24 May 07
Going virtual…is it good or bad?
Have you heard of Second Life?
“Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 6,636,100 people from around the globe.”
You can choose an avatar, dress it up, modify its face. Of course, you are free to be an opposite sex. (who is stopping you?)
It’s a world with all kinds of possibilities. It is fun, interactive and engaging. You can make friends from all over the world..(even marry one! In SL of course.)
And just for your information, it uses its own currency “Linden dollars” and you can convert your cash (real cash!) into Linden dollars as well. For what you asked. Well, buy houses, food and drink (what for???), misc goods, dresses, services (manicure anyone?) and etc.
You will be surprised how far these players will go in Second Life. Many multi-national companies also have their “offices” set up in Second Life.
I have been reading articles and news about Second Life (SL). It is a virtual world and that means, everything can be made and done…as long as you have the “money” and skills (eg.in scripting) in SL. People write scripts to run a certain behaviour for an avatar, eg. dancing, jumping and fighting. You can build nice houses, decor, boat, costumes to sell and make money. The possibilities are way beyond imagination.
Now, the question is, is this good or bad?? When everything seems possible in a virtual world.
Of course, when a tool is misused, it will turn into a bad thing. Same as Second Life.
I have read about players who spend most of their time (except sleeping) on Second Life – making money, living in a house with boat etc. SL has become their first live. Why? Their answers are simple:”I get to live like what I have been dreaming of. I can live in a mansion in SL! While in real life (first life), I can only afford to rent a room..” People started to use it to get away from their real (sad) life.
What is your first thought when you heard this?
They trade in SL, attending class in SL, they consume in SL…
Attending classes you asked. Well, it was claimed to be a fun and engaging “place” to study.
Do you know that there is a virtual rape? (read: Is virtual rape a crime)?”
I came across this article the other day – “Belgian police patrols Second Life to prevent rape“. Does it sound silly to you?
If you think this is bad, see this: Rape for sale.
You can be almost any kind in SL. Avatar as defined in wikipedia:” it is an Internet user’s representation of himself or herself..”. You could be an opposite sex but because your real identity is hidden, there is no fear or guilt when you misbehave. You can forget about all moral judgement and get to do things that you can’t do in real life. It could be very addictive!
That, expose the players to all sorts of nonsense: flirting at nude beaches, having cybersex with other players, child pornography…It is scary because it is interactive and players are usually carried away – they ARE doing those things as THEMSELVES, not as game players.
Unless the player can keep his feet firmly in front of the computer, and not get carried away, then Second Life is just another computer game.
Well, if you have a teenage kid…would you allow him/her to go to Second Life? The reason given is he/she can learn something useful (perhaps studies related) from Second Life.
Posted under Thoughts & musings | [13] Comments
May 25th, 2007 at 6:23 am
really on the fence blog.
I think I will be more to discouraging people to play these SL and online games…
There are so many things to do in the REAL life…meaningful things…although I have just stopped myself from playing online games…i have wasted valuable months on that game! it’s crazy!
life is too short!
May 25th, 2007 at 6:24 am
discouraging people *from playing…
May 25th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Probably the point of attract people to play is the currency of the game worth actual dollar, the rest like virtual rape and so called cyber will be anywhere as long there is internet. Human nature i guess ;p
2nd Life looks boring, its much more fun to play world of warcraft.
Like during free time and lazy to do anything else besides chatting and missing ya old buddies, could just hop into the game and spend time virtually together.
i will play 2nd life if it could bring me like 50-100 bucks/8 hrs playing it hehz.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
I will not allow my daughter to play before 18 years old ( after that age I basically have no control over what she can do!!) but as for myself I am out of the age range that this game will ever attract my attention!!
LY.Tai
May 27th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
When I first read/heard about SL, I thought it was a very sad state of affairs that the world is in. I am all for computer games as a recreational hobby but when one takes it to the extreme (i.e. spending ALL their waking hours playing the game), that’s really really sad.
As rightly written by Red & White Roses above, there are soooo many things to do in the real world. Why waste all that time in the cyber world? Instead of spending virtual hours hanging out with a friend in the cyber world, why not just walk out of the house and enjoy a REAL cup of coffee over a REAL conversation? Hmm…
May 28th, 2007 at 1:15 am
Thanks miss_ene. REAL conversation? I am not sure about others but I think I am suffering the inability to communicate properly in REAL life already because too much of online game and MSN. Spending so much time on online games has made me lost touch with the world. Also in MSN, my words can flow like crazy but during a REAL talk with people who are not that close, can’t seem to react properly. haha…this has caused me to lose the chances to know some good real flesh and blood friends.
May 28th, 2007 at 9:43 am
To me, just that REAL life cost you a bomb.
May 28th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
W&R Roses – What you just wrote has reaffirmed the fact that people who spend all their time online (msn, gaming, etc) will slowly lose their ability to interact with real people in the real world.
May 29th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Wow…thanks for your input. It certainly helps in preparing my research on SL. that’s so true. Come and think of it, sometimes i do prefer to email/msn then talk to people even though they are just 2 metres away.
August 1st, 2007 at 5:13 pm
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October 6th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Thank you for sharing!
November 1st, 2007 at 2:49 pm
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November 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
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