Does a fictional setting mean a fictional identity?
Sunday, September 20, 2009 by Jess Leijh
In regards to online identity performance, a relevant point is the view that identities that differ online are not necessarily false ones, rather ones that a user aspires to be.
In SNS, one can use the flexibility of profile creation and control over what the viewer sees to make themselves the person they aspire to be. Performing this online can increase one's confidence to reflect this offline. If an aspect of a user's personality is slightly lacking, this too can be built up online through the 'anonymous' space online.
This is the same in online gaming. The freedom of character customization says something about the person behind that avatar. Because of the disembodiment of the avatar in the virtual world, one can spend time on expressing themself, without the worry of how others will see them. Many people use their online identity to express who they really are in an environment they feel comfortable in. Social skills can also be learnt in online games. For example, in Amy Bruckman's study of gamers, one user named Tao claimed that he learnt a lot about himself through his experiences as an online character, and his social skills and leadership were improved.
These points surrounding online identity therefore support Bartle's statement 'virtual worlds enable you to find out who you are by letting you be who you want to be.'