In Life vs Real Life

The societies of Second Life have some similarities with society in real life, but there are some major differences as well. In both, you can meet new people, go out with those you know, dance, talk, drink, and even shop. There is also the possibility of having sincere relationships online through second life just like people have in real life (whether they be friendship or romantic). The differences include travel, disconnectivity, and integrity. Being able to travel instantly is a nice feature, but it takes away from a great activity that we enjoy in the real world, ROAD TRIP! I personally went on a road trip a few months ago to watch the Eagles play the Vikings in a playoff football game in Minnesota, and it was something I will remember for the rest of my life. With instant travel, it takes away that bond that you get when on a long road trip with friends, something that you cannot replace. Disconnectivity is a major issue as well. At any point in time, a person can log in or log out of second life, but you do not have that option in real life. This takes away the severity of consequences for actions and a lack of responsibility. A major issue that I have with second life as opposed to real life is integrity. While not all persons in real life are honest and true, if you are around them long enough you can pick up on their body language, demeanor, and other aspects of their being that tells you the whole story that they may not be speaking to you in so many words. In second life, all you have to rely on is the image that a person intentionally creates for you to see, and their delayed reactions through text and voice communications online. Think of the difference between a simple face to face conversation and an Instant messaging session. Anyone who has ever been involved with both of those types of communication know that its much harder to feel a sense of integrity from the person through the instant message than it is while in person.

Real life cannot be replaced by the current existance of Second Life. As second life evolves, as I am sure it will, I see it going to be more of a society like was portrayed in the movie "The Matrix." Eventually, sights, sounds, feeling, could all be incorporated into making a wholesome experience that can mimic reality, but thus far it does not exist.