formality question

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

On the internet (and specifically, LJ) is it more normal to address people you don't know as ты or вы?

Comments

[rooskiyroulette.livejournal.com]

ты, definitely.

[mr-yogurt.livejournal.com]

Yes it is, but nevertheless "вы" is also often used - usually to show your respect or to "keep distance" when you address to a person.

[ex-ex-zhuzh.livejournal.com]

Nay :)

Offtopic

[arflahgha.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for Das Letzte Einhorn!

[halevi.livejournal.com]

There is a common rule in Russia (as well as in Russian Internet): you will never mistake using Вы.
Вы is not good manner to address you good friend, but a good friend can always ask you to use ты. In any other case Вы cannot be erroneous.
BUT. In Russian Internet вы and ты are used same often.

So, the general rule may be formulated as:

In speech and correspondence you should prefer Вы. In Internet communities generally you should use ты, but there are many forums, where Вы is more accepted.

[yms.livejournal.com]

It depends on network community. Specifically in LJ it is more common to say "вы" to the people you don't know, unless you feel like wanting to say them "ты".
In other communities like Fidonet (as I remember from the times I was there) "ты" is much more common; saying "вы" in Fidonet AFAIR was almost insulting. In teenagers' forums, of course, "ты" is more appropriate too. Etc. etc.

[mithgol.livejournal.com]

Right, it's really common to say „ты“ in Fidonet, and some of „фидошники“ (Russian Fidonet users) brought their habit to LiveJournal as well.

[logodaedaly.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure the "common rule" is very true on the Internet, though.

I mean, it's true you very likely won't offend someone by using Вы, where you might do so with ты. But if you use Вы in a context where it's really, obviously clear to a native speaker that you should be using ты, you will appear a very odd duck indeed. :-)

[oryx_and_crake]

I normally start by saying Вы unless we know each other in real life. After (if and when) some familiarity level has been achieved, I ask whether it is OK to say ты.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Seconded. I would never address anybody "ты" until/unless asked to.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Well, if you aren't certain that you know/feel the context, it's better to "appear an odd duck" :)))

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Seconded. Same with me.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

It is also possible to use "ты" adding "if you don't mind".

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

In general it is always confusing when entering a new russian cummunity (and french, and german, by the way).

First time I just run here and there and read the posts trying to figure out what form is used.
But yes, I use "Вы" more often if not sure.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Ha-ha. Quite the contrary with me.

Usually use "ты" on-line and when afterwards meet the person in real life and see he(she) is older then me then automatically start using "Вы" and then again "ты" on-line :D

[nemica.livejournal.com]

Just the same.

Also it's always cool to use 'вы' in discussions with rude and impolite people, to keep distance and show your calm superiority :))).

[alexander-p.livejournal.com]

I've just read someone's UserInfo and among other things there was written the following:
Очень не люблю, когда малознакомые люди обращаются ко мне на "ты". Подобные вещи должны происходить с обоюдного согласия сторон, после определённого периода знакомства.

An approximate translation:
"I dislike it very much when people whom I scarcely know (or don't know at all) address me as ты. Such things must happen by mutual consent, after a period of acquaintance."

I think, many of Russians (except, of course, children and teenagers) would share this opinion.

In addition, Ты- or Вы-addressing is strongly connected with the age. For example, it is conventional to say Вы to a person which don't know you and is (or supposed to be) older than you.

On the other hand, after reaching an age of approx. 25 (+-3), many of us very likely begin to expect the Вы-addressing from unknown people. And you could see that in the above-mentioned quote.

Re: Offtopic

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

The dubbing on Das Letzte Einhorn was actually pretty good, but I still prefer The Last Unicorn after seeing it 18 million-gajillion times when I was young.

[lexabear.livejournal.com]

So, to sum up, it seems like it's better to err on the side of вы. Thank you all!

[art-navsegda.livejournal.com]

In the Fido7-net(oldest russian computer community), as the tradition, transition from the "ты" to "вы"(it is not mistake :) ) considered as hardly insulting.

P.S. (с тоскою впоминая свои первые фидошные сисопки) Эх, золотое было времечко :'-(