Being the Opposite sex, do you notice a big difference????

Ok, I just have a couple questions about something that probably isnt such a big deal to some of you. I have a male alt that I use for modeling purposes, since I create clothes. Its MUCH easier to use myself than to hire someone to model my clothes..anyway..
I have him looking pretty hot, to me...he's pretty much the man Id like to meet, well looks, anyway, since he has no personality, SOOO....i went out as him the other night, just to see what it would be like. Right away...I noticed how different people treated me.
Ok, Im sure they didnt know I was female, at least I think. But I noticed, that I was ignored by most, so IM assuming its lonely being a guy unless you speak first!
Otherwise I got hit on by girls and was shocked to see how girls talk! Maybe Im old fashioned but Id never say those things to a strange guy!
So my question is, have you ever been the opposite sex here in SL, since its relatively a "normal" thing, and were you treated differently? And did you ACT differently?

I know I did, I found myself saying things I usually dont say, like..hey dude..lol..

I have an alt called X7 Mubble that is a purely functional inanimate black ball for test purposes and to sit as a sleeping member of my land group. It started out as a male but was robotised before it had a chance to mingle. I might put it back as a male for a short time just for the experience. X7 Mubble did make one post in these forums, on the 'Just ignore...' thread!

It certainly makes a difference in my experience. Everyone seems much more likely to talk to female avatars. Often it's at a fairly shallow level (stereotypically "hey cutie" from guys, "Nice shoes" from women), but small talk can lead to deeper stuff. Getting into conversation is the important thing.

I don't think I act differently when presenting as male, but that could just be my perception. I rarely stray into male-mode in SL because I find it so isolating, which is a vicious circle: my male av has few friends, so I spend less time as him, therefore fewer friends.

I'm male in RL, and I have been VERY curious about this, and wondered if others do the same, but even more curious how the opposite sex in RL, see the world as a male avatar. I think Yummi observed things very accurately.

My experience, as a female avatar, I immediately noticed the attention females get from men, I also noticed the world seemed a nicer place, more friendly, more clothes, more options, girls seem more open to chat, I could talk about things that are denied in the male world like 'feelings', and 'love'. I did have the Occasional jealous female call me names in chat which I won't repeat here, lol. In all I noticed how 'free' I felt as a female, I know most won't agree with this, but this is what I experienced, and being male in RL I noticed these changes immediately.

The male world is lonely at times, my male avatar is usually only contacted by others if they need something for free, or need help with something such as fixing things, women rarely chat to me, although some do, and some chat for 5 minutes then ask me, "I know it's a big favour to ask, but can you lend me L$800, I'll pay you back friday", most girls are friendly though to be fair, but like Yummi said, men usually have to ask, and being naturally shy, it's a cold lonely world for a man, some of us do have those things called 'feelings' too, lol.

Very interesting subject though.

There's an exceptionally good chance that you were hit on by MIDs (Males In Drag).

I have both boy and girl alts, even stating in my girl accoutn profiles that I'm male rl and I definatly notice that the girl alts get a lot more attention oohs aahs and oh how cute you are..
wel accept from 2 times where someone became all freaked out by a childav being played by the opposite gender in RL.

I could understand to a level that you might not like to do the naughty with an adult female av played by a male but a child av does not do the naughty so I don't get the problem there.

I understand the question, but is it that important to research?
I mean it also depends on who you stumble into, in RELATION to LOCATION. Some locations are more likely to have a themed kind of chat, others have different kinds. Also, just like other av's you might have, conversations are based on input and feedback, and tact.
And appearances and nonverbal behavior are indirectly part of how people respond towards others.

As you can see, there are too many variables in play, to conclude if there is a pure difference in approach towards other gender av alts.

I'd hardly class it as 'research', but it's no less important than many questions asked here on RA. Your closing sentence makes it sound like you're putting the whole discussion down because the OP and respondents haven't made a comprehensive list of influencing factors and the control experiments taken to eliminate them. What else would you like to see, statistical analysis?

Same thing applies in RL so why shouldnt it apply in SL?

For another spin... for a while I tried using a tall very obviously male avatar (no mistake, a buck deer complete with antlers)... wearing a dress. It was kind of an accident, I got the wrong outfit at a store and decided to wear it anyway since I couldn't return it.

I found that as a buck wearing a dress I got a lot more attention than as buck wearing guy's clothes. Clothes make the man (or deer).

I'm kind of reminded of the Dilbert episode about sensitivity training.

I've done quite a few informal experiments and found that the colour of your skin, the ugliness of your avatar and the tone of your profile make *much* more of a difference than your gender.

Pep (But you wouldn't want to hear that, would you?)

Interesting reply, Pep. You wouldn't start a new thread about that, so we don't derail this one?

So you think I'd be more popular as a white dragon than a black one?

Do they taste different?

Pep (It's the only interest I have in non-human avatars)

No. Way too much though put into something so simple.

The things you are say are barely accurate. Do you go out much to "themed kind of chat" places? What is "Themed Chat" in the first place??

Yes appearance and non-verbal behavior are AT TIMES indirectly part of how people respond to others. BUT, i know that when i TP to certain places - i am getting IMs the moment my female form appears even though i am not-rezzed at all so the issue of non-verbal factors coming into play is a rather small one.

I know in some 'themed places' like Jazz clubs, there is an appropriate attire to adorn before going there which will lead to more IMs as opposed to going there without wearing the proper attire, which leads to no IMs.

Send me your alt:


Later ask him; If YOU are pretty much the woman he'd like to meet again

No, I would prefer that the unimportance of apparent male or female gender was recognised here.

Pep (Particularly since the general philosophy seems to be "take gender as you find it", whereas there is no such overt anti-discrimination preached about the other characteristics.)

Does that represent your selection criteria?

Why don't you post a pic of him so we real males can see where we are going wrong?

Pep (Surely you're not operating double standards?)

This is the funny thing.

GUYS always forget this. I'll get an IM, look at the person, size them up, and if they look like absolute crap, i ask them if they are serious. At which point they usually fall back on "I am here at Bukkake Bliss to meet someone for their brains and am not as shallow as you, bitch". Or something to that effect.

Guys come to SL, look for the girls that are visually stimulating to them and then pursue (whoa just like RL!), but don't expect girls are looking for guys who are visually stimulating to look at as well so when you turn them down for looking craptastic they get all offended. Pretty selfish if you ask me.

This is why i keep my "Rejected" Profile picks.

You get IMs? From men? Looking like you do?

Pep (shakes head in disbelief at how desperate some men must be.)

I have a male Alt which I created for testing couples animations. He's a very "average" sort of male avatar, not especially good looking by SL standards. When I first made him, I went out and about for a bit - to find out a little of what it's like being a male in SL.

I found it tough! I was caged and orbited and generally, bumped, pushed, shot at and griefed - things which happen much less frequently with my main, female character. I also felt very inhibited in conversation (Text, of course, not voice.)

It was an interesting experience and I'd certainly recommend someone trying to be the opposite sex for a while - but I decided that I just didn't have the testosterone for it.

I made a female alt to test some panties and shapes I made, and let me tell you, no matter how remote a place you find to stand around naked (or half-naked) as a chick, within a few minutes a guy will be standing right up behind you and just say, "hi." As I have said before, all guys should be required to do this exercise in order to gain perspective on how creepy we can be.

I'm not hit on much as female. Others are better to judge if I'm attractive enough. It's happened a few times, but I forget it so fast. It's not a big deal.

I have a male alt, but I haven't used him so much. I was roleplaying and we were actually asked to make male alts that should pose as guards/warriors. My fighting skills totally suck and my computer isn't a "gamer" computer, so I worried a lot about how I should act well enough. I didn't have to worry much about it, since the roleplay sim were falling apart (as most do).

I feel totally weird walking around in "him". I update him a bit and make sure I get free skins and other good stuff for men. I don't dare to try and be social, maybe I'm afraid to be "outed" even if I don't plan to start a relationship with somebody.

IMHO, he looks good. He is tall but more lean than big and burly. He's never got any suggestions from women or men, but I only walk him on hunts.

I occasionally inhabit a female avatar, but her profile is such that I *never* get hit on.

Pep (She's much too scary!)

I have spent a lot of time as both genders in SL. It was very illuminating on lots of levels. i recommend it to everyone.