Muds

Multi-user dungeons, frequently referred to as MUDs, are examples of virtual communities where the ability to recreate and expand multiple identities are taken to its highest level. MUDs are a combination virtual community and group authoring. They are virtual worlds that are text-based, but unlike virtual communities, are completely fictional. Each MUDder must create his or her identity before entering the virtual world. A name, gender (or lack thereof), and description for the persona they will play. An individual can be "... a gorilla, a dragon, or anything else. Users interact by describing their speech and actions using set commands, such as SAY, WHISPER, or EMOTE. Some also allow interaction with the environment, using other commands to manipulate objects within the room. Some are themed around a particular movie or book, such as Star Trek. Inhabitants are allowed to add to the world, creating their own rooms and objects that others can use and explore. MUDding is real-time role-playing in the tradition of acting, but on a massively parallel level. Multiple narratives unfold simultaneously in the various rooms and spaces that make up the MUD. MUDs balances the borders between art and life, literature and role-playing, oral and written traditions of communication, "... [blurring] the boundaries between self and games, self and role, self and simulation" allowing people to play not just with the medium, but with their own or multiple identities (Turkle). Such identity play leads to many questions. What relationship do these constructed identities have with the individual's identity in real life. What is the effect "if a persona ... drops defenses that the player in real life has been unable to abandon?" (Turkle).

Besides MUDs, many other chat programs such as Mirc and COCOA adopt this chat method. Users can disguise their identity, use anonymity nicknames and ISPs to communicate with other users in the chat.