"You cannot not communicate. Every behaviour is a kind of communication. Because behaviour does not have a counterpart (there is no anti-behaviour), it is not possible not to communicate." Paul Watzlawick
In a virtual environment, it seems, we lack some of the modalities of communication. We apparently communicate with verbal language only, vocal (as in voice chat) or non vocal (as in regular chat). We lack the body-language and the para-language when we talk in Second life. Or do we?
We also emote. A lot. I have been really amazed of how well we all get the message through this communicative-wise simple channel. So in lack of the non verbal modalities, emoting was created and enhanced to a pretty sophisticated level. Mitch Kapor keeps spilling some info about avatar puppetering and body mirroring all over the web, so the nonverbal side of communication might be enhanced very soon.
And in SL we even dress up - or not. Create ourselves in the form of an avatar. Or not. And this communicates stuff no matter what. In the movie 'Second Me' by Anna Thommen, Eifachfilm Vacirca shares some really fine points regarding this.
Also the latest debates about skinny and fat avies shows that how you choose to look tells alot about you. It's a statement. Even when it's not.
We could for the fun of it, try to box this in (the brain loves that no?). Avatars could be categorized in overlapping labels like:
- WhoCares - this guy (it is mostly guys) gets into SL, picks a common made up avatar of some sort, makes some minor changes and sticks with it. Famous whocares: Phillip Linden
- Toonie - furries, nekos, greenies, tinies, robots etc. Your avi looks nothing like anything found outside the fantasy worlds. Famous toonies: Vint Falken.
- Crossover - here we have the people who pretend to be opposite in some aspects of your RL self in weight/height/haircolour/age/gender/race/beauty/economic status etc. Famous crosssovers:
- RealLifer - tries to make an (often but not allways enhanced) lookalike-version of their RL selves. Famous Reallifer: Mitch Kapor, Hamlet Au.
- Shapeshifter - changes shape often, plays around with it. Famous shapeshifters: Torley Linden, Andromega Volare.
- Roleplayer - here the avatar is clearly dictated by whatever part you play.
So what does your avatar tells us?
3 had something to say:
Aha... I would propose another category: the NeverGetAroundToIt avatar: mostly guys who Never-get-around-to tweaking their avatar and clothing to something more satisfactory. Examples: Meeeeeeee...
When I'm in-world, and I find one of my friends online, I typically end up chatting the whole time. If no one is around then I often go exploring, looking for someone to chat with. Once in a while, I'll go shopping, but then by the time I'm finished, it's time for me to logout.. which leaves all my new clothing in perpetual inventory....
Hmm.. as for non-verbal modalities of communication, I've noticed that the experience of talking to a someone "physically" present with their avatar (be in it open chat or IM) is not the same as when IMing another avatar who is not immediately and "physically" "present." It seems to me that just having the avatar-presence near adds a dimension of communication that otherwise would not be there. In-world examples abound and often manifest themselves in the "tp me" requests that we've all received or made.
Aside from the simple "presence" of an avatar, there are also a number of non-verbal communication cues present such as how close or distant and avatar will stand or sit, whether or not an avatar remains standing or sitting or... dancing... and many other small, non-verbal ways of communicating that express something of who we are, of what we want others to perceive and of how we understand what our relationship to another avatar is. Thus, these expressions differ not only according to each individual avatar's personality, but also according to the particular dynamic of the relationship that one particular avatar has with some other. I suppose :p
Oooooh Francz... Id say youd fit the first one neatly :) And it just tells me you are a very social being that doesnt go after the look. Or a very buzy being. Grins. Of cause you could also be a lazy being XD.
Eif made a very concious choice when he did, not only his avatar, but also when he chose his animations. To express certain things.
Phillip Linden I am sure is just out of time.
And yes... space matters in SL... but why? Its so funny no? I'd say there's more to it than just anims, and poses and distance. But I cant explain it.
Now get that inventory out in the light!
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