Week 3 - The Real World of Online Characters

As children we all spent time pretending to be characters –heroes, stars, parents, animals. Then we grew out of it. Today though, people bring their characters back all the time.

As adults our characters are behind computer screens. “We each have an online identity; a personal character to represent ourselves in the virtual world” (Cooper, 2007). We can be ourselves with the volume turned right up.

As Cooper states, there is never a clear separation of identity between our online and offline selves. Our ‘character’ is a reflection or echo of our ‘real’ lives. The reason our online presence is a character is because we select every aspect. We choose the information to share, the way we’re displayed and how we act – “we select ideal or perfect gestures” (Lola). In real life we get what we’re given and usually can only accept it.

Dean, Keating and Murphy (2009) spoke about people altering behaviour to match their online characters. I don’t believe that entirely, but can certainly understand it. Some people would want to ensure the grey elements between themselves and their online characters are minimal.

But why do so many people choose to create these online characters? As Lola explains, the lure of a worldwide audience draws so many people in for various reasons. It is a chance for our character to become a star – which was the dream when we were children.

Thanks for reading,
Andrew

References
Cooper, R. 2007. Alter Ego: Avatars and their Creators. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_3070108_1&displayName=Week+3%3A+Branding+Me%3A+Viral+Marketing%2C+Buzz+%26+Word-of-Mouth&course_id=_60765_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opendemocracy.net%2Farts%2Falterego_4620.jsp (accessed March 9, 2010).

Dean, E., Cook, S,, Keating, M. & Murphy, J. (2009). Does this Avatar Make Me Look Fat?: Obesity and Interviewing in Second Life. Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, volume 2, number 2: 3-11. https://journals.tdl.org/jvwr/article/view/621/495 (accessed March 9, 2010).

Lola, C.P.Chen. Individual Online Presentation Management: Self-Presentation on YouTube. http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_3070108_1&displayName=Week+3%3A+Branding+Me%3A+Viral+Marketing%2C+Buzz+%26+Word-of-Mouth&course_id=_60765_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myacme.org%2FACMEProceedings09%2Fp26.pdf (accessed March 9, 2010).