Online Dating: Are people often dissimilar to the way they portray themselves online in your experience?

Offshoot of @janbb’s question.

I have tried online dating a few times. There seems to be a disparity between peoplems portrayal of themselves and how they are irl.

Is this a conclusion you agree with? A way to circumvent it?
Please feel free to share a funny experience you have had no choice but to laugh at via on line dating.