Second Life “One or more Identities”

Identity is modern formulation of dignity, pride, or honor that implicitly links these
to social categories. (James D.Fearon, November 3, 1999, “Identity.”)
Identity refers to either:
(a) A social category, defined by membership rules and (alleged) characteristic attributes or expected behaviors.
(b) Socially distinguishing features that a person takes a special pride in or views as unchangeable but socially consequential (or (a) and (b) at once).

Generally, identity can be divided from an online and offline environment. Every human being has their own identity. Identity can also be separated by age, sex, occupation and characteristics. What we don’t realize is that the power of technology can shift or create a second identity. A second Identity is generated by engaging with a virtual world and yet a virtual world is created by technology such as the “internet”(Nil Zurawsk,i 1998 “Identity and the Interne). Users involved with internet have the influence of creating their own identity. A well known engine “Second Life” is one of the most common programs that engage people to have potential power to act upon the second identity.

In second life, there are features that influence the user to create a second identity, this is demonstrated when users are selecting a preferred age group, as well as controlling a virtual character to become one of the ideal occupational status.
For example, I’m currently a student studying a design course, aiming to become a designer. However, second life can offer a new dimension in an online space. I could change my name, age; and occupation to that of a businessman (for my occupational status). This demonstrates that I’m creating a new identity which separates offline and online identity. I can use my virtual identity to publish my work; hoping people can appreciate my work.

Identity can also be altered by cross dressing in a virtual world. This enables a different gender in a virtual environment. This influences them to hide away their identity. Not only by selecting a preferred gender, but also a specific age that might stimulate interests from other users. Young adults can have a choice to act older while older audiences can act younger and can be seen younger in Second life’s Virtual World. When being seen younger in a virtual world, it improves the social ability amongst the community. Appearances relate to attractiveness, while being attractive other people act and respond quicker because of appearances, hence it builds acceptance within the community.
(Mikropoulos, T. A., & Strouboulis, V. (2004). Factors that influence presence in educationalvirtual environments. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7(5), 582-591. )


Turkle makes clear that this new experience of the self isn't merely an alternative model of identity -- it is also the basis for an alternative lifestyle. So long as we were attached to the old model of identity, she says, "the unitary self maintains its oneness by repressing all that does not fit. Thus censored, the illegitimate parts of the self are not accessible."But with the new, postmodern, self: "We do not feel compelled to rank or judge the elements of our multiplicity. We do not feel compelled to exclude what does not fit.”
Sherry Turkle “Life on a screen” http://www.transparencynow.com/turkle.htm

A virtual world not only allows people to act as differently but also it separates and removes the cultural output from users. People on the internet are creating their own culture.

I personally feel that identity is a broadening topic. With internet as an attachment to identity it engages even further by differentiating an off and online identity. I believe that everyone has a unique identity however in a daily environment; it is difficult for them to express the full potential. This is where I feel peers can affect the personality makeup of a person. With a tool such as the “internet” it can help users to express further their identity or change what is once known in the real world and now use the full potential of it in a virtual world. Nonetheless, identity can be created in a virtual world such as second life. It can be altered and controlled by an unknown user.

http://www.joystiq.com/media/2006/10/mii.swf - an example of how to change appearance in a virtual world.

Another outcome that fascinates me in Second Life is people use the second identity to make money in Second Life. Second Life’s functionalities are similar to the real world; depending on how well they do in the virtual world it affects them in the reality world.

You can design a build house for other users that may take interest upon your design. The other user can purchase your design by using a currency known as Linden. By collecting the linden dollar, the seller can save up this virtual currency and convert it later into real world currency. This is how they make money in a virtual world. For example a person whose first identity is a young designer might attract customers due to the perception that age grants experience and increased talent. However by creating a second identity with a virtual increase in age, one can garner the attentions of an audience that did not take him seriously when he was in first identity. Even though it’s a second identity, overall it doesn’t separate them from being successful. By using a different environment it allowed the user to express their full potential and a similar increase in support with a different identity.
http://jimmyzimmerman.com/blog/2006/11/making-money-in-second-life.html

References
• James D.Fearon, November 3, 1999, “Identity.”
• Nil Zurawski, 1998, “Identity and the Internet.”
• Sherry Turkle “Life on a screen” accessed on: May 3rd, 2008
• http://www.transparencynow.com/turkle.htm
• Mikropoulos, T. A., & Strouboulis, V. (2004). Factors that influence presence in educational virtual environments. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7(5), 582-591. [Mikropoulos2004]