Wired news had an interesting article on a virtual lecture and book signing at a virtual location where the presenter and attendees all show up dressed in their “avatar suits” (represented digitally by their avatars).
Mystic warriors might have a few things to say about this quote from the article:
“We should really be comparing online contact to no contact,” he said. “The online relationships that are really flourishing are the ones between people who have no possibility of being in physical contact.”
Of course my mind automatically wanders to the future and how that might look…. Will you be given emoticon-like looks of dissapproval for showing up at your virtual online church in an avatar that’s too casually dressed?
Do you spring for the “contemporary” upgrade so your avatar can raise it’s hands during virtual worship or are you stuck with your cross-armed, dark-suited conservative avatar with the furrowed virtual brow?
The ultimate, though, is to get the pomo version 2.0 download and deck your avatar out in a goatee, square glasses, a hemp hat and sandals. I hear version 3.0 will even have the option of a virtual Treo, iPod and mac laptop for your emergent avatar. Of course, you’ll have to cut back on your paypal tithe just a tad to be able to afford that!
(Did I mention satire is a Canadian past-time?)
I have enough trouble dressing myself in a manner that avoids embarrassment, never mind actually looking stylish …I dread a future of having to dress my avatar as well.
Don’t mind my deranged ramblings…. after all… I’m no one of consequence.
