Week 11 Entry

I found it interesting while reading the essay on the virtual world, that I kept on imagining a Sims like simulated program where people set up accounts and were able to communicate and create an avatar, as stated in the article, to control throughout this virtual world. But actually the virtual world stated in the essay is "text-based." I guess that is the affect the creators of this virtual world wanted it to have, one that replicates reality as the user creates their avatar using age, gender, and their interests. In my opinion the lack of a race input would make this virtual reality less realistic. In the real world you cannot hide your race from the public usually when you come in contact with someone face to face they can determine your race based on physical features. I do understand why they might want to hide race though, of course if one person has hostility to a certain race it may cause conflict online, i.e. harassment. I did find the comparison of race in RPG worlds to race in the real worlds to be very clever. Saying that elves, wizards, trolls, and humans all have a virtual hierarchy in the cyberspace similar to those of races in our society. Many races in the real world carry stereotypes as do the races in RPG worlds.

While reading the Interactivity and Vulnerability article I connected the interactivity of this article with that of the @race article. Editing famous paintings but in this case they add mustaches to destroy it comparable to how users of text-based realms could trash the image of another on social network sites. Also refering to the "ethno-cyborgs" and how the performers must assume these personas, similar to how user assume avatars online but the only difference is in this article the performers' personas have diverse cultural characteristics that are stereotypical latinos. In the @race article they try to avoid identifying race to prevent stereotypes. The technology used in the marines training is very useful! The interaction of the troops and the virtual terrorists creates a realistic situation for them to experience and prepare them for what they may face when in Iraq. But just as the troops mentioned it's no where near the same as being in the heat of battle in reality because the virtual avatars created do not shoot back.