Thursday, April 9, 2009

More about anonymity

Wow. A reader. Thanks Ms. Undecided for wanting me to post more.

Continuing on my theme of anonymity, before I was married which would be in the ball park of 24 years ago, I got my first dose of anonymity by going to Sexaholics Anonymous. Really sort of enjoyed some very good and deep conversations with a wide range of people. We were very open about our struggles, etc.

At that time, in spite of my Christian faith, I was addicted to porn, and spiraled into strip joints, prostitutes, etc.

Several years ago, when I was in a massive depression, I spent a month at a Christian out patient, mental health facility. We had group therapy several times a day. We got real with one another in a hurry. Some of those people knew more about me, than close friends I have known for years.

In many ways it felt good.

So why is it easier to be real, in the land of anonymity? Not totally sure.

2 comments:

  1. I think, for me, it's because I don't have anything invested in the people who know me as my anonymous-self. They can judge and then go away and I won't give them a second thought.

    I have friends from the online world that I've never met in person but know me better than most everyone else in my life. I wouldn't give up those friendships for anything and they all started out as anonymous.

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  2. Some people act like on-line friendships are not real relationships-but with some people they can be more real than in person.

    Obviously people can create a whole personna on the web, but I think alot of times, they actually fake alot less than in real life.

    I know for me, I have been encouraged by people I have interacted with on the web, and hurt when I got crossways with someone that I had shared deeply wiht, just like I would have in real life.

    BTW- this is mr. anonymous, I wrote this then realized I wasn't logged into Google, too lazy to do it now.

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