I found it interesting to read the article this week about the relationship between blogging behaviour and The Big Five personality traits. It was found that Extraversion and Agreeableness correlated highly with increased willingness to keep and maintain a blog, whereas Conscientiousness had a negative correlation. Openness to experience and Neuroticism did not appear to have a significant effect.
Speaking for myself, I think extraversion can play out in strange and unpredictable ways. Whenever I have been given a personality test, I have come out as quite a strongly expressed introvert. This has never really surprised me. Although I enjoy being with people, I need to have a lot of time to myself and I find it very hard to be at parties where I don't know anyone. At large gatherings, I tend to gravitate to the corners of a room and I love reading and writing.
But I enjoy blogging, contributing to social networking sites and posting on the tutor group forums, and I suspect I come across on all of these as an extravert. I'm also far more forthright and direct in my opinions than I would be face-to-face. When I posted something negative about Jeremy Clarkson on Facebook, one of my friends challenged me on it, and I replied in a pretty robust (although I hope not uncivil) way. If we were in a pub, I suspect I would have ducked the confrontation.
Having a screen in front of you can make you express parts of your personality that are perhaps not overt in everyday life.
Anyway, here's an article on how personality can affect your behaviour on FB.
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Thats me
I think I live vicariously through this blog sometimes I say things that in every day life I wouldn't dare. Its a really good way to express your thought/ feelings/ learning experience not just from a uni point of view but in life also. But I think people behave differently round different people for instance when I was resitting my g.c.s.e's I found that because we were all in the same boat I was more extravert/confident. Where as when I'm at my writing group I'm very quite and almost timmid because sometimes the conversations are going above my head and I don't feel like I could contribute anything meaningfull to the conversation that they wouldn't be able to pick out themselves. But saying that I don't think theirs any harm in being quite sometimes. Theirs nothing worse then being one of those people that constantly have to point out the obvious because they just cant bare the silence.
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that came out wrong you know what I mean lol
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Yes, don't worry. I do know what you mean
We all adjust our behaviour according to the context, as you say. It's good that your blog gives you a place to let off steam. I find that I don't feel guilty about splurging out my thoughts here, whereas it would feel inconsiderate on a forum, I think.
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I don't doubt I splurge too much but isn't that how people learn from one another. I just generally splurge my irrational thoughts on subjects out and then hope people will correct me and when they do I'll of learned something new. I'm a bit splurgey all together really I say what I mean and think. people know where they are then