3 Personality Types in a Virtual World

[Vitolo Rossini]

After a few years in a virtual world, and meeting thousands of residents, I grew to realize that more than half of virtual world residents are homebound in one way or another.

Disabilities come in many forms. I am physically disabled, and leave home rarely. Many share my situation.

There are those that are emotionally homebound also.

Whether one is at home using a Virtual World for emotional, physical, or any other reason, there is one thing that we all have in common.

This is our window to the world.

As residents we learn that even though we are graphic images, cartoons if you will, our feelings can be hurt. Others in the metaverse can break our hearts without even a thought.

Why?

There are three distinct personality types that come "in world".

*There are Residents.

A resident is a person that depends on their virtual environment as their social, educational or creative environment on a daily basis. A resident spends from 2 hours a day up to 24 hours a day "in world". I am a resident. When a resident logs in, they count on their window to the world to fill their life.

*There are Visitors.

A visitor has is a person that has RL as their window to the world. They may use SL as an extra curricular activity or for business. Most visitors come in world once a week to once a month. When in world they pay tier, collect money, answer IMs, send group notices, and then they are gone.

These people can hurt your feelings because they are concerned with getting what they came to do in world done, and getting back to RL. They are not concerned with a residents needs, only with how the virtual world affects them and their personal goals.

*There are Players

A player comes to a virtual world to do just that, to play. You are nothing more than a "Pacman" character to them. They do what feels good at the moment, without regard to the avatars around them. They will hurt one's feelings by being inconsiderate. They do not always do this on purpose. The things they do that can hurt others, is done selfishly, and they are concerned only with self gratification.

A word to Players and Visitors:

The things you do in a virtual world, can change the mood, the day, even the life of a Resident.

You come to collect money, or to let off steam, and I suppose that is your right.

Try to remember that this short "stop" for you might be someone else's entire Universe.

Act accordingly, so that you don't hurt someone deeply by treading carelessly or greedily through their world, as you are "passing through".

[randy]

well writen

[Leah]

Insightful and well written. I'm a resident too!

[Gidgette Adagio]

"Whether one is at home using a Virtual World for emotional, physical, or any other reason, there is one thing that we all have in common. This is our window to the world."
I have always used on-line social networks as my "socialization" Working full time and raising 3 children...left little time to be out and about with friends. I am not the type to hang out at clubs or bars. SL has become very dear to me. Even though it is just pixels...I get to visit places and meet people that I may never have opportunity in rl. SL truly has become my second life. I do have to keep an eye on the amount of time that I am there though. Before you know it 2 hours have gone by...and I have to keep my rl priority. But, I have been enjoying it tremendously! Aaand I laugh at myself, because I can not believe how attached I've become to my virtual animals. LOL