Second life is basically a type of social networking where one can be whoever they want in this world. Second life is supposedly a game containing an immense number of players. People are using this game for much more then entertainment. Second life allows people to express themselves with out being judged. An example of this would be about the nine adults suffering from cerebral palsy and who has a forum where the can interact with one another through Second life. These nine adults share an avatar in Second life which allows them to be around others. In the real world many would probably have a hard time understanding these people suffering from this disease according to Marie Mahay who works with them. All Mahay has to do is type out what they say in order for them to socialize. As a result these people are easily understood by live2give which is the small island they occupy their time in. Second life however has both its ups and downs. These people do not socialize normally. In the videos about “Growing Up Online” Sara a sixteen year old girl states how she can be the real her online and she knows that’s she wouldn’t be judged. Sara loves the fact that she is able to express herself through the Internet with people who can understand her. However Sara suffers from an eating disorder called anorexia which no one knows about. This teenager is fully expressing herself through social networking by going on anorexic forums, and as a result she is hurting herself b y keeping her secret from her family. Through these forums she learns things about eating less or ways or purging. She realizes however that she is suffering from something. Like the nine people who suffer from cerebral palsy Sara escapes into a world where she can be herself without being judged but she is harming herself by not seeking help from her love ones but instead interacting with others like herself.
Second life can become a big headache when it comes to feuds. An example of this would be when a member of this social networking world uncovers that another member has a nude picture facing her in-world property. As a result she asks him to remove the picture and she also takes the action of asking Linden Lab for assistance who would be the game’s developer. However the company had no resolution of dealing with this issue so at a State of Play conference in New York there were debating on resolutions on how to resolve issues between players. In the end there really was no developing solution into solving issues since they realize everyone’s needs wouldn’t be met. Cyber bullying is an example of issues that can take place online through socializing with others. A middle school student named Ryan Halligan who was just 12 years old had committed suicide as result of cyber bullying. This was all caused by others taunting of being gay on the internet. Along with this taunting he was experiencing with his peers he was interacting with someone who was encouraging him to kill himself. Basically when interacting with others online through social networking one can be harmed mildly or severely.
Second life has many ups and an example of this would be the fact that professors are allowing their students use this online environment to communicate with others in a more fun way. Students can change their body types and build fantastical structures in this world. Also this life allows its members to start in-world businesses by selling things. Senator Barack Obama used social networking to his own advantage with his online site www.my.obama.com which is also known as MyBo. MyBo allowed the Obama team to receive many donations by volunteers and supporters. Also the Obama team provided texting on his site so his volunteers can be updated with what was going in the types of speeches and what he basically stood for. The online site became a media operation as a result. The social networking tools that was provided on the MyBo site benefitted its supporters.
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I think sites like Second Life are a very innovative invention however in the long run will take a toll on the social aspect of society. For the business student aspect of simulation it is ingenious but for those who use the site as a tool for savior from reality it is dangerous. Someone can not escape the rules of society no matter how long they spend on their second life homepage. Sooner or later they have to enter the real world and interact with people. How are these people supposed to behave when they come to grips with reality and realize that they are not able to be the way they project themselves online. These websites are an unhealthy way to distort ones perception of reality and should be watched carefully to prevent an unstable future.
ReplyDeleteSocial networking sites and sites like Second Life do have their positive and negative aspects. They're are good when they're used as intended: for entertainment purposes, or to make additional friends. When they are used though to escape reality, or to bully an enemy, things can go wrong. People can get caught up in the thought of living a life where they aren't judged, and they forget that this isn't their reality. Social networking sites have their pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteFrom your blog, it is clear that there are both positive and negative attributes to mmorpg sites like Second Life. They give people the freedom to create their own identities and escape the limits of reality while also subjecting young children and teens to possible dangers such as predators. However, in the long run, I believe they could have an overall positive effect. Being a part of one myself, I’ve seen both sides of the argument. Although, it is possible to interact with dangerous people online, there’s still the same or even more dangerous risk of meeting these people in real life. Although, the internet may make them seem more closer, as long as you don’t allow them to see personal information, they could be more easily ignored than a stalker who already knows your identity. Although, this may not be possible on social networks like myspace and facebook, where your info and picture are displayed, sites like Second Life allow you to conceal your identity, in change making them safer. They can also give you the opportunity to interact with new people and feel free to be yourself around them. When I was younger, I was afraid to talk to people I didn’t know, resulting in me not opening up to peers in school. When I started playing on sites like Second Life, I felt like I could more easily open up to my online friends, because I wasn’t afraid of them judging me. This in turn helped me to be more open to people I really knew as it allowed me to feel comfortable talking to people outside my close-knit family. Although, in the cases of Ryan and Sara, speaking with people online influenced them negatively, this is not always the case, as there are many positive, kind people online only looking for friendship and someone they can relate to.
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