Has anyone used this?

From what I can figure out, it's a free 3-d world where you build an "avatar" - a person that represents you (or what you'd like to look like - which is more likely for most people, let's be honest!) and you live out a second life inside the virtual environment. You build your house, get a job, earn money etc.

Anyway, the reason it came to my attention was due to a news article I read the other day (which, I have to admit I laughed myself silly over) where a woman was divorcing her real life husband because his Second Life avatar (who was married to her Second Life avatar) was having an affair with someone else. And apparently, she (in real life) walked in to find him (in real life) watching his avatar cuddling this other woman on a sofa.. and another time she caught his avatar having sex with a prostitute in the game.

Woman divorces husband for having a 'virtual' affair on Second Life - Telegraph

The man is now marrying the woman he had the online affair with - although they've never physically met, him being in the UK and her in America. I believe their avatars are engaged too LOL


Now, the first thing that came to mind.... okay the second as my first was "oh you sad pathetic individuals" .. was what kind of game is it where you can watch your character (or someone elses) with a prostitute! What really made me laugh (because I'm mean like that) was the description of the woman and the description of her avatar (talk about living in fantasy land!) I don't think the article I've linked to describes her, but basically her avatar is 120 pound exotic dancer wearing skintight catsuits in a nightclub whereas the reality is a 240lb (or 220lb, can't remember) unemployed jogging trousers wearing woman. Not that it matters to me how she looks, it just amazes me how many people redesign themselves online - but that's another story.

Anyway, the article caught my attention and so I looked for more information on both the story and the game itself....... so off I trundled to their Official Website. Being a naturally curious person, and not one to ignore my curiosity, I downloaded the software and installed it. And, I kid you not, I was logged on for less than 2 minutes (I hadn't even finished designing my avatar) before I was approached by three different males asking for "your msn details, honey, so we can get to know each other"....... well, anyone here who knows me will very likely be wincing by now as they'll know full well how I feel about people coming on to me LOL These guys got a little more than they bargained for and none of it what they were looking for. I logged off and uninstalled as that pretty much told me exactly what the Second Life world is about, and being content enough with my real life relationships, I have no need to go pretending to be someone else. I'll stick with The Sims for my amusements.

I have briefly used it I prefer my 1st Life

Wizzard's Blog
Get Jeremy Clarkson on Twitter

Yeah, I find my PC is harder to operate than my front door, which allows me to access real life with startling clarity. And, not to criticise Ms 240lb, but getting off the computer chair and outside has some health benefits.

I used to get a laugh from the Sims, must fire it up again when I have some time. Only ever saw a bonking scene once in the sims and it was a scream, especially with the Simlish dialogue. I also recall a documentary of actors recording the phrases for the Sims and even they had quite a few laughs. I would find it very, very hard to cross the line and take it all seriously, I think. Though I did enjoy being a downloaded Freddy Mercury character and perfecting my rock music skills to exclusion of all else. My first Simlish hit song was the memorable "Oiig, moonnnt wurb gnordl!"

A few years ago I would have said this was unbelievable. But to be honest, I'm not amazed at anything anybody does on the Internet anymore. Or even what they do in real life.

"Set a new course. There's coffee in that nebula." -- Capt. Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager

What they do is suddenly all watch the same video at YouTube in great numbers - this week it's YouTube - De Havilland Biplane Hits A Cow During Landing In A Meadow - then from a background of total ignorance, debate it ("So did they check the black box?" was my favourite dumb comment on one thread).

(I wanted to work that video in, but honestly didn't think it was worth a thread - since everyone is emailing it to everyone else and sooner or later the whole world will be notified of its existence. Sorry 'bout that! )

It can't be as bad as that other role playing game - you know, the one people get addicted to. Very strange.