10 Misconceptions about Second Life

This is a translation from a German website which is the online version of a magazine called Focus. Here they make some arguments about misconceptions bout Second Life. I would like to share it with you as I think they do make some valid points.

1.In Second Life there are millions of residence running around
2.Second Life is unique
3.In Second Life you meet loads of exciting people
4.We wont be able to anything without having a presence in SL(especially Businesses)
5.Second Life is a technical Highlight
6.You can become very rich in Second Life
7.Second Life is the version of a better world
8.Virtual sex is exciting
9.Science Fiction authors have been dreaming about something like SL
10.Second Life is just a big Hype

I will go into detail with some of the points they make as I think with my experience I can either agree or disagree with what they are arguing.

The first one I will look at in more detail is the first point they are making about millions of people are wondering around in SL. Which they think is not true. I do have to say that this is a very good point as I also have been wondering where everyone is. They argue that only 25,000 people are online at the same time, and that a lot of people do have Avatars which they don’t use or they have more then one, which could be one of the reasons, that when you log on you are told that there are over 5million people registered.
I think they make a really good point, as I myself have two Avatars, as one of them was not able to leave Orientation Island. I also have come across some residence who mentioned that they have more then one. Which would explain why I keep going onto Islands which are completely deserted or where only a handful of residence are online. Of course it always depends on the time as well, as there are different time zones around the world and not everyone will be online at the same time. Also I think that there are so many islands and places and so many things going on at the same time that it can be really difficult for someone who has logged on for the first time to find many others.
The author also mentions that there should be a grave yard for all the disregarded and unused Avatars, which could be a good idea. J

The second point I would like to focus on now is the second point made by Focus, the myth that Second Life is unique.
To create ones self online an Avatar is not new and certainly not unique. Internet- Avatars have been around for quiet some time, for example in the online world ‘ World of Warcraft’ which can be argued that the way you can create your Avatars is way more advanced and a lot more fantasy is involved.
Also the new Nintendo Wii and the Playstation three(soon) give you the chance to create characters who look like you and project yourself onto the screen.

Also the idea of that people walk in virtual worlds isn’t new or unique. In the 80’s there was a online game called ‘Habitat’, where people had flats and met up with each other online.

Although there are really good points, I think in a way Second Life is unique. Of course the concept has been around for decades but the way SL is build, what one can do and that they actually have an own currency which can be exchanged into real money is a step into the future. Of course other games and virtual worlds might have the same but not in that scale and success.


Another point I would like to go discuss a little further is the claim that you meet loads of interesting people on Second Life.
The article says that most residence in there are already in groups and have their friends and tasks and things to do. It also says that most residence are so busy with themselves that they completely ignore others who have questions or want to talk to them. On the other hand apparently it is very easier to find a partner on there to have sex with rather than a nice conversation.
I think in some respect it is true. Drawing on my own experience most residence are busy with themselves and rather rude. They already have their friends and their ‘purpose’ in Second Life and are not particularly interested in making new friends or helping newcomers.
Although I have to say that I met 2 really nice people on there when I went on there. Both of them who I have added as friends. It is true that most residence are not really that helpful and are not really interested in you but I find it that when you are on one of the Help Islands, everything is a different matter. I guess because there are a lot of newcomers running around on there, there is always someone friendly who will help you out. That’s one of the reasons why I like going on there, to get more information and to get some help and tips.


Another interesting myth talked about in this article is that one can get rich in Second Life. He brings up Anshe Chung, a German women who made allegedly around one million American dollars selling and renting real estate on Second Life. She owns around 1/7th of the whole land available in SL and sells and rents it out. Of course this can be and obviously is very profitable but rather an exception than the norm. Usually in SL you can make some money but not really enough to support yourself in the RL. If the clothes you design or the programmes you invent are too expensive or not to peoples tastes residence wont show interest. Of course you can make some money with getting a job and working but as said above it wont be enough to give up your real job in the RL. Also you have to spent a lot of time and money on getting it running in the first place, so one can ask if that is really worth it? Why not spent it in the RL and get a small business starting there?


Is Second Life really a better version of the real one? That’s another question the article asks and I think it is right to ask that.
Of course in Second Life there are no boundaries in what you can do, you don’t need money to survive, there are no countries, no physical boundaries.
As good as it all sounds one thing always remains the same, you still need money, to be able to buy clothes,(although there are some free stuff available) money to get into the clubs, into gigs, concerts and to buy/rent a place you can call home.
It is just another Online version of consumerism and it copies the real world. Only difference is that it doesn’t cost as much and is virtual.
It also looks the more Second Life is looking and working like our world the more residence feel at home.
So is it really a better version of our lives in RL? Apart from the obvious that means, being virtual and not *real*?
http://www.focus.de/digital/games/second_life/tid-5536/second-life-hype_aid_53676.html