I wonder if in something like this a useful distinction could be made between acting and
reacting here. It seems to me that the most difficult part of what we're discussing would be reacting while still under the initial shock of facing something so completely out of the ordinary. The questions (either conscious thoughts or unconscious dilemmas) of, "What am I supposed to do with this?" "What kind are the dynamics of this interaction? How can I know what to expect of them?" and even "But... if this, what
next?" can very easily throw one off balance when first reacting to something. Goodness, I can get thrown off balance when just an average
person talks to me when I wasn't expecting it! And in those situations, when an immediate reaction is required of me, I often rely on stock conversationally polite responses until I can adjust and actually start acting along with the situation. (And yes, I know I'm socially inept.) But when you have no stock, safe responses on hand, the chances of reacting improperly increase, the
fear of reacting improperly increases, and a mind preoccupied with these questions and uncertainties is awkward at best (I should know).
On the other hand, I think it can make a difference when one has had a chance to resolve some of the questions/dilemmas of what to do with the new situation. When the inital, immediate, and
unprepared (I think the unprepared part is actually the key) reaction point is past, there is more of an opportunity to actually act in a thoughtful and reasoned manner.
Just a thought (sorta like the whole post), but maybe the difference with children - especially the very young ones - is that so many situations are new to them that they are more in practice, so to speak, when it comes to reacting to a new situation. Maybe small children, at least to a certain extent, almost expect to encounter new situations.
I do think this depends on the child, though. I think there's still a variance as to how they react to new situations, and even a difference in how they react to different types of new situations. I seem to remember being uncomfortable, for example, around costumed people as a child. On the other hand, I actually was a bold and outgoing little kid, especially when it came to people and to exploring. But you also get kids who are shy, or afraid of some new things. I really do think it depends.
Okay, end long, possibly applicable quasi-reflection-analysisamagig.
As far as the scenario of us as our avatars, yeah, there would be some around here people would have "interesting" reactions to. As for me, as a girl in a cloak, I'd just get annoying movie assotiations. (Yep, speaking from experience, here.)
Oh, well, maybe one day I'll choose something furry to be. I think I'd end up being a chipmunk.
Don't think anyone would be afraid of that, though, either. Hmmm...
“The mirror may tell us what we are; memory may tell us what we were; but only the imagination can tell us what we might be.” – Donald Keesey
“You go whistling in the dark/ Making light of it/ Making light of it/ And I follow with my heart/ Laughing all the way// Oh 'cause you move me/ You get me dancing and you make me sing/ You move me/ Now I'm taking delight/ In every little thing/ How you move me”
~ "You Move Me"
Pierce Pettis, Gordon Kennedy
Just so you know, I'm of the same persuasion that Aurrin is, althought I probably wouldn't use big words like "unsubstantiated" and "faulty generalization" myself. 
Still, I'm glad to have someone to cheer on.
