So today, Akrl gave me some food for thought with his nice comments directed towards me, and it made me feel great...so a rather logical question appeared in my mind: Can ATRL (or any other forum for that matter) can have a profound effect (positive or negative) on its members' self-esteem.

For me, Arkl's comments were a nice boost for my self-esteem on a forum scale of course. I've always been hearing that we shouldn't take internet forums seriously and usually I would agree, but you can't deny that being liked/disliked even on the internet can affect you.

So do you think that ATRL (or other forums) can have an influence on you/on your self-view? and what was its effect thus far on you?

Maybe if it's a site where you can earn rep points you would feel good if lots of people gave you positive rep but on forums like this things don't tend to boost me or put me down

Half of the people here are either extremely ugly or nerdy with low self- esteem
They don't even know me.

So to answer your question no...

But i am flattered when i get nice comments.

no

People are mean here

So no

So I suppose that it has a little effect about self-steem towards you, right?

My opinnion is, the right thing is that it shouldn't affect you, simply because you don't know the other people, at least personally.

But, well. There is a percentage of people here who prefers to socialize here rather than on the "real life" , and that's when the problem starts I think.

In my case, it sometimes influences me, it depends on the people who makes the comment. If I know that is a troublemaker or a "troll" I just don't care. It also depends of my mood, bipolarity

No because no one here truly knows each other. And opinions here change so frequently that Its hard to take any of them seriously.

I admit that when I posted my pics and people complimented me, I got a little self-esteem boost.

But when people insult my faves, or call me out for things in my life (that happens on other forums) it doesn't get to me. I can brush off the negatives.

Hell no.

I'm sorry, but I am very skeptical towards the people who said "No". You guys might not realize it, but IMO you at some level care to be accepted and at some subconcious level even to be liked on here.

The fact that you don't know anyone here personally is even more stimulating. Strangers most likely will not kiss ass and they will tell you how it is...so getting praise and earning their approval might actually mean a lot. For example when you post your original idea, which turns out to be smart and sparks an interesting debate, you will feel great about it, won't you?

Again this is all my opinion.

no

ok

you might need some time...and you have to give it some thought. You could change your mind at some point. I thought the same when I first joined, but I think things change

I think I'll be more hurt if a family member or someone that is close to me in real life say something negative. But if it's someone on the internet. It is what it is. I don't really care. I don't know you.

Yes. I can't lie. In any interaction, whether personal or virtual, I want to be liked. But I don't lash out if I'm being insulted, either.

:dickhead: Nurp.

If I'm at least being insulted by someone here that I don't know, just be ready for some counter-fire. Otherwise, I could care less.

No way. Many members on ATRL are very mean. This is forum definitely has some of the most shallow people I have ever come across. I just hope it is not what they are like in real life, because if they are then they aren't worth knowing. I have gotten nice comments before, but they don't know me so it doesn't really make me feel any better about myself.

I think everyone who's seen my blog knows I've had my issues with self esteem because of what people have said over the internet.

I feel better on here because at least people aren't as likely to be mean to me. Though my pictures are constantly ignored.