Second Life
 

Does anyone here "play" Second LIfe? (And no, I am not talking about reincarnation or some such other metaphysical "thing.")

A year or so ago, the wife of a friend of mine complained about how much time her hubby (my friend) was spending online, playing Second Life. He is a good guy, hardworking and a good dad and husband, so I figured that she was was just being "possessive."

Then last week I read a story about this man and his virtua "life" on Second Life, complete with a virtual life and virtual business and virtually family.

Have any of you played SL? Do any of you even know about SL?

Back in the early '70s I read a book where the author discussed the rise of virtual "societies." (I can't remember the title or author, but when it comes back to me I will post it). I remember being amazed by his books because who, in the 1970s, could possibly even imagine a computerized virtual "world."

Anyhow, what do you guys (and gals) know/think about Second LIfe and other virtual "worlds?"

No. I like shooters and stuff. Not to mention I like to live here in the "real world".

Plus stuff like second like creeps me out.


You wanna play it or something?

That is what I think: real life is better than virtual "life." But after I read the article last week and researched it I realized that a HUGE number of people play it.

I don't want to go to SL. I have problems enough dealing with my "first" life. Who is got the time? Plus I have enough on my hands dealing with my "addiction" to MercedesShop.

Who needs another addiction? :freak:

I heard that some lady made $1m real world dollars selling virtual "real estate" in one of those games.

Those kind of games are a bit creepy and take a ton of time.

It's such a lame game.. I like doing the real thing

I prefer the real thing, too, Don. Besides, my right arm is getting so big and muscular now that it looks odd. Wait a minute! What were we talking about?

I saw a blurb on a news video with a therapist talking about whether having sex with a virtual female was considered "cheating," and the therapist said yes. On the one hand this Second Life virtual could be used as a therapeutic tool for problem solving with the initial family however but, I do believe it's popularity has given rise to the "Great Escape" that plaques us with computer fantasy games. Our social and interpersonal skills along with grammer and manners are going down the proverbial crapper because of computers and I don't think these Second Life games are doing humans much good.

I like playing The Sims... Its cool to control your little people and make them do things they shouldn't.. or just kill the ones off that you don't like...

I saw it in the June 2006 edition of Popular Mechanics. I spent a week or two on there. It seemed kinda a waste of my time, I couldnt figure out how to do anything on there and I had no money (in the game). I deleted the program and I havent logged on since

An ex-coworker of mine (a real nerd) was obsessed, he spent more time with it than his real life. He would get upset if you asked him to do anything that would take him away from it.

Obssessions like this are often a symptom of what is known as "covert depression." This is true in men at least. It's an attempt to flee from pain inside oneself.

Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to get all serious . . .

You are right, most addictions are a mask, or Band-Aid for something else.

So let's see:

Addiction to Benzes? What does it say about us? :D

Addiction to sex? What does it say about Bill Clinton (sorry but I couldn't resist)

Addiction to food? What does it say about Rosie O'Donnel AND Bill Clinton? (I couldn't resist that one either).

I guess happy people don't need to "addict" to anything.

So don't worry, be happy! :D

That is interesting observation.

After reading the article about the effect of SL on marriages I decided to have a talk with my friend.

I am not going to go into all of that here. But he made an observation that was interesting. He has 2 SL avatars. One male and one female. Both are on the "free" account so, like you wrote, no money and no real guidance on how to do things.

Within a couple of days, male avatars were offering to help my friend's female avatar. The male avatars were very freindly and gave "her" free Linden dollars (the SL currency), offered "her" a free apartment to "stay," gave "her" free clothing, the works. All of that friend's female avatar had to "do" was be nice and friendly to these male avatars.

The male avatars also helped my fried's female avatar by teaching "her" how to move, how to do stuff, how to change clothing, etc.

On the other hand, his male avatar has pretty much languished and not be able to do much of anything. Like you found out: "no money = no fun" and "no money = no females."

Come to think about it, SL is a lot like real life! :D

Incidentally, my friend has agreed to see a doctor about his addiction. His wife is happy and so are his kids.

Let's turn that around for a second Mistress.

In the "good old days" men (and women) had real affairs. Real affairs had the risk of unwanted pregnancies, STD, and the ever-present risk of getting shot at by an an angry husband or wife.

In a virtual "reality" affairs don't run those risks. Yes, because the computer is so handy, there is the risk of spending way too much time in SL or some other similar place (like the man in the article). But at least the "wronged" spouse knows where the "cheater" is: sitting at his desk, in his underwear, with a can of Diet-Coke at hand and a bag of chips on the desk.

Women, I think, worry more about these cyber affairs because to women mental and emotional intimacy is more important than to a man. I think most women are willing to forgive a man who has an affair and says, in his defense, "it was only physical and I didn't love her.". If there is emotional attachment and intimacy (as in a cyber relationship) women tend to be hurt more and be less forgiving.

We men are a little different. I guess we can forgive a wife getting chummy with the guy at the office, as long as all they do is talk (less "talk" we have to listen to and deal with at the end of the day). But if that same guy was getting physically intimate with the wife, it would be a different story.

This is a brave new world that we are entering. I feel badly for our kids and grandkids who will have to deal with issues that would have never even occurred to us.

It looks just like a mudd, or an advanced version of Neverwinter nights. We spent many many hours on mudds, my wife and I. She used to get all the cool gear, get to tag along for the ride and get eq just for being there, etc. I never did get asked, had to kill all my dragons solo. My SIL met her husband on some graphical RPG. It takes a certain type of personality and know how to online date before meeting IRL. It's tough to sift out the genuine thing from the lamers.