I look at my various profiles sure. and occasionally I'll admire something I've said, but I am also my own worst critic, so it's only momentary.

I think I present myself better online than I do in person, so my profiles tend to better represent me than, say, my haircut or wardrobe.

Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism.

Yeah, I'll look at my profile on AskMe from time to time. Sometimes I get a momentary little thrill out of best answer. The majority of the time I cringe at the whole thing. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I let it all hang out. I shudder at some of my comments, but I keep going back for more.

I wish I had picked a different user name. Sure, there are a million Lori's in Florida, but I'd like it to be a little more obscure.

It's so artificial; I don't take it seriously at all.

The people I have met in RL after knowing them online have all been different. More human, flawed, vulnerable... more unrehearsed. Live, you don't have time to plan every remark. It takes a real skill... which is why someone like Stephen Fry can make 99% of all bloggers look foolish (and he's only written one post).

Chuck, do you get the vibe that most comments are rehearsed on Metafilter or in general? I think it's only natural that people present the best side of themselves on the internet. I also think people here certainly show a fair amount of vulnerability.

I'd also like to see the Stephen Fry post if you have a link.

Thanks for that article TheophileEscargot. Looks like very interesting reading.

Looking at my MeFi profile is preeeetty much all I do with my day.

Yes, I look at my profiles from time to time- Facebook, MySpace. I like to review the photos I've posted to remind myself what's up there, and see if there are any I should add. And it's fun to review old answers in AskMeta, especially if it brings you into a question that has follow-up you haven't seen before.

Chuck, do you get the vibe that most comments are rehearsed on Metafilter or in general?

Metafilter is definitely a full snark, game-on situation, yes.

I think it's only natural that people present the best side of themselves on the internet.

Of course it is! Which is why people's profiles are untrustworthy. I have a friend who uses a 20-year-old photo on his!

I also think people here certainly show a fair amount of vulnerability.

Metachat? Absolutely. Almost more than anywhere I've seen (other than certain newsgroups).

I'd also like to see the Stephen Fry post if you have a link.

stephenfry.com/blog

Thanks anyway chuck, found it.

On preview, thanks chuck.

Metafilter is definitely a full snark, game-on situation, yes.

Actually, I just say whatever occurs to me. Granted, this has resulted in my getting in my fair share of brawls, but I'd prefer that to some rehearsed poersona.

I look at it, but never thought to look at it adoringly. I like to check on fairly recent AskMes I've contributed to to see what happened or if the q was answered or if the OP came up with any more information.

Don't fall in love with the Best Answer thing, it's a cruel mistress. I can't tell you how many times I've given the definitive answer (as in, someone will ask "what is the name of this movie" and I name it, with a link) and someone will come along hours later and say something like "Yeah wow that was a great movie, thanks for reminding me of it" and their response is picked as the BA. A couple of months ago I noticed one in which the first respondent gave the right answer, and hours later someone chimed in with one of those "I second what they said" comments and the OP picked that as BA, the reason being "that answer was closest to my mouse". I had to laugh.

Hmm, yes of course we all get a kick from being appreciated (or even read) that's human.

But I don't believe a lot of Meta is rehearsed. I certainly don't although I need to try, apparently. A friend recently gave me a back-handed compliment. He said I don't do myself justice on Mefi!
an I'm like ORLY? Whatever!

One of the few times I ever looked at my profile was because someone addressed me in the blue by my full name rather than my handle, I didn't realize it was published at the time. That one had to be redacted... now the most revealing information in my profile is my link to this and other accounts, none of which are particularly juicy. Oh, and some pictures of my cats.

If a comment randomly starts to snowball some favorites I'll check in as well, but that's about it. I was scratching my head at how I picked up 20+ over the weekend, then I looked at the front page.

Don't fall in love with the Best Answer thing, it's a cruel mistress.

Yeah, my favorite is when they don't pick any answer at all even though there are many viable options. Weeee!

Throughout the working day, I stare at my profile and say "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

I do. I actually think I represent myself totally accurately online, so I like to think of those glances as centering, and not overly narcissistic. I'm as active on MeFi and Myspace as I am because I'm presently lacking good social outlets, so if I can glean a feeling that I'm being appreciated and understood, and seeming cool to boot, from preening and counting page views or whathaveyou, then yay for the intarwobble.

I only have a profile on Mecha and Mefi. But I do enjoy a good "best answer" or favorite. Sometimes, you guys are the only adults I talk to all day.

I rarely look at my mefi or mecha profiles. I look at my facebook profile sometimes, and try to imagine how it looks to the high school people who've contacted me, who I haven't seen for 15 years, whose lives have gone in completely different directions to mine.

I don't often look at my profile. I favorite things that are or may be useful to me in the future. My commenting history makes me cringe. I realized long ago that I will never come across online the way I would like to. Like chuckdarwin said, so many of the people I've known online and then met in real life have been completely different from what I expected. Not in a bad or good way, just different and I have also learned not to take it too seriously. I hate my username too. It means nothing and I picked it years ago for absolutely no good reason but I can't change it now!

I look at my profile. I count my "best answers". I look at my ratio of answers to favorites. I guess this is supposed to be bad, or at least uncool. I cringe at most of my answers, often within seconds of posting. I always go back for more. I wish I'd picked another username. I mean, all forests are dark, aren't they? Put me in whatever pigeon hole or circle of hell all this qualifies me for. There are probably a few more like us. Don't hit the 'post' button, this is too dumb.

Sure, there are a million Lori's in Florida, but I'd like it to be a little more obscure.
Well, now that I know what LoriFLA means, I can find you that much easier ;-).

I really don't care about favourites etc, but I admit to being pleased when someone I admire gives me a favourite (which is rare, making it more meaningful in a way). Some random user I've never heard of, not so much about the caring am I.

I am a total favorite whore. I check my profile obsessively.

There, I said it.

But I spend a lot more time talking to folks on MeFi/MeCha than I do talking to people IRL, so, like AV, I appreciate whatever passes for the warm glow of human interaction on these cold, cold tubes.

but I admit to being pleased when someone I admire gives me a favourite
I've actually changed my opinion on a few posters because they've favorited me. "I used to think you were a jerk, but since you like what I say, you are clearly a misunderstood geeenius.."