Identity with Intent
In this class we explore the nature of ‘self’ and consider our online presence – whether through an avatar in a virtual world such as Second Life, or through our engagement with social media. Who we are in the physical world is a philosophical question that doesn’t have many clear answers. What we do know is that the development of our ‘self’ is a lifelong and ever-changing process. We can leave it to chance, or we manage it intentionally. Thus, the idea of developing and maintaining a virtual online self, a personal online brand, is a more complex task than it might at first appear. However, managing our professional persona is of fundamental importance in order to be in control of what others see.
‘It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute.’
—Will Rogers (1879–1935), American actor.
Preparation for this class
Please read the text adn view the videos (approx 30 minutes).
This should be completed before class where we will be discussing the following questions:
- What is meant by ‘speech actions’?
- What impact does my avatar have on my idea of myself?
- How can we manage our identities online to impact our selves in the natural world?
Essential Reading
- Sean Carroll & Alan Wallace (2017) ‘The Nature of Reality: A Dialogue Between a Buddhist Scholar and a Theoretical Physicist’. YouTube video. (See 5:30 and 45:14.)
(Viewing time approx 5 minutes) - Daniel Dennett (2016) ‘What is the Nature of Personal Identity?’ Closer to Truth by Robert Lawrence Kuhn. YouTube video. (See 1:42 and 5:30.)
(Viewing time 13 minutes) - Galen Strawson (2024) ‘Is Consciousness and Illusion?’ Closer to Truth by Robert Lawrence Kuhn. YouTube video. (See 3:24.)
(Viewing time 10 minutes)
Additional Reading
- Matthew Gault (2021) ‘Billionaires see VR as a way to avoid radical social change’. Wired.
(Reading time approx 5 minutes) - Belbin Team Roles in Wikipedia describes the basic roles required for successful teams.
(Reading time approx 5 minutes)
Conclusion
This short introduction to establishing your identity with intent is the beginning of a lifelong approach to achieving your aims and goals. It can be applied in your professional, social, and personal life. It also helps addressing your ethical approach in these areas of life, supporting a responsible development of your personality.
Speakers – Sitearm Madonna and Acuppa Tae
James Neville is owner and practitioner in applied online collaboration. His specialties include systems analysis, social media, team operation, and multimedia composition. His online avatar is Sitearm Madonna and his research focus is the nature of virtual environments in human expression.
Sitearm’s company, Development One LLC (Texas), is an independent consultancy specialising in online presence, which he defines as ‘the state of being instantly, digitally, synchronously, available’. James maintains multiple relationships with technology providers and users, focusing on hybrid use of VR/AR/MR/XR virtual environments, gear, applications, and practices.
In his pre-Metaverse career, James was Information Management Senior Analyst for Exxon, Exxon Chemical, and ExxonMobil Chemical. In his Metaverse career, as an independent entrepreneur, he co-developed and operated Dublin in Second Life and Sister Cities in SL. He planned and produced the Second Life Developers Conference and others on behalf of Linden Lab, MacArthur Foundation, Creative Commons, and University of Southern California.
James teaches Online Teamwork and Collaboration for Technological University Dublin and Çağ University Turkey, and is a member of professional groups regularly visiting and assessing multiple virtual environment platforms for applications in business and education.
Acuppa Tae is John O’Connor in the Natural World.
