What's an Avatar?

Last night Jeremy Koester, a friend of his, and now mine, and I were experimenting with Second Talk on Second Life. Second Talk is a lot like Skype, it allows people to talk to one another. Anyhow we started talking about avatars. I have several questions that I'd like to ask to promote conversation. For the purpose of these questions simply assume that the avatar remains within PG zones.

1. In what ways does a real person relate to his/her own avatar?
2. In what ways does a real person relate to other avatars?
3.How does a Second Life conversation compare to an RL conversation?
4. If somebody spent nearly all of their socialization time on SL, would it be a healthy thing? Why/why not?
5. In regards to the substance of the conversation, does SL allow for anything that RL (face to face and telephone conversations) does not allow for? If so, what?
6. What other questions should I be asking?


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