Second life. What do people really think of it?
I had been looking forward to the tutorial on this subject and I found it to be the most interesting that I had done all week.
“Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.” (What is Second Life, 2008)
After watching a 60 Minutes episode on second life, what it was and how popular it had become I had always been interested in learning more about why people would choose to live out their perfectly good lives to play a computer game. I will come back to that statement later on…
Much to my surprise, after the program ended, my mum stood up, went upstairs to the study and started a new life on Second Life. Looking at my mum, she would be the last person you would think who would be interested in such a game. Is it really a game though? For some it has been labelled a lifestyle. Being able to change the way you look, your hairstyle and the way you act.
This online world allows you to be whoever you want to be. It give its users the opportunity to meet new people with similar interest. Like any other social networking site, Second Life enables interaction between its particiapants. Unlike other social networking sites, it brings this to a whole new level of interaction.
Personally, I can understand why some people have been totally consumed by this craze and have adapted it as an actual way of life. This ‘perfectly good’ lives that people live on the surface are not necessarily anything like that underneath. Being able to live through such a thing as Second Life enables people to delve into the unknown. It enables them to create a character unlike themselves that they have always wanted to be.
I find it fascinating that this program has attracted so many people from all over the world and from all walks of life. The line Your World Your Imagination are the signifying aspects of Second Life.
There are many sceptics however, who feel as if the concept is a joke and who are somewhat against this activity.
Featured below is a Youtube video mocking Second Life and looking at this game in more of a comical light.
Although it does not have the best animation, nor the best graphics, it really is an incredible world to belong too.
I decided to give this Second Life experiance a try and logged onto my mum's pre existing account. I have to say the experiance is somewhat surreal. I was on there for about two hours and it became somewhat addictive.
In my opinion, Second Life is one of the most amazing experiences. It somewhat saddens me when people who have not even tried this game make assumptions about the game itself and its users. I look at it as a new and exciting way for people to interact and become something they otherwise could not.
References
(2008).Second Life : What is Second Life. http://secondlife.com/whatis/ (accessed 4 May, 2008).
(2008), Second Life: Do You Feel Like A Rock Star? http://blog.secondlife.com/2005/11/03/do-you-feel-like-a-rock-star/ (accessed 4 May, 2008).
(2007). second life. http://youtube.com/watch?v=flkgNn50k14 (accessed 4 May, 2008).
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I have never used Second Life, but after this course i just might, simply to get a better understanding of why people go there. As you pointed out in your post, Second Life is a social networking site but with much more interactivity. That's the understatement of the century. From what i have read, heard and seen of Second Life, it is like a social networking site on speed. (I had alot of hesitations writing that because it has negative connotations but i just mean it takes it to the extreme). One online "game" has completely epitomised what Web 2.0 is all about and also what KCB201 is all about. With new media, one can break down barriers, whether physical, mental or emotional. They create a fundamental community which in this hectic world may hold more importance to them then their physical community. They take on the role of 'produsers' using the second life forum and tools to produce characters details such as hair, house and lifestyle. People create content which can be used by other people to create more content. People share, just like in real life, however with Second Life people make their own means, people are not born into certain socio-economic backgrounds that they must over come.
I think these points not only outline how it is a vital part of Web 2.0 but are also vital in understanding it's popularity.
To be honest, when i first heard about Second Life i thought it would be full of beautiful avatars with not so beautiful people behind them. As you pointed out, someones mother who is just an ordinary person joins Second Life.
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