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Experiment
Just quickly posting an idea for an experiment to post in the Avatar Discussion forum later xd

Have you ever wondered how your avatar affects the way other users percieve you?

Well I have! I'm sure its been done before, but since I have lots of items at my disposal I want to conduct a series of experiments with different avatars to see the results. Each phase of the experiment will use a different avatar.

The Constants
These factors will remain the same in all phases of the experiment to make them easy to compare.
  • Posting style - I'll still be posting the same way I always do... which is hopefully usually intelligent and literate razz
  • Post count - this'll be harder to keep constant, but I'll try get it as close as I can
  • Forums - I'll be sticking around my usual areas of Art Discussion and Requests & Commissions for this experiment. Maybe do a Chatterbox one later.

The Variables
The fun part! These are descriptions of the avatars I want to use, but I'll need your help in deciding exactly what they'll look like.
  1. The Nekikd Newbie - either completely naked or wearing the peasants dress... with a standard hairstyle, of course.
  2. Common Clutter - as many commons and as little order as possible! I want full on clutter with nothing matching - made of commons only.
  3. Spensive Clutter - as many donation items, rares and hard-to-get game items as my inventory allows, the more rare and expensive the better.
  4. Stylin' and Rich - a great looking outfit including a couple of big donation items/rares.
  5. Stylin' on a Budget - a great looking outfit without any donation items or rares.

The Results
These are the things I'll be measuring or taking note of throughout the experiment.
  • Number of PM's (excluding PM's from friends)
  • Subject of PM's
  • Number of Profile comments
  • General attitude in responding posts in threads








User Comments: [4] [add]
plysch
Community Member
avatar
commentCommented on: Wed Apr 12, 2006 @ 08:56pm
Im 100% (almost) positive that how you look, your worn items,
language etc. affect how most people percieve others on Gaia.
This is very interesting and something that has intrigued
me my whole Gaian time.
I will follow up on your little project.
Good luck. 3nodding


commentCommented on: Thu Apr 13, 2006 @ 07:24am
Absolutely. I find myself immediately assuming that someone whose avatar looks new has something less important to say, and pay more attention to someone with old donation items, which is of course unfair and often wrong! I think its interesting that even though the internet starts out as a place where your social status, wealth, gender race and all that don't matter, but we end up creating another heirarchical system and judging each other based on that instead xd

Thanks for the interest, I'll be posting this up in the forums once I've got it all figure out!



Chisa
Community Member
plysch
Community Member
avatar
commentCommented on: Thu Apr 13, 2006 @ 11:53pm
Yes, Gaians are often very judgemental. That has even made me post less in periods. Flaming for nothing have gone out of hand, often over pixels. sad Being an "Exchanger" Im too well aware of that. Im glad Ive rediscovered Questions and Assistance and Profile Discussion lately. Much more polite people there. I started off in Chatterbox but left that like a month after I got there. xd


commentCommented on: Sat Apr 15, 2006 @ 12:07pm
This is rather interesting

ninja I wanna see the results when its done



Tre Le Coco
Community Member
User Comments: [4] [add]
 
 
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