A Distorted Sense of Reality

I don't personally use Msn to chat to people (shock horror), nor have I ever spoken to people on the life imitation game, Secondlife. Actually, the closest I've come to using something similar, has been one of those Facebook applications called 'Sorority Life' (where you make a character and act like Paris Hilton). But, I quickly grew tired of this because, I would rather actually go shopping, then pretend I am doing so.

I believe that people who take part in 3D chat rooms do so for several notable reasons. Firstly, they are able to hide behind a facade, to possibly a greater degree than with something like an Msn chat room. Due to the fact that they do not rely on their personal picture, but rather on a computer generated manifestation. Subconsciously, the fact that nobody knows what they look like means, that they are somehow free from their own personal inadequacies. For example, a person who is not necessarily outgoing in real life could appear outgoing in the comforts of a 3D world, such as SecondLife. Many people who lack the initial confidence to form deep connections with other individuals in real life, are at ease in a 3D world. Are people who have inherent social inadequacies, more likely to relate to an Internet application, such as Secondlife? Well, in my opinion yes.


In general all people seem more confident on the Internet. I have a number of friends, who come across as very loud and outgoing on an application such as Facebook, but who in real life are actually quite shy. You could ask are these applications, whether they be IM programs, or 3D programs actually a good thing? Do they encourage us to be ourselves or do they actually encourage us to be more socially inept?

I find that people are more likely to chat to those they actually know on applications like Facebook or Msn. Due to the fact that you are reliant on your personal picture and you connect to people via a social network and or email. Whereas, 3D applications like SecondLife or Habbo Hotel, seem to attract people who are looking to meet new people. 3D applications are also not concerned with your real physical appearance. Everybody dreams of being someone else at least once in their life, and games like SecondLife, give you the illusion of just that. Living a fantasy can be attractive. Human beings in general never seem to be happy with their lives, always wanting something more, because they are rather masochistic creatures.

Both applications can bring people together, but the 3D games are more focused on fantasy then IM. I also believe that people are more likely to lie in a 3D environment, due to the sense of other-worldliness and freedom it creates.



I consider it better to actually take a chance and go live, rather then live in a distorted sense of reality....