Additional Mapping

Mapping of the exterior of the Tavern.

Informant Interview

The interview with my informant gave me some insight on both Fur users in the Tavern as well as Furs in general. My informant, who I will refer to as Ivy, has been a Fur for more than 20 years in real life, and has been attending the Tavern for over a year and a half now.

When asked about the general atmosphere of the Tavern, Ivy replied that it is much more of a casual, social atmosphere. Throughout my research I have found that yiffing (virtual sex acts) seems to be one of the main motives for many Furs. Ivy said that these people do show up to the Tavern, but they are usually don’t stay long.

[Ivy: So friendlier for those looking for companionship rather than a quick yiff.]

[Ivy: The ones that are only into the quick yiff get bored.]

According to Ivy, most of the time users at the Tavern just sit around and chat. This definitely backs up what I have witnessed so far in my observations.

As for Furs in general, Ivy explained to me that most have come to SL from other online role-playing environments such as MUDs and MUCKs. When I asked if Furs participated in the Fandom outside of SL, he replied that most do. He went on to list nearly a dozen large Furry Fandom conventions all over the United States. Although many users are active Furs in real life, it is not a behaviour you randomly see on the street.

[Ivy: …most furs don't go around advertising to the general populace our furrydom.]

Ivy remarked that Furry Fandom is very large occurrence. Most Furs in SL are a very friendly community. But since the group is so large, there are many other sub-cultures within the group. This lead me to ask the obvious, “What, besides the avatar, would you say separates Furs from other users in SL?”

[Ivy: Hmm... that is a difficult one to answer.]

[Ivy: Because what it means to me to be a furry is different for someone else.]

[Ivy: Some it is a spiritual connection to the animal.]

This does seem to back up what I have learned from my observations and talks with different Furs so far. Everyone has their own reason for selecting the avatar that they use, but for Furs it usually has to do with a heart felt connection to their animal.

Basic Mapping

This is the basic layout of the Tavern I use in my research. The room has a staircase on the right hand side, couches up against it, a bar in the middle, and a pool table on the left hand side of the room. The colored areas represent where people usually sit or walk. The back area has private rooms which can be checked out by members. I have yet to see anyone go back there. The front door is the area which almost everyone enters and exits. There are other objects in the room (a dart board, a poker table, and a few others), however, they have not been used since I began visiting the tavern. I excluded them from the mapping.

Researching has Commenced

I have received permission from a land owner and from several subjects regarding my research. I have started taking field notes and things are going along very smoothly. Taking of field notes is the first step of the process. Later, the notes will be rendered to protect the subjects involved. I have also began to map the area of study. Mapping is a way for the researcher to see how people interact in a certain setting. If you see me in world, I will more than likely be wearing a "Researcher" tag. As stated in the HSP, this means I am currently collecting data. Things are going very well and I would like to thank everyone who has helped me so far. See you in world!

Assignment 4

People sit around in a very casual setting. There are local authorities throughout the premise (a bartender and a manager.) There is a hookah in one part of the room which seems to be the main area to sit in. There is also a large couch in one corner which is also a spot were people sit. The crowd is mostly male, but there are one or two females. Many of the people in the room seem to know each other. I was greeted when I entered and was asked by the bartender if I would like a drink. Most of the conversations were very casual. Many seemed to revolve around game content the users had: this new outfits and accessories (such as a new tail and a new T-Shirt), new music and sound clips, and even a new drink item for the bar. Avatars used scripted gestures (like laughing and shrugging) casually through out the conversation. When I announced that I was leaving, a few of the avatars said goodbye and the proprietor told me to come back soon.

HSP Agreement

My name is Anthony Amundson and I am an undergraduate student enrolled in a research methods class (Multimedia 490: Field Research In Second Life) at Bradley University in Peoria Il, USA, that is being conducted in Second Life.

Our projects feature observation of a “community of practice,” that is, a group of people doing similar things in a cultural setting. I am observing anthropomorphic avatar groups at this time.

My observations are merely descriptive: I’ll take notes about what I see and I may summarize those notes in my paper, in class presentations to my classmates, or on my web-blog about this research. The blog is found at: <> >.

I will not record or publish either the SL or RL name of any avatar/person. Any observations about avatars or recording of their talk transcripts would take place only after having obtained the explicit permission of that avatar/person and would only happen after the name of the avatar had been changed via secret coding scheme. I will ask you if I can have your permission to use your talk as research data. Any pictures taken in SL, that serve as explanatory data and which might include avatars, will be modified so that avatar names and identifying characteristics are blurred/blocked unless you give me explicit permission to use your avatar likeness without modification.

We will also interview informants about the communities of practice that we are studying.
These conversations are, again, voluntary and only with the informed permission of the avatar/person/informant. To avoid linking you personally to your responses with a written consent your completing the interview (survey) will imply consent. We may copy out the chat transcript from our conversations/interviews. When we do, we will change/code your name so that there is no recorded connection between you/your avatar and the data.

You may choose to withdraw from any aspect of this study, at any time, without penalty by simply telling me you wish to stop.

This study has been certified as exempt for full committee review by the chair of the Bradley University Committee on the Use of Human Subjects in Research (CUHSR) and has been cleared by signed agreement with Linden Lab (via their “research procedures” ). Documentation for both is on file and available on request.

You may follow the progress of all of the studies in the class, including this one at:
. Presentation of the findings from the study serve as our gift to the communities of practice who share time and knowledge with us; perhaps our perspectives will help residents more fully understand and appreciate their activities.

If you have questions regarding the study, you can contact the Chairperson of CUHSR at 309 677-2550 or me, in world or our of world via email at , or my teacher, Professor Beliveau in world or out of world as Ed Lamoureux at ell@bradley.edu, 309-677-2378.

Do you have any questions?
Do you agree that I may
-use your conversation in my study?
-Use your avatar likeness without modification (other than the coding of your avatar’s name)?
-publish a transcript of talk that includes words associated with your avatar (using
the coded name)?

Mapping

Here are shots of a typical Furry Bar.

Exterior:





Interior:

Assignment 1

I plan be observing people who use anthropomorphic avatars, commonly known as furries. They have have a very substantial population in Second Life. Since the population is so big, I plan to narrow down the numbers a bit by sticking to a particular group.

My observations would be done in both public areas and private. My groups of study tend to stick together and away from others. There are many public bars and clubs.

There are people in these areas during most the day, but they are more populated during the evening and night.

Most public meetings are social activities; and mostly consist of hanging out, talking, and dancing.