You would think that in Second Life- where you’re allowed to look like and be whatever you want- there will be actual freedom in terms of appearance. Not so. Especially if you’re interacting with other people, who impose offline values.
It had been a long time since I’d seen A*** online. In fact, I wouldn’t have recognized him if it hadn’t been for his name floating over his head. He looked completely different. Like a stranger. Not only had his hairstyle changed, but he was leaner (his muscles were gone) and there was something different about his face, though I couldn’t make out what. He was now wearing round nerdy glasses and formal clothes. I was used to seeing him in jeans and a white T-shirt. His dirty blond hair was dyed black. It was like seeing a different man. The heavy, well-built Caucasian “Abercrombie” man that had been his avatar was now a skinny Asian dude.
“You look very… different,” I said.
“I changed my look. I was tired of looking plain… are you uneasy?”
“You’re just unfamiliar, but I guess you do look a lot younger.”
“Ha! Thanks.”
“But I really liked the old man you used to be. It’s sad that he’s gone. I don’t like this whole young boy look.”
“Well most girls dig it.”
“I think I’d feel weird getting a total makeover,” I said.
“That’s your problem. Men are butterflies and bees and women are flowers. If you want to attract men, you have to be a flower,” he said.
“So what are the flowers supposed to do?” I asked.
“Men keep on looking for new women, like bees want to keep looking for new flowers. Since there are no ethical constraints in Second Life, it’s easier to find a new flower.”
“Humf.”
“That’s why looks are so important. You have to fulfill the visual desire of men.”
“Does that mean that if I change my look often in order to stay with the same man for a long time?” (continued)
Filed under: culture , ::Second Life::
