Embracing the Metaphysical: Navigating Digital Identities
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Chapter 1: The Digital Dilemma
Recently, I experienced a form of digital erasure—akin to a virtual assassination of my avatar within a so-called “metaverse” platform. For those unfamiliar with the intricacies of this digital realm, it might appear trivial or even far-fetched. However, my apprehensions about the existence of my virtual self are grounded in principle.
If we are to truly advance the concept of the metaverse, it is essential that platforms honor the virtual identities created by their users. Whether they are dedicated participants like myself or casual users crafting an avatar on a whim, once these digital representations are established, they possess a form of existence that should not be revoked arbitrarily.
As I was merely registered on this platform, it became my digital residence. I refer to the state of being “alive” within a fully immersive digital environment as “metaphysical.” The moment the platform denied me access, my digital essence was abruptly extinguished.
To be fair, the platform's removal of my access was not executed with malice. I’m not here to criticize its owners; rather, I'm pointing out a significant gap in protocol regarding how to manage the metaphysical representations of users. This lack of consideration for the human aspect underlying these digital worlds is striking.
Birthing My Metaphysical Self
Creating my avatar required considerable effort to ensure it resembled me as closely as possible, mirroring my hairline, skin tone, and facial features. Spending about an hour each day in this digital form made its sudden disappearance unsettling. It echoed the experience of when my Lycos email account was wiped clean without warning—my entire email history lost overnight due to a sudden shift to a paid service.
In the case of my avatar, there was no advance notice or effort to preserve my digital representation. I’m not sure how they could have managed that, as I’m not technically inclined. However, a simple email with a link to access my avatar would have been greatly appreciated.
Instead, I was left with nothing—just a snap of the fingers, and my metaphysical identity vanished. Although I'm not particularly upset, it’s clear that the technology to sustain my avatar beyond that singular platform does not yet exist. The creators of this digital frontier must begin to self-regulate.
Many developers promote their platforms as innovative and forward-thinking, often labeling them as “metaverse.” However, as discussed previously, most of these are isolated environments that share little in common with adjacent platforms. By treating users like mere data points, they reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the industry they claim to be shaping.
The Essence of Identity
It's only a matter of time before someone takes legal action against a platform for denying a user access to an avatar they consider their property. Although many avatars currently lack the depth of artificial intelligence, they are becoming extensions of our identities. We are crafting them to reflect ourselves, and platforms cannot simply erase our digital representations at will.
For the metaverse to truly take shape, developers must embrace responsibilities beyond mere transactions. Sadly, too much of this burgeoning field is dominated by tech specialists who may not possess the necessary social awareness. While they are undoubtedly talented, the stewardship of avatars requires a more people-centric approach.
The first video, "David Gilmour - Let's Get Metaphysical," explores the deeper connections between technology and our virtual selves, emphasizing the need for mindful development in digital spaces.
The second video, "Dua Lipa - Let's Get Physical Work Out (Official Video)," serves as a reminder of the physicality we often seek in our digital interactions, reinforcing the importance of authentic representations in virtual environments.