I have an online identity and an in-person identity, and I feel uncomfortable keeping those apart (eg I've started going to events with my online identity, but then my IRL friends ask what I did that weekend and I need to lie to them to keep the secret)

Thus I feel a need to incorporate my online identity more into my real life identity, but I'm scared my real life friends and coworkers would stop liking me if I did. I'm not sure my IRL identity self would like myself if I did either. What should I do?

Question

I have an online identity and an in-person identity, and I feel uncomfortable keeping those apart (eg I've started going to events with my online identity, but then my IRL friends ask what I did that weekend and I need to lie to them to keep the secret)

Thus I feel a need to incorporate my online identity more into my real life identity, but I'm scared my real life friends and coworkers would stop liking me if I did. I'm not sure my IRL identity self would like myself if I did either. What should I do?

Anonymous Practitioner · Accepted Answer

You are part of who you are IRL, and part of who you are online.
Drop the facade if it makes you unhappy.
Drop the persona, and keep the person behind it.

It seems like you do not enjoy your online persona, but rather its status. If so: Shed it, build anew in a way that is more authentic to yourself.