How has the internet changed the way we present ourselves?

Leon is a shy man who must learn to present a confident public face when he is thrust into the world as a Wonder. We all have places where we 'curate' our image, such as Facebook or LinkedIn or online dating sites. How has the internet changed the way we present ourselves?

Well in some ways,in a more controlled Internet setting, you can be pretty much who you want. You can make yourself look like who you want to look like and you can carefully construct how you respond to situations. That being said, if you have a live camera on you at all times, you are pretty vulnerable and are on at all times. In this type of setting you are totally open to others opinion.

It has let us be whomever we want to be. Which is both good and bad. I think most of us are pretty up front about who we are without giving away too much that would be unsafe. There is however an opportunity for anyone to totally mislead the world and therefore things posted need to be taken with a grain of salt as they say.

The anonymity of the internet lets people be whoever, and whatever, they want to be, regardless of their true gender, age, race, appearance etc. it allows people to create and hide behind a character or a persona in order to 'throw a rock and hide your hand' meaning no personal accountability for what you say or how you say it. For some that means an outlet to be 'heard' which they may not otherwise get in life. The internet is the great equalizer......in cyberspace everyone has a voice and all we are is what we type.

Great question... one I have been thinking about a lot lately.

I have a lot of "friends" on Facebook whom I haven't had a conversation with in 20+ years, and yet it plays a much more important role in my life than I should let it and I often need to very conscientiously unplug from it for a while sometimes. On the other hand, it allows me to remain close to family members in many different cities & states. I am very careful to not post something too provocative or controversial - that's not really who I am anyway.
I have friends - one in particular - who is a complete introvert in real life but is someone else entirely online and posts stuff she would never say in conversation.
I think a lot of people, particularly younger folks, frequently try on different roles online and reinvent themselves. I am SO THANKFUL social media wasn't around when I was a teenager... :)

I agree with amberb. Most of my Facebook "friends" are from college long ago and I don't know why I want to know what is going on with them like I do! I do admit that the only way I have found out about some upcoming marriages and pregnancies in the family is through Facebook.

As far as this relates to this book, it is very easy to assume a completely different identity. Very scary when you think about it!

I guess Andy Warhol was right about everyone in the future having 15 minutes of fame, because there is so much junk on the internet mixed in with all of the wonderful instantaneous news and communication with friends in all parts of the world. I guess there are people who troll the internet looking for ways to be a wise or act tough or simply show their total intolerance of anything different - and that part is pathetic.

My sister and I were discussing this the other day. People make horrible comments sometimes on social media that they would never say in person. It hasn't made us better people

Rebajane, I agree with you.

The internet brings out the basest aspects of human nature. When there is little or no accounting for our actions or words, many use the medium to regurgitate the anger, frustration, jealousy they have with little thought about the results. The internet offers a pretend world for a humanity lacking in moral strengths.