Second Life or First Life?

Article in Time Magazine online. This article discusses the second life world and how, as an avatar we are even viewed differently in another realm if we are "ugly" or "pretty". I related to the very beginning of the article when it said that it was hard to make a prettier version of themselves.

Who would think that the avatar would be an extension of the person behind the screen? There was a study mentioned in the article done at Stanford University regarding self perception. "Jeremy Bailenson, head of the lab and an assistant professor of communication at Stanford, studies the way self-perception affects behavior. No surprise that what we think about ourselves affects the confidence with which we approach the world. What is a surprise is that this applies in the virtual world too."

I think that this is true, for the small amount of time I have ventured onto Second Life. I noticed how "pretty" some of the people are. I met some who had beautiful butterfly wings and their makeup was just so. Which started me thinking about my own avatar, and how she was nothing like me. She was goth! She has funny pony tails and weird makeup! I was given some new clothes from the nice people on ISTE island, so at least I looked a little bit "normal."

Hmm.. who would have thought. What I do think about this Second Life is that I do feel a bit strange. I feel like I am "cheating" on my REAL life. It feels sort of "naughty"!! Especially when I met someone who took me to an adult island to "dance" so that I could earn free money!!!

I did not realize that people actually use real money on the game. I read a smaller article to the left of the initial Time article that I posted above, and it says that people make money, real money here. That is very strange.

I am not sure that I would want kids using SecondLife. I guess I do not know enough about it yet, so I am a little conservative.

So, my final thought is .. what is the purpose?? I think I am more a Twitter person. At least I am the real me and I am not hiding behind a cartoon goth avatar.