Avatar Sites: Just for fun, or Benefitial for Social Health?

[IV Real]

Well, most people joined avatar sites when they were much younger, from what I've seen. I joined Gaia at age 12, and I am currently 15.
Looking back, I saw it was very fun, but it also helped me interact with peers, and handle sticky situations.

Well, here, talk about if you've grown a lot from your first experience on an avatar site, or if you haven't, and you are just in it for the fun.

I love the fun of avatar sites, but they seem to make a person a bit more social, in my eyes.

[Chu]

Because this is a discussion on the concept of avatar sites in general, it is withing this forum's rules. However, I'm saying this now for anyone who posts from here out: If you want to talk about a specific site, go to this thread. You may use specific examples like the OP did, but full blown discussions, rants and debates about specific sites will not be allowed in this thread.


I began interacting on forums when I was thirteen, but never ran into any heated debates or full-on confrontations until I was about fifteen. I don't really have much of an opinion on forums. While they can be fun, there are plenty of assholes around to ruin your entire experience on a website. Likewise, there are people that make shit on a website completely worthwhile. I immediately think of examples from Midorea itself for either of those people - that's just how online communities are.

Honestly, I don't think that it's healthy for an individual to depend on the internet for interaction with others or social development. I used to, and before I knew it I was neglecting everything in real life for the internet and becoming more and more depressed. I used the internet to escape real life but the more I did, the more it reminded me of how much I hated reality, and the more I participated in the forums. It was completely self-destructive and took a lot of effort to get out of, but I'm glad that I did.

On a more moderate note, the internet can be very healthy for any mature individual. The concept of anonymity brings out the worst in everyone, and immaturity only builds on top of that. But, if a mature individual participates in forums in such then there shouldn't be a problem. They'll always run into confrontations, but it's likely that they'll come out of each one with a lesson learned. I can't really comment on how this transcends into real life social interaction though. For me, the two are very seamless, but it's different for everyone.

I think I've matured a bit because of my social interactions though. I learned how to casually chat and joke around with people - something very difficult for someone with anxiety. I learned to treat adults, children, and teenagers alike the same way that I'd treat anyone else. I also learned how to think critically about theories and even people so my judgments have improved as well. However, the internet has really desensitized me to many things to the extent that I'm hardly responsive to some pretty serious stuff. In the end though, I'm content with how it has molded me.

[Keylaleigh]

Truth be told, I've always been a pretty sociable person. I found avatar sites around the age of fifteen, and I was interested in them because of the roleplay aspect. I would RP over AIM and on Neopets, but on the first I couldn't get too detailed, and on the second there were waay too many rules (I couldn't say "she felt the dagger prick her finger" because I was using the word "prick". Aargh!).

When I saw avatar sites, they gave me a better area to roleplay in, therefore improving my writing. So really, avatar forums helped me with my creative writing skills more than my social skills.

[ecco]

i pretty much agree with Chu on this, I think. they can be great for socialising, but if its the only way you're interacting with others ie youre not going out with people in your local area too, then its starts to be a problem. ive known plenty of people who can talk and talk online, but get them face to face and they freeze up and just stand there looking really uncomfortable. not good.


as for me, i wouldnt just say avatar sites, but any sites with forums, have been great for me. the first real niche i ever had on the internet was on the ooolllllld harry potter forums, which is also where i started roleplaying, i think i was 11. then moved onto neopets and was there until i was 15 maybe? it started to turn shite and they banned all the decent roleplayers & artists, so the community i loved being a part of there died. the roleplaying there was awesome, tho. my 2 ixi characters are still stuck in my mind, i need a new way to use them XD

since i was about 14 ive also been part of the wolf movie forum (very small but great people there) which has helped me with my art skills and such, which neo also did. i was part of gaia for a while, and tho it was a lot of fun it was very difficult to get the real social benefits there. too crowded, its difficult to bond with anyone there.

im 19 now and here i am XD im basically just part of Mido and the Wolf forum now.

all these sites have been good to me tho, im still in contact with some of the girls i used to roleplay with on neo way back :P theyve helped me through some hard times as well. i always felt like i could talk to them without worrying about consequences, cos if theyre half way around the world they cant exactly gossip to everyone you know in "RL" can they? XD <3

[Nova]

I like avatar sides, but I enjoy forums in general.
I love getting to meet new people, and I love learning how people are.

I like avatar sites because I get to project an image of my inner self (profound BS, I know)
... Although the avatar always end up looking like me (haircolour, eyes, etc) and wearing the same boring clothes I'd wear in real life >>;

[Atraea]

Your hair is pink? O_o

I started RP'ing when I was about twelve in AOL chatrooms. Once those went to shit (which was rather quickly), I went to strictly AIM RP, and only with people I knew in real life. once high school started I took a much needed break (having drama with someone when you live several states away is just...dumb). I joined *cough*thatoneavatarsitethatsellthosecardsatTarget*cough* my freshman year of college so I could keep in touch with a friend who joined the marines that year and was sent off to Japan. I never interacted with the community much though, just friended people I knew in real life, and played the games. I found this website in late March, and thought it looked interesting, and that it would give me something to do in the summer while on campus. Since I'm an English major, this has really helped with my writing skills, because it forces me to write something everyday, and it helps that the community is a more mature crowd. I see myself being here for a good while.

But back to the point, forums of any kind are good for meeting new people, and sometimes you make friends with people you'll know for the rest of your life. But it shouldn't be the only social interaction you get. You'll end up like that guy that writes Sonichu *shudder*

[Nova]

Oh, no, my hair is just plain brown... I'm saving up for a cuter hairstyle and clothes for this avatar, but it takes forever...
I chose the pink hair because I felt the brown hair with this hairstyle would just make her look too bland

[ecco]

ahh it doesnt take too long to earn silver, if you talk lots and you can also use the battle system to get silver!

[Nova]

The battle system is the reason why I can't afford anything! xDD
It sucks the silver right out of my pockets, what with my constant dying and whatnot

[ecco]

hmm... i'd suggest re-creating your character and re-roll til the stats are better... i think try and get them all above 10 at least, and get strength as high as you can, cos that'll speed up the battles. the less attacks you need to kill the enemy, the less chance it has to inflict damage on you, therefore needing to heal less, so saving money :P

[Shizukesa]

im mostly here for the fun or to learn new things. sometimes i wander out into the rest of the site awaya from topiocs i my self made only on occasion. i dunno i just find when i post in other peoples threads im overlooked or ignore because im not heard of or whatever i think its lame so i keep to my own threads and whoever wants to post there is welcome to it.

i love avi sites i think they rock some are just horrid by the way they are ran and takes the fun out of it so why keep going to it? most ive quit. some have died. some still live that i wish would die lol!

when somethings not poorly ran its the members that kill it by flaming and whatever.

if neither of those happen its great but still has a draw back because no one seems to really speak their mind truly due to nice niceness.

also some sites just have boring avis and items lol.

[ecco]

ecco always speaks her mind! *puffs up*


i think Mido is the best site like this i've visited. i think we have a good balance. XD just need to grow a little more!

[Chu]

One aspect of immaturity that I see on a lot of forums is worshiping. I think that my rant strays from the topic a bit much so I posted it in the talk about other sites forum.

[Athilea Majiri]

It really depends. I enjoy Avatar sites myself, but not really for the social aspect. I make friends and chat with people, but it's all just part of the fun for me.

Most of my social interaction comes from spending time with my husband and son, my mother in law, the friends that come over to play games on Sunday, and so on and so forth. It may very well differ from one person to the next though.