy, but when he/she puts on a suit to 'become' an animal, he/she opens up and becomes quite sociable. His/her furry role-playing tendencies are central to his/her lifestyle but kept very separate from his/her online persona (although his/her online behaviour sometimes 'strikes you' as being a bit odd). This individual embodies many of the good qualities of animals: wild, innocent, attention-seeking, adventurous. Could this individual embrace these same qualities in RL through role-play? (Note: Virgil is not allowed as an answer for this question, for obvious reasons. )
- 5 - this individual is a "closet paranoiac". Everything about him/her has been deliberately falsified in the interests of online safety. His/her gender, age, locale, marital status, and every last personal detail are false. His/her posts seem normal enough, although quite guarded at times. Quite often, there are inconsistencies (mostly small) that cause an eyebrow or two to be raised. Sometimes it doesn't seem possible that everything this individual has told you about his/herself can fit consistently together into a single person.
There are no wrong answers (except for 'Virgil' in 4). But naturally, the more elaboration the better. If you had to believe, who could you believe, and why.
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Post by mtntigger on Jun 6, 2011 15:25:43 GMT -5
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Jun 6, 2011 15:27:35 GMT -5
Too many words, and I'm in a mood... Karma for Virgil anyway. I like geeks/nerds. DH and DS qualify. ;D
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 6, 2011 15:29:20 GMT -5
1 - IHOP 3 - Virgil 4 - Ratchets - LMAO because it's a private joke! 5 - MU
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Colleenz
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Post by Colleenz on Jun 6, 2011 15:36:32 GMT -5
1 - TLoonya 2 - Snerd 3 - Deb 4 - Virgil (I don't do rules - remember?) 5 - Swamp What do I win?
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 6, 2011 15:37:21 GMT -5
4 - Doc. I'm saddened by the thought of who #2 might be.
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Colleenz
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Post by Colleenz on Jun 6, 2011 15:39:27 GMT -5
It's not anyone real Nancy - Virg is just making stuff up.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 6, 2011 15:42:11 GMT -5
Bad Virgil. Bad for making up stuff and bad for wasting time. What do you think this is, EE? Step over here, sweetie. You are about to get a serious , and I will enjoy every minute of it.
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Regie
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I am a big mean snow leopard, yes I AM
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Post by Regie on Jun 6, 2011 15:43:36 GMT -5
I agree with POM I think 3 is Virgil.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jun 6, 2011 15:43:45 GMT -5
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Befferz
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Post by Befferz on Jun 6, 2011 15:51:58 GMT -5
I think #2 is Rick. Those coffee-drinking guys are very sad and haunting...
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Mad Dawg Wiccan
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Post by Mad Dawg Wiccan on Jun 6, 2011 16:00:23 GMT -5
All I know is none of them are me.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 6, 2011 16:05:04 GMT -5
I agree with POM I think 3 is Virgil. My second choice would be rovo.
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Befferz
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Post by Befferz on Jun 6, 2011 16:06:57 GMT -5
I'm going to guess POM for #4. Please don't hate me! It's mostly because of the "wild, innocent, attention-seeking, adventurous" description, and not for the furry part. Besides, furries need love too!
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 6, 2011 16:07:06 GMT -5
I suppose I 'asked for' 3. Personally, I could believe: - 1 - TD2K. Don't ask me why.
- 2 - bluerobin. I read blue's stuff and sometimes it seems like I'm reading "Tuesdays with Morrie". He tries so hard to be happy and upbeat about the future, but I can tell otherwise.
- 3 - Definitely DebMD. I wouldn't even have to stretch my imagination.
- 4 - POM, and again, no stretching the imagination.
- 5 - Optimist always meets this definition for me. She claims to be a UNIX programmer. And I believe the latter since she's made jokes about /dev/null, etc. But I'm quite certain there is no such thing as a female UNIX programmer. I'm not kidding. I've met hundreds of UNIX programmers, and not a single one of them was female. There are some other oddities too.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jun 6, 2011 16:19:46 GMT -5
Um, Virgil, that's not Deb. The phrases "from time to time", "at time" and "on rare occasions" are the giveaway. She was always overt, manipulative, testing others and lacking in adult worldliness.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 6, 2011 16:38:07 GMT -5
I suppose I 'asked for' 3. Personally, I could believe: - 1 - TD2K. Don't ask me why.
- 2 - bluerobin. I read blue's stuff and sometimes it seems like I'm reading "Tuesdays with Morrie". He tries so hard to be happy and upbeat about the future, but I can tell otherwise.
- 3 - Definitely DebMD. I wouldn't even have to stretch my imagination.
- 4 - POM, and again, no stretching the imagination.
- 5 - Optimist always meets this definition for me. She claims to be a UNIX programmer. And I believe the latter since she's made jokes about /dev/null, etc. But I'm quite certain there is no such thing as a female UNIX programmer. I'm not kidding. I've met hundreds of UNIX programmers, and not a single one of them was female. There are some other oddities too.
I'm really hurt Virgil. # cd /Virgil; rm -rf *
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jun 6, 2011 16:45:36 GMT -5
Hahahahahahahaha! Pom's a furbie Yanno, Pom, I heard about a guy who would be a great match for you
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 6, 2011 16:47:30 GMT -5
Iggy is #3.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 6, 2011 16:58:28 GMT -5
Hahahahahahahaha! Pom's a furbie Yanno, Pom, I heard about a guy who would be a great match for you LMAO!!! That's why I mentioned Ratchets. Sure, he has a friend... ROTFLMAO at being really shy in RL!! Yes, I'm a wall flower shy type and I'm a church going virgin.
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Jun 6, 2011 17:07:50 GMT -5
ROTFLMAO at being really shy in RL!! Yes, I'm a wall flower shy type and I'm a church going virgin.
We really need to meet because frankly, we're two peas in a pod.
<<grinning smiley>>? <<barfing smiley>>? <<ROFL smiley>>?
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 6, 2011 17:12:26 GMT -5
Malarky, booze has never defiled my innocent lips either. You? But WTE is the "odd" part?! Virgil, thinks I'm odd just because I used to sport a red tail and some funny ears and lick my butt. <<sniff>>
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 6, 2011 17:18:48 GMT -5
Malarky, booze has never defiled my innocent lips either. You? But WTE is the "odd" part?! Virgil, thinks I'm odd just because I used to sport a red tail and some funny ears. <<sniff>> In Virgil's explanation he said I have oddities. Its the only thing he got right its like he doesn't even know me. << I think you should post the red tail pics, it will be like EE's version of Walmart people. >>
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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♡ ♡ BᏋՆᎥᏋᏉᏋ ♡ ♡
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Jun 6, 2011 17:29:40 GMT -5
She was never able to convincingly portray a 'normal' or much older personality. Only two? Try several.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 6, 2011 18:42:23 GMT -5
No wrong answers, Iggy. Just an exercise to get us to reexamine the ways we look at other people. I stand by putting Deb in for #3. A lot of you have written her off, but many of her posts seemed to be suggestive of learning--of seeing how far she could push the envelope before we snapped. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if we turned out to be the equivalent of Deb's ant farm. POM, you just "fit" as a furry. Your avatars have always been animal-themed. Many of your action cues (e.g. <<POM gives CL big, slobbery kisses>>) are also animal-themed. I wouldn't say that you're characteristically wild, attention-seeking, or innocent, but as far as EEers go, you're certainly in the higher percentile in terms of expressing the three. You have a live and let live non-judgmental ethos, which I figure would be an absolute requirement for a furry. I've never seen you take or deliberately cause offense. And your comments about animals are consistently positive (unnervingly so in the case of certain execrable spotted cats ). Case in point: there have been certain posts where it was awkward not to mention 'personal' details and yet you omitted them anyway. The one I remember off the top of my head was a discussion about storms. People were describing whether or not they had experience storms "around where they lived". You posted something cryptic like "That would depend on where I live." Almost as though it was a response to a threat. Like: "No way am I telling you what the weather is like here so you can track me, FBI lackey."
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Jun 6, 2011 18:48:02 GMT -5
<<POM gives CL big, slobbery kisses>>)
EE theme from way back. Just a way to greet friends.
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ysi
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Post by ysi on Jun 6, 2011 18:49:28 GMT -5
I can't recall the names from memory but if I see a name there is a certain recognition light that goes off in my brain. Some are one person posting under multiple names, some post too seldom to be statistically significant. I like the general social behavior here-I can post something critical, like "that generation" yet not be shunned when I post something else unrelated. Try doing that in real life?!
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Jun 6, 2011 18:58:07 GMT -5
Uh huh.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Jun 6, 2011 19:06:49 GMT -5
<<POM gives CL big, slobbery kisses>>)EE theme from way back. Just a way to greet friends. This is true. I was not the original creator of that phrase, but Virgil does understand where I come from.
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Post by moxie on Jun 6, 2011 19:45:24 GMT -5
I don't know anyone here that well.
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