Ok, so there’s been a lot of hoopla concerning Linden Lab’s Second Life virtual world. According to the recent Baltimore Sun article, and my experiences with talking to colleagues about the application, it is being well received in the academic community. I clearly see a lot of potential for “escapism” and “civic engagement” in virtual worlds, the same way I do in online social networks. They encourage media-rich communication outside of the classroom, multiple-perspective taking that might not be apparent in a face-to-face conversation, anonymous transparency, and the ability to “get away” from the stresses of Life #1, just like morons in the Southwest commercials.
I have an avatar myself - DeMario Watkins - and I’ve sought to make him as culturally-replicative as I could (brown skin, cornrows, baggy clothes, and an intimidating countenance) Is it wrong for me to amplify the conventional stereotypes that exist in my “first” life while engaging in self-evaluative research of my virtual identity crisis? Lets hope not. 
If you’re still a little skeptical (as I still am/was) of Second Life, take a look at Tom Woodward and Jim Groom’s presentation on the metaphorical enslavement of society via Blackboard’s dictatorship. A rather clever and excellent use of the medium, their message seems to wanna take dolla’ billz outta my corporate sponsored pockets! Although I haven’t been quite as engaged in Second Life as my peers, I’m feeling that I should start getting used to the ability of flying around a pixelated island, mimicing human gestures with a series of mouse-clicks and looking at Powerpoint slideshows inside of a polygon box. Mind you, I’d be doing all of this while praying my computer doesn’t crash from Second Life’s hungry resource requirements. Yay technology!
Recent Comments