Virtual vs Reality

Ever wanted to escape reality and go to a world where you are in control of almost everything? Want to control not only everything that happens to you, when and how it happens, but also how you look. Two words; Second ... Life.

In June 2003, the Linden Lab developed and released a virtual computer game called Second Life. In the game people are able to make their own avatars and explore and interact with other people.

“People in virtual worlds build things, use them, sell them, trade them and discuss them. When another person confirms what I am seeing, places value on it, spends time working to pay for it, buys it, keeps it, uses it, talks about it, gets emotional about it, and then sells it – this tells me there is something real happening. The suspension of disbelief has become a grounding of belief”. Meadows (2008:51).

This statement is true in how it identifies that something real is happening. Although games such as the Sims and Second life are called 'virtual worlds' - there is a fine line separating them from reality; people spend hours on these games and even when they're not playing - they cant stop thinking about it! Second life takes it a step further than the Sims by allowing real people to interact. There are stories of people fighting in reality and getting divorced over having affairs etc in Second Life.

Sure, the idea of Second Life is fine. A harmless game that you can actually relate to. But when people take it too far by using it to hurt, stalk or lure people - it's not okay. People make avatars that are beautiful and look nothing like themselves - in order to lure people in to talking to them.

Meadows is correct in saying something real is happening. People do spend a lot of time on Second Life, they spend money to pay for it, they talk about it to others, become emotionally attached and some even make money from it. For some people it is a part of their life or even their job. But how do people live with themselves as they meet new people whilst hiding their true selves under the faces of their perfect avatars?

Will there be a day where everyone has their own avatar? Or works from home via their avatar? So many things are possible with the internet and virtual worlds it makes me question how far people might one day go.