I have a theory about the reason SL is so addictive, especially to an “older” audience range that you normally wouldn’t expect:
When most of us were kids, we were allowed to be creative. We had blocks and legos, we had dolls, we had games, we drew, we roleplayed, we made stuff and we colored outside the lines. As we grew up, we stopped being allowed to color outside the lines, we started being conditioned to be adults and leave the world of pretend and fantasy behind. We learned that there was no Santa Claus. By the time a normal person hits 30 they have been indoctrinated into adult life – car payments, rent/mortgage payments, spouses, kids, etc… We learn that society tends not to appreciate those who color outside the lines; your bank, your boss, your significant other all want consistency and responsibility. The adult world pounds down the nails that stick up. SL brings back all those things that we had as kids when we were allowed to be creative and have fun just for the sake of having fun. People whose souls have been slowly withering in RL come in to SL and bloom again.
When most of us were kids, we were allowed to be creative. We had blocks and legos, we had dolls, we had games, we drew, we roleplayed, we made stuff and we colored outside the lines. As we grew up, we stopped being allowed to color outside the lines, we started being conditioned to be adults and leave the world of pretend and fantasy behind. We learned that there was no Santa Claus. By the time a normal person hits 30 they have been indoctrinated into adult life – car payments, rent/mortgage payments, spouses, kids, etc… We learn that society tends not to appreciate those who color outside the lines; your bank, your boss, your significant other all want consistency and responsibility. The adult world pounds down the nails that stick up. SL brings back all those things that we had as kids when we were allowed to be creative and have fun just for the sake of having fun. People whose souls have been slowly withering in RL come in to SL and bloom again.
Beautifully said Isablan, and I couldn't agree more. I love SL for meeting people all over the world, but overall it allows me to be creative and use my imagination to the nth degree.
And as far as it being addicting, it depends. An "addiction" meets three criteria:
* It gives you intense pleasure.
* It is causing major problems in your life or in the lives of people you care about.
* You find it very difficult to stop or even lessen your involvement with the activity.
Further, I think SL is just the beginning. Just wait. As computers and software and imaginations progress with this virtual world, the sky and beyond will be the only limit. I see us walking inside of "movies" eventually, just as an example.
Avanti
