http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E6DC143CF933A05750C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
It was love at first sight. He was wearing a kilt and a cape. She was with another man. Virtual love conquered all and soon after meeting through Ultima Online, Dean Morrel and Debra Sartore were married, both virtually and face-to-face. Ultima Online is a role-playing game set in medieval times. There are more than 160,000 players worldwide connected through a life of virtual trade, work, relationships and adoptions.
After Dean and Debra met they decided to move in together. Virtually. They shared each other's things and spoke intimately with one another. By all virtual means, they were a legitimate couple. Debra fell in love with Dean's generosity. He always gave to poor avatars, she said. Dean fell in love with Debra's intelligence. When Debra asked Dean to marry her (virtually of course), Dean misinterpreted it as real. He was surprised, but said yes. Eventually the miscommunication was realized but they both knew they wanted more. They decided to get married for real.
When they met for the first time face to face, Dean and Debra said the fantasy was realized. They grew more in love with each other after meeting which culminated in their physical marriage and virtual marriage. What bliss!
Debra and Dean's experience is most supported by Social Information Processing Theory and Uncertainty Reduction Theory. After initially meeting face to face, Debra and Dean reduced the uncertainty that their attraction would not last in person. As time progressed, they grew more and more in love with each other. According to the Social Information Processing Theory, overtime the relational development should be sufficient. Dean and Debra created a strong relationship via online Ultima, which supported the growth of their relationship in person. Their meeting in person was seamless and superfluous.
The transition between an online relationship and face-to-face was very easy with Debra and Dean. They had established such a strong relationship that, in compliance with SIP, there was no definitive change in their relationship once they met in person. Their love simply grew. Where is my man in a kilt and a cape??
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2 comments:
Great post Caton. Very interesting story about the Ultima game we learned about in class. It is great that Dean and Debra found love in the virtual role playing and gaming world, but I think you shouldn't be that jealous. Hopefully, you'll never find your man in a kilt and a cape, but in normal clothes in the REAL world. Or, if your really into capes, you can pick a real one up for you boyfriend to prance around in once in a while. great post, goodluck on your finals
Wow, really interesting story, Caton. The story actually made me laugh a little because it sounds so extreme. It sounds like something straight out of an Internet fairy tale. I can just picture what Debra and Dean are like in real life…maybe it is unfair that I fitting them under stereotypes, but I guess I am just following SIDE theory. ;)
I agree that SIP and URT played a role in Debra and Dean’s relationship. It also seems like the hyperpersonal model might have been present as well, since their relationship went through an intensification loop as they interacted more with each other. Also, it sounds like they might have both used selective self-presentation; in order to impress Debra, Dean easily portrayed himself as a kind, generous person by giving to “poor avatars.” Great post, great story!
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