“The ability to make myself into something that is far greater than I am in real life, both physically and creatively” that is really interesting, would you mind elaborating on this? Is it like creating a narrative, by creating a character and playing out something in VW what you in AW can’t be? Or am I wrong, here? Could it be similar to writing fiction and self-inserting onself as a character, larger than one’s own life, or am I off the track and waffling?

Well, as to the physical aspect, that’s probably obvious. I look nothing like any of the 8 avatar shapes I run off my account. (I definitely look nothing like the otter!) But “creatively,” I haven’t considered myself as “rewriting” myself, any more than any other “average” user of Second Life considers it that way (in my belief). I don’t consider any of my avatar-shapes, or most of my actions in world, to be that different in attitude, language, character and action from my RL persona — as much as anyone is truly able to perceive themselves objectively. I rather look on the creative aspect as using the tools SL gives me to practice and display a different, unexplored area of me that I cannot develop easily in RL: the making of useful objects and the practicing of a profession that real-world finances prohibit me from doing. I will say that your suggestion is something I should spend some time meditating on for my own understanding, and I’ll probably do that in my spare moments.

“The belief that we’re helping to debug and create an early ancestor of where the future of computing could go, should we escape destroying ourselves (to borrow from Sagan)” A thought worthy to explore further, and who knows, perhaps one day we *will* have Star Trek holodecks? But if we did, how many people would never return from them? Oh the possibilities of where this could lead and the implications are endless.

A very valid concern. I probably spend more time in world, or activities related to Second Life, than is good for me; but the thing is so blasted fascinating! Thankfully, I’m usually able to pull the switch and surface when I need to for mundane-world duties, like job and family (grin). But I can see the danger of, shall we say, “Barclay’s Syndrome” grabbing someone so much that they let their real life go to pot. One could picture a whole new branch of addiction medicine rising up from metaverse use, somewhat similar to people spending gobs of time playing games such as Civilization II and similar.

“The ability to make myself into something that is far greater than I am in real life, both physically and creatively” that is really interesting, would you mind elaborating on this? Is it like creating a narrative, by creating a character and playing out something in VW what you in AW can’t be? Or am I wrong, here? Could it be similar to writing fiction and self-inserting onself as a character, larger than one’s own life, or am I off the track and waffling?

“The belief that we’re helping to debug and create an early ancestor of where the future of computing could go, should we escape destroying ourselves (to borrow from Sagan)” A thought worthy to explore further, and who knows, perhaps one day we *will* have Star Trek holodecks? But if we did, how many people would never return from them? Oh the possibilities of where this could lead and the implications are endless.

Thank you ever so much for your very thought provoking comment.

Nicole

For us that hang out in it, though, the fascination is with various things. For me, in no particular order, it’s:

* the use of the computer to create something, paralleled only in science fiction such as Star Trek’s holodeck;
* The opportunity to explore new places — I guess you could invoke Star Trek again here, but it’s true; the creations of my fellow avatars are fascinating;
* The ability to make myself into something that is far greater than I am in real life, both physically and creatively;
* Of course, the social aspect;
* The belief that we’re helping to debug and create an early ancestor of where the future of computing could go, should we escape destroying ourselves (to borrow from Sagan)

There are probably others, but that will do for now.