I've realized that most people put on a persona online

For years, I took everything on Reddit, YouTube, forums, etc., 100% seriously and was confused about why their advice didn't align with real life. I also realized that nobody follows this advice in real life. For example, they say, "Just be yourself, put yourself out there," yet the same people tend to avoid, let's say, antisocial individuals or even us in real life and are always on guard.

Something we take for granted—extreme honesty (which isn't particularly extreme from our perspective; it's just how we operate)—is not something most people possess. What people say online and in real life is based on self-interest and reading the room rather than a consistent framework.

Neurotypicals will join a community and adopt the beliefs of the group to gain status and be part of the collective. But in real life, they act differently. It's not "fake" from their perspective (just as we aren't any more honest than the next person from ours); it's like how someone may cheer loudly at a sports game but would be disruptive by doing the same in a library. They aren't being "fake"; it's just what's expected. It's viewed as fake from our perspective when someone has two personas—online and in real life—because we perceive things differently, and if we were to do that, it would feel like manipulation.

In short, don't take what you read online seriously; most people are just putting on a persona and adopting the beliefs of the group. The only individuals I see exhibiting consistent behavior are autistic people, which is a breath of fresh air.