#virtualidentity

AI Woman in a fur coat.

In the pixelated realms of video games, I found myself drawn to more than just the gameplay. There was a captivating allure in the virtual world, where strong, confident, and wonderfully complex female characters existed. Their stories and personalities transcended the screen, making my heart skip a beat.

From Lara Croft's fearless adventures to the enigmatic charm of Morrigan from Dragon Age, I couldn't help but feel a unique connection. Their strength, intelligence, and resilience were qualities I admired and found incredibly attractive. As I navigated through the digital landscapes, I realized that these virtual heroines had captured my heart in a way that was different from my everyday experiences.

My virtual world identity and my real-world identity are fairly similar, for the most part.

Let's be honest, I tend to appear much happier online than I am in real life. I want everyone to think I am having the time of life, so I obviously only post when something good or fun is happening. For the most part, when I am online, it is very once sided. I do not get on and post every time I am upset, or stressed, or busy working my butt off. NOOOOOO, "oh, I'm on vacation for the first time this year?" *post on a virtual world* "holiday?" *post* "stressed about life?" *gets on a virtual world acting happy as can be*.

I try my best to keep my real and virtual identities as similar as possible. I do not want to meet someone online pretending to be someone I am not, and then end up meeting them in person to be a completely different person.

I have been catfished, and it is not fun.

When I am in my virtual identity, I tend to be more proper on certain websites, depending on who my audience is, than I am in my real identity. On other virtual accounts, I use a lot of shortcuts when I am communicating, and not as proper as I am on others.

Of course, when I am using my virtual identities, I am always a lot more positive than I am in real life. I try to keep all the sad, depressing, and emotional feelings for my true identity and keep my social media more fun and outgoing.

What is the difference between your real and virtual identies?

Human beings are complex creatures. We are not only composed of unique genetic characteristics, but we are a compilation of unique experiences. Therefore, our identities are the sum total of countless factors. The difference between our virtual identities and our real world identities is the the difference between the summation of those factors.

I have changed my position regarding my own virtual vs. real world identities. Originally, I maintained that they were the same. However, now I believe that they are similar but have various shades of differences. Furthermore, I believe that participants in the virtual world have many different identities, myself included.

What make me - me - in the real world? Obviously, it's a lot of things. To an outsider, I might appear to be an average 22-year-old guy. Fairly outgoing, friendly, sporty, etc. Clearly, however, I'm much more than that. So, while I believe that I don't misrepresent or intentionally aggrandize myself in the virtual world, I do believe that my virtual identity is merely a fraction of me. Our virtual identities also suit the purpose for which we are immersed. For example, in the gaming world, I might use avatars that have mohawks and add 100 pounds of muscle to my body - clearly not me. In the social media world, I don't fully disclose my opinions on events and issues, but I have them. So, my social media identity is not a fully developed representation of me either.

So, all in all, as a complex human existing in a complex real world, I believe my virtual identity is just a shade of me.

The question which asks the difference between our real and virtual identities assumes that there is a difference. For many people, different identities may emerge depending upon the communication landscape. But let's get real...can't there just be someone unaffected? Someone who is the same in both the real and virtual worlds?

Perhaps I'm an old soul, but I maintain that the person that I present in the virtual world is the same as the person that I present in the real world. My participation in the virtual world is rather limited, but the platforms which I do use do not get a truer or less genuine version of me. At the very most, my virtual identity is slightly more guarded and perhaps a bit more professional, but all in all, it's the same me.

I recognize, however, that this is not always the case for everyone who navigates between the two worlds. Social media is the first virtual platform that comes to mind. This is a world where people only put their best self forward. Generally, our news feeds are inundated with happy individuals posed in flattering ways and pictured in soft light filters.

Conversely, in other worlds, one's virtual identity may be more authentic. In the real world this person may feel hampered by social norms while the virtual world allows this person to dwell in a place where they can be themselves.

So, can we be real in a virtual world? A charlatan in the real world? Or just a little bit of both - like virtureal? Yes, yes, and yes.