Cultural-Identity, Attitudes and Assimilation

I am starting to see defining attitudes and identities becoming more and more evident in SL. I wonder if you do, too? This is NOT a criticism - more of an observation - BUT many sl-users are bringing (naturally) THEIR cultural identity along with them. Don't panic, I am NOT saying this is a bad thing; I simply wonder how this will impact our "global community" - will we coalesce into one homogeneous world-culture or bring our cultural arrogance and our prejudices with us, as well as the positive aspects of our cultures?
Will a predominant culture, i.e. users from the UK or from USA assimilate by sheer force of numbers smaller groups in terms of expectations and norms of behaviours?
I can usually tell if someone is from the UK, for example. There is a certain irreverence that is more "in your face" than an avitar from California. BUT should I be able to do this? Should we not be simply sl-ers? A person from a develping nation exploring the internet for the first time can often need help just adjusting to the language and meaning we apply simply because English - to that person - may be a second-language. Should we start to make adjustments for that person/cultural group?
Should we start to expect a code of behaviour (not a T. of S.) that is culturally a secondlife series of expectations? Can that happen here or will we all forever be our real culture first and adopt a cyber skin but NOT a cyber-cultural identity?

yes

I certainly hope that nationalism will decrease in importance as the world communication system - which I count virtual worlds as part of - improves and gets cheaper.

There will be folks that cling to geographic bias in the virtual world.

It's long past time that folks saw themselves as humans from earth first and citizens of nations not at all.

Bit of a shame that, isnt it Brad? I mean, here we are on a Brave New World and we have all the hang-ups culturally and otherwise that we had in the real one.

I dread the day that we become a homogenized white bread McDonald's eating jeans wearing uniculture. Traditional music, clothing, food, languages and mores are quickly disappearing with the conglomeration of the iPod society. So sad.

Guess its finally time to learn Esperanto and start going to church in SL.


If you cant knock sense into them,

give up entirely.

I have 20 different cultures represented on my iPod. 21 if you count the Ramones.

/me counts the Ramones!!! Wonders about the Clash?

Apart from the bots, every SL avatar is represented by a human player behind the keyboard. Unless they are a very good role player, they are just going to be their human selves in digital form in SL.

I don't see that as a problem, personally.

It's the diversity of the real world that makes life so interesting, same on the internet, so why not in Second Life?

After all, if we can't learn about new things from others ... won't our lives get very stale?

Broccoli

I learnt Esperanto when I was 17, thought it would be useful.

Then the bloody internet takes off, doesn't it. English becomes the real international language. And I spoke that already

Not bloody fair.

100%

It's the kick of communicating with a Dutchman or Australian or Thai or Native American that just bowls me over. If I merely equated to them as 'another person on this ball of rock' I'd still do it, but it would loose it's charm somewhat.

I think there's an age issue here too. When school and pre-school children are brought up with certain ideas they take them on. As has been proved by LL statistics (high number of 30 year-olds?)and the mere fact that under 18's shouldn't be here anyway, we've largely had our national traits stamped into us and they take a bit of stamping out.

my culture has been too watered down and swept under the rug for me to just assimilate myself into anyones view of a perfect utopian society, be it virtual or real life. yes we are all human beings, but we are individuals first with different experiances, life lessons, and yes ethnic flavors, be it hispanic, caucasian, african american, french, etc;

so to answer your question, yes, we are always our culture. we are a product of our environment. its what we take from that environment and how we interact with others that is key. no one should have to give up their cultural identity.

besides, it would be boring as heck in here without that cultural difference.

It's funny really, these days being proud of your country, what you are, and your heritage... seems to make you racist and is most certainly not very PC.

Over here in England, we seem to have big celebrations for pretty much every national day, religious festival, and whatever else you can think of ... except the English national day (St Georges Day) and Christian festivals, because we apparently "don't want to upset other cultures here by celebrating things that might make them feel uncomfortable".

*shrugs* I don't have a problem with people celebrating Ramadan or Diwali ... I just choose not to myself as they aren't part of the culture that makes me 'me'.

As well as the culture of individuals in SL, you have the real life circumstances dictating how our virtual lives are spent - such as the gambling ban and various other things that "other countries" laws prevent which affect those of us who are not from that country.

Broccoli

Not personally...no.




We'll bring our cultural arrogance's, prejudices, and gifts with us.




Nope. Because SL provides a means for any group or subgroup to create it's own area in which it's own laws, rules, customs, and norms are prevalent.




Yes.




No.




To a degree. It's up to individuals to determine if they want to make adjustments for such a shift in dynamic. However, as the society of SL as whole isn't regulated or set up in such a way that it's members can be represented in a fair and accurate manner on a large scale in regards to policy, I do not think the society of SL as a whole should take it upon itself to start making decisions such as this. Nor am I even sure it could.



We already do. We expect the users of SL to treat each other (by and large) with dignity and respect. We expect users of SL not to go out of their way to grief others. We expect users to be clothed and not try to molest others unless in a area/zone specifically set out for such actions. We expect users to abide by LL's laws, TOS, whatnots and what have yous. We, if not as a society then at least as a community, have a set of expectations that we expect the average avatar, regardless of RL cultural heritage, to abide by, being a user/citizen of second life.




It can happen here. It's simply a matter of if/when. I hate to use Star Trek as the example, but even in a galactic society where everyone seemed to speak a shared language, you still had a multitude of different cultures, languages, rules, traditions, and whatnot. Yes, you could have 17 different races represented at any given place at any given time....but there was no way in the world that a Klingon was ever going to be mistaken for a Ferengi.

I am proud to be a part of the same planet that created the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, Ram Dass, John Lennon and my mother.

Shouldn't Lama have two L's?

How boring would it be if there were no differences........

Should you be able to tell where someone is from?
I don't care where people, dragons, furries, and any other creature I've forgotten to mention are from personally, I care more about what they are like and how they interact with others.

I'm not sure what to say about the arrogance and prejudice thingy, I've not encountered much of that, but then I lead a very sheltered life

im pretty sure the sl world will overall be expected to embrace american ideals and values actually, with a few of the worst bits from other cultures thrown in.

"Will"????

Broccoli

not true. abide by US laws, since LL is based in the us, of course. but to assume that the sl world expects you to embrace us ideals and values, when the majority of Sl Residents is European, is ridiculous.


http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2007/02/09/europe-takes-lead-in-second-life-users/
* United States 31.19%
* France 12.73%
* Germany 10.46%
* United Kingdom 8.09%
* Netherlands 6.55%
* Spain 3.83%
* Brazil 3.77%
* Canada 3.30%
* Belgium 2.63%
* Italy 1.93%
granted the article is almost a year old and i would love to see it updated, but i do not believe the numbers have changed much

One thing I've noticed is that socio-cultural differences (including culture-related arrogance and prejudice) play a greater role in these forums than I've ever seen in world.

What makes SL so refreshing is the absence by and large of those great dividers religion and politics, at least between the residents in-world. At least in my experience.

Of course, SL is also full prejudice and even hate, because people bring their arrogance and ignorance with them. You simply cannot leave these thing behind. Why else would you hate furries, when furries, child avatars or even Goreans, even though they've never done anything remotely harmful to you? Well, because ignorant and stupid people hate difference and think everyone should think and be like them. And they like to stick together.

Look at all the national groups we have. Not everyone speaks English and even those that do still like to talk in the own languages. It's natural.

SL can help to change this. There are good people and not-so-good people and where they come from is totally irrelevant. At least it should be, because we're all bloody accidents in the end. And each and every one of us can make a difference to others out there.

That'd be cool.

Hey and I saw Walker, Marianne, Sally and Bradley and my friend Betsy on the latest Robbie Dingo video. That was cool!

But if you are different to me, and have a different opinion on a subject... does that make you "ignorant and stupid" (in your own words) too?

It always confuses me how people that think everyone should be tolerant and accepting of everyone and everything like they are, are actually intolerant and unaccepting of those who do have prejudices/preferences, making them really no different.

Broccoli

I like blue cheese. Morgaine doesn't. I don't consider myself superior or her ignorant for this. Some difference of opinions such as most of the '-isms' could or should be wiped out but for various reasons, we're still going to inherit or form our own opinions which by human nature are going to differ ... or we'd all be driving red Fiat Puntas.
Vive la difference ... as they say in Lancashire!

/me looks down at the heap of broken glass behind the clubhouse bar and bites lip.

Garrett made me do it!

I thought, and perhaps I'm just to too stupid and ignorant to express myself properly, that I was decrying the fact that some people cannot accept that others might have different opinions without being stupid.

Read it as you will.

But don't equate prejudice and ignorance with preference.

What I think is sad is when it comes down to dislike of specific races, cultures and ignorance in general.

THAT happens a lot here.

As to ID ... I am not jingoistic, and I will talk to anyone provided that they are nice people, intelligent and have a good sense of humour. I see SL as a world apart, but will always find it easier to relate to people with whom I have a common reference point rl.

That is human nature.