Is SL; RL or Virtual Life?

Simple Question is SL more like real life to you or is it a virual life you live?

Real or not real

Cat

is that supposed to be 'virtual' or 'viral'?

Either way, yeah - I can just hit quit. Or as the case is these days, not log in in the first place

Extension of RL. Through SL, I deal with RL people in virtual Persona, but that doesnt change the fact there is still a RL face and identity behind it.

-Adam

For me - SL is an extension of RL. I see SL as a communication & collaboration tool (among other things).

No no no! It's a game! *hides*

Extension of RL.. but you gotta learn when to draw the line.

Me especially

Computer, save program.

- Commander Data

REALLY good question Catherine.

My feelings on SL being RL or VL can best be described by those optical illusions where one picture could be one of two things depending on how you look at it. Here is an example:



In SL I'm a butterfly that flies around the city! Among my best friends are a fish (Kiari), a robot (Annedroid), a cat (Aru), and a.... uh... I have no idea what he is (Toxius). This is all pretty clearly virtual. But then we trade RL photos and we talk on Skype with our RL voices. The whole picture changes even though it's the same picture I am looking at.

Same with my business. In SL I am a famed fasionista with a loyal following of wonderful people. It's like a dream! I mean REALLY like a dream because none of it is real! But then the money I make has real world value. I get press in real world journals. At this point it's not in any way an unreasonable possibility that SL could be my RL means of support.

So short answer: BOTH.
Less short answer: It's complicated

I vote for an extention of real life, in the same category as costume parties and theme parks. They're fun and entertaining, but one has to remember that much of it is based on illusion- the elephant is a mechanical one, the pirate is an actor, and the charming alien you've just met is someone in a costume, on their best behavior.

LOL that will teach me to post late at night its suppose to be Virtual

Yup Aimee I'm gonna have to agree with you there. My perception of SL has defianly changed in recent weeks. As has my opinion of what it is. I am following LL lead of course

Cat

This is a gray area in my opinion. For me, it is totally an extension of RL but at the same time, yes, I could just quit. But, that is the same in RL too. I could just quit my job, my marriage, RL friendships, etc... For me, the friendships and relationships that I have here in SL are just as real and intimate as my RL ones. There are people that I love here that I have never and will probably never meet but that does not mean that I love them any less because of that fact.

For other people, I concede that it is just a game for them. Nothing more, nothing less. As is the case in most things, you only get out of something what you are willing to put in. If you treat SL and the people in it like a game... then that's what it is. If you treat SL and the people in it like RL, then that's what it is.

By far, the single thing that surprised me the most about this is how real and important people can be here... if you let them in. I suppose that is one reason I am so disappointed when someone lets me down, because Billy Grace really is me and I have real feelings and emotions.

It's life.. why draw distinctions. SL is something I do in my life, just like going to work. Neither one IS my life, merely parts.

I didn't vote, because SL can be both. Or a blend of the two, more aptly.

There are parts that disappear when I log off, and I don't give them much thought until I log back on. There are parts that warrant an amused off-line discussion with the ball-and-chain, or the periodic good-natured venting rant. And there are parts, like some of the good friends I've made, that do carry over into real life whether I sign on or not.

I like it being a blend. And I like that I can pretty much pick and choose what I will allow to affect me, and what I won't. The fights, the drama, the backstabbing.. That's virtual. The good times and laughs, those are real.

I concur.

For me, hitting Quit is a little like leaving work in the evening. I go home, but the business world still goes on without me. People at work can still call or email me, I see them on weekends occasionally. And things I do at work/in world affect other humans whether I'm there or not. So I voted Extension of RL.

If you were talking about anyone else on this planet, I wouldn't have to ask if "ball-and-chain" was metaphoric or not.

I'm in total agreement with this one.

SL isn't my reality, nor should it be. Just because I am honest about some things doesn't mean that everyone else is also going to be honest, so it has to stay a game for me, otherwise the consequences would be dire.

Meanwhile, my SL avatar is and isn't me. Raudf is the wilder side of me that rarely gets to see the light of day and it feels really good to let it out and be what some would say (Husband laughs as he reads this) the real me.

THis is a complicated question.

I think is like Aimee describe it, you see it two different ways or however you choose you want to see it.

It is easier to escape by hitting the "X" however is the human being, a mind, a heart behind that computer. But every person is different. There is the group of people where they are single and don't have many friends and all they have is a group of friends in this virtual world, they are real for them, but wait "they are real too". Then there is the group of married people, who might have everything in their RL or might not, but inside they might feel lonely and look for more or look for souls to feel they are not alone. With their spouses is fun but as a individual person they need to get "away" for a moment.

Then there are those that in RL are leaders and inside a virtual world prefer the calm and be submissive, or viceversa, they are shy, quiet and conservative and in the virtual enviroment they can be leaders and achieve their dreams. No matter what there are needs to fulfill.

But depends on the involvement, time and the dedication of each person to choose to be hurt or not to choose. Depends on the shield you put on yourself. Depends on the protection they have in their hearts.

Is like a bridge too, you cross the long bridge slowly, one step at a time, or quick, or you choose to not cross it at all, or cross it and fail. You never know what is at the other end. In virtual world we are all curious to see what would happen if..... Sometimes once you cross the bridge is hard to come back, sometimes you cross half way and decide is not for you and come back.

Definitely a mix of curiosities...a big decision to take. It depends of each person's emotions too.

This is not "just a game", sorry but it is not. No matter how you see it, your RL is involve. Each mind is powerful.

But yes, YOU can choose... Press the "X" to escape from hurt, or keep it to the sight in case you need to leave quick... knowing is there thinking you want to continue having the fun or suffer. Sometimes it is not easy to press the "X" because our heart and emotions might be weaker.

Even if you press that "X" and go to RL, you will remember of that "avatar's mind" you were talking too and made you happy.

Wow, this is too complicated. I just know it is not easy.

What was the question again?? lol