Whose life is it anyway?

We often get these great debates and discussions going on email, and now that we have this blog, I think we should share and maybe even generate a broader discussion in the blogosphere when the topic is right. 

This one started with the news that Reuters was opening up a bureau in Second Life. We had earlier talked about Text 100 putting up a PR shingle in this virtual world.

Kevin fired the first shot. “Not to sound like a luddite, but am I the only person who has his hands full running his First Life?  In this case, I think all the uses of the word "virtual" can be substituted with the words "pretend" or "make-believe" and nothing would change.”

Shawna responded. “Honestly, Second Life is a huge disappointment to me and even as a total geek I couldn’t consider joining. To me, a virtual world is supposed to be a place you can be something you’re not, a place to expand your horizons and, sure, play make-believe. This whole “business in the virtual world” thing is sad to me. Who would want to be a PR person in a virtual world when you could be a ninja or a centaur or something? Just sort of defeats the purpose to be the same person in a virtual world as you are in real life. What’s the difference between Second Life and just the Internet then? And remember when the Internet was supposed to be that kind of virtual world? Okay, maybe it’s because I was a kid and still kind of in the make-believe world when the Internet rose to consumer prominence, but…I seem to remember that being part of the fun.  Seems like Second Life is having a bit of an identity crisis since there are people using it for both purposes. Eventually they’re going to have to split into two worlds or things are going to be very weird (okay, but again – the Internet hasn’t “split up” and business and “make-believe” both thrive there so maybe, if I can put this in what I think is a Second Life term, there can be different islands?)”.

Erica disagreed. “I think the virtual community is enticing as an alternate reality and does NOT need to be based in fantasy. While to some extent the fantasy or “play” element will come into the mix – I think society’s obsession with wealth, status and power extend into the virtual realm. Whether that obsession translates to the creation of a fantasy figure with supreme power and deviates from the person’s real-life occupation, interests, physical characteristics and/or personality or it serves as an extension of that reality, is up to the consumer. Once you’ve reached the pinnacle of your PR career, reporter column, CEO heights or entrepreneurial success in the real world, why wouldn’t you want to extend that into yet another realm of your everyday existence? The increasing convergence of the digital world with the “real world” has blurred the line between offline/online. Today’s society has grown up immersed in online communities and Google phenomena. Being online and extending your offline world into the online makes sense.”

Kyle had another perspective. “I’ve posted a few things on SL on my blog. Overall I'm not impressed with SL as a technology, to me it is no different than any other medium that has come across our desks, but I do think that some companies are using SL as a cool place for business practices like Text, Reuters, and Sun.  I think SL has a huge untapped business benefit for companies, particularly service companies...for example it would be great to go to comcast.secondlife.com to speak with support to set up my wireless network in my house, rather than have it without visual over the phone...it would even make being on hold a lot better!”

Later on Monday, George told us about a congressional committee exploring regulations to tax virtual economies. Sun went to Second Life to announce “Project Darkster” and today CNET is running an extensive interview with Linden Life CEO Phillip Rosedale.  The interview takes place at CNET’s Second Life bureau (of course). 

Sheesh.  Whether you think this is only something for people who don’t have a rich enough “real” life- or you think it’s the next frontier. You have to take your hats off to the Second Life PR team.  We salute you and sure hope you’re getting the fortune as well as the fame.

Comments

[alanp]

I wonder how many people who talk about 2nd Life have actually been on it in any depth....over the last 6 months or so it seems to have moved from a user creation site to a place full of strip malls and strip joints.

[Josh Morgan]

I'm with you. I have honestly been trying to learn more about SL because of how it has seemed to explode in the popular conscious but I can't get past the time commitment required which, perhaps thanksfully, may be keepping me from becoming a convert.