I know that many people do use Alts in Second Life. There can be several good reasons to create an Alt. For example to differentiate Business from play. Another reason may be that some people want to play different characters and don’t want to mix them up. But what does it mean to others in SL?
As I live within a quite large family and community and as I run a small part of this family myself, I do not feel comfortable with Alts. As friends and family members we do care about eachother – I care. And this includes that I try to be present for my family. I interrupt play if a close family member or friend needs me. I am trying to give regular attention to my subs, to integrate them in my and our play. We even spend hours just talking. And if I want to explore on my own or if I am busy I just tell them and they do understand these needs. As I do respect these needs of them myself.
Beside the fact that we all escape from RL in our SL, beside that we realise fantasies that we can’t realise in RL and beside the fact that we have no duties in SL and can turn our computers off – we build strong relations particularly within the bdsm scene. And we don’t do always what we want to do most favorably when a family member or close friend needs or wants our attention. Don’t get me wrong – I get much more in return and I love you all! I don’t want to miss a second of the family. And I am what I am because I love it exactly this way.
Back to Alts. Supposed I know that a family member or a sub that I own is an Alt. What does it mean for me? First of all it means that I am used or at least feel used. I am good enough for play and to entertain them at their likes, when they are in the mood to log on on this Alt. If they want to do anything else – they don’t tell me, they use their Alt instead. And once I know that my view will change. If I set restrictions to an Alt they will simply move to their other Alt. What was done with particular thoughts on purposes becomes useless and ineffective. And even if the existence of an Alt is commonly known it will effect my play and my relation to a sub – if I know about it. I simply do feel betrayed.
Once again, I do exclude Alts on special purposes as mentioned in the beginning.
I do not understand how people can become a statue being fully restricted, sometimes even blind and chat restricted at all for days and weeks. I think I could turn off my computer instead. I personally had some quite tough expieriences being restriced and caged for extended times but I had these expierences as I didn’t switch to an Alt and thus it had an effect for example as a proof of devotion to my owner. Honestly nowadays it would reduce my online time if nothing happens at all around me or I would become more or less afk after a while or cheat out if really really necessary – but that is me and we all are different – thank god! And I have no bad feelings about people who run several SL identities – it’s just not my thing.
What are your thoughts? Do you share my thoughts or do you have a different opinion? I am intrested to know what you think and I appreciate your comments.
Diomita Maurer’s Blog 