Does doing a online chat format make it easier or harder to get a feel of what...

...someone is about? What their tendencies are?
No sinister or deep implications here, I am not thinking of anyone in particular.
I am just curious as to other peoples thoughts on this.

My own thoughts are that I think people say things on cyber space they may be hesitant to speak in person. Maybe more so if their true names are not attached. Even Christians, but maybe less us.
That because written words are usually more well thought out then spoken words, and because they can be re-read, unlike when someone says something we sometimes forget exactly what they uttered, in many ways we can get a good idea of certain things because of that.
Conversely, without seeing their body language, hearing the lilt and intonation of their voice, facial expressions, we lose so much.
It could be some of the people here who seem almost deadly blunt are charming in person, and that some people who are very diplomatic here, in person they give off a persona of being opinionated.

So maybe its a wash?

Kinda like a voice on the other end of the phone, I would be interested, if for only my curiosity's sake, to see if some peoples body language and facial expressions and voice pitch and rhythm and intonations match up with what I sometimes think they may be.
I think I would probably be wrong about half the time...

I have found that many people in cyberspace tell a lot of lies about themselves. They tend to misrepresent who they are and what they truly believe. Lots of hypocrites. It's why I tend to be a bit gun shy about making friends online -- been there, done that, have the emotional scars to prove it.

Christians would lie and grandiose about themselves?

With pen friends or internet friends, you only see people in frames and snapshots and not in real time or full time.
People want to put their best foot forward and show you their best pictures. Call them "baby pictures" when they could be an old hag. Do you think people will show you their pictures of warts and all? No because they don't want rejection. They want to be seen in the best light possible so they only show you their best side which isn't dishonest but it is misleading.
Real life is where you see then 24/7 and experience friction.

They need to live their life in front of you.

Are we talking carnal christians here? baby christians? Or mature Christians? What level of sanctification are we talking about?
Christians that don't read the Bible? You get my drift?

I show my honest pictures.

You're just as charming in person as you are online.

Guys, remember, its all in the angle they take the picture..... LOL True story lol

I'm charmingly blunt on CC and in the real world.

I'm sure you're right about some folks lying, but how do you know who's lying?

it can be another way of refining and honing Spiritual skills for those who love others
and desire to learn how to love and serve our Christ to the best of our ability...

this can be an amazing, schooling arena if we take a positive and humble attitude....

Some of them are living their lives here, in a way.
I strongly suspect most here have been honest about themselves, not exaggerating or fabricating their character.
I know I have not lied about anything about myself on here, and have tried to be open about my flaws if the conversation called for it.
Without it becoming a confessional or therapy session...

Wow. You shrunk overnight. From 6' 5" to about 6 foot tall, judging by that pic next to that Chevy. You really don't hide anything Willie.

What I thought was funny was one girl here who's really funny and everything, outgoing, lol and then she says she's also an introvert and when something bothers her she gets completely silent.
Had one guy at the office who I befriended on Facebook when I just got kicked off my other forum, so I posted on Facebook all the time. He said: oh now I understand why I catch you sleeping behind your screen sometimes. It's funny. He's an introvert too, doesn't say much, just makes some jokes with the others, but calm and you just never talk about personal or deep stuff irl, but lol he threw it all on Facebook too. I think real extravert persons don't even know forums exist or they only post something once in a while.

Oh I thought you were really shy irl, letting everyone walk over you.
(that was a joke)