Comments on: Second Life

By: Jessawhy

Jessawhy — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:04:56 +0000

I have an avatar on SL, my husband learned about it in his MBA class (they were talking about ways to sink MySpace and mentioned SL as a possibile alternative)
It’s interesting, but there would have to be major changes (like restrictions on porn and gambling) before it could be a universal way of navigating cyberspace.
It is interesting. I particularly like education island. You can all lounge around and watch a power point presentation in a cool island hut.
Anyway, I’ve been impressed that most people walk around with clothes on (even though they buy really expensive lifelike bodies) and I think that says a lot about how people are respectful in some ways despite their anonymity.

By: Philocrites

Philocrites — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:26:32 +0000

I visited an LDS visitors' center in Second Life while checking out various religious communities in SL. It had a lovely fountain with benches and a painting of Jesus with a young man. On the other side of the lot was a sort of recreation of the Kirtland Temple with some "historical" objects like wagon wheels, etc. A lot of the images had been carefully put together to echo LDS Church signage and had a kind of Temple Square feel. The online magazine I edit for religious liberals featured a story about a Unitarian Universalist church in Second Life, which actually holds worship services twice a week that draw a sizable congregation. Personally, I find Second Life intriguing as a model of social networking and browsing, and some of the places are visually interesting, but I haven't got hooked on the experience of being there. "First life" -- to say nothing of blogging! -- is more compelling by a long shot.

By: David Brosnahan

David Brosnahan — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:51:09 +0000

As far as virtual sin vs. real-world sin is concerned the following scripture comes to mind.

Alma 12: 14
14 For our awords will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the bmountains to fall upon us to chide us from his presence.

By: Norbert

Norbert — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:34:55 +0000

I became interested in SL because I some of my students did research on marketing within it for a media studies project. They interviewed 20 people who spend more than 100 hours a month (!) in SL about why they liked it and their habits within SL and elsewhere on the web. They came to several conclusions, but I found the relationship of the respondants to their avatar interesting. Some clearly saw the avatar as themselves in ‘disguise’ or an alter ego; others saw the avatar as their creation, but ‘real;’ and a few refered to the avatar as a fictional character in one way or another. I’m looking at what the relationship between the avatar and the person says, if anything, about their own sense of ethical behaviour within the VR. I also want to see whether or not a perceived lack of consequences is the reason for decisions of virtual morality.

I’ve just started the second set of questionaries. Of course, by the time I get anything done, the whole thing will be oldschool anyway.

By: Eric Russell

Eric Russell — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 02:44:04 +0000

I joined and created an SL character after reading an article about it some time ago. I played around for a couple of days before getting bored. I still donâ€™t quite get the appeal, but maybe I wasnâ€™t playing it right.

But I would agree that we really are a ways away from the types of issues imagined here, though they certainly will be interesting problems if we ever really get that far.

By: William Morris

William Morris — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:17:36 +0000

I have read the Otherland series. Put me in the camp of it’s still way to early to know how VR or immersive online experiences develop/impact society.

I agree with Ronan’s #21. There’s way too much money flowing around SL for it to be a passing fad. Some better technology may come along and poach all its members, but the concept will remain the same after all, it would appear to be the leading experience for netsexoring.

The question is whether or not it [meaning an avatar-driven world that allows for 3-D content creation] will become the primary Web experience. We’re already seeing generational and educational differences in social networking. Gen Xers tend towards blogs. Millenials like their MySpace and text messaging. Boomers like e-mail groups and online games. etc.

The problem with all this from a pr perspective is that it’s difficult to know where to invest time and resources. The Church seems to have somewhat embraced blogging. Pro-LDS activists are active with blogs, message boards and wikis/faqs/other online resources. But is Second Life worth it? Clearly, someone from the Bloggernacle needs to go in and do some scouting for us.

Someone != me

I guess it’s up to you, Ronan.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:13:20 +0000

The Net is one of my favorite movies. Second only to Hackers.

By: Hellmut

Hellmut — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:58:43 +0000

Why is it that I am suspicious of claims that we are spending more time working? Time at work might be more accurate.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:48:17 +0000

Second Life? A passing fad, I guarantee.

If you mean SL qua SL, mayhap. But if you mean SL as proto virtual world I say no way.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:44:16 +0000

Ronan, I consider myself pretty au courant when it comes to online phenomena, and I can tell you this: when a give online community becomes popular enough for political candidates to use, that community is DEAD. Youtube, Myspace, Friendster, Blogger, Flickr…. all are past their prime, having long ceded their initial creative energies to corporate interests. It’s not that I don’t care about this — I do, I find online communities vastly interesting. But Second Life? A passing fad, I guarantee.