Comments on: Physiognomy

By: NorseGamer

NorseGamer — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 05:08:46 +0000

Actually, this article initially stemmed more from my fascination with how a few aspiring-to-be-prominent members of the community have managed to acquire followings over the years, despite either never showing their true appearance or outright lying about it. Going into specifics on this front would likely be considered blacklisting, however, and while HSM doesn’t have to play by SCEA/SCEE’s forum rules, I see no reason to point out open secrets which are already largely known.

What motivates someone to craft a wholly false identity? Is it deep insecurity, deep longing, or something else? And then, what happens when you become trapped by that identity, and can’t step out from its shadow?

In truth, I feel sorry for such people. Home, and places like it, fill a *need* rather than a whim. Hence why, with this article, I’m trying to see both viewpoints, and the larger picture it creates.

You do have a point, though: there’s never a shortage of meaty subjects to write about in Home, if one chooses to delve into them. It forms the evergreen backbone of HSM as Home’s literary journal.

Was great meeting you at E3 this year, too!

By: Danger_Dad

Danger_Dad — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:47:40 +0000

;^) Heh. Was this article inspired by finally meeting me at E3 this year? Hmmmm….

:^/ Personally, I am partly guided by how much attention someone has paid to creating his avatar. Whether it’s particularly attractive or not, the time devoted to tweaking its appearance away from the default settings reveals how important the avatar’s looks are to that user.

My other guide is behavior. A 3D polygon skin cannot tell me what someone really looks like on the outside, but behavior reveals what one looks like on the inside, which of course is more important.

Are we right to judge others by their appearances? Dr. Martin Luther King taught that we should not, but Mark Twain once observed: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little to no influence on society.” Perhaps the wisdom lies in which details we take our cues from. Things beyond the other fellow’s control should not form the basis of our assesment of him. Things that reflect the choices he has made are perhaps more sutiable. Offline, that would be his attire, but in Home it would include every detail.

So, a heavyset avatar in Home could be a realistic approximation of someone who is comfortable with his larger size, or an experiment by someone who is much more slender offline. But either way, it’s a choice that user made, and thus reflects his personality and creativity.

;^) Heh. The more we discuss Home, the more we discover to say about it. No wonder HSM has done so well all of these years….

By: Joseph Thompson

Joseph Thompson — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 04:13:59 +0000

Though, I see your point in the honesty in representing one’s physical self, I have to contest that displaying ones appearance accurately is not important in means of displaying your personality. When you look at Playstation Home the application, it is built as an aid in improving communication. It does this in a few ways. One, it encourages expressing yourself through text on the spot during in-game conversations. Given this, you are then absent of tone of voice and body language so off the bat it helps one improve how they convey information and emotion. I’m sure you’re aware of the many inter-drama caused by just that, misunderstandings. Also, an avatar can help one amplify characteristics which they value within themselves. A stern jaw, tall, muscularity, etc. display strength and fortitude, confidence and leadership. Being a Homeling General, I know my avatar helps in relaying these qualities I value in myself that otherwise may not be taken notice do to social stereotypes and prejudices. Also, Home is the perfect breeding ground for creativity do to the variety of customizations. In the Homelings, most of our members can be recognized by the distinct facial features. Each distinct and each recognizable. This is virtually equal to creating a ‘You’ in a virtual realm. Now, your words, mannerisms, etc. are now associated with that face. Mannerisms, you say? Indeed. If one plays Home long enough, you will start to pick up on the habits Home users have using their avatars. Things like emotes they regularly use, dances they prefer, etc. One of our members actually communicated only using emotes for years yet managed making friends and keep company. Point is, though the virtual world doesn’t allow an exact replica of our actual selves, the avatar is no less you, it is rather, another expression utilizing the application in its most creative way. One can tell a lot about someone from their creativity. I truly value this experiment which is Playstation Home, there is much to it that goes unrecognized. One of those things is the alternate uses it has within it.

By: FLooZY_69

FLooZY_69 — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 23:31:02 +0000

I go by demeanor, attitude, and kindnesses. If they have those three traits no need to see what they look like in real life.