[dilaudibble]

What I find odd about this is that I am effectively (I hope) anonymous online, even on twitter, but I still get totally mad when people trash my ideas. It's like my ideas are a part of my extended self.

This I think is why moral grandstanding is a more valuable concept than Virtue Signalling - VS wouldn't make sense in an anonymous context, and apparently signalling means something different anyway according to this: https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/stop-saying-virtue-signalling

[blix]

For many, ideas are a part of identity. I am a good person because I support good policies and vote for good party. I am smart because I have intelligent thoughts and ideas.

When the quality of these ideas is challenged, it therefore can be a challenge to the quality of the person holding them, if they base their identity on their thoughts. I find this is quite common.

Another effect of this mindset is that changing your mind becomes more difficult. It's a hard thing to get out of.

[pbhjpbhj]

Are there people who have a [strong] sense of identity that's somehow not centred around their ideas? I'm trying to imagine what that looks like?

Maybe "it doesn't matter what I think, I'm $Nationality and that's who I am"? [But does anyone think like that? And isn't that just an idea that informs identity?]

[blix]

In earlier times, identity was mostly a function of social relationships. This seemed to be a lot more concrete than abstract concept of identity that is popular in industrial societies.

Here are some other things that might inform/create identity besides political opinions shared on twitter: race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, occupation, consumption preferences, skills, activities, appearance.

All of these are ideas to some degree, but some are more concrete than others. But ultimately, identity itself is an idea and I don't think it can be fully separated from other constructs of the mind.

[im3w1l]

If you ask me about my identity the first thing that comes to my mind is the life I've lived. The things I got to experience, my failures, my accomplishments, the choices I made.

[duhgafdt]

It is not the great taste of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which you enjoy, it is the idea that 'pb&j tastes great' which informs your enjoyment of it.

[kmm]

I get sad and frustrated when I get downvoted, even though I'm (pseudo-)anonymous. It's completely irrational, and I'm a bit ashamed for it, yet it's gotten to a point where I basically just don't bother anymore with politics online.

It's strange because I don't have such issues in real life. And my friends confirm that I'm intellectually honest and nuanced, or at least not nuts. I just can't imagine people talking to me face to face in the way I'm so used to on the internet, all smug and doing their best to find the worst possible interpretation of a comment.