The Fear of False Identity

One aspect that I have noticed about society is the fear of false identity. In the 19th century, there existed a fear of false identity (I am taking a English course called 19th Century Crime Literature). This was due to the fact that there was not a way to identify a person unless you knew them. Identification cards and social security numbers did not exist. This also had economic issues. Checks were written on the basis of the notoriety of the person or the person’s name. Now, we have identification cards, social security numbers, passports, authorizations, background checks etc. to differentiate people from each other. We have secured many ways of our lives from locks on our doors to bank accounts. Identity theft is a crime that many have been prosecuted for. I find that people are uncomfortable for virtual world interactions because the identity of a person can be altered. I, Kristina Griffin, 22 year old female from San Diego, CA can easily become Jerry Mathias 64 year old male from Columbus, OH. As in the 19th Century, people are uncomfortable with the unknown identities of people. This is why I believe people are afraid of virtual tools like SecondLife but not afraid of Facebook. In SecondLife, profiles can be completely fabricated. Facebook profiles are supposed to an accurate representation of the users. In class discussions, many have assumed those participating in virtual worlds such as SecondLife are freaks. In some instances, I would agree but definitely not in all. I believe the root cause for this resistance is society’s fear of false identities.

Freedom in the Virtual World

The discussions regarding the avatars in Alter Ego had a common thread of freedom. Remember, however, that positive freedom and negative freedom do exist. Freedom, as means of freedom of constraints, is understood in these situations. Online characters and avatars allow the owners to pursue anything that is possible in the virtual world. These actions include cyber sex, flying, interacting, and creating. These actions may not be possible for people in the real world. As it was said in class, the virtual would is makes things possible for the disabled in the real world. Those who are physically disabled in the real world are able to fly in the virtual. Those who have social disability can achieve equality in the virtual world. Does the virtual world provide a freedom as growth? The video shown about how many hours a day can be spent playing these games online may disprove freedom as growth. If this interaction with these games hinders this person’s interactions in the real world then freedom as growth is not achieved. However, some gamers are using these games in a way that can be freedom as growth. Lucy Winkett, a precentor, uses her avatar to spread the word of God. This is means, in a free culture, of distribution. Does freedom exist in the virtual world? Yes, its does and gamers have reaped the benefits of the freedom. Too much of a good thing can become a problem. Extreme cases should not generalize for the group. Freedom in the virtual world is possible and should be seen as positive for those who engage in it safely.

Freedom in the Virtual World

The discussions regarding the avatars in Alter Ego had a common thread of freedom. Remember, however, that positive freedom and negative freedom do exist. Freedom, as means of freedom of constraints, is understood in these situations. Online characters and avatars allow the owners to pursue anything that is possible in the virtual world. These actions include cyber sex, flying, interacting, and creating. These actions may not be possible for people in the real world. As it was said in class, the virtual would is makes things possible for the disabled in the real world. Those who are physically disabled in the real world are able to fly in the virtual. Those who have social disability can achieve equality in the virtual world. Does the virtual world provide a freedom as growth? The video shown about how many hours a day can be spent playing these games online may disprove freedom as growth. If this interaction with these games hinders this person’s interactions in the real world then freedom as growth is not achieved. However, some gamers are using these games in a way that can be freedom as growth. Lucy Winkett, a precentor, uses her avatar to spread the word of God. This is means, in a free culture, of distribution. Does freedom exist in the virtual world? Yes, its does and gamers have reaped the benefits of the freedom. Too much of a good thing can become a problem. Extreme cases should not generalize for the group. Freedom in the virtual world is possible and should be seen as positive for those who engage in it safely.

Freedom in the Virtual World

The discussions regarding the avatars in Alter Ego had a common thread of freedom. Remember, however, that positive freedom and negative freedom do exist. Freedom, as means of freedom of constraints, is understood in these situations. Online characters and avatars allow the owners to pursue anything that is possible in the virtual world. These actions include cyber sex, flying, interacting, and creating. These actions may not be possible for people in the real world. As it was said in class, the virtual would is makes things possible for the disabled in the real world. Those who are physically disabled in the real world are able to fly in the virtual. Those who have social disability can achieve equality in the virtual world. Does the virtual world provide a freedom as growth? The video shown about how many hours a day can be spent playing these games online may disprove freedom as growth. If this interaction with these games hinders this person’s interactions in the real world then freedom as growth is not achieved. However, some gamers are using these games in a way that can be freedom as growth. Lucy Winkett, a precentor, uses her avatar to spread the word of God. This is means, in a free culture, of distribution. Does freedom exist in the virtual world? Yes, its does and gamers have reaped the benefits of the freedom. Too much of a good thing can become a problem. Extreme cases should not generalize for the group. Freedom in the virtual world is possible and should be seen as positive for those who engage in it safely.

Consumer Panopticon

In one of the readings we did for Hull, he talked about this idea of target advertising. The idea is that companies could watch what you buy and target you by sending you mail and advertisements for upcoming sales. This idea seems great but it has its disadvantages. First off I like the idea of a company getting involved with an interested costumer. Through this companies could see who is interested in their products and target those individuals. Everyone knows how annoying it can become when you get mail and junk from companies and stores that you have no interest in. So here the main customers would have the advantage in what the store or company was trying to sell. The disadvantage is the main idea of privacy. I myself wouldn’t want someone looking over my back looking at everything I buy, not that I have anything to hide with my purchases. But it’s just this idea of having privacy and buying what you want, when you want. If I buy a couple of things from one company, it doesn’t mean that I want to be on their most frequent shoppers list. People just want the freedom to buy what they want when they want or need it. If this idea of target advertising could be revised I would much rather consider it, but it just seems like all the privacy that exists is thrown out and companies are choosing what to buy for you.

LARP vs. Virtual World

Today we talked about two different ideas of becoming other than yourself. The first kind we talked was called LARP. This stands for live action role play. The other idea was the virtual world which includes computer games such as World of World craft and Second Life. The many difference between the two ideas of becoming somebody else is physical interaction. In Larping people get together and create clans and kingdoms that they defend against another group. They get together on weekdays and weekends to practice and assign roles for the battle that is ahead in the future. But not only do they concentrate on the game but they built friendships and relationships that are real. In the virtual world you don’t get this interaction. You get a virtual character and you can battle or meet other people’s virtual characters. And most people create a character that is nothing like themselves, so are you really “meeting” people in the virtual world? Or are you meeting this person that really doesn’t exist? It seems like from our readings that people use this to make up a fantasy and to escape the reality of life. On the other side, yes, people are becoming something else, but you’re getting to interact in the real world which makes the situation so much more different. It seems so much healthier to be outside meeting others through a common interest, instead of sitting inside and meeting fake and virtual people 50 hours out of the week.

Jason Rowe

One of the saddest stories to me is the creator of the avatar Rurouni Kenshin. Jason Rowe is a disabled, and feels that he has to socialize through a virtual world called Star Wars Galaxies. One of the reasons he enjoys playing is because people see him for who he is and not what he looks like, “The internet eliminates how you look in real life, so you get to know a person by their mind and personality.” He has this idea that people wouldn’t like him for who he is if he were out in the real world trying to make friends. He spends an average of 80 hours a week playing as his avatar in this virtual world. Some people might find his disability an excuse for him to play, but for some reason I just don’t see the point. I understand that a lot of people would judge him for what he looks like, but why not give it a shot and try to meet someone face to face. I find it unhealthy that he keeps himself locked up inside playing in this fantasy world. Yes, he is getting to live a life that he wouldn’t get to live, but it’s not real. So the question is what is the reward? I feel that the virtual has no meaning and is a meaningless black hole that sucks people’s life away. The virtual world just seems to be a place for people to escape to, because they can’t deal with the reality of life.