Has the way you "talk" online affected the way you talk in person?
 

I'm just curious, because I think the way I use language has evolved a bit. It's a little easier for me to picture, I think, because I didn't really start using the internet until I was about 15 or 16. I have a tendency to use fewer contractions these days. I think I tend to use names more too now, like "thank you, Tom," as opposed to just "thanks." I think my speech for the most part has become a lot more polite. In general, I think the way I interact with people has changed too. I've always been talkative, but I think the internet has made me a lot more inquisitive about the world. I tend to ask questions about everything I see now.

So, how has the internet caused you to change socially?

As a bit of a side-point that I thought of when I made this thread: Has anyone else noticed the post high school epiphany phenomenon? It seems to me that just about everyone changes almost entirely within six months of finishing high school. Even fundamental ideas seem to get rethought during that time. I'm 22, almost 23 looking back now just in case anyone is curious.

If anything the internet has made me less polite because having to deal with fools and charlatans all day has degraded my sense of being. I mostly keep internet talk and real talk seperate.

As for university change, I'm not so sure. I've always been very opinionated and very stubborn and that, or the opinions I hold, hasn't really changed. My sophistication in producing remarkably meaningless, yet seemingly profound, pieces of work has rocketed scifold though. As has my ability to get absolutely hammered by 12:20 (the uni pub opens at midday, conveniently when I have no classes)

My speech has not changed much. Maybe i've incorporated net slang into my speech. I will use stfu and k'thnx to my co workers when they annoy me. But i haven't noticed a real change.

I know my real life speech has definately gone downhill from being online. Mostly in the form of way more slang than I used to use.

I say things like "alls I want is ___" and "I'ma go ___". Also, I use words like "internets" and "brainmeats". I'm also constantly quoting webcomics, but I do that with every humorous medium.

I've stopped speaking in whole, proper sentences. I now speak in 4chan meme's, including but not limited to, "LURK MOAR," "Tits or GTFO" and my favourite, "FUCK YEAY SEAKING".

No, I still speak normal English in the real world. Heck, I use normal English here, on the web. True, I can comprehend phrases like, "Oh noes!" and "LOLZ!!" and so on, but I don't use internet slang in my daily speech. Most people I know in the real world aren't internet savvy, so talking in internet slang would most definitely not be a good idea.

The only times I do use internet slang is if I'm mocking stupid people on the internet. That's about the only time I would.

As things are for me, I tend not to be affected much. I think, write, and speak generally within the bounds of proper English, although, probably moreso online because I'm not face-to-face with anyone speaking the local variant. And because I'm tired, and can't think of whatever most people use these days to express themselves. Really, the only time I ever use web lingo of any sort is when I'm being sarcastic, online or off. Like a well-placed "oh, noes!" or "ZOMG!" when I'm citing the ridiculousness of another person or group, real or hypothetical.

Ironically I think my exposure to internet has caused my spoken grammar to become more formalized and increased my range of verbal vocabulary. Also, I curse a lot less than I used to.

I have no way of knowing whether this is my fault in particular, but I'm going to tell myself that it is.

Since I got the internet I just hop up and down, banging my knuckles on things while I scream and fling my poo at people.

Joke or not, I see this more.
 

Too true for many people, it seems.