In a virtual world, you can pretend to be anyone you want to with a personalized avatar. Sometimes your avatar could represent you culturally, but it is not mandatory. When communicating with different cultures, a digital world can ease the anxiety when it comes to questions, research, or fear of judgment. Dialogue in the virtual world can create new channels of communication between cultures. It is more difficult to approach different cultures in the physical world than it is in discreet behind a computer screen. Instead of risking offense to another culture, one can interact through a virtual world and learn more about cultural customs and how to better approach verbal communication with other cultures in the correct way. Virtual worlds can bridge gaps between cultural similarities rather than differences. In the physical we tend to not extend ourselves socially to someone who is different from ourselves or our norms. The virtual world can work as a tool to expand perspectives on other religions and cultures with first-hand experience. For instance, King and Fouts cite the example of “the ‘no shoes in the mosque’ rule” (p. 17). Respect demands that shoes be removed before entering the mosque in the real world, and gamers insist this practice be followed in the virtual world as well. Some gamers think this rule is absurd because “virtual soles gather no road dust” (p. 17). However, even in the virtual world, it is a sign of respect and has nothing to do with road dust. It is a custom that signifies respect and therefore must be followed, even in the virtual world (http://vmoyerblog.blogspot.com).
An advantage of the virtual world is the anonymous nature of the avatar levels the playing field, while existing in a nonthreatening environment. Messages presented in this arena may be more easily accepted, as well as help influence the ability to conceptualize the concept(s) presented. Since many people have negative views of the Islamic culture, and view Muslims poorly, the unsupported nature of these thoughts needs to be addressed. Stereotyping and bias has been perpetuated due to a few extremists who have tainted the overall image of these people. Terrorists are being linked to Islam unfairly, and it is difficult to change people’s general attitudes toward the Islamic culture. Virtual worlds and avatars can improve these cultural relations, because they reach many people and offer the information by communicating in ways that give people a chance to change their minds. Quite possibly, the virtual world is a less harsh environment that may help eliminate racial bias by replacing it with understanding, compassion and empathy, all while offering entertainment (Fischer & Jandt). There are far more advantages and growth from virtual communication than limitations.
Within cultures lie subcultures that may have slightly different dialects, attitudes and personalities. With communication comes interpretation, so it may be easier for some of a subculture to take offense to an action or statement even though it was not meant to be intended offensively. Also, in a virtual world where anyone can be who they want to be, wrong information can be communicated through channels because someone could be pretending to be a certain culture they are not. Also, just as easy it is to learn behind a computer, it is just as easy to display ignorance. Some get on online worlds just to antagonize other races and cultural groups.
For the most part, online virtual worlds can be a good place to start understanding different cultures. An online avatar is less threatening than a real person, and so the communication may flow differently. It is also just as likely that the lack of a physical representation can enable some to be uncharacteristically harsh to those that are different from them. As with most things, the virtual world has the potential for good and bad inter-cultural communications and understanding (Harvey).
REFERENCES:
Mani, B., Stambach, A., & Schamiloglu, U. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://insideislam.wisc.edu
Fischer, A., & Jandt, F. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://writeoncaron.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-virtual-worlds-can-influence.html
Harvey, R. (2011). Virtual worlds as a means to promote inter-cultural communications. Yahoo!. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/virtual-worlds-as-means-promote-inter-cultural-8517479.html
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://vmoyerblog.blogspot.com/p/intercultural-communications-through.html
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