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Welcome everyone! Enjoying your account's face? Well, a few days ago, you didn't
have it! Every single face on Whyville was a newbie smiley face. Many people
were angry, but I took this day as a gift from the City Workers.
I logged on Whyville at about 9:30 a.m. Whyville time on December 30. I didn't
expect to do much, maybe check my why-mail, or shop around a little at Akbar's.
But, when I first looked at the picture on my little bus, my normal self wasn't
looking up at me. No, it was the familiar face of the Newbie, a smiley face.
I went to the Beach to see if everyone looked the way I did, and yes, everyone
was bestowed with this "curse". I checked a couple other chat rooms, and sure enough, everyone was a tator.
Yes, this has happened before, but usually people return to their normal faces after
about five minutes.
I went back to the beach, just to hear what people had to
say about this sudden event. No one I talked to was positive... but for me, I took into consideration the benefits of this occurance.
Yes, it's nice to be able to identify with people. It's said
that how you dress is one of the best ways to express yourself, but with all the
trends and fashions going around, it's hard to be yourself without being labeled.
"Don't talk to me, you stupid newb!" someone yells at you if they don't like your look. "Go away!" It hits you hard when what you are cannot be accepted by the rest of Whyville. So, today, I laughed
to myself when people were desperately trying to maintain their images on Whyville,
so that they wouldn't be swept into the cateogory of "lame people with no personality,"
same as the normal "lame people with no style".
With everyone looking like newbies, it was harder to label people. Everyone seemed
to get to know each other a little better, amid the confusion. Of course,
when we all go back to our normal faces, I'm sure it will seem odd to continue our one-day friendships from today. We will probably all go on with our lives as though we had never met
those newbie-faced friends at all.
Even though this day may not have been intentional or sent by the City
Workers, even though it may have been just a computer glitch, I still grasp it as a day of acceptance, for many people.
This day may just slightly bridge the gaps between all the stereotypes in Whyville.
This is Sweden, with something to think about.
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