Topic 3A

The virtual world of ‘Second Life’

Ok, so I've never used this before! However the first thing that strikes me is it looks very simular to The Sims (remember that interactive computer game, in which you could constantly get Upgrades (Ha remember them money makers we spoke about before) such as casino, holiday and romance versions!! However the difference is this is online!!

I began by picking a person i'd like to be ( a choice of images of woman and men), I guess most people pick an image they think looks like them or in fact they'd like to look like. Then you fill information about yourself, interestingly it allows you to pick a on screen random second name from a choice that they give you. However it does ask for your real first and last name after this.

Once you get started I found it was very like the interactive computer game The Sims. The difference is instead of playing on your own, your playing with millions of other people round the world who also have set up accounts on Second Life.

The idea is that you create your own virtual world. You dress up and down the figure that represents you. Picking clothes, facial features, even build your own home and also 'holiday' it to other parts of the world. The idea is to interact with the other users of the site, known as residents, who have built their own homes and world.

I guess the appeal of the site is being able to 'act'. Talk and also perhaps act what you may think would be your ideal world. For example getting to design your home with no real limitations of money and work in an area of bussiness you'd ldeally like.

I think it's completely different to real life, because I doubt many people build their world on second life, exactly how it really is. The whole point in these websites is so people can use their imaginations and have abit of fun.
I reckon there is a huge range of relationships and identities on this type of website. From friendships, true intentions of lookin for romance, and also people just having a laugh.

Sherry Turkle makes reference to The life of the Sims where like seconf life you try to "build a community, an ecosystem, or a public policy" and "the goal is to make a successful whole from complex, interrelated parts." ( http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.01/turkle.html?pg=2&topic=&topic_set) Her thoughts on MUDS are expressed threw her ideas on computing such as that the "lessons of computing today have to do not with calculation and rules, but with simulation, navigation, and interaction"
I think Second Life is a good example of what MUDs allow people to do using the internet.