FORUMS > Mental Health Forum Rules

I have watched for a while this behavior of some people online (yep here too) where they will create another profile to speak for them in ways they are afraid to or deceive or some other reason (I will not name names). Its sort of funny to see people unknowingly interact with these personas .. its kind of like watching a child talk to a puppet.

Anyway, this made me think of another topic. It is how we create identity in our mind of ourselves and of other people. It obviously affects how we interact with people and I think most people go through life never really having "direct" interaction with others or maybe even ourselves. Maybe we even emulate people in our lives. Can you see how this affects your life and relationships? Do you have a Alter-Ego or Identity assigned to anyone you know? Do you think you have one assigned to yourself? Do you think OTHER people have one assigned to you?

Maybe it is a generalized character like "the strong silent type" or maybe it is a fictional character like Batman, or Sherlock Holmes, or a mythical creature or deity.

What are your thoughts on these things?

Nope, but then again I have several different aspects to my personality that can come to the forefront depending on the situation. At times I can be moody and withdrawn, at other times I seem to be very sociable and extraverted. Some people think I am nice and a pushover. Others think I am cold and uncommunicative. It is not that I have different personalities, I am like most people, a whole bunch of conflicting and contradicting personality characteristics that I manage to loosely integrate into a semi functioning human!

The only alter ego that I have is teeny-bop sensation Roy Illinois.

All I do is straighten my hair and change my outfit! Nobody can tell it's really me!

We were told once that we were a multiple-personality but some of us found that ridiculous. Others of us thought it was worth thinking about. No, it wasn't. Yes, it was. You shut up. No, YOU shut up. I said it first. Who cares who said it first. I'm telling JP. Okay, like I care. JP------! Ssshhhh if you do I'll tell him what you said Thursday-- Will you two KNOCK IT OFF? We're trying to get some SLEEP here----------

SurrealLife saidNope, but then again I have several different aspects to my personality that can come to the forefront depending on the situation!

Well, sometimes I think our personality is "layered" and maybe not analogous to a single persona. Sometimes I think we subconsciously emulate people in our lives.

Happy_Go_Lucky said The only alter ego that I have is teeny-bop sensation Roy Illinois.
All I do is straighten my hair and change my outfit! Nobody can tell it's really me!

I think this is before my time, I will have to look this person up

jprichva saidWe were told once that we were a multiple-personality

lol, why thank you legion! Haven't heard from you in a while

Ugh. I get alter-egos assigned to me by others. At a previous office I was assigned Martha Stewart because I took control of organizing the office holiday party. I over did it apparently, because from then on - I was Martha. It annoyed me to no end. The Chairman of the Board of the $200,000,000 family-owned company dropped by the Holiday party and his secretary introduced me as Martha Stewart. I wanted to set her on fire. Especially because I looked the part - busily setting up the banquet table when they walked in.

At my current work, I'm Superman. I've had no less than 5-6 executives introduce me to new staff or doctors as the IT Superman. They come in my office and address me as Superman. It's a bit wierd how wide-spread it is. Ok, I've worked to have good customer service within the company and I'm an extrovert so I remember everyones names, but does that make me a Marvel Comic Hero?

Apparently.

I took one of those "Which superhero are you?" quizes. I'll give you one guess which hero I tested as.

ActiveAndFit said

jprichva saidWe were told once that we were a multiple-personality

lol, why thank you legion! Haven't heard from you in a while

Well, golly, some of us missed you too.

Come to think of it, the whole S thing may have some cosmic meaning in my life. In another thread I learned that my stripper name was "Sassy Sedalia".

That makes sense...especially when you've been through high school. Some teachers love an out spoken student, other teachers like students that can sit quietly, and still other teachers like a student who actively participates in class.

As a teachers pet, I felt obligated to be all of the above. A Chameleon with a different color in every class.

The same with my friends and family. My mom likes it when I keep to myself, some of my friends like me quirky and another set have it in there heads that I'm a saint.

But I'm none of those things. I'm just a Chameleon.

A different persona for every situation.

OHhiker saidUgh. I get alter-egos assigned to me by others.

LOL. Martha? Does this mean you will send me a cake for my birthday? Yeah, Superman I can see too .. have you figured out your kryptonite? Stippers? I want proof if you come to see me But you know you left one out .. it was this little fire bug that slipped out .. "I wanted to set her on fire" Who is that?

Its getting a little hot up in here!



Damn!! hot heads turn me on

RyanReBoRn saidAs a teachers pet, I felt obligated to be all of the above. A Chameleon with a different color in every class.

[photo deleted]

There is actually an uncanny resemblance to your main pic and the cartoon .. blue hat .. one eye showing lol

Hey, where'd he go?

Inside I have a fat girl dying to get out, I named her Bertha. She comes out when theres a buffet or all you can eat brunch...my first thought on waking up, "Hmmm Bertha hungry!"

Chuy2010 saidInside I have a fat girl dying to get out, I named her Bertha.

Remarkable! (Don't feed Bertha)


Good, Good .. keep em coming guys!

krush saidI must admit. I do have another profile here on RJ. I guess it is bad. But, I do not mean any harm. I am not all that much of a jock and I am trying to lose this gut. But my other self is a little more adventurous and is part of me that wants to be loved.
Please forgive me.

Theres nothing to forgive .. you don't exist!

BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH

I'd respond to this, but the voices in my head told me it's time to go clean the guns.

Chuy2010 saidInside I have a fat girl dying to get out, I named her Bertha. She comes out when theres a buffet or all you can eat brunch...my first thought on waking up, "Hmmm Bertha hungry!"

Oh shit! LOL!

flux33312 saidI'd respond to this, but the voices in my head told me it's time to go clean the guns.

you mean clean the guns like wacking off?

It seems that people can have personas based on who they really are, and maybe some that exist due to outside pressures to "be someone" they are not. But is it possible to love someone's persona? If it is a fictitious character or not real, it seems we are loving a projection of our own mind which is the self. It is a strange kind of fantasy like two ship crossing in the night but never really making contact.

Likewise what does it mean to feel anything about a persona? What does it mean? Hate, anger, love, envy, compassion .. interesting to think about.

I think anyone on a website has a certain "facade" presented about themselves. And that's not necessarily bad. It is what it is. I mean, a profile on a website is not going to define and demonstrate who a person is in the real world.
The facade of the website profile gives somewhat of a representation of a person, but it just does not fully embrace or extend who they are in real time, real life, and real situations. It does not tell the whole story...which is fine...of who they are, what they have been through, what they are feeling, and who they are as a whole, complete person.
But it's a nice way to connect too..as long as you are open to the fact that they are also HUMAN ...and that means there are some ups and downs, some flaws and stunning gifts as well.
You just have to put it into perspective, I guess.

The question seems to presuppose the existence of a cohesive "self," an "authentic you." It also seems to presume that a certain persona is at odds with one's "true identity."

I think the notion of a singular self is neither true nor even helpful as a fantasy. One of the projects of postmodern theory (including queer theory) is to destabilize this notion of an organizational or transcendental self.

I deal with this in my work all the time. People subscribe to the notion that they need to liberate their authentic self from the mask of neurosis. They have the idea that if they can obliterate the "persona" of the mask, they will become "whole" or whatever term they use to express this fantasy. And of course, the therapist enters a conspiracy with the client to perform this voodoo. The effect never lasts very long because the persona almost always reasserts itself in one way or another and the client runs back to therapy to rip up the mask again.

To me, it is much more sensible to conceptualize the self as a cluster of identities, voices, whatever. The object should not be to obliterate the mask but to develop the freedom to put it away when it's not useful.

Acknowledging the natural multiplicity of the psyche gives you freedom to "play" with identity. That is something I do with clients -- create situations where they literally can assume the "role" of a character they thought was beyond their capacity to become. This increases multiplicity rather than trying to shrink the person to one "authentic self."

This is, by the way, how the Greeks thought of identity. The gods were seen as personifications of the many different aspects of the human psyche. It was the later religions that reduced the gods, and by extension the way we see ourselves, into a single transcendent god, imaged in the human as a transcending, organizing self.

OW said: "To me, it is much more sensible to conceptualize the self as a cluster of identities, voices, whatever. The object should not be to obliterate the mask but to develop the freedom to put it away when it's not useful."

True dat. Listen to the good doctor, I tell you. DO NOT find out my way. A therapist will cost you infinitely less in every way you can possibly conceive.

Say, is Jock_Itch still kicking about? If so, I'd better put him away.

I like what OW is talking about. Being able to have a number of personnas that you can utilized based on the situation. We could take this down the sexual road and talk about roles in the bedroom. Being able to switch around your attitude in the bedroom can be fun. If you were stuck with some 'wholistic self' which you were always seeking to 'be' - you'd basically limit the range of your reactions and actions. Hell, I'd rather have a big spinning wheel next to the bed with a roster of characters on it and give it a good spin before play-time. Lets see Quiet Sub Cowhand or Unethical Gym Teacher tonight - lets give this thing a whirl...
Of course you'd need someone to play with that was into stepping out of their comfort zone of Wholistic Self Actualization to really get into it without it being corny.

ActiveAndFit saidI have watched for a while this behavior of some people online (yep here too) where they will create another profile to speak for them in ways they are afraid to or deceive or some other reason (I will not name names). Its sort of funny to see people unknowingly interact with these personas .. its kind of like watching a child talk to a puppet.

Anyway, this made me think of another topic. It is how we create identity in our mind of ourselves and of other people. It obviously affects how we interact with people and I think most people go through life never really having "direct" interaction with others or maybe even ourselves. Maybe we even emulate people in our lives. Can you see how this affects your life and relationships? Do you have a Alter-Ego or Identity assigned to anyone you know? Do you think you have one assigned to yourself? Do you think OTHER people have one assigned to you?

Maybe it is a generalized character like "the strong silent type" or maybe it is a fictional character like Batman, or Sherlock Holmes, or a mythical creature or deity.

What are your thoughts on this?

I'm the gay Dr. Dre circa nineteen ninety muthafuckin' one. Online, that is. In person I'm...

Well, we need a handshake first to disclose that.

Kinda...sorta...I guess. It all started as a joke really. A good friend Karen was out with a bunch of her girlfriends a long time ago. They were getting pretty rowdy so they decided to give themselves trashy sounding nicknames. Karen became Carol.

Some years later Karen and I were out drinking and she dubbed my alternate drunk, rowdy personality Val. It sorta stuck (unfortunately ).

On the one hand it's harmless fun, but when you really dig down, it became a way to distance myself from behavior I'm not particularly proud of. It wasn't ME being all drunk and flirty -- it was Val!

I have an Alter-Ego. It's been a huge part of my life (which.. sort of sounds like a moronic statement.. but is true) I'd be happy to talk about the "why" behind it, and how it has affected my life. But honestly, I'm not quite sure exactly what you're asking.

In regards to this: "It is how we create identity in our mind of ourselves and of other people. It obviously affects how we interact with people and I think most people go through life never really having "direct" interaction with others or maybe even ourselves."

I'd say you're right about one thing. The identity we create for someone, which is based on our perception of that person, dictates how we interact with that person. But our perception is reality. A lot of folks find that hard to swallow.. but hear me out. Here's a good example.

A magic trick. You would say that if someone were playing a slight of hand trick on me, that my perception of the event would obviously NOT be reality, since I was being deceived. But the difference is that -my reality only changes, once my perception of the event changes- .. or more simply put.. only after I figured out that you tricked me, do I perceive you as a trickster, and interact with you as such. Each is dependent of one another, and therefore, reality can never exist outside of what is perceived.

I'd love the dialectic. ^_______^ I'm not sure if I touched upon what you wanted to talk about or not. I'm not sure how to address the rest of what you said, so I'll leave it at that now that I've written you a fucking novel. lol Feel free to PM me if you want to really get into it.

EDIT_______ Okay.. when I first loaded this thread, only two posts came up. >.< I think my net is messing with me. But after reading all the posts that were made. I'm pretty sure I missed the point entirely.

obscenewish saidThe question seems to presuppose the existence of a cohesive "self," an "authentic you." It also seems to presume that a certain persona is at odds with one's "true identity."I think the notion of a singular self is neither true nor even helpful as a fantasy.

Well I wasn't necessarily suggesting that we don't compartmentalize. I know I can at times seem like different people and behave in ways that are not consistent, but I guess I was thinking also how this is all related to "profile" identities where someone is actually deceiving people for various reasons. Maybe to feel acceptance or whatever. When you go off-line, you have to look at the real person in the mirror. In the cases I have seen a person seems to be "letting things out" that they might repress, like when some people drink. BTW there are games and sites where you can and are supposed to adopt alternate identities. Think of that "SIM" series or any number of role playing games. But this seems a little different than when we interact with people that are real or we think are real.

But also I was thinking of the way we relate to OTHER people and "fill in the blanks" and sort of construct our own interpretation or persona(s) of the "OTHER" which can really prevent us from knowing someone.

As far as the "self as a cluster of identities" doesn't the cluster have to eventually meet somewhere?

OHhiker said If you were stuck with some 'wholistic self' which you were always seeking to 'be' - you'd basically limit the range of your reactions and actions.

To me though, this sounds like us repressing based on a persona that we feel we are supposed to be. So do we really need to create another self to be all that we are? Or is is possible to say I have many different aspects of me, they seem contradictory, but they are all still me. This interestingly enough leans into a Taoist way of looking at things that seem opposite or unrelated, but they are actually blended and are a part of a gradient and of the same origin and there is no conflict.

KentuckyTuss said I'd love the dialectic. ^_______^ I'm not sure if I touched upon what you wanted to talk about or not. I'm not sure how to address the rest of what you said, so I'll leave it at that now that I've written you a fucking novel. lol Feel free to PM me if you want to really get into it.

EDIT_______ Okay.. when I first loaded this thread, only two posts came up. >.< I think my net is messing with me. But after reading all the posts that were made. I'm pretty sure I missed the point entirely.

No, I think you did just fine. I speak in generalities sometimes to give people the option of saying something or bringing up something that I had not thought of, but somewhat related. It is actually the way my A.D.D. brain works anyway. I am OK with Chaos BTW, I think all these cases and situations are related.

LOL...

Active&FitI have watched for a while this behavior of some people online (yep here too) where they will create another profile to speak for them in ways they are afraid to or deceive or some other reason (I will not name names). Its sort of funny to see people unknowingly interact with these personas .. its kind of like watching a child talk to a puppet.

Funny coz, Zimatar had a suspicion on someone here who was doing that not too long ago too. (Not naming names tho ;) Some guys here know who it is)

And my name is Sedative for we are more than Legion/jprichva

Actually I have only 2 distinct kinds of personalities:

1) Extroverted babblemouth when I'm with people I'm comfortable with.

2) Painfully shy introvert that makes me seem like an insensitive snob when I'm with people I genuinely find attractive. Note that when the interaction with said attractive people is not in person I revert to my #1 type personas.

3) Alien invader. This only takes over when I need to do something important. Like terrorize little children for their lunch money. This persona also doesn't know how to count beyond 2.

Sedative saidLOL... Funny coz, Zimatar had a suspicion on someone here who was doing that not too long ago too. (Not naming names tho ;) Some guys here know who it is)

And my name is Sedative for we are more than Legion/jprichva

I thought your name was sedative because that was what people want to give you when you get hyper

As far as those 2 personalities (3 on the list?) it seems to be that the extrovert might be a response to the "painfully shy" one it is interesting you associate one with "pain". This seems to be a great pattern in nature. When you create one extreme another one appears that seems opposite. "pretty" creates "ugly" etc ...

As far as your #3 (alien invader) maybe this is demonic possession

A&FWell I wasn't necessarily suggesting that we don't compartmentalize. I know I can at times seem like different people and behave in ways that are not consistent, but I guess I was thinking also how this is all related to "profile" identities where someone is actually deceiving people for various reasons. Maybe to feel acceptance or whatever. When you go off-line, you have to look at the real person in the mirror. In the cases I have seen a person seems to be "letting things out" that they might repress, like when some people drink. BTW there are games and sites where you can and are supposed to adopt alternate identities. Think of that "SIM" series or any number of role playing games. But this seems a little different than when we interact with people that are real or we think are real.

But also I was thinking of the way we relate to OTHER people and "fill in the blanks" and sort of construct our own interpretation or persona(s) of the "OTHER" which can really prevent us from knowing someone.

As far as the "self as a cluster of identities" doesn't the cluster have to eventually meet somewhere?

I'm not talking about compartmentalizing, or at least not what the usual meaning of that negatively connotes. But, no, the different aspects of the psyche do not necessarily meet one another. I just saw a client who was abused constantly as a child. As is usually the case, he internalized this, so that he treats himself horribly too. I've had him experimenting with an "ideal parental figure" and he's been in a state of shock to discover that this "voice" is in him and spontaneously expressed if evoked. Many people live their entire lives without meeting these natural, weirdly inherent states.

As far as the way "alter egos" get expressed in cyberspace, it can be intentional or unconscious, obviously. It's the same way with any other medium of expression. Remember McLuhan's dictum: the medium is the message, which basically means that a medium doesn't just communicate information. It also shapes the way we think, how we relate to the world. People who know someone from their writing or painting or radio work can have a very different experience of the individual in person.

(There have been interesting pieces in both the New York Times and the Atlantic Monthly recently about the way the Internet is radically changing the way we think and process the world.)

I'm aware of the role-playing games in cyberspace. I use the Internet somewhat like that in my work with groups, but with much less directive intention.

A&FTo me though, this sounds like us repressing based on a persona that we feel we are supposed to be. So do we really need to create another self to be all that we are? Or is is possible to say I have many different aspects of me, they seem contradictory, but they are all still me. This interestingly enough leans into a Taoist way of looking at things that seem opposite or unrelated, but they are actually blended and are a part of a gradient and of the same origin and there is no conflict

It's not really "creation" of the "other" so much as liberating those aspects that, as you say, may seem contradictory but do comprise the psyche. An example, imaged by the Greeks, is Aphrodite, who represents love but not solely in its positive quality. She is also a bitch. We tend to pathologize love's negative aspect as unnatural, when it is anything but unnatural. Thus people have absurd expectations about relationships.

ActiveAndFit said

Sedative saidLOL... Funny coz, Zimatar had a suspicion on someone here who was doing that not too long ago too. (Not naming names tho ;) Some guys here know who it is)

And my name is Sedative for we are more than Legion/jprichva

I thought your name was sedative because that was what people want to give you when you get hyper

As far as those 2 personalities (3 on the list?) it seems to be that the extrovert might be a response to the "painfully shy" one it is interesting you associate one with "pain". This seems to be a great pattern in nature. When you create one extreme another one appears that seems opposite. "pretty" creates "ugly" etc ...

As far as your #3 (alien invader) maybe this is demonic possession

True dat. My extrovert side is extremely confident enough in things I should be confident about. My introvert side is focused on all the things I find lacking in me.

For example the way I act here on RJ is usually the way I act in real life with friends - wacky. But when I find myself alone with someone, or at the attention of someone I really want to make an impression at, I have this horrible feeling of being inadequate, and the result is utter FAIL.

Hence, my extrovert side is a megalomaniac while my introvert side has inferiority complex. Weird huh?

And didn't you read. #3 also doesn't know how to count. Which means...

obscenewish

I'm aware of the role-playing games in cyberspace. I use the Internet somewhat like that in my work with groups, but with much less directive intention.

I think it would be interesting if there was a survey that correlated personalities with the particular personas they adapt in Role-Playing Games (RPG's).

As a gamer, I find the choices of characters in RPG's fascinating because they often say a lot about the people who chose them. They are rarely mirror images of the person controlling them, more like the ideal identity that the player wants for himself.

In rigidly structured RPG's like DnD, the correlation is more striking. I once took a test NickoftheNorth linked me which tested which RPG character I would ideally be - I scored as a Halfling Bard (Halflings are kinda like Hobbits in DnD, fun-loving and artistic, Bards are of course artists). Weird.

obscenewish said(There have been interesting pieces in both the New York Times and the Atlantic Monthly recently about the way the Internet is radically changing the way we think and process the world.)

I'm aware of the role-playing games in cyberspace. I use the Internet somewhat like that in my work with groups, but with much less directive intention.

I don't necessarily see compartmentalization as a negative thing, but more like a necessary response especially in highly stressful situations. I am curious how the whole mechanism works and have to admit I don't see how compartmentalization is different that the multiple personalities thing. BTW, if a person has (like your patient) some kind of multiple personality, is there no "treatment" for that or do you just teach a person to live with it?

As far as alter egos and the rest (even imagination), I get this feeling all this "virtualizing" is related and somehow uses the same mechanism.

Thirdly, as far as using the internet in your groups, all this is leading somewhere. I was actually thinking of "cybertools" that people could use to explore themselves. serious. Maybe I can start a website called "IamFake.com" The rule is that you have to have at least one fake Identity, with very little other rules. I guess there might be Legal considerations, but I think it would be interesting to see how people would behave if they totally let loose.

People who create fake identities have some reason. It is the reasons I am interested in. Then again, any fake person you create is going to probably have some of "you" in it since it is coming from your mind. So maybe fake is not so "fake" in that sense.

Wise man OW's contributions are always so good. He'd like the guy I imagine him to be.

Your point brings up the essence of Sartre's existentialism: Hell is other people.

I have talked about this before, and I don't have as gloomy an outlook as Sartre. But if you view a life's worth by the way it affects others, then you can see how little it ultimately matters what one thinks of oneself. It surely matters to you (and self-perception is what allows us to affect others), but probably not much to others. Because how can they know what is in your head?

So, with every relationship we have -- at work, at home, in the neighborhood, on the net, in the world -- there are so many "selves" out there. We are, in essence, powerless to make sure that others see us as we would have ourselves seen, but only in an ultimate sense. We obviously can do and be many things that will affect those selves of ours that exist in other people's minds.

And, frankly, looking at how we are seen, listening to other people when they tell us in words or actions what they see in us, is the way to learn about ourselves. So many people are amazed by the disconnect between how they see themselves and how others see them, but if we accept the responsibility for ourselves even as it extends to how others see us, we may begin to know ourselves differently and perhaps more deeply.

I accept responsibility for creating the perception that I ramble on and on.

obscenewish saidIt's not really "creation" of the "other" so much as liberating those aspects that, as you say, may seem contradictory but do comprise the psyche. An example, imaged by the Greeks, is Aphrodite, who represents love but not solely in its positive quality. She is also a bitch. We tend to pathologize love's negative aspect as unnatural, when it is anything but unnatural. Thus people have absurd expectations about relationships.

When I say creating, I mean that we ourselves see it as different (when it is really not) which is what I see as maybe a problem. That act of not seeing the connection is the "creating" Then again, in the case of internet personalities some actually do "create" characters with physical attributes.

Sedative saidAnd didn't you read. #3 also doesn't know how to count.

actually in my rush to get ready for work I missed that

obscenewish said We tend to pathologize love's negative aspect as unnatural, when it is anything but unnatural. Thus people have absurd expectations about relationships.

This is one of the things I was also trying to hint at when I said - Can you see how this affects your life and relationships?. That is the affect of "identities" on our relationships.

I have an ex that is Satan.....does that count?

NNJfitandbi saidWise man OW's contributions are always so good.

That is why I summoned him to dispense his wisdom for free That is why I also call him "Doc Obscene"

Mighty_Q saidI have an ex that is Satan.....does that count?

It counts unless it is sedative's Satan (see his comment above)

NJAnd, frankly, looking at how we are seen, listening to other people when they tell us in words or actions what they see in us, is the way to learn about ourselves. So many people are amazed by the disconnect between how they see themselves and how others see them, but if we accept the responsibility for ourselves even as it extends to how others see us, we may begin to know ourselves differently and perhaps more deeply.

Yes, this goes to the heart of what's so problematic about pop psychology's variously stated bromide that "you have to love (or know) yourself before you can love (or know) others." There's also "you have to become the person you want to be before you can have the kind of mate you want."

People who subscribe to this belief, which assumes that one can know oneself (or selves) without the reflection of others, are often very lonely and frequently holding out for the "perfect mate" while they pursue the fantasy of self-perfection.

The reality is that, as you say, we come to know ourselves through others. That is one reason empathy is so important to learn (and it is learnable, according to neuroscientists).

This also reminds me of the way people often approach contemplative practices borrowed from the East. Their goal is personal enlightenment whereas empathy and the creation of enlightened society are more important goals in many traditions. I'm thinking of the Sanskrit chant "neti neti" ("neither this nor that"). On the surface, its denial of a fixed organizing structure in favor of "nothingness" is often considered nihilistic, much like deconstruction. But the actual experience of it produces, as happened with Derrida, a profound concern for ethics, since one can't count on a fixed notion of an inevitably assertive goodness.

obscenewish saidOn the surface, its denial of a fixed organizing structure in favor of "nothingness" is often considered nihilistic, much like deconstruction. But the actual experience of it produces, as happened with Derrida, a profound concern for ethics, since one can't count on a fixed notion of an inevitably assertive goodness.

God I love it when I guy talks like that. Especially if I don't understand it.

Take me now.

A&FI am curious how the whole mechanism works and have to admit I don't see how compartmentalization is different that the multiple personalities thing. BTW, if a person has (like your patient) some kind of multiple personality, is there no "treatment" for that or do you just teach a person to live with it?

My client is not a multiple personality. I have no idea how you concluded that. When I speak of the "ideal father figure" I'm talking about a gestalt that seems to be inherent to the psyche. A gestalt or so-called archetype is not a literal subpersonality. It's not any different from the mothering that seems to come completely naturally to most women.

MPD has been renamed dissociative identity disorder (DID) and it is understood to exist on a continuum. It's not always a case of strictly defined subpersonalities. MPD was very stylish in the late '80s and early '90s, meaning it was way over-diagnosed. I did my training at a center that specialized in treatment of MPD and the most interesting thing about it was how bogus much of it was, right up there with Satanic cult abuse.

In the case of true cases of DID/MPD, the subpersonalities are usually not aware of one another--or only one may be aware of the other. In what I think of as compartmentalization, there's usually a conscious intention, sometimes for good reasons -- like keeping your homosexuality in the closet at work. This of course produces stress but not a subpersonality named Bruce.

There are treatment protocols for working with DID, but I don't do that. I've had a few full-blown multiple personalities come in and I always refer them to someone better trained in that kind of work.

The particular client I mentioned IS dissociative. When he's stressed out, he has several objects of obsession he turns to for distraction. But he doesn't assume different personalities and he's not unaware of what he's doing.

You guys make all this so complicated LOL!

Bertha is part of me and she is ALWAYS hungry. I don't try to understand what just is....it actually came from a similar experience someone described a night of fun out and the name stuck. I dont mind it, I think its funny.

IggyGod I love it when I guy talks like that. Especially if I don't understand it.
Take me now.

Well, let me see if I can analogize it:

"I realize that I could tie you up and fuck you brutally, perhaps ripping your sphincter or infesting you with crab lice, with nothing to stop me from causing even more harm, perhaps death by orgasm, as I follow my penis' demand that I gratify myself to the point of blithering, ecstatic senselessness.

"However, having discovered this potential for erotic violence in myself, I conclude that it is unpredictable, often an inevitable impulse in some circumstances. Therefore, as a sexual predator, I have developed a system of ethics that requires restraint and continual self-monitoring. In the absence of these ethics, I would revert to the murderous impulses of my beastly penis."

Actually, this is related to why Freud called the incest taboo the start of civilization.

obscenewish saidThis also reminds me of the way people often approach contemplative practices borrowed from the East. Their goal is personal enlightenment whereas empathy and the creation of enlightened society are more important goals in many traditions. I'm thinking of the Sanskrit chant "neti neti" ("neither this nor that"). On the surface, its denial of a fixed organizing structure in favor of "nothingness" is often considered nihilistic, much like deconstruction. But the actual experience of it produces, as happened with Derrida, a profound concern for ethics, since one can't count on a fixed notion of an inevitably assertive goodness.

You bring up one of my favorite topics in "eastern thought" I have been studying the "utility of emptiness" for a few years now. It's applications are very pervasive and common in both the physical world and the inner world and like you say in eastern teachings.

Emptiness can result in fullness
True perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present.

Nothingness is the basis of Reality
Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form.
Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound.
Grasp, it cannot be held - it is intangible.
These three are indefinable;
Therefore they are joined in one.
From above it is not bright;
From below it is not dark:
An unbroken thread beyond description.
It returns to nothingness.
The form of the formless, the image of the imageless, it is called indefinable and beyond imagination.
Stand before it and there is no beginning.
Follow it and there is no end.
..
Goodness comes from emptying the mind
Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind rest at peace.
...
The way of nature is unchanging.
Knowing constancy is insight.
Not knowing constancy leads to disaster.
Knowing constancy, the mind is open.
With an open mind, you will be openhearted.
Being openhearted, you will act royally.
Being royal, you will attain the divine.
...

obscenewish saidMy client is not a multiple personality. I have no idea how you concluded that. When I speak of the "ideal father figure" I'm talking about a gestalt that seems to be inherent to the psyche.

In a rush, I just read "and he's been in a state of shock to discover that this "voice" is in him and spontaneously expressed if evoked. Many people live their entire lives without meeting these natural, weirdly inherent states." and thought you were saying he had voices (personalities) that were unaware of each other.

obscenewish saidIn the case of true cases of DID/MPD, the subpersonalities are usually not aware of one another--or only one may be aware of the other. In what I think of as compartmentalization, there's usually a conscious intention, sometimes for good reasons -- like keeping your homosexuality in the closet at work. This of course produces stress but not a subpersonality named Bruce.

My "likening" of the two didn't have so much to do with intention (conscious/unconscious) as the ability and mechanism to separate functionality and content of the mind. But that brings up the story of "Sybil" and other stories (OK I don't know it these were bogus or not) of MPD .. don't the different personalities usually arise (or wake up) as a response to a situation or need at the time? I seem to recall something like that. If that is the case abstractly it would seem that in both situations the mind is creating separation due a "need" or stressor.

Actually, A&F, that's probably true and why MPD was redefined as DID. But my subpersonalities are all going to bed now.

LOL. Nitey nite doc

XRuggerATX saidI'm the gay Dr. Dre circa nineteen ninety muthafuckin' one. Online, that is. In person I'm...

Well, we need a handshake first to disclose that.

You should be Dr. Dre circa 2001 from wikipedia .. "In 2001, Dr. Dre earned a total of about $52 million"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Dre

Chuy2010 saidYou guys make all this so complicated LOL!

Bertha is part of me and she is ALWAYS hungry.

Have you tried carrot and celery sticks? I think you can eat a lot but they are lo cal speaking of lo cal .. where are the lo lcatz? certainly there are alter identities in those.

ActiveAndFit said

RyanReBoRn saidAs a teachers pet, I felt obligated to be all of the above. A Chameleon with a different color in every class.

[photo deleted]

There is actually an uncanny resemblance to your main pic and the cartoon .. blue hat .. one eye showing lol

Hey, where'd he go?

I dunno what happened to the pic, it was probably too big...

we all come from the same source, we are all exactly the same...and the idea of individuality/identities is nothing more than an illusion within your brain.

I'm kind of like a drug - several days after people see me they often go "where's Matty?" and attempt to make plans.

As you probably already know...I'm kind of a big deal. ;)

hehe

Though not as big of a deal as OW's beastly penis, it would seem.

fluxu8 saidwe all come from the same source, we are all exactly the same...and the idea of individuality/identities is nothing more than an illusion within your brain.

Thanks for posting those interesting videos BTW. This notion of sameness actually goes back at least 2000 years. Lao Tse noted:

Realizing our common source brings Peace, Kindness, and Tolerance
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return [to the source].
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.

My hermit crabs control how I act when I'm online.

Guy101 saidMy hermit crabs control how I act when I'm online.

Yah! I have heard of this parasitic mind control. I wonder how many it would take to totally take over the host and make him run the country?

Sometimes have run and sign my Email HHRH Joseph. HHRH means His Hiberanic Royal Highness, but it is only for friends

Your majesty.

Sedative term of address is your Highness only the King is your Majesty. A coomon mistakes for Commoners who do not have a Royal Family

Forgive me, Your Highness.

Motion is a wonderful thing. I usually talk about myself within a bit of a foundation for the cause of my actions. For example, in a relationship with a someone who I am compatable with and love dearly I would behave like such and such, and when living the single life I've noticed I can be a little bit unpredictable.

As far as another identity I might quote or something, um...A Domesticated KingPin

Alexander and Rocco are the same person... what u see, is what you get.

People who i e mail and know me are astounded because as they read an e mail from me, they say they can hear me talk... like i write the same way i speak.

Rocco, the stripper name, was really created because i took a little break from stripping in 01 and someone came along and decided they wanted to be Alexander. SO i had to pick a new name. Rocco, the name of Madonna's son, was short, sweet, and drunk drag queens would be able to say it easily on the mic.

I am surprised no one else is fessing up to alter egos. I see them on here all the time. At least look alikes ..

Tis the season for fake profiles .. election season that is .. so why do they hide their true identities? Any theories?

Every class I end up teaching ends up calling me "Dr. House" because of some imagined resemblance to the actor and/or character.

Your identity questions are thought provoking. I think identity is pretty fluid--made up of a lifetime of imitation and possibly illusory. "I" might just be a series of perceptions, memories, and emotional states.

"Charlie"