E-People. They're all around us on the internet. An E-Person is a special type of person that shows themselves on the internet. Now, my criteria for an "E-Person" is pretty broad. I consider a personality type an "E-Person" if it meets one of the following criteria:
1. It's completely different from someone's real life personality.
2. It's not necessarily different from someone's real life personality, but due to the anonymity of the internet they show no fear in expressing it online. So it *is* different than how they *act* in real life.
3. May not be different than someone's personality in real life, however the internet has given them an outlet to express their quirks in new ways.
Some E-People traits fit only into one category, while some fit into all of them. It doesn't matter. These are just general criteria.
Anyway, today we will be discussing....
The Internet Rebel
Why are we discussing The Internet Rebel? Because their presence online is growing perhaps more than any of the other annoying E-People types currently. You'll find at least one on any site you go to, and many sites are hives of these things where at least 50% of the users or more are Internet Rebels.
Now, I'm certain my description here will apply to at least some of you. Do not be offended, for I am not targeting anyone. However if you exhibit two or more of the "symptoms" listed you may want to reconsider some of your views on life.
The Internet Rebel fits into category 3 listed above, as well as category 2 somewhat. They may have these opinions in real life, but the internet gives them an opportunity to express their opinions in annoying ways never before known to be possible.
The Short Version
In general, the Internet Rebel doesn't like anything big or popular that is outside of the Internet. If he does like something and it later becomes big and popular, he will stop liking it. The Internet Rebel has become so strong on the Internet because the net has strangely drawn a lot of these similar personality types to it. Because of this, the Rebels gather, and grow the incorrect impression that the things they believe in are in fact correct and a popular opinion with others.
Contradictory? Perhaps. But that's how The Internet Rebel works. They pick an easy target to hate, then form a big hive where they slap each other on the ass and congratulate themselves constantly. It's a strange phenomenon because Internet Rebel types actually tend to be quite smart. My theory is that even though they are smart, they just really don't know how the world works and thus falsely believe their opinions are truth, or that their behavior is acceptable.
And now, onto the specific symptoms... If you show more than one of these yourself, get help before it's too late!
The Symptoms
Microsoft Hate/Linux Fanboyism
Lots of people hate Microsoft. Microsoft is pretty much just like any other business out there, but Internet Rebel's hate Microsoft because they are the biggest one that has the most steam going against it already. You can point out how some of MS's tactics that they consider shady are done by all business the world around, but don't expect them to believe it. They are absolutely convinced that all companies are exactly like Google and have pizza parties every day for lunch.
Most of the people in this category are hypocrites and are actually using Microsoft products (including their OS) at the time they hold this opinion. The second largest subgroup uses Linux, but is completely unrealistic about what the product does.
The Linux Fanboy/Microsoft Hater will never acknowledge a strong point of MS products. They will always insist that Linux is better than Windows at everything, and if Linux doesn't do something that Windows does, it's because Windows users are stupid or because it doesn't *need* to do that. They will always insist opensource software is better than non-opensource software. Their belief that amateurs are better developers than professionals is unwavering.
Linux and MS, opensource and closed source, all have their own merits. The Linux Fanboy/MS Hater will never acknowledge this.
Common signs: Typing Microsoft as "Micro$oft" or constantly telling people to get Firefox. Throwing a fit if someone says something good about MS or bad about Linux.
The Libertarian
Being a libertarian is the new fad on the Internet. Being a republican or a democrat is too popular a choice, so these people decided to ally themselves with a third party. While Libertarians do in fact have more than 200,000 registered voters and 600 people in office nationwide (this includes lower things like council members, school board members, etc in the US) it is still tiny in comparison to the other parties.
However, on the Internet the number of libertarians you'll see is grossly disproportionate to the number of libertarians there are in real life.
Internet Rebels cling to libertarianism because it is basically anti-government. Now, instead of criticizing government and being labeled rebels and anarchists, they can ally themselves with the slightly more respected libertarians.
Common signs: Constant criticism of the government (Bush not included, he's a different issue) and support of Republican issues specifically excluding drug use an religion. The vast majority of people who claim to be libertarians support at least some form of drug legalization, and in many cases will admit to doing drugs themselves if you ask. This is just a theory of course, but I personally believe the drug issue is one of the reasons so many flock to this party, even though I hardly think the party itself would want them.
Ron Paul Supporter
Last I saw, Ron Paul enjoys a whole 2% support with Republican voters. If the election were held on the Internet, however, it seems like it'd be more like 50%. Yes, travel the Internet and it's not hard to find support for Ron Paul. The two main reasons are 1) he is against the war in Iraq, and 2) there is a video of him on the Internet years ago criticizing the war on drugs, which the above-mentioned libertarians are all for hating.
Best of all, these people, who would typically align with democrats, can pull the ultimate rebel move and support a republican. This is the draw of Ron Paul.
Warning: Criticizing Ron Paul on the internet in certain places will bring you lots of flames, and will bring out some really crazy people. I recently said Ron Paul wouldn't win the election elsewhere, and got many colorful replies, including "It doesn't matter, the election will just be rigged again." And other conspiracy theories followed.
The Raging Atheist / Anti-Christian
First of all, a disclaimer. I am not referring to all atheists. Being an atheist does not put you in this category. Only being a raging atheist as I describe below puts you in this category.
The Raging Atheist is one of the most annoying people on the Internet, and no, it's not because of their opinion. The Raging Atheist constantly criticizes Christianity wherever they go, without any provocation. They upload anti-Christian videos to youtube and flare up debates about how God doesn't exist out of nowhere. If someone does say they believe in God, The Raging Atheist will call them stupid for believing it and go into a wall of text tirade about why God doesn't exist.
What's funny about The Raging Atheist is that one of their major complaints is that they don't want religion forced upon them. What they don't seem to take into account is that they are given so much religious freedom that they are here on the Internet being more fervent than the supposed Christian extremists that they are so worried about.
Common Signs: Will make wall of text posts saying how God isn't real, simultaneously saying they don't want beliefs pushed upon them. They don't seem to realize that they are simultaneously pushing their beliefs on others much more than anyone else has on them. In large part only has a beef with Christianity. Will mostly ignore Muslims, Hindus, and any other religion. (thus they are more "anti-Christian" than true atheists)
The Drug Bookworm
The drug bookworm is typically a user of drugs now or at least was at some point in the near past. Drug bookworms insist that drugs are not harmful if done in moderation. They will not pay attention to any statistics you cite because if the statistics or what you say does not fit into their perfect little definition of what constitutes safe drug use, they will completely disregard your opinion. This person is unwilling to see beyond their own personal experiences.
Their name comes from an oft-repeated phrase by The Drug Bookworm, "I've read about it". They assume that the only written texts about drugs support their opinion, and thus reading it in a book makes it fact. They do not realize that books and studies also state opinions against their own.
Here is a picture of a Drug Bookworm
Common signs: Frequently links to studies and talks about reading books, but will completely disregard opposing studies. If all other arguments fail, they'll call you a sheep. Will insist any anti-drug studies are government lies, and you are a sheep for believing them. Their own evidence, however, is unarguable, because they've read books.
The Cure
Most of the people like this are angsty teens or pre-teens without real life experience, so the only cure is to grow up. If you suspect now that you may be an Internet Rebel, take a step back and analyze your beliefs. Did you genuinely come up with them on your own? Or did a group of people you thought were cool hold them, and you too decided to hold that opinion for it? Have you looked at all sides of the issues? Do you believe what you do because you know it's right, or because you want it to be?
Feedback to this post...
Once again, do not think I am talking about you. You may think that you are unique and OMG HE'S TALKING ABOUT ME!!!!111 RAGE!!! I am not. These are common internet "trendy personalities" and if you think you're unique, you're wrong. Chances are you just picked up on it from someone else without realizing it. The truth hurts.
Edited by BrknPhoenix, 07 September 2007 - 11:28 AM.
