Role playing & non-human AVs

got into an interesting discussion last night regarding role playing and furries and the like. I am no aficionado of online games/worlds (SL is the only one i "play" and that prob won't change), nor do I really know "furry" pop culture either (I just like building custom non-human av's).

But I sensed (and have in the past) that there is a "sensitivity" around "masking" yourself whether it be a furry, or robot, or other.

When I think of "role playing", I think of someone acting in a way that is unnatural to their RL personality. If you are a man, you play as a women or vice versa. If you are meek and quiet, you play as an extrovert, etc etc. (my question isn't whether this is right or wrong -- I subscribe to live and let live)

To me, a furry av is not role playing. It is much like wearing a different outfit. It doesn't change your personality, your actions, your words. That is defined by how you act, not how you look. (For me it would feel stranger to wear a human head with a different color hair than my RL hair, than to wear a chipmunk, lol.)

Is there a sensitivity on this topic or non-human AVs in general within SL that I should be aware of? If so, can someone illuminate me as to why?

I love seeing how imaginative people can be with their avies.

It's great seeing how people use SL. The last person i rated was someone with an amazing avie that had a snake's body, well worth forking out $25 to let them know. Why be human when you don't have to, or want to?

I've never seen anybody say or do anything bad to a non-human avie so far in my SL experience, I hope it doesn't happen.

I'd probably play my role more if others did. There's no fun in being elaborate and creative just to recieve a lot of "lol" and "wtf" in response.

Would love to see a sim dedicated to RP, but I'd bet ya anything it would either be griefed to death, overrun by hormones, or both. :/

What an interesting band name idea. Overrun By Hormones. Right up there with Surrounded By Ninjas (which does exist).

I thought of one the other day. Robot Sex! ... a reference to cybering.

Also, Brazilian Space Porn, just because of the expressions on people's faces when you tell them.

heh good band names

sounds like this is a non-issue, which is nice to hear. I posted because I was wondering if it was an issue. YAY

hahahaha that's hilarious! hehehe

um.......know where i can get some?

I actually am a dog, IRL. You have no idea how long it took me to get this good at typing using just my nose.

sometimes i worry about the humans. not too often though.

I hear what you mean about the hair, Forseti. Once you change one thing vis a vis your RL appearance (an exactness that'll never be achievable anyhow) what does it matter how 'far-out' you go? That's what I love the most about SL; how people choose to represent themselves.
The only people that have real problems with this sort of creativity are of the same like-mind as bigots, misogynists, etc...that's their problem, not yours.

LOL @ Cross_Lament!

lol I have a no-pets-near-the-keyboard policy. The last time I had a cat climb on the keys, she walked away with my "4" and "G" in her claws.

My dwarf hamster is so light that when he walks on my keyboard, his feet don't even disturb the keys!

I once had a cat manage to log itself into my Tapdance (super-secured remote linkup to a network based in the rocky mountains) account while I was in the kitchen making a sammich. It got past three passwords, a fingerprint scan, and when I get in the cat's like "You have mail, bitch!"

Not really, but I did have one start an old-style mac in the middle of the night with it rigged into floor-to-ceiling speakers.
"click"
DING!!!!
MRROWW!!!

It got messy.

(whispers to Lo, so that her hamster can't hear). Um, I think they prefer being called "Little Hamsters"

There isn't really a cut and dry answer to your question as far as I can say. There are many different people on SL and each one is an individual. I don't believe there is any wide spread problems with that sort of thing in SL but it boils down to one's own experiences. My only negative rating I ever recieved was from someone who simply did not like furries. It was the same av that has won countless av contests in the game and I get compliments all the time so there is no telling how someone will react.

I am sure there are others who simply don't like elves or robots, perhaps some who can't stand anyone who isn't a Ken or Barbie. Thankfully they seem to be rare as my experience has been overwhelmingly positive overall even though I rarely wear a human skin. There are a few mumblings now and then about walking around as a skunk or fox but thankfully it isn't often. Of course its a lot better now then when I started back in May 2004 (as an alt) since furries are rather common now and can be found at almost any event.

Thanks, I like the way you express this.

Personal truths.

I recently bought 2 furry av's from Lusk, they are really well done. As anyone who has these knows, the eyes blink! I think that's really cute. I believe eltee made both the ones I have (cat and skunk). Most of my friends have at least one of these av's too that they put on from time to time for fun.

Luskwood and Perry are very neat places. There always seem to be people hanging around, most of whom I enjoy speaking with and checking out their amazing avatars. I've encountered only 2 who have kind of "guilted" me about not being a furry "lifestyler". I bought the av's because I love how they look and for a change. So, like Forseti, I'm wondering how many people I'm offending by being furry only it outward appearance, and not deep within my cold human soul.

PS, I have have Psyra's cockatoo, it's fantastic. I want the raven next!

I don't think anyone would mind you dressing up like a furry if you're not one on the inside... it's honestly not that big a deal. Being furry is about doing what makes you happy

"Furryness" really is in the eye of the beholder -- it means different things to different people.

I consider myself a furry, even though I've never been to a furry con or gathering. I don't even have any friends in RL who are furry. My furryness is basically restricted to 3 realms: art, cyberspace, and my imagination. In RL, I'm just your average human being.

BTW Ingrid, the cat and skunk avs are actually by Liam Roark. But eltee makes cool stuff, too.

I'm me, even when I'm not. :>

This kinda goes back to the threads of the idea of freeform RP areas in SL. Which I support. (I am hoping to move into ElvenGlen, myself, assuming that I don't 'have' to become some monster to be killed, that's not freeform at all)

I'd like to say that that's never supposed to happen in Luskwood, but of course I can't guarantee it. You don't have to have a furry av on to hang out in Luskwood. We prefer that folks have pants on though.

I was looking for cute furry pictures... I am very disappointed in you!

Nobody can be killed in ElvenGlen! If there is any attempt to kill, that person would be banned. Elf Clan is very accepting of all woodland brothers and sisters. Gee, we have birds, dragons, unicorns, skunks, wolves, oh, and did I mention elves? lol

I would think that anyone who is upset by people who choose to have non-human av's are people who are not thinking through why they are on SL. For are not av's basically a collection of pixels? So they are not human either!

I used to have a somewhat negative reaction to furries, partly because of my genetic anti-cutesie bias, partly because it struck me as "being different just like everybody else [see also goth]," and partly because the fetish side of it struck me as spooky. Forseti and others have helped cure me of my prejudice for the most part. Also, furry avs are more diverse than when I joined--it used to be the same fox av in five different colors at every SL event.

I think I also came to identify with furries a little, as I've spent most of my Second Life in non-human avs. Of course, often enough I land amidst a bunch of furries and some cartoon weasel is like, "OMG, wtf are you 0_o"

What can ya do?