Virtual Addictions
I'm not a gamer. I've never understood the obsession with playing video games until now. Granted, Second Life isn't really a game. It's an online virtual world where you... well... live a second life! I will tell myself that discovering something new and how it works takes time, but let's face it, people. I spent 12 hours straight in Second Life last Friday. There is definitely something wrong with me! I did, however, take a 30 minute break to get something to eat (can't ignore THAT addiction).
What interests me is the psychology of all of this. Since you create your own avatar, and you can do and be anything you want (within the limitations of scripting), everyone is perfect. You have your mystical fairytale characters and such, but those who resemble humans are perfect. I can't say that there are no fat people in SL, but I've yet to come across one. Of course I have to go against the grain, so I created one.
This poses the question of what we consider perfect and why? Is it even an issue since we're dealing with a virtual world that isn't necessarily supposed to mimic this life? These are just a few among many questions/issues that I'll be exploring there.
After a few days, even I felt compelled to perfect Juliette (my avatar). I'm not sure if she represents me or not. So here she is, drunk, in a hot tub, with all her clothes on, in a bar. Did I mention addictions?
Labels: addictions
posted by Christi Nielsen at 10:18 AM
5 Comments:
I attending a university that starting a Salon series on various subjects. This past year it was on The Body. Check out the link. I think you'll find it interesting and relevant. http://www.seattleu.edu/academicsalon
did attend - sorry should have proofread
I would totally make a virtual me that was a super slutty skinny wasteoid -- she would be my dark destructive alter-ego.
You'd think I'd want my virtual me to be this ideal version of me, successful, etc. Nope, I want my alter-ego to crash and burn and do all the wretched awful things I used to do and no longer do. Maybe if my alter-ego exists somewhere in cyberworld I won't feel tormented when the beer commercials come on.
Cristi, Welcome to Second Life! If you want to meet in-world, please look me up. I've been involved for 8 months and I LOVE it. The ability to take pictures is awesome there.
the main goal to play video games is doing what you cant do in real life.
i was playing much more when i was a kid, but now i generally play with my friends only. and never like the competition, i prefer co-operative games ^^
the point is, all the things are easier in the cyber world. you can do whatever you want, with ease and haste. and the perfection could be made easily too. thats why so many people chose to live in cyber world. But its tragic really, someone must make them remember that the perfection is not the best thing in the world.
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