What is next for virtual world sites? Will Second Life replace real-world interaction as the primary source of communication? Will it continue to expand and integrate real-world business transactions such that real-world business is obsolete? Will we have to live alongside it and treat it as though it were just another place? Or will it wither and die in favor of real world interactions?
We cannot be sure of the answers to these questions, but it is clear that the understanding of a world that is "what you make of it" varies widely. There are thousands of unique experiences and reactions, but they all fit on a spectrum that depends on how one perceives Second Life as translating to real world human experience. At one end, there are those who reject virtual life as being a poor substitute for actual life. There are some whose identity remains solely in the real world for reasons of comfort, fear, disinterest, or just plain confusion. Despite these differing motivations, their goal is to stay in the visible, touchable, and tangible world. Things that occur in virtual worlds do not affect them and will not be a major influence.
At the opposite end are those who think of themselves as having completely separate identities, one for the real-world, one for the internet. One is given much more freedom, which does not necessarily entail more ability, but there are definitely ways of becoming "better" at these worlds and subsequently becoming better on them. One is free to express his or her true self, but only away from the multifaceted influences of society and those who might enforce these rules.
In between these extremes are people who use Second Life as a means of having experiences that they can transfer back to the real world. The site is not meant as a second chance at achieving a life they do not live for whatever reason. It functions as a way of enhancing their everyday life, whether this means meeting new and like-minded people or just learning how to cope with people in general. Real and virtual life blur for these people as they seek meaningful experiences.
This spectrum does not assume that any point is fundamentally better or worse than others, but it does raise more questions. Does this site function as an intervention of societal norms or is it merely reinforcing them in a different setting? Can one really escape the hold society has on our thoughts and behavior? Can this help effect permanent change? With spaces like Second Life, these questions may be answered sooner than we think.
