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Letter: What Life?

Published 19 September 2007

From Andrew Bolton

I’m confused: could someone explain this Second Life/World of Warcraft thing to me (1 September, p 28)?

It’s just a multi-user computer game isn’t it: people sitting in front of computer keyboards? Or has Matrix-style virtual reality happened while I wasn’t looking?

Does the “burgeoning property portfolio” mentioned actually exist or is it just imaginary? Does the $1 actually exist or is it play money? Are Catherine Fitzpatrick’s “tenants” people in actual buildings or just in imaginary buildings in a computer game? Do people actually pay real money to have imaginary rooms in a computer game? Isn’t her business just an easy way to exploit people who need to get out more?

As for people with “childlike avatars” having sex – it’s not unusual (in the real world) for men to like their wives or girl friends to (say) dress as school girls or whatever, but these people aren’t even doing that – they’re just sitting at their computers – aren’t they?

Am I missing something crucial here or are the Nigras and their flying penises the only people with any slight grip on sanity in this affair?

London, UK

Issue no. 2622 published 22 September 2007

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