A study by Dartmouth social neuroscientist Kristina Caudle on "World of Warcraft" players showed that "areas of the brain involved in self-reflection and judgement seem to behave similarly when someone is thinking about their virtual self as when they think about their real one," i.e. players believed that they had the same characteristics as their avatars. "It's hard to imagine from an outsider's perspective what might drive someone to spend 30 hours a week immersed in a completely imaginary world," says Caudle, who could probably figure it out just by looking pretty closely at the people who play "World of Warcraft."
Friday, November 6, 2009
20
Oink.
I don't know from "World of Witchcraft," but has Ms. Caudle tried spending 30 hours a week immersed in the real world? I can see heading for imaginary-land for a spell.
It's almost like they're saying I'm not as adorable as mathnet is?
As long as you're wearing a bright blue blazer with a black tie, I think you're safe.
Frankly, yes!
Oh, or are you maybe more of a Monday?
Sadly, I'm not cool enough to pull off the bright blue blazer. I'm kind of a square one.
A lot of drinking would clear this up.
Sometimes I do feel like a drunken debutante who likes to show off the goods.
In fact, most of the time.
Does "social neuroscientist" mean that she is really, really chatty?
""It's hard to imagine what might drive someone to spend 30 hours a week immersed in a completely imaginary world," says Dartmouth social neuroscientist.
HA!
""You have this control over your avatar such that you've created this better version of yourself."
That's just stupid. I bet they could have done this same "study" with Dungeons & Dragons nerds or LARPers. It's effing role playing! Of course people are gonna identify with the characters that they've created. But "better version of yourself"? No, David Blaine.
So soap stars, reality tv stars, serial movie characters get confused between themselves and their characters? Don't they emerse themselves in their characters as well?
Wasn't this a Philip K. Dick novel ? I smell pseudo-sciencishness.
And the difference between dear Alex and these WoWers is what, now? That he gets paid? Oh, snap.
I wonder if avatars enjoying playing humans in real life?
Ha? Is this about that James Cameron movie?!
I had to break up with a boy once (and evict him!) because instead of finding a job, he played World of Warcraft all day. If this study is true, he thought he was a successful sexy elven woman warrior creature. So that explains a lot.
I, however, am a sword-wielding mermaid in real life.
"It's hard to imagine from an outsider's perspective what might drive someone to spend 30 hours a week immersed in a completely imaginary world,"just as many people spend that same amount of time a week in a bar or "on things" or watching television relating their imagined experience to themselves too. At least we get laser/robot/space duel action.