14. Name dropping is not only unacceptable in real life but just as
unimpressive in virtual reality. Seriously, if you have to rely on bragging
about who you know in the various virtual realities you have far more issues
than we can cover here.
15. Know your VR's (Virtual Realities). Do not make comparisons to the
different VR's since the vast majority of them have quite different appeal to
different people and not because of their similarities.
Places such as There.com, Second Life, NuVera Online, Onverse, etc (all of
which are VASTLY different), these are all virtual worlds and referred to as
MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game). Not because all the avatars
can walk but because they offer world sized areas to explore and they were
designed to encompass a 'world' feeling while interacting with other people
online at the same time.
Other places like IMVU and Frenzoo are instant messaging programs, VIM's
(Virtual Instant Messaging), that are designed for chatting with 3d avatars
which is not the same thing, even a little bit. Virtual chats are designed to
control your avatar for you using nodes and predetermined settings, while
in virtual worlds you control your avatar.
Than you have places like World of Warcraft, FreeRealms and other 'games'
which technically are virtual worlds but they are first and foremost quest
based role playing games. These are MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer
Online Role Playing Game). Again, not the same as the other two.
See, learned something new today, didn't you?
16. Listen to directions! Please listen. Really, just reading directions will
alleviate so much frustration from others. When you are given step by step
instruction, either through a tutorial or from other users, don't just toss your
hands up in the air and pronounce failure. Worse yet, do not, under any
circumstances, demand that others do it for you. That is not only so very
telling how lazy you are (very unflattering by the way) but it also alienates
others from even wanting to try to help you.
17. Pronouncing yourself as the uber ultimate ... (insert option here such as
developer, stylist, dj, lover, what have you...) is bragging and very
unattractive. It makes you look like you are compensating for something
else you lack. Gents will know what I mean by that, yes? It is equivalent to
the large, loud vehicles in comparison situation. Yes, it is true, and so it is
with bragging. People will talk about you behind your back and trust me, it
is not good things they are saying.
18. Buying friends may be a temporary solution but you will find you are not
making friends, just acquaintances that like you for your virtual money.
Getting a friend a gift to thank them or for their birthday is sweet but
constantly buying things for your friends shows you have low self esteem
and don't believe you can make friends any other way. If this is the
impression you wish to portray, carry on.
19. Begging... ugh.. begging has to be the most offensive and ultimately
worst way to interact with others. Sure, some gals, and guys dressed up as
gals, can successfully sucker a few people into getting them things once in a
while, often with an offer of exchanging *cough* favors for virtual currency
or items but in the long run, you are not favored and will not be invited
anywhere by anyone for fear you will continue with this ugly behavior.
20. Complaining about others and whining how others treat you becomes
very old, very fast. Do not attend an event or go to public areas and
complain about so and so or whine about how your life sucks. You will find
that the 'awww poor thing' statement will die off pretty fast the more you do
it and it absolutely will get you shunned by the community as a whole. Try to
find some good things to talk about. The right kind of attention is much
more satisfying and more long term gratifying than the temporary hits of
sympathy.
21. Finally, trolls happen. They are ugly and rude and genetically wired to
find it amusing to get under your skin, make you angry and make you look
worse than them by pushing your buttons, most times in public. Fight the
urge to respond to them. You will be grateful in the long term. I am not
going to say don't be a troll because that will simply attract them like a moth
to a flame war but if you are intelligent enough to realize you are being
suckered into the corner of a wet paper bag by some jerk that thinks they
are being brilliant, make sure you have a pen knife handy and cut your way
out. You don't need the headache nor do you need to end up looking worse
than the troll by losing your cool. Trolls are cyber bullies and if you ignore
them, they really do get bored and move on. What fun is there for them if
you don't respond?
I hope this little diatribe sheds some light for a few of you and helps you
realize that sometimes you are the one people are pointing and talking
about in their cyber corners. Don't be that person. Stand up, practice your
charisma skill and move forward in this virtual reality. All it takes is a
moment of your time to think before you type. You can do it. I know you
have it in you.
© 2011 Wyllo Rogers
Co-Founder/Co-Creator of http://www.nuveraonline.com
All rights reserved. No copies may be made of this article, in whole or in
part, without express written permission by the author. For permission
contact Wyllo Rogers via email: [email protected]