When I was a youngun, I got myself involved in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. I know, please don’t think bad of me, I’ve since seen the light and repented. J The reason I quit a’playin’ was because I began to see how caught up in this fantasy world a person could become and how it could influence the thinkin’ of those that played on a reglar basis. I don’t think there was anythin’ inherently wrong with the game, just that it allowed people to get lost, so to speak.
Today, there exists a fantasy world so technologically advanced and so much more “realistic” than Dungeons & Dragons could ever hope to be. This virtual world is called “Second Life” and is much more than just a game.
Second Life is a place on the net where people can create a virtual life for themselves. You make up a person includin’ personality and everythin’, then you enter this world called Second Life. You can get a job, create a business, go to parties (or throw one if you wish), do all kinds of things. You can shop and spend Second Life money for virtual clothes, cars, you name it, you can buy it. Or if you name it and it isn't sold by anyone, you can create it and begin sellin’ it. People even buy marketin’ services to help market their wares and services to other people in Second Life.
Anyways, it has continued to grow at a tremendous rate with people even creatin’ multiple avitars (that’s the fancy technical way of sayin’ “characters) that they send around this virtual world doin’ whatever they want that is allowed. There are very stiff rules about what you can and can't do and if you break them, you are kicked out and can't return. They even have an adult section where characters can do and see pretty much anythin’ you can do and see in real life. (No, I haven't been there, just read about it.)
The latest thing is a TV show called Big Brother (a reality show to see who can hold out the longest inside some house where a bunch of people of different types are thrown together) is a’goin to do a virtual version of their show in Second Life. Whoever spends at least 8 hours every day for a month in the Big Brother virtual house without getting’ voted out will win a virtual island of their own. Now, what kind of contest is that? Encouragin’ people to waste 240 hours in order to win an imaginary island! Don’t people have enough respect for themselves to not waste 8 hours a day for a month in a pretend world? Get a real life!
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5 comments:
What happened to the innocence of Sim City when it ran on a 286 PC (pre-windows, for any younger readers)? I too have been down that road of Dungeons & Dragons and getting addicted to video games. Can’t say I ever spent 240 hours in one month, but they did occupy a lot of my time and sucked all the loose change out of my pockets like some parasitic tic or leach.
There is something to be said about moderation in all things, except blogging. Too much time spent with any one task is rarely healthy, mentally, physically, or socially.
In twenty years, will the majority be socailly inept? Will most marriages take place online and result in unions that are for finacial gain or last only as long as the current hot game fixation? Oh wait a second, the later already happens.
I recently had a blogging conversation with a guy that is really into the new "social media" and is a big advocate of advertising in said media. the gist of his comments is that 8 hours in Second Life is no different than 8 hours in real life - they are almost one and the same. I just had to quit the conversation, otherwise I'd have to go to Second Life and kill his avitar.
Let the virtual weddings/marriages begin!
I read what you said, Pappy, about Second Life. I too played Dugeons and Dragons but I got bored and studied math and computer science instead.
I grew up reading stories about a family that fled from a city before it was destroyed and were guided to a promised land. I decided to check out Second Life and see for myself if this might be a "promised land" for some who are fleeing. I wonder if people are still seeking the "promised land" but don't know where to find it?
Anyway, I had to know, so I girded up my loins and visited Second Life...Unfortunately, I did not find Zion. The people there were friendly enough but being a plebian (I signed up for a basic account) I found that I was very restricted in what I could do and someone asked me to buy something with "Lindon dollars". Somehow I had always heard that the "Second Life" was supposed to be better. However, I think I will continue living my "so-called-life".
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