Common characteristics of a typical superhero: Leading double lives.
In the modern age, anyone with a computer and an internet access can do the same!
Minus the spandex, or the heavy armor, that is.
With every website or game that requires one to register a new account with them, anyone can assume a pseudo identity…not that it’s just restricted to one for every site/game.
Take this blog (and my personal one) for example.
Online, I use the alias ‘MavericK’ for myself. There is no particular meaning to this alias; I just found the word nice, and it starts with ‘M’! 😀 This is an alias I adopt in the virtual world, although it is more of an alternate name rather than an alternate identity for myself.
Back in secondary school, together with a group of friends, we played a prank on our fellow classmates by sharing a pseudo identity on MSN, and taking turns assuming this persona, we would then irritate our classmates on MSN with ambiguous messages while creating alibis for one another. And no, we never went over the line…just enjoyed the discussions back in class about this mysterious figure, while playing the fool. 😛
(Think we used the alias of ‘Kyo Kusanagi’…if this was done now, everyone would have guessed it’s me~)
Thinking back, the above example can be used to illustrate how the internet can be manipulated to ‘manipulate’ people, though on a much smaller scale. Expand it further, and it will become one of the many frauds we hear of, and perhaps…if you’re THAT ‘suay’, encounter all the time.
Then there is also the case of gender-bending.
This is especially rampant in MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games). One classic example, the World of Warcraft. I have many male riends who are into this game, and many times I see them using female characters instead. When I asked them for the reason…:
“I dun wanna spend hours playing the game, while staring at the ass of a man.”
A valid point, nevertheless.
But for me, I’m very sexist when it comes to games…unfortunately. 😀
Once again, the case of gender-bending can lead to fraud and scams on the internet.
Seems like the negative aspects of the internet always will have something to do with online scams and such, doesn’t it?
Communication with a MavericK 
6 comments
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March 15, 2009 at 2:22 pm
brennagh
Good post on the disadvantages of the Internet and such!
So how can you trust someone when communicating online, be it through a forum, role-playing games or even MSN (instant messaging)? After all, the person is sitting in front of a lifeless computer screen, and he doesn’t really have to feel guilty or embarassed if he says anything out of line as there is no one to see or judge him. Here, the internet also provides the opportunity for criminals to easily assume a fake persona which is then so much more likely, for someone to commit virtual crimes or fake feelings in online chatrooms when you don’t see the actual person you are communicating with.
Moreover, anything and everything you say online can also be taken in a completely different context because the other party can’t see your facial expressions. That being said, I prefer face-to-face communication more than MSN even though it is convenient in so many ways. 😛
March 22, 2009 at 10:49 am
Kelvin
Well there are many things that I’d be able to tell friends over the internet, but not during face-to-face communications. For one telling them their mistakes online seem to be so much easier as compared to face-to-face! Personally I’m rather easily affected by show of emotions, also I seem to have a brillant problem: ‘ my face flushes with blood rather easily, and it’s something I’d have to face with regards to face-to-face.
However, face-to-face is still my preferred form of communication, as non-verbal cues are abundant and the reduced chances of misinterpretation, makes this a very viable form of communication (small discomforts aside)
March 27, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Paul
hahaha.. so the name you use in your msn, Maverick, is used just because it sounds nice. no wonder you didn’t say much when I asked you what is Maverick and why Maverick. yup, it’s a pseudo identity. And you didn’t respond to me calling you Maverick rite? as it’s restricted to be your online name only rite?
Yeah, it’s amazing what internet can do for us, the wonders it can do, and how we can manipulate it to ‘manipulate’ people, as what you have said, and as how you and your secondary sch friends have used it to play pranks on your secondary sch classmates over the msn messenger.
Yah, I will still prefer face-to-face communication, which is then interpersonal communication to me, online chatting/communication isn’t really interpersonal communication to me.
March 27, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Wei Ling
Hi Maverick! Your so called ‘pseudo’ identity! I agree, the internet can allow us to create as many persona as we want, be it true or fake ones. Anyway, yours is just a name…I’m sure your character online is just as similar to your character in real life. And you also said that it’s just another name for yourself online.
I guess one can’t trust a person whom one makes friends with online, to a large extent. People make all kinds of persona online, be it through online chatting, online gaming, writing in forums online. They don’t need to be true to the person they communicate to online, their words may not reflect their emotions, their hearts and their true meanings. It depends on what they are trying to get from this online activity I guess. No wonder there are so many scams and internet crimes. I think most of the negative aspects of the internet come from online scams/internet crimes, be it for money or even sex.
March 27, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Rachel
I never knew that you guys adopt female names for online gaming.. hehe.. I played World of Warcraft for a while, and I used a female name lah. I don’t create a different persona at all online. I’m very true to the people I talk to online! I guess it’s those many people who use internet to scam people for their own selfish needs bah…who caused all these negative talk about the internet. The internet does wonders for us! The convenience itself is simply wonderful, like your blog and this comment! 😛
Hi Maverick, btw! I like how you used internet to play innocent pranks on your friends.. these are then the pranks that are allowed! 😛
March 28, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Olivia
What the…? Taking turns assuming a persona online? YOU EVIL PERSON….*mutters*
Well like you said, all of us adopt another persona online…be it a name, or perhaps a totally different identity. The anonymity of these online personas can sometimes make communication much easier when people don’t need to be so concious of their actions or expressions when communicating with another person (maybe even a stanger) online.
Personally, I find it easier to chat with my friends online, because I find that there isn’t a time pressure whereby you must reply immediately. You are able to construct your thoughts properly in your own time, in a much better way, rather than coming up with a response on the spot. Haha, but its just what I think. Weird isn’t it?