Why Do We Confide in Complete Strangers ?

Amanda Bakunas

CAS 283- Blog 2

Frank Stec

February 13^th, 2015

            In the past few lectures we have been discussing topics such as online dating and online identities. With those topics in mind Professor Walker had mentioned that studies have found that majority of people involved in the studies would much rather prefer to confide in a complete stranger on the internet than confide in someone they know. I found this alarmingly strange and I thought the complete opposite. Personally, I would think that people would be more likely to confide in people they already know because they might already know the situation and the compiling parts. Whereas, a complete stranger online doesn’t know anything (unless you tell them of course) and I would think that some people may feel by confiding in complete strangers that they are quick to be judged. On the other hand, Why Do We Confide in Complete Strangers is an article from the Los Angeles Times by Susan Jacques on the topic of confiding in strangers. Susan notes that many professionals/experts agree having, what they refer to as anonymous ears, has its perks by reducing tension and fear of the other’s reaction. This is beneficial for the confide by letting whatever it is that is causing them tension or stress off their chest. However, this article also mentions the other side of the fence where the anonymous people who were chosen to be the confinders are impacted by stories, and even can tend to stress them out even though it isn’t directly their problem.

            Unfortunately some people see the vulnerability that comes from online confidees online and they do what we refer to as catfishing. Catfishing is when someone lies about their online identity. Whether it be an intimate relationship or just a friendship a lie is a lie. There's a show on MTV that specializes in finding these people and helping them meet their online confides or significant others. Most of the time when the producers get involved to help they find that the other person isn't who they said they were. Ending with someone feeling very sorry, someone very upset, and both severely confused. Some times the show ends with them eventually being friends, but most of the time not. The confidee has been seen to feel so hurt that in the end after finding out they have been lied to in some cases for years on end that they want nothing to do with the other person.