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Second Life: “Your World, Your Imagination”
Reality can be rather difficult to live in due to many circumstances. There are bills to pay, jobs to work, children to take care of and just a list of many things to do and somehow there has to be room for fun which can seem impossible to fit in. For some ,reality is more difficult than for others. Some people may face disabilities, sicknesses, and lack of friends or just having to put up with two part time jobs in their lives. People may feel overwhelmed and just have desires to have another life. Over 9 million people have found what some may consider an escape from their difficult lives or mostly a second life. Virtual Life has given people an escape from reality by allowing users to create alternative versions of themselves with these versions of themselves they are also equipit with complete power and control; allowing users, to fill in the missing parts in their lives with the help of the digital world.
Virtual Life what has come to be known as Second Life is a 3D website based virtual world and is categorized as online multiplayer role playing game. Second Life has given people the opportunity of having their dreams obtainable, their goals accomplished and just the ability to take on a different persona or as their slogan states “Your World, Your Imagination”. Second Life was launched in 2003 by Philip Rosedale who is a software developer, after dreaming about it back in 1999. From there on as the years progress so has the popularity and growth. He states “Our goal with Second Life is to make it better than real life in a lot of ways”(Rosedale 1).That’s what bringspeople for more. The users who are also referred to as the residents basically have created Second Life and still are continuing to do so. Second life is accessible with high speed internet and through a download. Once you have downloaded Second Life you have to create an avatar which is a character withers it’s a person, an animal or mystical creature to represent yourself. They are many options on skin color, hairstyle, clothing and so on. This feature attracts many people to this Virtual world, for people are able to put their alter egos somewhat to life and many people find themselves creating avatars into these perfect beings. After that, your are given several tutorials on how to navigate, where to go, how to chat and from there on you do as you please. The power, the control lies in the residents. As the Second life website states; “express yourself, get moving, unleash creativity, amass a fortune, get connected and increase your statues.”(SecondLife.com).
Second life contains alot of social freedom; you can do as you please. If you want to live on an island, be drop dead gorgeous, be rich, party all day, steal , have sex , be a designer, travel the world or own a club then so be it. This is what sets Second Life apart from a game; there are no rules, no levels, no demons to fight or point systems. Second life provides so much more like, socializing through chat, users are able to chat with other residents. From then on they are relationships and friendships are created. Not only socializing but “the people who are coming to this online universe aren’t’ just socializing however. They are also doing businesses, collaborating on research, teaching courses, dating and even having sex.”(Benett &Beith, Newsweek 1). This in fact is the case, people are even making a living off business they have created in Second Life. Like many fashion designers create clothes for avatars and people spend their actual money to buy it. Yes real money has been put into Second Life. For certain things such as a house, island, clothes to obtain they cost actual money or you can just earn money through jobs. Money in second life is referred to as linden dollars, 266 linden dollars are equal to one US.Over 10 million dollars are made in a month in Second Life. Also many companies such as IBM, American Apparel and General motors dollar have created themselves in Second Life to get sales and make money. Its amazing how much of real life aspects are included in this virtual world.
They ability to take a break from reality is what attracts people the most. Janine Hawkins who attends college in real life takes on a whole different persona being a fashion editor of a magazine in Second Life. She along with other people take Second Life seriously they works just as hard as do in real life. According to Boss not only has it provided breaks for people from their everyday life’s but “it can be real life enhancing for populations who are isolated for physical, mental or geographical reasons”(Boss1) This is true many people with sicknesses or disabilities find support, confidence and just happiness. One woman said she regained her legs being that she is wheel bound with her able bodied avatar. Second Life can in fact be real life enhancing and just a much needed escape from that hard day of work in the real world, a life away from real life.
I really enjoyed your presentation – you did a great job on it! I think this is probably a good thing for some people. Being able to pick who you are in lief is like starting over, right? But in another way, maybe it’ll just encourage others to become serial killers hahah!