The masks of inscrutability, or are you really you?

[the phantom]

Interesting thread, H-I.

Let's compare the phantom and Philip. I suppose the biggest difference is Philip talks about sports, church, school, Star Wars, and women much more than the phantom, but TP doesn't talk about them because he's on a Tolkien forum, so I don't think that difference really matters.

H-I is more prone to the sin of vanity

That is not the case with me. TP can definitely be vain sometimes, but Philip is a complete narcissist, so it makes sense.

but he is smarter, more polite and well-spoken and bolder

Philip and TP have equal boldness and intelligence (unless you think TP is stupid, in which case Philip is much smarter). Philip might be a bit more polite than TP. After all, TP never has to see anyone face to face so he doesn't care if he angers them. Of course he certainly doesn't try to anger people. He prefers, like Philip, to be on good terms with everyone.

Maybe I've missed something but as far as I can tell the phantom is pretty much the same as Philip.