Com 125 Assignment 6- Identity In Online Virtual Worlds

A virtual world is defined as a "computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars" (Wikipedia). In virtual worlds, avatars are used as a representation of the self online, where you can basically design how you want to look, dress, and act. Virtual worlds generally have the reputation of involving mainly online gaming, but there are many different types of virtual worlds online such as blogs, wikis, and chat rooms. The main purpose of these worlds is that they provide a means for people to socialize online in a setting that closely resembles real-life.


Identity is the main component in a virtual world or community. As Judith S. Donath explains, "In communication, which is the primary activity [in virtual communities], knowing the identity of those with whom you communicate is essential for understanding and evaluating an interaction." People want to know who it is that they are interacting with in virtual worlds. This is very difficult because as Donath puts it, "Many of the basic cues about personality and social role we are accustomed to in the physical world are absent." We are not physically with the person with whom we are communicating. Therefore, we cannot pick up on their nonverbal cues such as physical appearance, body language, and also their verbal speech to better understand who they really are. The only way we can get to know someone is through their online identity. That is the person that they portray them self as online.


One of the most interesting examples of an online virtual world that I have heard of is Virtual MTV. It is an online community for teens to young adults where people form their identify via an avatar and interact with others in a variety of ways. What sets it apart from other virtual worlds is that it's setting is based on various MTV shows. Users can live like their favorite MTV stars by pimping their ride, becoming a fashion designer like Lauren from The Hills, going to the best VIP clubs in Los Angeles, getting beautiful at the spa, and shopping for a whole new wardrobe. Another interesting thing about Virtual MTV is that MTV celebrities frequently join in and interact with the people in the virtual world, so basically you can hang out with celebrities without physically being with them.


In Virtual MTV, people establish reputations pretty much the same way they do in real life. They socialize and interact with others by chatting or hanging out with them, which provides a means for the other to form an impression of them. This impression, favorable or unfavorable, then eventually circulates to the other members of the community. These other members then can have an impression of members that they have never interacted with solely based on what they have heard from others.


Virtual worlds like Virtual MTV are unfortunately not all positive, and there are several negative aspects associated with them. One is that the identity that people create for themselves online is often not an accurate depiction of who they really are. If someone is dissatisfied with their own life in some way, they have the ability to live out their fantasy life online. That's great for these deceptive people but not so great for those who are interacting with them and believe that these people are really who they say they are. Another problem with virtual worlds is that for the people who are very involved in them, the distinction between virtual life and real-life tends to fade. They can lose touch with reality and become addicted to a life that doesn't exist. Here is a video of people who claim to be addicted to Virtual MTV:



The above video is actually an advertisement for Virtual MTV and the people in it are most likely acting. However, this video gives a good idea of how people can become addicted and choose to stay in their virtual lives because they are more interesting than their real lives.


A final negative aspect of online virtual communities, such as Virtual MTV is that with them, it’s easy for someone else to assume your identity. Donath calls it "impersonation" and says, "Compared to the physical world, it is relatively easy to pass as someone else online since there are relatively few identity cues." Because in online communities others cannot be sure exactly who you really are, they are easily fooled by someone claiming to be you. It can be as easy as someone making their avatar identical to yours, copying your name, and going around saying that they are you. This can become a problem especially if they are being crude and acting in such a way that can ruin your online reputation.


Personally, I have never participated in a virtual world, but one of my childhood friends is a good example of how they can contribute to a person losing touch with reality. In middle school, my friend bought the game The Sims Online. At the time, The Sims computer game was widely popular and everyone I knew, including myself would play it for hours. However, when they came out with The Sims Online, players could now chat and interact with actual people online. My friend loved this new component and soon formed a number of friends through the game. It got out of hand when my friend met boyfriends through the game. She could virtually kiss, hold hands, and do “other things” with these online boyfriends. The problem was that she never had a boyfriend in real-life and she actually considered these people online to be her real boyfriends. She would stay home every night "spending time" with her online boyfriend of the day instead of going out and doing things in the real world. After middle school, my friend and I went our separate ways so I'm not sure how those "boyfriends" turned out for her. I hope that she has since found a real boyfriend who she can actually kiss, hold hands with and so on.

Sources

Donath, J. (12 November 1996). Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community. Retrieved 2 October 2008, from MIT Media Lab Web site: http://smg.media.mit.edu/people/Judith/Identity/IdentityDeception.html

Various. (1 October 2008). Virtual World. Retrieved 2 October 2008, from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_world

Virtual MTV (2008). Retrieved 2 October 2008, from MTV Web site: http://www.vmtv.com/