Comments on: FEMAELSTROM vs. Jake

By: Jin Lovelace

Jin Lovelace — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:43:42 +0000

This is an absolute fantastic read!! 8D Thanks Jake for sharing this. ^_^

By: FEMAELSTROM

FEMAELSTROM — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:18:44 +0000

MaeBell99, thank you for the comment, and I too feel like you are the greatest gain from Home I have gotten, because you are part of my real world. Thank you for being in the lives of FEMA and Jake.

By: MaeBell99

MaeBell99 — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:35:10 +0000

Very well written article indeed, Jake! You definitely have a gift with words, and thank you for giving me this chance for reflection. Concerning myself, I was very adamant in the beginning about trying to make my avatar look like myself, including clothing that I would wear in real life, although as Burbie mentioned for herself, my avi is a younger version of me. This is simply the result of not being able to create an accurate older representation of myself. Later, however, I started to get into the whole fantasy aspect by wearing costumes such as Star Wars, medieval, etc. However, unless I’m wearing a full body suit, I still try to always use the same face.

As far as how I behave in home, I think that I am true to my real life self with one exception. I have a problem that is the opposite of what I think most people experience in Home. I feel extremely shy in Home, whereas I don’t generally have trouble meeting and speaking to people in real life. I am by no means an extremely out-going person in real life, but I am comfortable meeting new people and carrying on decent conversations. My job also requires speaking in front of groups of people, so the personal limitations that I experience in Home are truly a mystery to me. It must have something to do with not being able to read facial expressions and body language. However, regardless of any shyness that I feel, I try to always treat people with kindness and acceptance, just as I do in real life. Overall, I do feel that I am the same person in Home that I am in real life with the exception of being bold, and I’m hoping that as I enter my second year in Home, I can push MaeBell into being more outgoing so that she/I can develop new friendships and grow closer to existing friends.

I would like to add one final comment to you, Jake/Femaelstrom. You have always been the exception to my shyness because I have been extremely comfortable with you since I met you all those months ago. You are the greatest gift that has come out of my Home experience, and you are special to me both in the world of Home and in the real world.

By: FEMAELSTROM

FEMAELSTROM — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:03:50 +0000

Everybody, allow me to introduce my sister, one of the most important people in my life. I want to take a moment to openly thank her for actually taking time to post. Thank you for the kind comments. A note of relevance here: she reads my articles though she’s not even on Home.

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:39:44 +0000

Great article Jake. Well written and i am so happy to say that you describe “you” so perfectly. You are a really great person & I like the way you seem to be on “Home”.

~Sincerely,
One of the”R’s” in your life

By: Dr_Do-Little

Dr_Do-Little — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:16:55 +0000

Great Article. I dont know if Doc had any inluence to who I am in the physical world, maybe. But I know I’m a better person on home than I was before. Not that I was bad or anything. But this ID and I have a long story together, back to the bulletin boards day. On home I have to live as Doc.
As many PsHomer, or most peoples on most networks, it wasnt my first choice. After a few denied ID attempt Dr_Do-Little came back to my mind, and I’m thankfull for that.
Peoples grow. Here on home, elsewhere online, or out in the physical world. The early 21st century will be rememberd for the awakening of a global community. Where social rules are slightly different and we are a part of it

By: Dr_Do-Little

Dr_Do-Little — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:01:10 +0000

Wow! First I tought your were using some great poet word. Really nice Burbie

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 14:43:03 +0000

All I have to give you is me,
just as I am, just what you see.
Making mistakes is a part of the scheme,
it is human to fail, human to dream.
All you can do is the best that you can,
to further yourself and fellow man.
Strive to know and always grow,
within your mind, within your soul.
Yet always be just who you are
in what you do and you’ll go far.

That is a poem I wrote in my early twenties and it is still my philosophy of life for the most part. I agree that Home gives us the freedom to stretch ourselves and put forth a different persona if we choose, but I think we can only go so far with that, because in the end the “real” you will shine through whatever you do, at least to those who get to know you well.
I believe in being who I am both in Home and in real life, and people I meet can take it or leave it, that is their choice not mine. While I do dress and decorate my houses much differently than I do in real life in Home, that is more because of the money involved in real life to obtain these things and the fact I am a younger version of myself in Home. But I never lie about my age to anyone, I tell most people I meet very shortly after we start to talk, just to give them the choice to accept it or not and move on.
All of us have our quirks and personality flaws, in Home many have found the means to change those and perhaps grow in real life from that experience, like you have wonderfully stated in the article Strom. Great read as always, I love your literary voice(and your real voice as well by the way.)
You have grown as a person and I am glad to see that, because it has given you the ability to reach out and make some good friends, and I am happy to count you among mine.

By: ted2112

ted2112 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:13:47 +0000

I truly enjoyed this article Strom. I’m personally glad to know you!

I don’t make much of a distinction between an avatar and who is behind that avatar, because just like in real life people are going to be who their going to be. I like many of the writers here at HSM try to really be myself and tell you how I really feel about stuff. If you like it, great! If not that’s ok as well.

Thanks for a great personal article!

By: Olivia_Allin

Olivia_Allin — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:59:57 +0000

Awesome Article Jake/Femaelstrom
I modeled my avatar after me for no other reason then I know me. I try to be myself on Home but admittedly a distilled version. When texting on Home there is a built in buffer that allows a person time to filter how they will respond or present them selves before typing out what they are going to say. Some people use this wisely while others use it to sharpen the edge on the cutting words.
I am an adult. I am married. I am not on Home for a hook up. So I tend not to as the over asked questions like age and location or gender. I am dealing with the persona virtually standing in front of me. I can only trust what I observe so any background asked for or volunteered could be less real than what I perceive and there in should not be relied on.
If a 14 year old can pull off being an adult then they are an adult to me and if a 33 year old acts like a child then that how I will treat them. We are interacting in a virtual environment that allows us to be who we are or be who we want to be. Maybe even try being someone we don’t want to be. Home is Home and Home is what you make of it as are the “people” that occupy Home. Until Dorothy looked behind the curtain, the Wizard was larger than life. I enjoy the freedom and imagination that Home allows us so I don’t peek behind the curtain to often. That said, I will share who I am with my friends and get to know what they want me to know. But as for how I present myself and how other present unto me is a choice and I respect that. I well deal with the information that is given me by its face value.
When counseling with a stranger I can only work off what they tell me and a little bit of institution. I was dealing with a person that calmed that they were sad and needed help. As the conversation continued a person watching had the same feeling I was getting that it was just an act and spoke up and said so. I told him that he might be right but I couldn’t take that chance. Guessing wrong could do damage and to not risk being wrong would only cost me time, and I had the time to spare.
Home IS what you make of it. That is a combination of what you give and perceive. That is what I see as being the true beauty of Home. I heard someone say “be true to yourself” and that’s fine if that’s what you want but I think on Home you should be true to your dreams and that dream can be to just be you or something more or less or nothing like you.