February 10, 2011
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Happier On Xanga Than in Real Life
A recent survey showed that 45% of young people said they were sometimes happier online than they were in their real lives.
The Internet allows them to be whatever they want and if they are unhappy, they can just shut down their site or walk away. Here is the link: Link
Are you sometimes happier on the Internet than you are in real life?
Comments (66)
No, nothing beats real life. I wouldn’t trade the life I have for anything, not even my awesome Xangan existence.
I’m more *insert ANY random emotion* on the Internet. I can be happier or angry, loving or hateful. I’m not any more of one thing. I’m more of a lot of things. And that’s not always a good thing…
Sometimes I am happier online.
My first thought was… “Who isn’t??” I mean… the internet makes it incredibly easy to immerse yourself in a culture – and walk away whenever you want. I would say this is a very good ingredient for happiness. However, I also know that some of my closest relationships (including my fiancee) came out of the internet originally – so I’m biased.
@PervyPenguin - This, only my last word would be Hitler instead.
Being online is part of my real life! I am probably a happier than average person. What I like about being online that doesn’t apply much to real life is that I can express what I really think anonymously. There is a great deal of freedom online.
Yes. I have friends here, I am relatively likable here and can say whatever the fuck I want. In real life, I’m a forgettable, socially-awkward loser with no friends and can’t look another person in the eye and struggle to read social cues.
I love Xanga for giving me the freedom to be who I want to be and say what I want to say.
Nigger.
No, I actually find Xanga kind of stressful. I like some things about it, but it’s not always as fun as I’d like. Real life is stressful too, but not in the same way. Overall, real life wins.
Surprisingly no. The Internet is a source of information and intellectual stimulation for me.
I actually am less happy online because it is socially unacceptable to be critical or pissed off at anything. Xanga lets me hate who I want.
erm see i am a big fan of the internet, but there is no way that it can stand in for real life. real life definitely makes me happier because i am talking face-to-face with real people and interacting with my surroundings and such.
although i can see how maybe people who are bullied or something in real life use the internet as a sanctuary.
No. I’m just as happy in real life as I am online.
I’m not happy online or in real life.
The Internet is an important source of emotional satisfaction for me.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace - That explains why you subscribed to me!
depending on the day, i am equally happy or unhappy in both settings.
Hell yeah I’m happier online sometimes than in real life. Screw real people in real life – lame.
I think I am about equally happy in real life as online. Sure, if I find a website disturbing or horrific and it makes me sad, I can leave the site. Since my life is relatively pleasant, if I have disturbing thoughts, I can simply “click away from them” mentally, too. I have my melancholy moments in real life and on the internet. I’d say that my Xanga weblog sitself actually makes me look slightly less happy than I usually am because when I feel melancholy I feel more like writing.
Depends where I am and who I’m with and who isn’t following me.
I am happy both online and in real life.
i think i’m more emotional in general on xanga. i’m more myself here. on any other site, i’m less emotional, less myself, have to hold back more, and am almost less happy, but on xanga specifically everything i feel comes out more melodramatic and intense.
@PervyPenguin - This. Except my last word would’ve been bitch.
Bitch.
@PervyPenguin - Nigger? LMFAO.
The internet is my real life.
No. Sometimes it can cheer me though.
@WordsandThoughts - I’m an asshole.
@PervyPenguin - I love assholes! =]
Sometimes.
Not really.
I’m only happy when I visit your site. What else is there in life?
Lol not ever. I experience life far too physically to ever be satisfied with a keyboard and a computer screen.
That depends on the kind of day I’m having. Nothing can top, for instance, a day at Knoebels, the best little amusement park in the world. But a day with the internet beats a regular day of sitting around watching sportscenter and waiting for the snow to melt and the 30mph winds to stop so I can go outside for a while.
I think the internet is a good way for people to let out their feelings. Its a good outlet. But with that said, it can also be a harmful outlet. Online bullying is a serious problem for younger teens. Not being face to face with someone makes it a lot easier to say how you “really feel.”
I definitely understand why some people would be happier online than in real life. I would only hope that those people would realize that its not supposed to be that way and get out and try to improve their lives!
Not really. Internet happiness is only virtual.
Much of my work and play involves the internet. But real life is the only place where I get really good buffalo wings. Real life wins.
Xanga for me is like good seasoning…not any good at all by itself….but great on a good steak…but a steak is good by itself. Being pinned at home all the time, I would feel a severe loss without Xanga but I am sure I could find other ways of being “with” people, I was with people in rehab and fitness, the church as a beneficial womens group that meets and does hand work for the needy (sweaters. quilts, scarves and caps) so with out a doubt real life is fullfilling but Xanga is convenient and I have met a lot of wonderful people here.
No. I have more real-life friends than xanga friends. Actually, I don’t really have xanga friends. I’ve always wanted some… I don’t have many real-life friends either, but the ones that I have are epicly awesome.
I use online to make my real life better.
It’s a hard call. I’m not a social person at all. I feel uncomfortable when thrust into a social situation, so I like the Internet because I can socialize more comfortably. I have more time to digest what someone said and think up a response.
I’m not completely anonymous on here because some IRLers read my blog so sometimes I feel pressure to not write what I’m thinking. That doesn’t happen terribly often, but it does happen from time to time.
@PervyPenguin - well at least you have enough social tact to sense that you probably wouldn’t get away with saying that word in real life.
i feel like I can voice my thoughts more clearly online…, but I still prefer real life interaction over digital. I am loud and animated in person, something that I don’t feel like I communicate digitally. I also like eye-contact when I am talking to someone, something i can’t do online.
Sometimes, sure. For about a year of my life my only friends were online friends. I would have been very sad without them.
Sometimes it is easier to be happier on line because you can be yourself and not have to worry about small things…and you find out that you are not truly alone with what you are experiencing.
This week I have totally hibernated from the real world as much as I can… It’s unhealthy and sad… But sometimes it’s the only way I survive.
It’s a give and take some times!
It’s easier to be open on the internet because the issue of physical appearance is stripped away.
Other times, having the face-to-face experience just cannot be surpassed.
I say that it can vary with age, and what is going on in your real life.
Some individuals seek refuge with online games (such as RPGs) that
allow them become someone else and live their lives the way THEY want to.
Others – live, breathe, and love their real lives because they’ve overcome negatives in
their lives, or they’ve just never had to deal with much negativity.
I’ve noticed I’m a lot more positive and encouraging and give more people the benefit of the doubt on here than I do in real life.
@WordsandThoughts - Of course you said that, because that’s what I was thinking lol.
Nothing beats real living.
rob of the sky
Sometimes. Only if I’m really depressed or in some kind of emotional/mental rut.
Which is never often.
I’m the complete opposite. I act fairly average in my day to day life, and I’m a drag on here. I don’t have safe outlets out there, so I have to do it somewhere… or else it would be catastrophe.
No.
I’m just the opposite–I probably appear less happy online than I do in real life. The reason is that I don’t want to be the one who brings people down, so I don’t say anything to my friends that might make me appear that way. In contrast, I don’t filter out my thought that way when I’m on Xanga.
I can see why they would feel that way but for me I only use the internet to get in touch with my real life friends and so there really is not difference.
thats sad. that people actually think online is better.
I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. It’s a whole different world online so you act different to how you would in reality. It’s like your alter-ego takes over, be who you wanna be kinda thing.
Not generally. I’m pretty happy in real life.
Hhhmmm…sometimes.
That’s sad.
When I was a teenager I was happier online then in real life. But it makes sense because in real life I was bullied and isolated at school and had to come home to my alcoholic parents. Online I met people I could relate to at the time. People that would be on the phone or internet with me all night if I needed to talk or vent.
Now I am happier in real life though. I just use the internet to research, keep in touch with friend and fam on FB since I moved and selling things on Etsy. I have no reason to make it my life anymore. Most of my online friends moved onto other things and I still talk to some of them once in awhile. But I live with my boyfriend of almost 6 years now, trying to find my place in the world and I don’t need the comfort of the internet like I used to. I find comfort in psychically being around the people I love now and getting out sometimes.
depends where I am (: but it’s very tempting to talk to friends on the internet
Even when I’m online it’s still real life; it’s just lacking in certain important dimensions. The internet has it’s advantages and annoyances; so does ‘real life’.
Well, I like the internet and how it connects me with people and things and opportunities that could lead to me having a great “real” life. It’s one of the biggest motivators for me to get things done. So yes, it does make me happy.
@PervyPenguin - HAHAH fuck I love you. Pretty sure I’d love you IRL too.
I am the same in both worlds.
I’m definitely happier in real life.
FallingSafely Ditto!
I complain a lot on here, while smiling away IRL, so that I don’t snap and backhand someone. Okay. MANY someones. LOL