Online IdentityPanel Dis cus s ion

ICCMSN2008

Dr Cla re AtkinsNMIT

Four ques tions :What is an avatar?Why is this important?What is ‘real’ anyway?What are the implications ?

What is an avatar?Sanskrit: avatara

incarnation, representationmanifestation

In Hinduism: 10 great avatara of Vishnu Krishna = dancing sex symbol!

Buddha = guruMatsya = fishKalki = white horse

Each avatar is a manifestation (not a representation )of some aspects or characteristics of Vishnu relevant to a specific time, place and purpose.

One comes to know the whole through knowing and integrating the parts.

Why is this important?Online but particularly obvious in SL:

• Avatars are manifestations not representations• Infinitely customisable• Revealing what is pertinent to that place, time and purpose• Widespread use of different avatar forms and ‘alts’

Our SL identity is fluid and matures and changes with mood, activity and experience. It is a manifestation of

our inner view of ourselves unencumbered by our physical selves – a window on our ‘soul’ perhaps……?

Why is this important?• Group membership and friends often different for different forms of an avatar• Different forms receive different responses shaping that avatar form’s identity• Expectations of behaviour and appearance become a part of that identity

• Absence of physical clues = reliance on language to mould identity and make human connections• As usually unspoken things are made explicit, understanding and growth occur and changes take place

We get to know each other, and ourselves, from the inside out rather than the outside in

What is ‘real’ anyway?a) my physical identity judged by what you see ?

But that manifestion is constrained by many factors over which I have no control particularly by genetic patterns which determine my physical characteristics,and being born where and when I was….

Or

b) my inner identity judged by what I see?

That manifestation is constrained mainly by my (in)ability to express what is ‘inside’: the feelings, dreams, angers, hurts, humour, thoughts, all the things that nourish me as a unique self-aware human being.

What are the implications ?Our society focuses on valuing the outward

manifestations of worldly success, physical ‘beauty’, sexual prowess or desirability, material success,

wealth etc…

These ideals created and manipulated often for money, profit and ‘power over’ us. This cheapens

and undermines our sense of who we are and distorts it to visions of who we should be

Virtual worlds allows us to show others and be known by our inner identities, perhaps why online

friendships are often so intense, and why our attachment to our avatars is so strong…..

What are the implications ? Increasing number of people both work and play in SL

They have commitments inworld and in RL (real life)

For many, RL is one part of their life

What are the impacts for them of their online identities?

Aspects of the inner identity is being reinforced by SL experiences – transference must happen

What are the implications ?

Are our physical selves just another avatar, another manifestation of who we are in this time and this place and

for this purpose?

And if so, what will be the implications of that?

Please visit

Liquid Learning Bloghttp://warburton.typepad.com/liquidlearning/2008/01/loving-your-ava.html

Arwenna’s Blog

http://arwennastardust.wordpress.com