My Virtual Life

One of my assignments for my class required us to visit the virtual online world of Second Life: http://secondlife.com/ The intention was to introduce us to a gaming/online presence.

I thought this a strange thing to do, having always been careful about keeping my real life free from virtual reality (important, because I can be a daydreamer). But after signing up, choosing an Avatar (my online presence), I found I really enjoyed being there. It’s better than TV, but most things are…

At first I was awed by the graphic richness of the environments created by other “Residents” there. People have put alot of time, creativity, effort, and probably money into creating this world. But it’s more than just a place to view. You can interact with much of the environment. You can find items to keep, as well as make your avatar dance. And best of all, you can fly. You can also teleport to many places, a quick-fix for impatient travelers.

I had, at first, avoided contact with other residents. When I finally tried it, I met a couple of “housemates” from London. It was fun “chatting” with them. Actually it was a little strange to think I can be in my house in Connecticut, communicating with people from London through make-believe characters in a game. It’s way beyond email. I even made a couple of friends that I can keep on a list and contact later.

I found it disconcerting at first that people can create completely fictional characters and go out into the (virtual) world presenting themselves as something they aren’t. When I thought more about it, I realized that we really only know what people present to us in real life anyway; we make alot of assumptions about people we meet, so why should this be anymore disturbing. So, now I just enjoy my travels and chats and don’t concern myself with the reality or virtuality of it. After all, what’s a game for?

-Mark