Metaverse

1. Wikipedia entry on the metaverse.

2. Dictionary entries for 'meta'

3, Dictionary entries for 'universe'

4. Dictionary entries for 'traverse'

Unfortunately, I've been unsuccessful so far to find quotes from Stephenson, his supporters, and his critics regarding the topic of the metaverse idea.

I do wish to try and remain as unbiased as possible in this discussion, however my purpose is rip into the meme so many SLers are devouring and passing on -- the word, "metaverse" that is constantly being used to describe the "what" when referring to SL.

I hope that by providing one point of view as unbiased and intelligently as I can, we can persue a discussion to answer "what" SL is without using mindless meme filler.

And so without further adieu (and hopefully to curb the length of this post), my arguments as to why "metaverse" is an improper analogy to describe what SL is.

In the first link, a very succint (sp?) description of the metaverse as it appears in Snow Crash is given. It distinctly outlines the physical parameters of its existence and how people in the fictional universe interact with it. It describes the social conventions of this metaverse and attaches various social perceptions the users may have of eachother.

Of course I'm sure the analogy is meant in a more figurative manner -- firstly, technologically SL is vastly different. It isn't a round sphere, it isn't accessible by "public terminals" or (most any) wireless devices. It doesn't simulate reality very well.. and so on.

Even the description of the social status is completely irrelavent in SL -- we do not achieve any status by gaining access to "restricted areas," and sophisticated avatars are readily and easily available to the masses of SL citizens.

And while comparing the fictional metaverse with the real SL is probably not fair -- it's probably fortunate that my argument isn't relying on it. My point in all this is that even though the word "metaverse" is used in an ideal sense, the fictional context it is set in does create real-world connotations and implied meanings (intentional or otherwise).

The problem is that "metaverse" in the context of Snow Crash is a techno-fetishist dream world. It is a hyperbolic and oft humorous creation and mainly a plot device. In this interview, Stephenson doesn't describe Snow Crash (or any of his books for that matter) as any speculative fiction. He does however, admit to them being works of fiction -- where he was free to do as he wished with his concepts and ideas.

The second part of this whole argument is the symantic meaning of the term. Notice I do refrain from calling it a word (at least in the last sentence.. I'm sure I let it slip elsewhere perhaps numerous times). It technically isn't a word as far as any dictionary in the world is concerned. However, it is not hard to derive the impied words from this mash-up term.

'Meta' is a very loose word with several meanings. It can mean "change" or "in a later time." It can also mean 'derived from' or 'related to' as is the case in many scientific and technological contexts.

I chose two more words, 'universe' and 'traverse' as I thought they were relevant and the second-half of "metaverse" doesn't give us good indication of which one Stephenson was meaning when he coined the term.

Universe is the obvious first choice given the context of the story in which the term "metaverse" is used. The word "sphere" appears in several descriptions of the meaning of universe. It also suggests that the universe is comprised of all existence -- but it doesn't suggest that anything exists outside of the universe or that the universe is a singular thing. (Singular in the individual sense that could imply 'more than one').

If we look at the etymology of the word, "universe," we see that it is derived from "versus" or the past-participle of the indo-european word, "vertere" or "to turn." This again suggests the concept of a sphere and encompassing all existence.

Metaverse, therefore, when thought of as meta and universe -- is not an accurate description of what SL is. It could mean, "related to or derived from the universe." However, further inspection of the meaning of "universe," leaves us in a gray area -- it refers to all existence within all we know. It doesn't refer to anything beyond that -- wether existence takes place outside of or deriving from it.

"Traverse" may be closer to the mark, but it still misses. Aside from it's obvious geometric, geographic, and topological meanings -- the adjective form means lying or extending across. Coupled with the idea of meta, it could mean "to change across distance" or "affecting change across distance." However -- the use of "metaverse" is as a noun.

Secondlife is not a universe. Certainly it exists and therefore meets the requirements of existing within the universe. We all do traverse great distances in a tangental way to project our actions upon it through our avatars. But "metaverse" doesn't describe what SL is -- it certainly doesn't describe what the term implies. Contextually, it also brings meaning to SL that does not describe what SL is.

I think we need a new term to describe what SL is -- or at least give meaning to the term we're already using. Heck. it may even become a word or we might invent a new one that better reflects SL.

Either way -- I hope this hasn't been too long and boring.

Great post. I'm going to read it again.

Deep thoughts and well phrased.

Yet, as victors write history, if we continue to call Second Life the Metaverse, so it just might be in a limited sense.

Just ask anyone who has heard of cowboys and "Indians".



Pass the whisky and the lamb vindaloo, please

I don't see the current incarnation of SL as 'The Metaverse' in a Snowcrash sense of the word. However to me at least, applying the term 'Metaverse' to SL is expressing my hopes & dreams for what SL might become in the distant future.

If referring to SL as the Metaverse (even inaccurately) helps facilitate a self-fulfilling prophecy, I'm willing to be erroneous in my speech

Ah self-fulfilling prophecies. Kinda like wishing on a more subtle and grand note.

What aspect of this 'metaverse' in the Snow Crash sense are you wanting to come true?

Personally, I would like SL to become a business negotiation tool, like the japanese businessmen in the Black Sun. I would find it endlessly interesting if highbrow business deals were done at "local", public establishments (at a club, or whatever).

That'd never happen, of course, but a guy can dream.

LF

I think the traditional interpretation of the meta- prefix is "above" or "beyond" (e.g. "metaphysics", or "higher" in the sense of a higher abstraction (e.g. metalanguage, metadata).

So what does the term metaverse in the sense of a "meta-universe" mean? "Beyond the universe," I think is an apt description for SL, disregarding the curious fact that it is, of course, wholly *within* our universe. SL is a space that in many ways is beyond our day to day existence. In SL, we can fly, create objects out of nothing, build palaces in the sky, and move faster than the speed of light (teleport).

Metaverse is alo apt in the sense that SL is the embodiment of Stephenson's metaverse. Not exactly the same in detail, of course (try staging a realistic swordfight in SL). But an embodiment, nonetheless of the *essence* of Stepehenson's metaverse. In Snow Crash, Stephenson describes people whose existence in virtual space seemed to be *as real* and *as important* as their existence in meat space. In Stephenson's metaverse, you could create your own content, you could do business transactions, and you can find (and sometimes lose) friends, enemies, and loved ones. This, it seems, beyond all other virtual 3d environments, is what SL captures faithfully.

I was having a conversation with my mom last night (who's in her 60's) regarding Second Life. I was trying to explain to her exactly what it is I do there, and perpetually felt myself coming up short.

The conversation started much like it did back in 1995, when I was explaining my (then) new career in Information Technology to my grandfather. He didn't get it one bit, and was convinced that I was involving myself in a vocation on par with sanitation engineering.

In the SL explanation to my Mom, I found myself falling back to what SL could become, rather than it was:

"Imagine being able to try on clothes from your home, before you buy them", I said.

"Imagine us being able to hold a family reunion together, without any of us needing to physically travel," I said.

"What if Grandma (who can't speak/walk because of a stroke) was able to join us there too."


I guess that's the kind of stuff I'm wanting to come true

However, as the above links to the several dictionary entries for 'Meta,' it doesn't mean "above or beyond."

In the case of "metadata" or "metalanguage," both contexts are using the "derived from" meaning. "Metadata" for example is key data derived from a set of data -- usually for the purpose of rapidly searching for key information within the data.

The more traditional meaning, "to change" or "in a later time" are more widely known and used in terms such as metamorphosis, metagenisis, and so on.

Anyhow --

I've been thinking more on the subject. SL does occupy a physical medium -- it is distributed on the pallettes of several hard-drives in a grid of servers. It exists in the universe in that server room. It is a physical and tangible thing -- if we were to walk into that server room, we could touch those disks and be touching SL.

The idea that SL is a world is more of a perception than a fact, It appears to us as one as it is transmitted and makes its way through various systems to eventually be interpreted as a 3D space within our minds. We sense the perception of depth, location, movement, and so on. We say we can 'fly' in SL, but what is actually happening? Are we really controlling a physical manifestation of ourselves in some other far off space and flying it around -- or -- are we receiving a stream of data that our computers interpret and display a representation of this avatar flying through a representation of space?

The answer is obviously the latter as we've already established that SL is a program stored on the hard-drives of a collection of servers and running through those systems -- adjusting its stored data, sending out data-streams, updating virtual machine states, and so on. However, despite the fact that the space and place of SL is mere perception, it doesn't mean that SL is any less real.

It just leaves us back at the question of what it is.I'm looking for a term to describe SL in the sum of its parts.. and I feel that 'metaverse' fails to describe it accurately. There has to be a better word, or I'm missing some key link in its meaning...

I'm still formulating ideas at this time... though suggestions/arguments are always appreciated.

Oh and sorry my posts are so long. It must be atrocious and long-winded.