Comments on: Behind the Avatar

By: Jin Lovelace

Jin Lovelace — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:07:01 +0000

And that is an amazing comment, FEMAELSTROM! Thanks for the reply!

By: FEMAELSTROM

FEMAELSTROM — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:22:57 +0000

Jin, great article I too have an avatar that I use for myself. I made her to match my artistic sense and am very proud of her. She in fact has half of my wardrobe slots. I do, on occasion, face people that are not comfy with my sultry and sexy pink haired girl and I too have found people amazed to hear my deep voice on the back side of the mic representing my pink haired avi I created. Some people have objected, and when it’s people I care for, I do find myself having to adjust my walk. I simply feel that I enjoy the world around me in Home and I want to tailor it to me as I encourage all to tailor their world to themselves. I am a strait male, and my walk as a woman is not some repressed feeling, just a guy that got really good at drawing female sci fi pin ups and was able to make one in this virtual world. Yeah some folks will delete us, and not like what we do, but to me Home is a place where we can express ourselves however we want, be it horns on the head, wings, different skin color, height, weight, what ever is not really us, is a walk into fantasy and I am for that. Some folks like to represent themselves more literally, and I am for that 100% too. In this realm, this is our fun and freedom. This is how I represent myself, at least half the time. Great article Jin.

By: Aliasdude66

Aliasdude66 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:21:53 +0000

Great article! I have thought a lot on this subject. It can be very interesting to walk in another’s shoes. However, I would warn those attempting this to treat it as an experiment and not invest too much in a fictional persona. I made the mistake of doing this, and it was very traumatic when I finally had to separate myself from the character I had created.

By: Jin Lovelace

Jin Lovelace — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:24:34 +0000

Ahhh xD No problem.

By: KrazyFace

KrazyFace — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:00:19 +0000

Heh, TGE isn’t an acronym for anything, it’s my phone’s auto-correct gone very wrong lol! That’s supposed to just be “the” not “TGE”. I have no idea why it does that. Oh, and that’s “and” too, not “ans”.

Need an Edit button in the comments…

By: Jin Lovelace

Jin Lovelace — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:17:13 +0000

I get what you mean. The fact is that I have many friends who would portray as both gender avatars and I never thought anything of it. I’ve come to grips that most who would get angry--both genders of real life counterparts--ARE seeking something in depth. I just think outside the box a LOT and just don’t have a narrowmind on most things.

Many have this “comfort zone” to which they open themselves around certain genders. It’s fine and all but at the same time it can be problematic because it tends to be a judgemental ordeal rather than natural human character to let shine through the avatar. I tend to look deep into one person to see if I can take them seriously or not. In the end, that’s the most important thing to me.

But please PLEASE forgive me Krazyface for when I say I don’t know the acronym for “TGE”. But thanks for the response nonetheless.

By: KrazyFace

KrazyFace — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:46:15 +0000

I think the people that are upset by a male using a female, or female using a male avatar are the ones looking for more out of the relationship. It never sways me one way or the other because simply, I’m only looking for friends, and the quirkier, the better!

However, the people who swap their gender in Home for tricking others is fairly rife, so I’ll always watch how a person types. Things like word usage in certain contexts can be the “Adams Apple” of a fair few female avatars. But then, most men will be taken in with just TGE look of an avatar ans start thinking with their pixel-stick rather than their main processor lol, and THAT’S when male pride hurts and arguments start. Which ironically, should be understood the most by the men who portray these women in the first place!

By: Jin Lovelace

Jin Lovelace — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:57:06 +0000

I tend to lean towards great comprehension on the “softer” side of things. It showcases something that not many will understand, and that’s being humble. Home is a niche to where you can achieve something that not many are aware of, to connect with the few not many will ever understand, and more so to learn more about not just who others are, but just who--yourself--are.

It sounds weird, I know. But look at it this way: it’s about comfort, not stereotype. I like female fashion, I like women, I’m comfortable even being referred to as a “she”, “her”, or by Cereza. I just know in the end when I take any of my female friends out, they aren’t bored when they Shop for clothes. You’ll be surprised on how many would look at me to say how great my outfit coordination is on them or pick and choose on how certain apparel looks complimentive on them.

A great advantage indeed, Burbie. :3 Thanks for the comment.

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 14:13:20 +0000

Great article. I agree that it doesn’t matter what gender you pick in Home as long ad you don’t use it to trick or hurt people. I have many guy friends who dress as females either exclusively, like you Jin, or once in awhile. To me it is just another facet of their personality, because whether men like to admit it or not they all have a female, softer side inside of them, just as females have a male counterpart in them as well. In real life we may be gender specific, but in Home we can explore what life would be like on the other side of the coin, and that can be an enriching experience for anyone. Good read.