Turkle underlines the point of fragmented identity by showing explicit examples of people fulfilling specific roles in MUDs. People are able to present more online, where there are multiple platforms to express each interests. “Many people experience identity as a set of roles that can be mixed and matched, whose diverse demands need to be negotiated” (Turkle, 180). Turkle presents that people are made of many complex layers. Life in virtual worlds can clue us into broader behavior patterns. If it is true for MUDs, maybe it can us a generalized perspective on CMC behavior. It seems to resonate with standing communication theories on social and relational behavior.
The CMC mentioned in Turkle’s work is much older and a different platform than a blog. Her work focuses on more direct interaction in chatrooms, websites, and MUD’s virtual worlds. She presents a sort of psychoanalysis of specific types of users. While I appreciate this insight, it is a different type of identity formation and presentation. Baym’s ideas hit on broader aspects of identity. We construct a public version of our selves through a series of cues (or omission) for more impression management and a more crafted version of our selves. Turkle made an interesting point related to the construction of the self. Are we creating a new fictionalized and idealized projection, or are we enhancing ourselves? Are we creating an “expanded” self or a “separate self” (Turkle, 180).
My blogger, Jodi, has a very coherent identity. She presents herself in a positive, clear, and professional manner. Her identity is revealed through her constructed persona, and she comes across as a likeable person. Jodi’s style of writing is simple but engaging, and it to create a connection with readers. Her bubbly and quirky personality comes across in her writing style, stories, content, images, and interaction.
A public blog isn’t as direct and personal of an interaction, like there would be in chats. Individualized chats can result in deceptive conversations , misleading perceptions, and exaggerated interpretations. A blogger, however, must exude a particular personality to everyone. I think she respects the medium, the content, and her audience enough to present a genuine, expanded version of herself online. And I respect it.
I agree with you that Turkle’s work is based on the study of a medium that’s much different than channels more common today, such as blogs and social networking sites. While it may be true that MUD users often re-create themselves entirely in virtual worlds, I’m not sure this holds true on a medium like Facebook. However, I do think many people enhance their self image on blogs and social networking sites. Some of this relates back to the IM away message article we read. People might say they are doing one thing even if it’s not true to make themselves appear more interesting or more popular.
Turkle did present her views on older forms of CMC channels. I am not sure what the usage rate of private chat rooms are with the open form of social media. I liked a point that Baym med on pg 106 of this weeks chapter, “It was Shakespear who wrote that “all the world’s a state, “recognizing that all of our social encounters involve playing roles designted to suit the interactants and the context.”
Online identity is a multi faced one, people must adjust their self to the audience they are presenting to.
Although Turkle’s work is much more specific than Baym’s chapter, given that she focused on MUDs, she really made me think about how we create ourselves online. For instance, have you ever watched someone create their character for a video game? I watched a few of my friends create their “warrior” for that video game Skyrim, and I swear it took them longer to decide on their outfit, ethnicity, weapons, hair, etc than it took them to play the game. I take that as a metaphor (almost) for how we present ourselves online. I think whether we like to admit it or not, everyone online is doing some kind of impression management. I know people who can’t stand to have unflattering pictures of themselves tagged on Facebook or put on Instagram. I have more than a few friends who will admit that their Pinterest boards are really more to show that they’re interesting, rather than pinning things they actually want to try! Its crazy, but is it any different than deciding between portraying yourself as a hot cat woman with a giant sword or silent but deadly female norse warrior with a bow and arrow in a video game?
I definitely think we have the ability to expand ourselves online. Maybe some aspects of ourselves aren’t always seen in person. But, when we are online we can present different parts of ourselves at whatever times are appropriate for each part.
I think most of us would appreciate being able to construct an online presentation like that of your blogger – organized, direct, and tasteful. I also definitely agree with your comment regarding the applicability of MUDs to CMC. It almost seems to be a form of CMC, in a sense. But, anyway, they definitely apply to our interactions today.