Through this class I was able to experience different virtual worlds such as Meshmoon Rocket and Second Life. I also used programs such as Makehuman to make my own avatar. While I was using these programs I did not think much about the identity of myself in the virtual world. I just thought I made an avatar and used it along. But I realized in the virtual world, I was somewhat in denial with my real identity.
After reading the article "Identity in a virtual world" and the study "Neutralizing Identity," I realized that the avatar I chose was not my true identity. I did not put much thought into making my avatars, but for Make Human, where I was able to create my own avatar from scratch, I made the avatar into what I want to be. I made my avatar into the ideal height, body shape, and a prettier face. Unconsciously, I was creating a new identity of myself through the virtual world. Besides, no one would be able to see me and judge me as a creep.
In the CNN article, I was surprised to see that a professor in his fifties from a prestigious university would make his avatar as a little girl in a virtual world. It definitely sounded creepy to me. To be honest, I imaged people who have a hard time socializing in the real world to go online with such a bizarre identity. But
My latest in class exercise where I explored around Second Life in different avatars and socialized with different people was an interesting experience. When I was a female woman, a male avatar actually walked up to my avatar and started to chat with me, I changed my avatar into a white male, I actually had to reach out to other people for a conversation. I also changed my avatar into a black female, with this avatar I had no one chatting with me. I would talk to some people individually and a crowded place and try group chat, but I realized I barely got any feedback. The only real conversation I had was with the male avatar when I was a white female. This made me feel that, that maybe the reason people change their identities in the virtual world. They can be who they want to be without being judged and revealing themselves.
The identity in the virtual world seem to help in socializing aspect. The study says that Second Life (and all other virtual worlds) breaks down "socially contrived barriers" and strip "away the lenses through which" people view themselves and others. This conclusion was particularly interesting for me. Through the virtual world with a new identity, we are able to meet new people without the barriers. Not knowing or changing one's identity can give more perspective. Since people are somewhat conscious of how the virtual identity is somewhat made up, one can meet widen the horizon in socializing aspect. But it is true that the virtual world can make us deny reality, as the article says "They trap us even more" from reality.
Below are screenshots of different virtual worlds I entered during the semester.
My latest in class exercise where I explored around Second Life in different avatars and socialized with different people was an interesting experience. When I was a female woman, a male avatar actually walked up to my avatar and started to chat with me, I changed my avatar into a white male, I actually had to reach out to other people for a conversation. I also changed my avatar into a black female, with this avatar I had no one chatting with me. I would talk to some people individually and a crowded place and try group chat, but I realized I barely got any feedback. The only real conversation I had was with the male avatar when I was a white female. This made me feel that, that maybe the reason people change their identities in the virtual world. They can be who they want to be without being judged and revealing themselves.
The identity in the virtual world seem to help in socializing aspect. The study says that Second Life (and all other virtual worlds) breaks down "socially contrived barriers" and strip "away the lenses through which" people view themselves and others. This conclusion was particularly interesting for me. Through the virtual world with a new identity, we are able to meet new people without the barriers. Not knowing or changing one's identity can give more perspective. Since people are somewhat conscious of how the virtual identity is somewhat made up, one can meet widen the horizon in socializing aspect. But it is true that the virtual world can make us deny reality, as the article says "They trap us even more" from reality.
Below are screenshots of different virtual worlds I entered during the semester.
This is a screenshot of me and my teammates in Meshmoon Rocket.
This is a screeshot of me making an avatar of myself on Make Human.
This is a screenshot of a teammate and me (not shown) playing a game online.
This is a screenshot of me in Virtual World Framework.
