Virtual Worlds

    Humans, from anywhere around the world, has the need to feel safe. Safe from harm, either through physical harm or verbal, is a universal 

need. A feeling of comfort can be a little bit of unknown definition in some cultures. A virtual world provides safety from physical abuse, 

and verbal assaults can be mitigated through things like blocking users. In a virtual world people from all over can verbally communicate, 

sharing thoughts and beliefs. Through this they may educate others about their ways of life, but they will not be able to fully immerse 

someone in their culture. You can’t truly understand someone without walking in his or her footwear.

    When I first got to England, where I was stationed for three years. A simple misunderstanding marred our first weakened there. My friend 

wanted two beers from the Pub bartender. He raised his hand, back of the hand towards them with the index and middle finger forming a V.  

Lets just say the bartender was very upset but a nice local informed us that we just did said the same thing a middle finger alone would have 

said. After learning the correct way, presenting the thumb and index finger, we had learned a lesson in British kinesics. According to Jandt 

(2010), kinesics is made up of cultures unique gestures, body movement, facial expressions, and eye contact. In a virtual world like Second 

Life, this would be something had to be told but not practiced.  A police officer that may have contact with an Asian community may need to 

know that it is the Asian custom to show respect by avoiding contact as Jandt describes. Without this knowledge they may think it is a sign 

of deception. This is also something a person cannot experience in a virtual world.

      In a virtual world avatars, the virtual embodiment of the players, move around each other with little to no concern with proximity, 

sometimes even occupying nearly the same place as one or more players. Jandt, explains that proxemics is the study of personal space. 

When I was in Bosnia N Herzegovina, I was warned about the proxemics of the different cultures of the country. The Bosnians, mostly who 

are Arabic where at that time still recovering from the horrors of the war and didn’t like close proximity and would prefer a little 

more distance then what we as American’s were used to. While the Serbian’s were very close talkers and what I learned to be very touchy 

feely. Jandt uses an example to show that some cultures also are comfortable in lines, or what the British call standing in Ques.

     In a virtual world, avatars may touch, mostly from unplanned collisions and not intentional. Perhaps hugs and handshakes may be possible. 

Haptics, as Jandt talks about, is the way touch is used to communicate in different cultures. As Americans, Jandt advises, we have the lowest 

understanding or use of Haptics. I was a little put off in my travels to other cultures use of touch. The French, Italians, and most Arabs I 

have met, use a kiss to a check or checks between males as a formal like greeting. In America we have even created a culture where unwanted 

contact can be considered sexual harassment.

    A great addition to formal training and virtual world experience may be what the U.S. military has been doing. Through out the United States 

Armed Forces, Cultural Immersion Training facilities with real Arabic role players living, operating, acting, and fighting in realistic Arabic 

towns and villages, is the real world class rooms for our modern day war fighters. According to Cpl. Avitt of the United States Marines, these 

facilities are used to learn about the Afghan culture and their people before they deploy there. The Marines receive cultural classes then get 

to test their knowledge through what they call practical application, as they interact with role players. In the training the Marines learn 

about the Afghan culture, religion, customs, and culture.

    Virtual worlds are a safe place to start and learn about other cultures. A virtual place, where avatars provide a distance from the others, 

with disguises and costumes.  No one can truly be harmed; if one player chooses to be intolerant then others can just block them. Real learning 

is in the real world, with real people in real situations. I have traveled and have done my best to learn from the people of those lands, I

learned from the British, the Bosnians, and the Iraqis. I learned more then I could have learned online.

 

References
Jandt, F.E. (2010) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication. Sage Publications, Inc.
Avitt, A. (2010) Training to understand: Marines prepare for deployment. Retrieved on 3 June 2012 from 

http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/Pages/TrainingtounderstandMarinespreparefordeployment.aspx#.T8wHHD5Yt14