Second Life or No Life?

Ok, hands up who has a Facebook account? Yep, me too. How about those who have both Facebook and a MySpace page? Guilty again. Hell, I even have a uni email address, a Linked In identity, two Hotmail accounts and a blog (duh!) However, that’s where I draw the line. I have decided not to involve myself in the next social networking fad, Second Life.
Although it would appear that my current internet addictions would be time consuming, they do not even compare with the time commitment initially needed to decipher how to operate an avatar in Second Life, and then become skilled enough to enjoy playing in your new environment.
Now, living the uni lifestyle supposedly means I’ve got hours to burn, particularly being an Arts student- yes, I’ve cut out the middle man and am now taking the mickey out of myself. However, even with this oodles of spare time I’m meant to possess, there is absolutely no way I’m compelled to spend it in a virtual world, rather than stepping outside and experiencing the real world with all five senses (with the exception of camping, more than happy to participate in an online capacity there).
Clearly, Second Life provides the opportunity for escapism and self-gratification; however, I’m wondering where the fulfilment is in a virtual trip to Amsterdam’s Red Light District? No primary research here, I recently watched a doco that brought my attention to the presence of the sex industry in Second Life. Not only do you pay Linden Dollars, the currency in Second Life that can equate to real money, to enter and ‘experience’ strip clubs, you can also browse through ‘Adult Stores’ and purchase whatever takes your fancy.
Furthermore, you can visit nightclubs and chat to randoms, or perhaps meet real friends and Second Life acquaintances. It’s just no comparison to the real thing though. You can’t physically go dancing with your friends, jump around like idiots and take classic pictures, not to mention the all important pre-going out ritual of beautifying with the girls and having a few drinks along the way.
There is certainly potential to utilise Second Life as an educational tool. For example, Princeton University in America has set up a virtual campus, where students can attend class by visiting the university, listening to audio streams of lectures and access the accompanying notes. Personally, I think this is an ingenious idea- go to uni without having the timetable restrictions, whilst still obtaining all the relevant information at your leisure. However, education is one thing, virtually smiling at a cute guy instead of actually leaving the house and interacting with people in the flesh is quite another.
Why would you rather sit at an online bar, sipping a pretend glass of wine when you could step into a real bar, feel the warmth of an open fire and become mesmerised by the dancing flames and the silky liquid gold that pours from the bottle to your glass, and then coats your mouth with voluptuous flavours of ripe berries? A poetic experience.
In short, I’m just not wrapt with a program that is an operating oxymoron. How can a social networking site promote social behaviour when participation requires vegetation in front of a computer screen? ‘Nuff said.