A close friend of mine has been trying for the past two months to try and make it in the SL modelling business, but hasn’t been able to work out why everyone keeps closing doors on her.
As someone who is constantly looking for models at random times to photograph, I have an eye for good looking avatars with flexibility and an ease of being able to work with them. Yet, in several cases, my friend (who’s the sweetest lass I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in SL) has been overlooked time and time again.
She IM’d me a couple of days ago in a small panic, as she had received a hint as to why she was being rejected.
She has two numbers in her name.
Now I’ll admit – I do avoid people with numbers in their name in Second Life because they make me a bit like I’m in a Yahoo! chatroom. Same with uncapitalised first names, and anything which is a “What the heck were you thinking when you registered that?!” sort of name.
But my friend taught me that these avatars are lovely avatars who are just wanting to experience and live their second lives to their full potential too.
Yet they’re held back by a name. To me, I ponder if this is our metaverse’s form of blanket discrimination. We shouldn’t prejudice against it, yet many of us do.
I’m interested in how the name we choose for our virtual identity can have such a large impact on how we judge and perceive a person to be. How, by creating an avatar which doesn’t “conform”, we have essentially closed doors and failed to give a chance to people.
It isn’t fair, yet it does appaear to be prevalent throughout Second Life.
JeanGenie Jewell on July 7, 2009
I am available for pixs if you want..call me in world if you need
*me waves
thart is my name–lol no numbers!
Aleida Rhode on July 7, 2009
There are a lot diva wanna be´s in SL Fashion Industry – and names with numbers – omg why should it really be a problem. Thats the most closeminded point of view I ever seen or heard of. When you heard of SL for the first time, and is interested in joining, you might have a name in your mind, but maybe the name is already occupied by someone else and thats why you add numbers to ensure yourself getting that name you want or like.
I would love to open a Fashion Agency that only allows avatar names with numbers to be listed as models of the Agency
.
swaffette Firefly on July 7, 2009
shame on you Prad!! youre nameist! its a wonder you ever spoke to me then _ (swaffette with a small s) I’ll admit i wish i had thought ahead more when i named my company but i really didnt think using a lower case letter for my name would have that affect on you
although me being totally naive was surprised to be told when i started sl that its a sign of a sub , and no im not lol . – interesting post though ive been amazed at the prejudices in sl i find it quite sad that wherever people go they find ways to discriminate. I can honestly say names dont influence me at all although some make me laugh and some make me cringe. The reason i say no to alot of would be models is purely because its quicker and easier sometimes to throw on a shape and skin and take them myself or use my regular models i know are online when i need them and know what i need from them – but let me have her name in sl and i’ll do my best to help her out 
Alessia Kranfel on July 7, 2009
Yea too bad, but it´s a bit hard to remember names with numbers….
kai Sachertorte on July 7, 2009
I know what you mean with numbers, but capitalisation of names? Sorry, but some of us have good reason to not capitalise. Personally I don’t like fully capitalised names (because of the ‘shouting’ meaning it has on the internet communities). My name is made up of three first-letters of three little girls, hence no capital letter k.
Still, I’m glad you still speak to me, once in a while
Evie Miles on July 7, 2009
It’s Marketing, isn’t it?
Widespread in RL, wherever someone has a public profile.
For example, in the modelling world, we’ve had:
Lesley Hornby = Twiggy
Eleanor Gow = Elle MacPherson
Vicky Lynn Hogan = Anna Nicole Smith
Although my personal non-fashion favorite is Sophia Augusta Frederika of Anhalt-Zerbst who rebranded herself as Catherine the Great, Empress of all Russia.
Talk about trading up!
It does pretty much suck for your lovely friend, if this *is* the reason she’s having trouble getting a foothold.
Perhaps she could use some of these famous references to push her point home on an application, that her *name* isn’t going to effect her performance on the runway, or the way she looks in a picture?
SarahTheRed on July 7, 2009
I often wish I’d chosen a different first SL name — a single-word name. But, as often as I’m annoyed with having a silly three-word name, I’m glad that my name is at least memorable and recognizable. Hell, I get to be all Madonna-and-Cher-like and use my first name only!
Heloise Merlin on July 7, 2009
You’re discriminating against someone if you reject them on reasons that are not under their control, i.e. the colour of their skins, their gender, their sexual preferences, or one of the many other things people have been unjustly disqualified for.
You exercise your judgment if you reject someone on account of something they said or did, like their political views, their bad fashion taste, or whatever else comes to mind.
Now, last time I checked, people get to select their SL name on creating their own account, so while it might be excusable to make a stupid choice, it still is a choice; and if someone is rejected because of that, they are not being discriminated against.
So, no offense, but I’d suggest you get your terminology straight. Your friend might have been treated harshly or unfairly, but to use the term “discrination” in this context in my opinion constitutes an insult to everyone who has had to experience real discrimination.
Shimere Felisimo on July 7, 2009
There are two different issues here. First off is how we treat people with names that are different. The answer should be “exactly like everyone else,” and if you don’t, you’re the one who is losing out on knowing some potentially interesting people.
On the other hand, there’s the issue of hiring someone with a number in their name for a modeling job. You mentioned that you have an eye for “good looking avis.” Well, I have a lot of friends with cute avis who are “real sized,” and, just like RL, a plump avi has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting a modeling job. A model has to have a certain image, and a name is part of that. Yeah, it’s marketing. That’s life.
There’s a simple answer for your friend. It’s called an alt.
Prad Prathivi on July 7, 2009
Except when you sign up to Second Life, you pick a name pretty much out of the blue and without much prior knowledge of the virtual world and then you’re stuck with it. Linden Lab won’t change the name for you, so really, there is nothing you can do about it once it’s done.
Discrimination isn’t as blanket defined as you just made it out to be.
Oh, and leave the high horse at the door please. I really don’t need a lecture on discrimination, tyvm.
Onto the next point – an alt is the obvious answer, but then you lose out on two year’s worth of inventory which is non transfer.
Prad Prathivi on July 7, 2009
On the issue, why doesn’t Linden Lab let users change their names or alter them? Even for a fee, or allow one change per user?
Shimere Felisimo on July 7, 2009
@Heloise
I appreciate the validity of what you’re saying in RL, but it’s not so easy in SL. By your logic, racial discrimination in SL is OK because everyone chooses their own skin. Or are you making the assumption that everyone is going to choose to be a mirror of exactly who they are in RL (give or take 50 pounds?) We could have a long, deep debate about the evils of cultural appropriation, but the bottom line is that there’s no way to know “This is a ‘real” person of color, and I shan’t discriminate,” vs. “This is a ‘fake’ person of color, so it’s OK to be racist.” And I think you’d agree that it would be pretty stupid to do so anyway!
Prad Prathivi on July 7, 2009
Second Life comes with a whole new set of rules, and yeah – I do appreciate what Heloise is saying too. But I think in the circumstances of SL, there’s a lot of things which aren’t practical to change. For example, the size of a person doesn’t matter much in SL as shapes are easy to change. As a skins and hair and many physical attributes. But the virtual world also has many things which we can’t change, and there’s something of a “class” differences generated through those things.
Ganymedes1985 on July 7, 2009
With me it was VERY close call between going for “Ganymedes Costagravas” (which I went with in the end) or “Ganymedes1985 Costagravas”, since I use that on everything else apart from SL (the 1985 is my birthyear).
Over time, I came to the conclusion this was a wise choice, mostly because people do tend to “look down” (in some small amount at least) or “take less serious” on those with more unusual names, and let’s face it, my name is already kinda unusual, not to mention long and inviting for typos and mispronounciations, but still “conform” thanks to it’s classic appearance.
I also quickly decided to let people call me Gany to shorten the name, and I do believe that helped.
After reading this I now wonder how my SL would have looked if I had gone with the 1985 version… I’m sure it would have been different, and missed out on a couple things… etc…
I think this issue lies with how people start their SL. I’m sure this doesnt count for everybody, but some are not totally aware of what SL properly is about when they create their account.
Sure you can use it as a 3D chat room, which I think some portion of residents think they could use it for, and will. But SL is more then that alone, and for certain non-socializing things people do tend to fall back on some RL “criteria”, and depending on what it’s for, one of those criteria might be a name that “presents” itself well… like alredy mentioned above: that’s an aspect of marketing.
The idea to open an exclusive “names with numbers” agency might be a great idea, because names dont matter, skill does, and if that is proven it might just trivialize this rather silly criteria…
Heloise Merlin on July 7, 2009
@Prad:
This is not about me getting on a high horse, but about you using the real suffering of people that are really being oppressed and being discriminated against to garner sympathies for what are compared to that the petty concerns of your friend. That’s thoughtless at best.
@Shimere:
I agree, that would make a very interesting discussion, but one that does not all pertain to the case in question here; your example concerns RL discrimination that is carried over in effigy into SL, which is not what this is about at all.
And finally, there has been a Jira proposal concerning the naming issue for some time now; if you wantto check it out (and maybe even vote), it’s here: https://jira.secondlife.com/secure/ViewVoters!default.jspa?id=25755
Heloise Merlin on July 7, 2009
Okay, second attempt with the Jira link (as it seems I can’t edit my comments) – https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/WEB-809
Prad Prathivi on July 7, 2009
If what you really took from this article is that I used a word to compare the refusal of employment to an avatar with the oppressive plight of peoples in a dictatorship or racial fear in minorities, then that just makes me incredibly sad for you.
Troy McLuhan on July 7, 2009
If an SL retailer needs an avatar to wear their SL clothing or accessories for a photo, then they should create an alt, get them the body shape, skin, hair, eyes, and poses they want, and use the alt. An alt will never complain, will always be available, and will always look how the retailer wants.
The name of the alt is irrelevant. The default is for names to not show up in screen shots.
Technical note: To make this work, the retailer may want to have their main avatar and their alt logged in at the same time. One can run multiple SL viewers at the same time. See:
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorial/How_to_run_multiple_viewers_at_the_same_time!_(Windows)
or
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Video_Tutorial/How_to_run_multiple_viewers_at_the_same_time!_(MacOSX)
Prad Prathivi on July 7, 2009
@Troy
Additionally, there’s third party bot software which can handle the modelling of several bots in a store, as well as automatically change clothing/shape/hair etc without draining all the resources that a viewer would!
Vaughan Vendetta on July 7, 2009
I don’t take people with numbers in their name seriously, that’s pretty much all there is to that equation.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to present a mature and stylish image in a model – “Corette Nima” sounds ten times better than “janie12370 Bibble”. Sorry, but it’s true. And yes, it’s discriminatory. And necessary.
~V.
Sioxie Legend on July 7, 2009
I don’t see why numbers in her name would make a difference – I would think that her avatar age and if she is verified would be the deal breaker (or not). I think that attitude would also play an important role as well as availability. Honestly to be an SL model you really only need about $20 – $50 USD spent on your appearance and then a really fast connection and a fast machine with a good graphics card. Her name shouldn’t matter.
I’m not sure why modeling agencies don’t last – it might be that the turnover rate is too high with the models and a lot of designer are having a tough time right now making tier. I’ve had several shows in the past with limited success. It gets to be more of a personal ego thing to have fashion shows – the only reason you do it is to show off your creations to a limited number of people. But they are still fun and they do seem to help get the word out – so what if there are no measurable results.
Anyway – tell her to keep on trying and to not give up. Hopefully she will be one of many who do this even with numbers in the name.
teej b on July 7, 2009
At one of the “big” agencies, use of a number in your avatar name is frowned upon, during one of their model training sessions it was said that a model may struggle to get work if she has an “unattractive” name surely it’s how the avi looks not what her/his name is. Good Luck to your friend I hope she wows the model world with her alpha-numberic name
Cajsa Lilliehook on July 7, 2009
I often wonder about the poor people who choose the name Ruth.
valentina kendal on July 7, 2009
I will admit I agree with Heloise and Vaughan. Perhaps because in the back of my mind ‘Val78′ calls to mind ‘sexygurl4u’ or ‘sex24/7′ and I tend not to take that person as seriously. In the same way I would avoid someone with an AV name or appearance obviously meant to cause offense or call attention to themselves – why risk drama? That’s what prejudice is in either world – you make judgement calls about all people with some characteristic based on your previous experience of a few people with that characteristic. I don’t like it, but I do it, I think because I know the person *did* choose that name, unlike RL factors that are out of people’s control.
As to the modeling, watching two friends of mine struggle with the same thing, I came away with the impression that the way to succeed in SL modeling is to be friends with the store or agency owner, or pay money to go to one of the schools that claims they will place you. Freelance modeling takes a huge time commitment and is not often successful, from what I saw. I would think that if your friend *is* a nice person, in the end she wasn’t discriminated against b/c of the numbers, but rather she lost out to people who play the game better or are more connected (just like RL too).
Allegory Malaprop on July 8, 2009
An interesting social experiment would be for two similarly outfitted (skin/shape/hair/etc.) avatars to both try to break into the modeling agency, one with numbers, one with a more “reasonable” name.
The reality may in fact be that “everybody” wants to be a model, and anyone can be (after all, a couple of clicks and you’re perfectly outfitted), that there is simply far too much competition and too few legitimate agencies, and neither avatar would find it as easy as she thinks it is to break in (and, from stories from other aspiring models, I would say this is more likely the case). In fact, the only thing that makes one person stand apart from another (you can always have a list given to you of things to acquire, after all) is your name. And agencies may find names with numbers, quite simply, unprofessional- if they’ve got a number of applicants for a single position who seem qualified, it’s an easy way to start trimming people from the pool.
Diz Strangelove on July 8, 2009
I think there’s two sorts of ways people think about logging into a program. Accounts and identities.
Some folks (oldschool RP crowd, some gamers, etc) look at themselves as filling out an identity when faced with the ‘character generation’ process, something they use to present themselves and also judge those around them. Other folks just wanted an easy account name to remember.
The latter crowd didn’t mean harm by it, they’re just… new to the culture, as it were.
For better or worse, the ‘We’re From The Internets’ people look at numbers in names (or businesses with yahoo and gmail email addresses for that matter) as a sign of unprofessionalism or just sheer amateurism. Not to be taken seriously.
I’m not innocent of this and it’s not my intent, but I also don’t see it going away. I see it becoming more widespread, to be honest.
As the virtual economy becomes more meaningful, having an ‘unpresentable’ username is going to hinder you from getting very far in it as facial tattoos might in the real one.
Ivey Deschanel on July 8, 2009
If your friend is interested in a live model position have her apply at my place. I don’t discriminate based on name, color, animal/robot parts, size etc. As long as the avatar is attractive, looks over 18, can put outfits together and does the job, none of those things matter to me. I especially love extreme looks. Sorry but I do my own ad pics lol. I’m the only model I can find at 5 am on a Tuesday.
sachi Vixen on July 8, 2009
http://www.flickr.com/groups/adamnevemodels/
Tell your friend to put some pics there occasionally I hook people out (Ozzy and Tigre are about to get a call) for posters in the store. If she doesn’t have any of my skins she can always take some pics using demo so I can see the potential. I usually provide what I want them to wear anyway.
Lilly25 Connolly on July 8, 2009
Hello, firstly i would like to thank Prad for this article
) really..
))so a bit unfair because.. i started SL in 2007 without to know what it was.. I wanted be named Lilly + an Irish name, so i did find Lilly Connolly, but Linden didnt let me do (i dunno why because at the end just one Lilly Connolly is there) so i added the 25 after my Lilly.. I spend the two first years without issue with that, i was discovering the ‘game’ and all i did could be done with my ’25′.. During a time LInden allowed people to change something in name or even the complete name for 250USD, but no more now, now that i need it.. i have started Modeling in April, and i must say that i have never seen a model on runway with a number in name.. All my friends in SL call me lilly, just some people viviting my pub say sometimes hello Lilly25… I have read on a notecard in an agency that the name was important also, but in modeling should not be the skills, the appearance, the reliability and how is the person which count ?? I have seen some name in modeling which looked so strange to me, association of word with a special meaning, why this doesnt annoy creator ?? so yes somewhere its discrimination or stupidity (sorry to say).. the most important for me in SL is people behind the screen not their name or color or how they wear, but rather how they think !!.. I will not do an alt for fashion industry, because i have an SL life with a lot of friends and contacts and all know me with this name.. and also because its much more than 50 usd to buy again all my inventory, its two years and half of purchase there so it s not nothing,it’s also for example in a lot of application they ask for avis at least 3 month or 6, so.. i should lost some months just because of a ’25′.. People like me for who i am not for my lovely name.. So Aleida as you want, swafette thank you very much, and Sachi i have some skins from you and i really love them 
) and kai your name fit you marvelously. In all cases all your comment show that this subject is interesting for maybe more than me, if not you will have not reacted.. So thank you all and again thank you Prad Bisous…:))
Now all your comments are interesting some very true and some a bit unfair in my view,I know some people also and their reaction is just like i could think should be
Bluegum on July 9, 2009
…surprised to be told when i started sl that its a sign of a sub”…
I didn’t know that either, but I’ll bet a lot of people are going to be making even more judgements about people based on their names now.
I’m also guessing that noone told Forceme Silverspar before she chose her name too.
Lilly25 Connolly on July 9, 2009
Hello Sachi, I put two pics in your Flickr group
) TY
Guen on July 9, 2009
I’m 50/50 on folks with names like that.
It’s not just the numbers on the end of names that can throw you off, but the ones who try to use l33t sp34k or mix and match capital & lower case letters to try and get attention. Saw someone the other day who was named ‘D3MoN’ (which uses both strategies, ugh) and I just couldn’t get myself to take the guy seriously.
These days, though, if it’s simply a name like Lilly’s or Gany’s I don’t mind. It’s the ‘sexyluva69′ and the ‘CanYouHearMe Snoring’ (real Av name!) ones that make me groan. I know that it’s your world, your imagination but if you want to do anything in SL like designing or some such, you may wanna make an alt with a more “grown up” name.