My Groups Are NOT Hidden!

Group-watching is a favorite past-time for everyone in SL.  When we encounter an interesting avatar, usually the first response is to look into the profile to find out about the person.  Surprisingly, a large number of people do not write anything about themselves.  They fear that there is not much interesting about them to write.  This is simply not true.  Someone once said that everyone’s story in his or her lifetime is always interesting to others. 

Amidst the media blitzkrieg, our thinking has become extremely celebrity-oriented.  We tend to believe that unless there is something outrageous about us, nobody will pay attention.  The truth is that the world is mostly populated by ordinary people who lead ordinary lives.  Interestingly, people perform ordinary tasks in their lives in their own unique ways and that makes them special.

In any case, lack of a substantial profile is not a deterrent.  Our eyes search into the group-list to find clues about the avatar.  It is generally believed that the list of groups in the profile tells a few things about us.  But, is it true?  Can you really tell someone from the listing of the groups?  I doubt it. 

A group list is usually very dynamic;  it changes with our changing interests and mood, and with our current social interactions.  Traditionally, club-owners ‘recruit’ their patrons in their groups in order to promote their club through the ‘word of mouth’ advertising.  Occasionally, some commercial groups pay avatars to be listed on their group list.  Most commonly encountered fashion related groups serve dual purpose;  they send notices to the members about their new release or sales while staying visible in the patrons’ group lists.  A large number of groups are used to facilitate land ownership, rents and building rights. 

In addition to these utilitarian groups, there are groups that supposedly reveal personal interests, a dedication to a cause, or boast exclusive affiliation.  In fact, these are the groups that our eyes search for in the profile to obtain personal clues.  Chances are that in some cases, you may find something ‘interesting’ to use as an ‘ice pick’.  However, existence of an erotic fantasy group on someone’s list may mean anything ranging from the person’s innocent curiosity to his deep interest in it.  One cannot judge a person solely on the basis of his or her group membership.  Some people are group junkies and they cannot say no to group invitations.  Once they hit the magic number of twenty five lists, they begin to toss the old ones to accommodate the new groups.

Suddenly, an epidemic has swept across Second Life.  People are hiding their group memberships.  Instead, a single group appears in their profile that declares, “My groups are hidden’.  When you come across these profiles, you may get a feeling of being cheated in the game.  You get a sense of unfair play by these residents.  Why should anyone hide the groups?  Although, it is important to look into the group lists to find clues to start a conversation, some residents feel uncomfortable to intense scrutiny by a stranger.  Others have possibly gone through some harassment by a relentless ‘stalker’ on the account of having ‘colorful’ groups listed in their profiles.

One can simply hide the groups and not say anything about it.  But, absence of a group on a profile may be considered as the person being a noob, unsophisticated, and without a (second) life.  Hence the declaration.

The reasons to hide the groups are varied, and possibly they may be valid, but I am not yielding to the temptation.  My groups are not hidden.

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