Speak Geek #4: Second Life

 

 Let me share some statistics with you.

• Facebook has 750 million active users and 53% of Facebook users play games
• 65% of U.S. households play video games
• World of Warcraft has 11.1 million subscribers
• 2008 saw eight superhero movies
• The Dark Knight was the highest-grossing film of 2008 worldwide with a total of $1,001,921,825
• About 130,000 people attended San Diego Comic-Con in 2010

But when I tell people I like Second Life, it's like I've crossed a nerd line.

I don't understand what makes people scoff and dismiss Second Life as inferior to other geek interests such as those mentioned above not to mention the myriad of other hobbies. I've asked, but nobody ever really comes up with much beyond a shrug. I'm not sure what people think Second Life is, but I can tell you what I think it is and why I like it.

Second Life is a virtual world developed by Linden Lab. Users, called residents, explore the world (known as the grid) through a highly customizable avatar. Second Life is not a game. What I mean by game is structured playing with components such as rules and goals. These elements certainly exist in Second Life. You can play a wide range of games including board and arcade games, racing games, sports, combat, and role-playing, but Second Life is not a game in and of itself.

Second Life mirrors real life in many ways. You can be a creator of art, education, clothing, furniture, and so forth much like there are artists, teachers, and designers in real life. Second Life is, in fact, used by government and educational institutions as well as tourism agencies, churches, businesses, museums, and other organizations as a tool to connect with people.

You can also be a consumer, which is what I am. I enjoy exploring the grid and seeing what others create. My geekness ends at mechanical know-how so I am highly impressed at the beautiful, complex things people create. There is a nice Pagan community and the steampunk lands are particularly impressive. I also enjoy taking in a free workshop from time to time and discovering new music. There are many dance clubs with DJs and other venues featuring live music. And I also love the fashion scene in Second Life. I have a neglected blog devoted to Second Life fashions.

Second Life is not an imaginary life or a replacement filled with sad, lonely people who are not fulfilled by their real lives. It can provide an escape, but that's true of any hobby, and it could become addictive, which is also true of many hobbies people may become obsessed with. Ultimately, Second Life is an amazing social and creative platform and, much like anything else, it's what you make of it. Just as you have to find your purpose in real life, you have to find it in Second Life. Once you do, you'll discover Second Life can be a great world and an enriching addition to your real one.

This entry is part of the Speak Out With Your Geek Out series.