2nd
portobello road
Tobold brought up a post today concerning sexuality within virtual worlds, or rather he appears to of come about on the subject in a semi-derailment, but either way he’s discussing the point upon after reading I sort of just blanked it. Sexuality, gender, identity, nothing within that ‘area’ particually interests me, be it because i’m very stable in what and who I am or because i’m a close-minded fool for such things and regard the situation in black and white rather than the different shades of grey.
But I found myself spruced up for a bit of a fight upon reading Cuppycake’s thoughts upon the post.
Now i’ll openly admit here that I dislike alot of Cuppycake’s views and feelings for a variety of reasons, so let’s get this bias out in the open. I still follow and read her stuff because we only learn more by reading what is said, even if we whole heartedly disagree with things (or at least with how certain things are ‘done’), so if you’re wondering why I’m bothering my time on someone I disagree heavily with it is because of that.
Sufficient to say I began my response with a bit of dictionary tongue lashing but hopefully we will get a good set of points bouncing back and fore - we will see. Here’s my original posting:
An avatar is a representation of ones self because we choose it to be or because it simply ‘is’? Personally, it’s a choice we make, an initial decision to place ones self onto a label to be read. This label could be false or true, thus to state it’s a representation of ones personal self is not 100% correct.
Just because there are people behind these avatars, with thoughts and feelings, does not mean we need to acknowledge them and this is for one simple reason: The definitive reason people play a sim is to interact whilst those that play a game, are there for the play. Second Life is a simulation of, whilst World of Warcraft is a game for. I wouldn’t go as far to agree that Second Life users are ahead of MMORPGers, but instead have a diff retrospec on the situation because they interact, use and coordinate themselves within the worlds for far different reasons. Most MMO players will regard a game as a game and thus consider themselves first with gains, benefits and so forth because that is the nature of one engaging within ‘play’, yet that is not one’s main objective within a simulator, which instead focuses upon the ‘other’ rather than ones ‘self’.
You’re reading into the article with the wrong light in my eyes - but then it appears you perceive online gaming worlds, note, gaming spaces, not virtual platforms, as something other than they are in their most basic forms.
