Discourse Analysis: RL Pics or Not????

This text analysis covers a discussion between users of a Flickr Second Life group, a specific community of both Flickr and Second Life users. Flickr groups are networks of Flickr users organized around a specific topic; the group is further defined through its statement of purpose and guidelines. Flickr groups allow group members to pool their images together, where the images will normally fall under a broad or specific parameter set by the group topic and statement of purpose/guidelines. Within the groups, users interact with each other by sharing/pooling images (in the case of this group, images are confined to those generated from, simulated in or in context to Second Life – computer generated) as well as through the group discussion forum and through feedback on individual users’ pages. Feedback loops are constituted through both the forums and the Flickr comment function, which allows users to comment on other users’ images/pages. There is a mapping tool as well which allows the pool of images to be mapped geographically according to their tags or ids. Flickr groups (niche networks) are formed in context to the larger Flickr social network, where the use-context falls more or less into the category of a shared interest in image content. The actual uses (versus what I’m calling the use-context) of the network and network groups cannot be categorized as cleanly. While this particular issue is beyond the scope of this analysis, I think there are a few points related to this tension that would provide some useful context in reading the analysis.

The Flickr SL group in discussion is a public, “PG” group with 3,776 members and a simple and broad statement of purpose: “For players/residents of Second Life, the 3D virtual world from Linden Lab. This group is not endorsed or run in any way by Linden Lab. Please follow Flickr guidelines concerning nudity and mature content when posting. This is a [PG] group.” There is nothing within the statement of purpose that references image content other than an indirect reference, through its content-rating (“PG”). While many of the members of this group do use it to share and pool images (currently, there are 84,399 images in the pool), the uses and gratifications for doing this would not necessarily fall under “a shared interest in image content.” Members are diverse: while all are essentially content producers, uses for image production and sharing seem to materialize through many different cultural/social practices. Some produce snapshots of their SL experiences, solidifying their identification with the group community; some produce SL imagery within an artistic context, where the group is a resource for both showcasing and feedback (close to the generalized Flickr use-context, mentioned earlier); some produce self-portraits documenting the different looks, transformations, outfits/object inventories, etc. of their avatars, often accompanied by descriptive narrative (construction of avatar identity); the list goes on –these categories are by no means definitive or exhaustive, rather they constitute just a few of the many different possible uses group members enact, which veer away from the generalized use-context of Flickr user groups. Just a glance at the diverse subject lines within the discussion forum will make this clear (everything from party announcements, art competitions/shows, “newbie” questions, SL photo tricks, SL “life” issues, etc.).

I distinguish the Flickr SL group’s uses from the group uses that are contextually defined by the larger network within which they operate, for two main reasons. First, I think it is important to point out the way members of the two communities (SL and Flickr) traverse the different social contexts of each community through their group interactions, especially in terms of their uses for the group. Secondly, I think it provides a useful starting point with which to explore the group’s cultural production itself, specifically the (text) discussion threads that emerge within the group’s forum.

This analysis focuses on the discussion thread “RL Pics or Not????” which can be viewed by following this link.

The initial thread post is:

“Hey all,

Just recently I’ve been thinking of putting my RL pic on my profile, just wondering what opinions, if any, that you guys have about posting RL pics on profiles….

Pocket”

It would be easy to assume that Pocket is referring to her Flickr profile image, which is as of this writing (about 2 months after the initial post), an image of her SL avatar, however she doesn’t specify in her query what exact profile she is talking about, if any. Of the 38 respondents to the thread, 5 members have something other than an SL avatar as their Flickr profile image. Three of those images are graphic/abstract, 2 of them are “RL pics” but only 1 of the RL images is of a human being (the other is a cat), and the last member has no profile image. Another way to summarize this is, of the 38 respondents, only one has an RL image of themselves as their Flickr profile picture.

As the discussion thread progresses, it becomes less clear whether Pocket is referring to her Flickr profile image or the image in her SL profile, and the majority of respondents (based on their responses) take it to mean her SL profile. Pocket continues to respond throughout the progress of the discussion, and though she never directly specifies what profile picture she is talking about, there doesn’t seem to be confusion among any of the respondents; consequently, there seems to be a general understanding between most respondents that she is referencing the image in her SL profile. It should be mentioned that my immediate assumption was that Pocket was talking about her Flickr profile image; only one other respondent makes this same assumption in the thread. Clarrice says:

“I think a lot depends on what you use Flickr for. If you only have pics of SL then a SL avatar makes sense. I use Flickr for family and friends as well so I have many private pics for family that live at in different States or Countries. J”

Whether Clarrice read through the entire discussion thread before posting her response, or whether she merely responded to the query without reading the rest of the responses is unknown. Perhaps others made the same assumption at first, but after following the course of the discussion, jumped on the bandwagon so to speak, and responded to the general category that had emerged through the discussion thus far.

This is interesting to me, because the tension between having an RL versus SL profile picture within the context of Second Life becomes a somewhat different tension within the context of Flickr. As Clarrice says, a lot depends on what you use Flickr for, which is I think a key question that applies not only to one interpretation of Pocket’s query, but both (What do you use Flickr for? What do you use Second Life for?). I also find it interesting that the members of this particular discussion chose to categorize the thread primarily within an SL context, as opposed to perhaps the more obvious Flickr context. Then again, I cannot know for sure what prompted my own assumptions – whether I assumed Pocket meant her Flickr profile picture because the discussion was located within a Flickr group, or whether (perhaps) it was because I align myself more towards the Flickr community than the Second Life community.

MeritAmun has practical reasons for not wanting to display her RL picture, she says: “I avoid rl pictures of me at all costs a couple months back I had real problems with pictures being misused to spite me and attracted a stalker so to save me the problems I took down 99% of my rl pics of any and every site they might have been on”. Similarly, Lilith says: “I had a RL pic of me in my SL profile for only one hour, but got two insulting comments about not being 20 anymore and the length of my hair. Now my RL pics are reserved for my friends if they want to see.” Both of these respondents refrain from displaying an RL representation of themselves in SL because of the negative experiences that resulted from doing so. In Merit’s case, the problem carried over into real life because her images were being misused; the potential misuse of personal images displayed in a public platform is a risk that media users in general must confront, and Merit responded to this by not only removing her RL picture from SL, but from an online public platform in general. Lilith’s experience on the other hand was a distinct disruption of her experience of SL, where she received criticism based on the correspondence between her avatar and real life image (and other SL users’ assumptions of what that correspondence should be). Having RL pictures for her friends indicates that she does have a use-value for displaying her RL picture, however her display of an RL picture is mediated between the former use-value and her use-value for SL.

There are practical reasons for users to display their RL pictures as well. Kitti cites an age-old social internet issue: “I have always had a RL pic on my profile…… that way u can see i am most definitely over 18…..LOL….. By a few years i might add. Plus i also like to put a face to my friends in there….. but its everyone to their own.” The use of photographic proof of age so that users might legally protect themselves during virtual encounters, is a reminder of the complexity of the RL-SL tension, and indeed, the public/private tension that characterizes virtual mediums (the internet) in general. The problematic nature of both anonymity (although, as an internet research article pointed out, the assumption that there are private spaces on the internet at all is technically false) and publicly revealing oneself online can each have their own real life consequences. One must also consider that faith in a photographic representation will not necessarily protect them or solidify another’s real life identity; as one respondent – Grizzy – says: “I did something very clever. I found a pic of a real person that happens to look very much like my avatar and used her as my first life picture.”

Grizzy’s response further reveals the complexity of the “real”/“virtual” tension – it is not clear why Grizzy chose to put an RL picture in her SL profile in the first place or why she deems her particular way of doing so as “clever,” but as a contribution to the discussion, it can be read as offering a solution to users who, for whichever reason, want to have an RL picture in their SL profile but are uncomfortable revealing their RL physical appearance/identity. Does Grizzy have the consent of whoever’s RL photo she is using, to display it not only as her own image, but as her own identity? Ethical considerations aside, the use-value of having an RL representation within SL takes on another layer in this situation. Does the juxtaposition of an RL representation in the profile of an SL avatar lead to certain assumptions about the RL identity of that avatar? Inevitably, they will, though these assumptions may differ; it is one way of approaching the RL-SL tension that produces other tensions.

Image consciousness and comfort issues play a large part of the discussion. Adrien says: “The only RL pic I would post is an old one of when I was in college in 1963. That same pic is on Flickr and SL Profiles. I just have this thing about not letting everyone on the internet know what I look like now. You never know what weirdos are hanging around in your town who might recognize you.” AnnaMaya agrees, saying: “Same here. Personally I haven’t had any problems online yet, but then again I’ve never shared my pic. There are a lot of weird people online and the thought of them knowing what I look like makes me uncomfortable. Think it’s just best to be careful.” These respondents are uncomfortable revealing what they look like in RL; the reasons are not completely clear but both mention disliking the idea of “weirdos” knowing what they look like. Adrien also mentions being recognized in RL as something he is opposed to, though it is framed again in the context of being recognized by a “weirdo.” Being recognized might have been Mariel’s objection to displaying his RL photo, however it is not a concern for him because, as he says: “Personally, I don’t mind for a very simple reason: on the side of the grid I live in, I don’t know anyone who even lives in my country. Actually, I just know one single person who lives in the same geographical region as I do.” In this sense, being more isolated in the physical world makes the RL-SL identity tension less problematic for him; here, we can see the very social nature of this tension.

Having an avatar that emulates a user’s RL appearance can also have the effect of easing this tension, at least for one user who says: “@Pocket Not in the least. I base my avatar off of my RL dimensions as close as I can get them (haven’t found a way to make thighs touch in SL without making them too large), skin color as well, save the tattoos which are somewhat in the planning stages. When I’m feeling vain, I go a little shorter, add a little cleavage. Aside from that no. I meet and interact with many of my friends from second life, a luxury my traveling with work affords me. I have met many great and endearing people along the way.” She contextualizes this statement by framing the tension in another way: “I suppose it makes it easier when you’re happily married and not looking for anything RL side.” This is interesting because it proposes that part of the tension for some users may be that they are in part using SL as a way to forge romantic relationships, and that having an RL picture might somehow hinder this process; at the same time she assumes that the romantic relationship will eventually be actualized in RL when she says “RL side.” Dana frames the comfort issue in terms of wanting to hide something, she says: “I suppose the question is Are you comfortable with yourself? I have no problem with people seeing the real me but then I have nothing to hide and have no need to hide my RL identity. It is an individual choice.”

Several of the respondents do display their RL pictures within their SL profile and are comfortable with it. Their reasons for displaying an RL picture range from their own appreciation of it – being able to put “a face” to the avatar, the fact that there are already RL images of them in a public, virtual space (facebook, etc.), because they see no problem with it, because it augments or deepens the relationships they make in SL (and because some of these relationships carry over into RL), etc. One respondent even viewed it as playing a role in her battle with cervical cancer: “As of June 2nd 2007 after testing the stage my cancer was diminished and I went into remission. To this day If it wasn’t for my photo,my story and the people I would not have had the strength to go on, instead I believe truly that it was the many souls in Second Life that cured me with there love and inspiration through my image.”

Some of the respondents who display their RL pictures and/or are comfortable with it, are wary or suspicious of those who either do not display their RL photo or refuse to reveal any information about their RL identities, based on a variety of assumptions. KbehnKen says: “RL is better, it is real after all. I imagine if someone is attractive they will put up an actual photo, if not they will make up a fantasy for you all to see. I see no fat, bald characters with bad teeth on here.” Daisy agrees, saying: “If someone’s not showing their RL self I figure they are hiding something (sinister or not doesn’t matter, it’s still hidden). No matter how much someone RPs that they are a “demon furry vampyre” or something equally fantastic, I know damn well that they really aren’t. And why should I care if a RL human is “unattractive” when I learned long ago that attractiveness is entirely based on opinion? I don’t want home phone numbers or a Google Map of someone’s neighborhood. I just want to make sure there’s no underground city of the Demonic Furry Vampyres. I simply am not equipped to socialize with non-humans.” These respondents frame the issue similarly to Dana, by seeing the absence of an RL photo as a way of hiding something.

Both KbehnKen and Daisy are comfortable with the meshing of “real” and “virtual,” RL and SL; Daisy brings some other points into the discussion as well. Where Daisy is interested in interacting with “humans,” her use of SL can be seen as an extension of the 2D social network; her approach to those who do not wish to reveal anything about their identities is pragmatic in the sense that RPs (role-players) who are interested in SL as a game, have a different use for SL than she does. In a role-playing situation, the reasons for hiding an RL identity are again practical, where an RL presence explicitly contradicts the purposes of role-playing.

Many of the respondents who do not display their RL photos are opposed to it. One of the biggest reasons that emerges within the discussion is the desire to keep first and second lives separate; some of these respondents separate their RL and SL identities as well. Shoshana says: “I’m not in SL to date, so what does it matter what RL me looks like? My SL-self is in SL and my RL-self is in RL. I don’t care to mix the two. The Shoshana you see in SL is not the person who has their hands on the keyboard. We’re not far apart, but when we are in SL, you are not interacting with that other person, you are interacting with Shoshana. I feel the “other me” is liable to be a distraction. I’d rather you know Shoshana in SL.” Another respondent says simply: “Just say no to RL pics. Repeat after me, “RL is RL and SL is SL”.”

The “RL is RL and SL is SL” statement elicits several responses, a few of which follow:

Ms. Strangelove: I don’t really differentiate between a person on the internet and um… a PERSON. They’re all humans to me and I don’t feel the need to be anything but a human being (this one, to be exact) for them. Therefore, a real photo is in my profile. I use Thaumata on every site I belong to, so it’s not like a psuedonym at all anymore, and anyone who has known me for even a little while is welcome to know about my personal life. I have nothing to fear. And honestly, these days, I don’t have much patience for pretend people in SL. I don’t care what your avatar does… what do YOU do, you know? that’s more interesting to me at the moment. All that being said, having the whole world in your business is not for everyone and I would think twice before inviting them in, because once you do, they’re hard to get rid of, haha.

Sedary: I get a little tired of seeing people say this like it’s a universal truth rather than a personal preference. My SL and RL are inextricably linked. That’s what makes it interesting to me. My SL self is basically my RL self unbound by the restrictions of biology and puritanical social mores.

Jade: The last time I saw “RL is RL and SL is SL” in someones profile the convo I was having with them got cut very short… you come to realize one of these things is true if someone will not share ANY rl with you:

#1 they are a minor or a reporter
#2 they are only after sex and are prolly married irl and don’t want their wife to find out and chop off their nads/girly bits
#3 they have something major to hide – (or that they do not want you to know, to be more politically correct about it)

While I appreciate that some people refuse to share and respect their wishes, I am more of a boundaries kinda person… until I consider you a true friend you aren’t getting my home phone # or where I work, but I will tell you vaguely what I do… (ADDED) This is not to say that I don’t appreciate peoples right to choose.. there are some hard core RPers out there who I don’t blame for it… I understand this is a generalization, but 75% of it is humor 20% is validity and 5% is proving me wrong.

Mariel: Honestly, I do think that generalising in these cases is not fair to whoever chooses to involve his first life or not in the second one. Personally, I am not up for the secrecy (I do have a picture of real me in-world for whoever wants to see, I do admit my avvie is 100x more gorgeous than I am offline and that the person they listen to is the real me), but I don’t think that those who are deserve any less respect. One of the most amazing conversations I ever had on SL was with a person with who I barely exchanged information about my offline self. To me, it all comes down to a question of tastes. Do you want to involve your first life in the second one? Then go ahead. Would you rather keep it separate? Then just don’t post it. Any of the choices is as valid as the other one, I’d say.

Ms. Strangelove: This is a good place for a story I like to tell people about SL:
One of the first people I ever met in SL was a die-hard RPer. I had never talked to ANY RPers ever in my entire life, so I was completely fascinated by this, and was always waiting for the show to be over, as it were. In the two years that I’ve known him and stayed in touch on SL, we’ve remained closer than anyone else I know in SL and actually, closer than some RL people I know. This is totally odd to me because I’ve never once pried into his personal life, figuring that he would tell me if he wanted me to know and knowing that it annoys him to cover RL in SL. However, he never has. For two years, I only knew him by his character… 100% die hard RPer. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know him… I don’t know his name, but I know what he likes to do for fun, and I know that I can count on him for a kind ear and intelligent advice. I know that I always considered him a friend. In the last two months, he finally started telling me small bits about his real life. I had always thought that knowing these things about him would add to our friendship and strengthen the bonds we have, but to tell the truth, it hasn’t really mattered one bit! I was genuinely shocked to realize it. It’s not that it’s not interesting to me, but it doesn’t change his personality at all, and that’s what I love about him. I always think it’s fun that someone like me, who does very little pretending in either life and him, who does nothing but, at least in SL, could grow to be such great friends. I’m very lucky that I had that experience.

Ms. Strangelove and Sedary see SL and RL as inextricably linked, and in that sense, keeping the two inextricably separate makes less sense to them. Neither rule out the subjectivities of other users, but rather point out that it is a subjective preference to draw strict boundaries between SL and RL; the boundaries between the two are not actually material or as Sedary puts it, “universal” truths. Ms. Strangelove provides anecdotal evidence that forming a relationship with another SL user who does keep the two “lives” separate is not necessarily hindered by this choice. However, when she says, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t know him,” the statement can be read as an assumption that she does know “him,” as opposed to his character; this makes sense in terms of her understandings of RL and SL, drawn from her comments above. This brings up an interesting question – how would she value the relationship if her knowledge of him was discontinuous with his personality in RL? Would it make a difference? Perhaps the RPer slipped out of character at some point, or perhaps Ms. Strangelove believes that the RPer is incapable of hiding his “true” self; perhaps her choice to not differentiate between an internet personality and an RL person is what allows her to feel close to the RPer. Either way, RL facts and information are much less relevant in this situation than the user’s own needs and values, in terms of what it is that makes a relationship “good” or valuable. Is it possible for identities to be flexible, and if that is the case, can SL and RL identities ever be fully separate or the same?

During the course of the discussion, Pocket does end up putting her RL picture in (I believe) her SL profile. She does not report how this changes her experience of SL, if at all, but does express fear when she does it.

The discussion helps to illuminate a tension that characterizes Second Life and perhaps the broader use of virtual worlds. Do people use SL to escape their real lives or to live a fantasy, and is this why some users refuse to discuss their real lives within SL? Do people see their RL identities as a threat to the liberation of “puritanical social mores” (as Sedary puts it) that SL provides, or to the liberation of anonymity in general? How does the potential for recognition in RL effect one’s experience of SL ? Do people want to keep their first and second lives separate for practical reasons, or because they think mixing the two would be harmful in some way? How does someone’s use of SL help shape the RL-SL tension for them?  This is of course not a definitive or exhaustive list of questions, and possible answers to some of these questions begin to take shape within the discussion. The RL-SL tension, or perhaps the “real/virtual” tension, can be understood in a broad sense as a social tension; it arises out of the intersection of other tensions such as people’s uses for SL, concerns, preferences, etc. as well as the tensions that characterize virtual mediums in general, such as the private/public tension.

Eliza says: “I do think it’s all about what you want out of it though”; and Katarina says: “I tend to think there’s no real point in doing anything without good company.” I think it is appropriate to end on these insights.