The Great Tree

Anna Catherine · Folklorist Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 470

I sometimes find that just being myself isn't as easy as one might think.

For one thing, am I myself as I would be if I were actually in the game, or myself as I am with my metagame knowledge?

This can make a big difference in how I react to things. Metagame, I know that the DRC's rules and slowness are an in character way of explaining when Cyan doesn't have things ready or why they hold back content, and I'm completely sympathetic to those needs.

If I knew only what I saw in the Cavern and it were real and I was really me, though, I would be both irritated and offended by the DRC's behavior, because the real me is a folklorist who is trained to do fieldwork, and if my skills were ignored by the DRC, it would seem like a professional slight.

Either involves a bit of pretending: either pretending not to know things I know outside the game (like about Cyan and game mechanics) or pretending to be someone who would react differently than I really would (different job, less training, etc.) so as to incorporate what I know metagame into my decisions. I tend to go with the real me being there, but it's not always a clear decision.

Also, how do we represent our Out of Cavern selves and interests with an In Cavern world? Does "you are you" have to be entirely literal?

Can someone who builds Ages represent their work as Writing rather than computer work? Discovering books rather than making things? It seems they would have to do so to conform to In Cavern ways of understanding. It's not making up a character, it's just a way of representing who they are.

What about someone from a group like the Narayani Collective, then? Could that person have some sort of Narayani connection or origin in their In Cavern story? I use that group as an example because I'm part of it and know the dedication of the group, and Narayan is just as much a part of who they are in and out of Cavern as Age building is for those who do that.

How much of being yourself must be literal, and how much is it acceptable to represent your real self in more In Cavern terms? I don't think there's an easy answer to that one either, and I suspect every person would answer it a little differently.

"You are you" is a great concept, but not always a simple one. Smile

Annacat

Cycreim · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject:

Good points Anna and this is why a lot of us who are into the IC thing get niggly about details like "Is Myst V a game in the Uru universe?" because it allows us metagame knowledge. Generally my rule of thumb is "when in doubt, don't bring it up."

A lot of us have reasons beyond a metaphysical calling for being in D'ni. Or a reason for staying, let me put it that way. For you, Anna, it could very well be your passion for myths and folklore. For me it's my urban exploration hobby. It could be anything but it's no stretch to find a reason why you'd be in the cavern.
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Durin Mephit · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject:

Anna: I could not have said that better myself....

In fact, I couldn't have said it that well in the first place. You've brought a clear focus to several of my stray thoughts. Thank you.
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Rils · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject:

I guess for me it's just a shift in my frame of reference. If I'm in the game, I use my "In Cavern" frame of reference - treating things as though they existed within the same world that the Cavern does. On the forums here, I can use my "Out of Cavern (aka Real World)" frame of reference - referring to things as they exist outside of the game world.

It doesn't mean I know more or less, it's just how it gets espressed.

Your examples are good ones. Cones and barriers in the Cavern translate to technical boundaries out of the Cavern. IC, I refer to them as obstacles that I wish weren't there, and express frustration that we can't get into the closed off areas. OOC, it becomes "dang, I wish Cyan could hurry up and get us some new content." Both of them, however, involve the knowledge that at this point there is nothing I can do about it except complain, and that there is no point in getting really worked up about it.

So sure, being IC means a bit of pretending. But only because the game is a pretend environment that I have placed myself in. Myself is still me, however...

~Rils ::scratching his head trying to decide if that made sense::
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Saxy · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:01 am Post subject:

I don't know if you guys have seen this:

http://www.americansingles.com/Applications/MemberProfile/ViewProfile.aspx?prm=26854&memberid=11070469&

*SHIVER*

I've been to Mysterium. I've met Daed, Cyc, Marten, and Prof there for the first time. They were all pretty much as I had envisioned. No surprises. Just super-awesomeness.

But this???? The biggest shock I've ever had in regards to personal expectations vs. reality of an online presence. I considered this person to be a young mother of two, a woman passionate about the Uru community that I could relate to. Far, far, FAR from what I had envisioned.

Let me just say that I have no problems with people posing as another gender in an online game or hobby forum. But when they continue that persona into personal matters (which I consider to be LiveJournal.... I have some very personal items on my LiveJournal that I would've kept hidden from Starfyre had I known he was not what I expected "her" to be) without giving a hint to their true selves.... that's going wayyyy too far. In fact, it's downright creepy.
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Cycreim · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:57 am Post subject:

His face looks familiar... I wonder who he reminds me of... I wonder...
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Daedalus · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject:

I believe you have my stapler?

Sa'rUK · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:13 pm Post subject:

I was just wondering if anyone saw this homepage? http://kirsten.starfyre72.com/CMS/index.php?option=com_amazon&Itemid=29
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Moiety Jean · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject:

That is so creepy. Whose pictures is he using for "Kirsten?" Mad

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Daedalus · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject:

OK now that. is. creepy.

Sa'rUK · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject:

Did you read the "My Blog" section? DRS on Hiatus...
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NSymon · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject:

All I can say to this is just 'wow'. I've been playing online games since the mid 90's got to know many people through and made some valuable friends. But this well....I just don't know what to say it.

Farl

Daedalus · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject:

Farlesis is back! And he chose the perfect thread to make his return... Shocked

Welcome back Farl! Smile

Durin Mephit · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject:

Welcome back NSymon!!
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brian · Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:28 pm Post subject:

Farlesis is now known as NSymon (per his request).
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