Second Life

I consider myself an avid gamer in fact I played WoW just because I liked the elves in it. But I WOULD NOT EVER consider playing second life. If you don’t know what second life is it is basically a virtual world were you have, well, a second life. You create how you look, you can do pretty much anything you can do in the real world in this virtual world, including buying real estate, have sex, you can do anything.

Like real life you have to pay to do things, to customise your character you actually have to pay real money to get things like, a different hairstyle, appendages (penis, boobs etc). Really second life is a separate consumer society you can buy the same products you use in the real world, and more, you can buy wings for yourself in second life.

But what effect are virtual worlds having in our real world? There are many stories about how people have had partners in real life and then had a second one in a virtual world, you can even marry them. But a distinction has to be made to make sure you don’t blur the line between reality and fantasy.  I read an article about how people were living double lives on second lives where they would be married to people online and not tell their partners. I heard about one story where one girl broke up with her real life boyfriend to pursue the boyfriend she had in the virtual world despite him already being in a relationship in real life, she practically stalked him to the point where he had to get a restraining order taken out against her.

I don't have a problem with relationships formed online, if they work for you good for you, but I think unnecessary stalking is a bit of an issue. I recently met a couple who met on W.O.W on opposite sides of the world, he was from San Diego, she was from Mooroolbark in Melbourne, they have been married for 3 years and he moved to Australia for her. What I am attempting to say is if it works for you well done but draw the line somewhere don't become that creepy person everyone wants to get away from.

Like the use of mobile phones I think it takes out some of the important social experiences you would have in real life, that everyone should go through to become a functioning member of society. Spending 24/7 on a game ruins the experiences you would be getting in the real world. Some might say you can just experience them in this virtual world, but they aren’t the same thing. I mean look at the graphics in the virtual world compared to the real world.

All in all I think it is okay to have an outlet in the virtual world where you can do things you wouldn’t normally do, personally I wouldn’t even consider second life, but I can see how others find it appealing. You have the ability to do anything you wanted, you could make yourself the rainbow fairy of happiness if you’re that way inclined. However, if you participate in second life you should have a clear line in your head where the line between reality and fantasy, and limit yourself to how much you play so you don’t miss out on the experiences you could have been having if you weren’t playing.