After the Secondlife presentation I decided to hop onto youtube to see if I could find any videos which would demonstrate to me how Secondlife works. I found the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flkgNn50k14
What is so great about this medium is that it acknowledges how unreal secondlife is.What is interesting to note is that the clip is produced by a company called Draftcb which is a global advertising network. Because the clip is produced by this company, it is more likely that the advertisement has been produced to promote the virtual lifestyle. What I don't understand is why their clip seems to ridicule it. In the clip there is a message on the wall that says, "Create or die" which may imply that the company approves of Secondlife because of the creativity that may be invoked within its players. Just as television shows can be a distraction from life, and at times we like to pretend to relate to a certain character, I believe that Secondlife does the same. Although, they have complete control over their characters, thus making their alternative self into an extension of themselves. At this point the question becomes, when will people notice that their virtual selfs will most likely never be emotionally equal with the real self?
Youtube: Second life by DRAFTCB
Comments (1)
In some of my interactions with Second-Lifers the participants actually felt as though they were emotionally experiencing their virtual world, only in a more positive way. Their virtual emotional experiences were more positive and rewarding than what they were feeling in real life. One woman who was unable to bear children is now fulfilled through her Second Life family. While these virtual experiences are not equal to experiencing them in "real life", it is still a more positive experience for some of the people than what is they are actually experiencing.
Posted by Shannon | December 5, 2007 5:44 PM
Posted on December 5, 2007 17:44