Let's pretend

As a child I have built imaginary castles, fought countless battles and conquered exotic countries with my fierce dragon (otherwise known as a dog) by my side.  However as  the years went by and responsibilities accumulated, that vivid imagination almost completely disappeared.  Yet there are thousands of people who still frequently escape to worlds of their imagination.  I am of course referring to virtual games.

In these worlds we are represented by Avatars.  Scholars are asking whether these avatars are simply replicating our consumer society.  My research into the subject left me with no doubt that there is more to avatars.  When we create our avatars, we almost always build a better version of ourselves.  People who are overweight create physically idealized avatars.  It is interesting to note that the idealized version do not only apply for physical traits.  People who are depressed or have low self-esteem create more gregarious avatars (The Psychology of Avatars 2012).

Dr James (2009) states that not only does an avatar represent the human owner in some way, but that it is also possible that the owner is influenced in some way by the avatar!  The avatar responds to unexpected things that happen in the virtual world.  Due to these unpredictable aspects of avatar behavior, owners can be impressed by their own avatars.  Owners might even come to mimic their avatar's walking, standing and sitting style.  Research conducted by Yee (2007) confirms that people unconsciously conform to the expectations of their avatar.  It is referred to as the Proteus Effect after the Greek god who could change physical form at will.  Avatars shape and alter the identity of their owners.

The interconnectedness of reality and virtual reality is also emphasised by Professor Bailenson (2012) when he discusses how easily our brains are fooled when it comes to reality.  Most of us are aware how a virtual experience can negatively affect you in reality, but there are positive ones too.  Professor Bailenson claims that if your avatar looks like you, but then start to get healthy and loose weight due to exercise, this experience will change the way you perceive your own health.  It will result in you getting healthier.

Another interesting phenomena is source amnesia.  In an interview Dr Rosenberg (2012) explains it by referring to children being able to swim with whales in a virtual simulation.  A week later 50% of those children would have formed false memories.  Their minds view the virtual experience as something that had actually happened to them.

I feel that we need to tread very carefully into this world.  Although it is hugely entertaining, it does have psychological impacts we do not yet fully comprehend. Ponder for instance the possibility of immortality through avatars ...


References 

James, L 2009, Avatar psychology and mental anatomy, University of Hawaii, viewed 18 January 2013,


The psychology of avatars 2012, Edge, viewed 18 January 2013,

Yee, N 2007, The Proteus effect: behavioural modifications via transformations of digital self-representation, thesis, Stanford University, viewed 18 January 2013,

Julian Assange ... hero or villain?

I would not classify Assange as either, just as a man trying to live with integrity.  For me it is far easier to label the US as villains.  The USA acts like the playground bully trying anything to protect its image.  They have been caught out in the wrong, but do not have the courage to admit to it.  Joel Dean (2012) sums it up perfectly when he says:

The battle over WikiLeaks is all about information - who owns it, who controls it, who needs it - and about one man's idea to set it free.

As the majority of the leaks are related to US operations and more specifically their conduct in war,  it is to be expected that they would react.  What I do find troublesome is the severity of their reactions.  Dorling (2012) reports that the US refers to Assange as an enemy of the State, classifying him in the same legal category as the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban insurgency.  This is a very serious charge as it carries with it a possible death sentence if convicted. 

Lendman (2012) voices harsh criticism against America.  He believes that Assange will not receive a fair trail, in fact that he is already convicted and that all America is after now is to hang out all the whistle-blowers to dry.  This will send a clear message that the US will not tolerate any interference.  It is clearly having the desired effect as many of Assange's supporters are now jumping ship.  Paypal suspended their account, claiming that WikiLeaks are in violation of the terms of service.  In a tweet the hactivist collective Anonymous announced that they are severing all ties with WikiLeaks citing Julian Assange's ego as the reason for it.  

One cannot help but wonder whether it was worth all the trouble?  Monica Guy (2011) reminds us that social media is not a magic bullet.  We tend to exaggerate its power.  For social media to really be effective, online campaigns should lead to offline action, such as a change in the law or the prosecution of a guilty party.  Thus far WikiLeaks has ignited conversation, but has there been any real change?   Mozorov (2010) ponders how much global appetite there exists for stories about corruption in other countries as it's not easy to get people to care about what's happening in far-away and exotic lands -- and certainly not about their complex politics. He echoes Guy's idea that we exaggerate the power of social media. 

There is no clarity as to the future of Wikileaks.  The number one priority remains for Assange to get all charges against him dropped, but in the mean time he announced that he will run in the Australian Elections of 2013.   The Age ran an article on Assange's battle to be eligible to run in the 2013 Australian election.  Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (2012) lists publicity and money as the main motivators for this move.  Capturing even just a small vote would ensure that WikiLeaks receive a substantial amount of cash as in Australia your party earns about $2.50 for every vote received.  According to a poll run by The Age in which 18528 people voted,  72% indicated that they would vote for Assange.

Is Julian Assange a hero in the fight for government transparency or is he a dangerous fool with no regard for world peace?  Let me know what you think by taking this poll:

Is Julian Assange a ...
	hero
	hacktivist
	I have no idea
pollcode.com free polls

References
Dorling, P 2012, 'US calls Assange enemy of state',  The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 September, viewed 17 December 2012, Sydney Morning Herald Archives database

 Guy, M 2011, 'Revealing the rot: how to use social media to expose corruption and mismanagement at both local and national level', viewed 15 December 2012, 

 Lendman, S 2012, 'Julian Assange decleared enemy of the state', MWC News, 1 October, viewed 17 December 2012, MWC Archives database 

Morozov, E 2010, 'Predicting the future of Wikileaks:  Follow the media!', Foreign Policy, 10 December, viewed 17 December 2012, Foreign Policy Archives database

The politics of social media...or the social side of poltics?

Is social media the way of the future for politics?  Taking into account the huge success of the Barack Obama campaign, I would say definitely!  His team of experts nailed it because they treated the site as more than just a source of information for voters.  They implemented Rheingold's online community principle:  there must be meaningful interaction and evidence that opinions are taken seriously.

What is needed to create a successful online campaign?

Schossow (2009) designs political websites and warns that the most important rule when using social media in a campaign is not to let it become a "ghost town".  The human presence behind the site should be clearly visible.  This again illustrates Rheingold's view of the human desire to belong.  Schossow believes that a campaign should at least have a presence on the Big Four (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr).

According to Fitzpatrick (2011) there are an additional three crucial steps for turning social media support into actual votes.  Firstly the candidate needs to connect with his audience by sharing his/her ideals, goals, accomplishments and behind the scenes images.  This turns ordinary people into celebrities.  They become familiar strangers by allowing the audience a glimpse into their personal lives.  Secondly the candidate needs to engage with his/her audience and lastly, and probably the most crucial step of all, is to turn digital followers into real world volunteers.

What sort of candidate will perform well in this environment?

Although politicians are used to being in the limelight all the time, this is virgin territory for most.  The main aim with moving campaigns online is to attract younger voters.  Heather Smith from Rock the Vote discusses this very topic:

Roy Wyatt

Clearly the younger generation is not unrealistic in their expectations ... except maybe for expecting politicians to be honest!  They want to be heard and are looking for somebody to represent their interests.  Maybe political parties should be recruiting much younger candidates like Roy Wyatt who at the tender age of 22 is the Federal Member of Longman.

Some media sources argue that entertainment must be provided in a bit to attract the younger generation.  I can see that posting a game on a political site might attract a few bored souls, but will it have any impact on how people vote?  Will it engage them in political discussion?

Are we perhaps valuing entertainment too highly?  Linnell (2012) likens the American election to an episode of American Idol.  We tend to focus on the spectacle, rather than the unexciting trends which are quite often the most significant ones.  The question is what will happen when this current generation we cater for matures?  Will they simply abandon the internet and get their information from other sources?  Or will they become a generation with no interest in serious political issues because they have not been exposed to it?

References
Fitzpatrick, A 2011,  How political campaigns can turn social media support into votes, Mashables, viewed 4 January 2013,

Linnell, G 2012, Politics and the Infotainment problem, Huffington Post, viewed 4 January 2013,
  
Schossow, C 2009, Using social media in political campaigns, Media Campaigns, viewed 4 January 2013,