In
Second life ©, there is a bifurcation of the attitude to sharing one’s own
real-life (RL) pictures. Many avatars are dead against such a practice, saying
that SL and RL are two separate entities. Then there are others who freely
share their real-life pictures, right on their profile. Furthermore, many design
their avatar appearance to match their real-life looks. I interviewed some
avatars to get behind the reasoning behind the different views of sharing
real-life images.
The
question of the day is “Does sharing real-life pictures enhance the fantasy, or
kill it?” I met Anastasia at MIAMAI main store, where she works as a model. “It depends,” she answered.
SLE: How, and on what does it “depend"?
Anastasia: First and foremost, it would depend
on how well and for how long I have known the person. I am not going to give
out RL info or images to just anyone I come across.
SLE: Would you, at a certain point,
insist on seeing that other person's RL picture, and would you be willing to
share yours?
Anastasia: I don't know that I would insist on
sharing RL pictures. I have known many people
in my SL for a year or more and we have never seen a RL pic of each other...
With others whom I consider close friends or family I have shared a RL image,
and they with me.
SLE: Does seeing
someone's RL picture change your perception of that avatar?
Anastasia: I can't
say for me personally it has. I get to know the person first and foremost, and I
try not to judge a book by its cover. If
in a SL relationship of a romantic nature, it may alter perceptions, as you do
get used to someone looking a certain way as an avatar which may differ greatly
from their RL person, but the underlying person is still the same either way.
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