TOPIC 3 wk 3 Q. D
d) What kinds of relationships and identities are involved?
Again, I believe the relationships and identities involved are purely personal. There are romantic relationships, with virtual dating and marriage being a strong point. There may also be sexual relationships - particularly anonymous sexual relationships. Reasons already given for such involvements are repressed urges, fetish experimentation, gender swapping and escapism. Friendships can evolve and topical conversations can occur. These different interactions attract different identities.
Again, I believe the relationships and identities involved are purely personal. There are romantic relationships, with virtual dating and marriage being a strong point. There may also be sexual relationships - particularly anonymous sexual relationships. Reasons already given for such involvements are repressed urges, fetish experimentation, gender swapping and escapism. Friendships can evolve and topical conversations can occur. These different interactions attract different identities.
Labels: Week 3
posted by Joanne at
01:12
7 Comments:
I suppose I should have brought up the virtual affair here, it seemed ridiculous to me, but then I don't spend all of my time on Second Life as that man and his wife did, so I can't really comprehend it.
Do you agree with her terms of divorce? I know it's slightly off topic, but I wondered how a person who doesn't spend much time roleplaying online viewed the situation :)
Personally, I think it's ridiculous, obviously it'd be something to work on in a marriage if one partner seeks thrills elsewhere, but divorce?! maybe a bit strong.
Having said that, it may be because I don't spend much time playing games online that I can't comprehend the situation; S.L. obviously meant more to that woman and her husband than it does to me.
I can understand that. Personally, I think that type of behaviour is wrong no matter what and I agree that divorce is a little strong. I guess it depends how attached your world is with your virtual world. If you spend more time online in S.L than doing things in real life I guess it's understandable you take your vitual life just as seriously!
I think that just as a couple they have issues, if they would rather be online than together as husband and wife then there is something wrong with them.
But that’s probably just my stereotypical views of the types of people who subscribe to these worlds being quite socially isolated and lonely.
I think I have to disagree here, because I live with people who have social difficulties and I see it no different to saying a physically disabled person has something wrong with them. I don't think it's always their fault. Whether they choose to get help to become more balanced however, is in their friends and their own hands.
I know my friends struggle with face to face contact as they are self concious (other reasons aside). Alot of them use similar programs in order to interact without these social boundaries. They also have some of the biggest friend pools I know!
It depends what you class as being socially lonely. I only have 2 'real life' people I trust enough to call friends. My socially challanged friend has 40+ (at an estimate) and many a time they have travelled here to see him. I think it completely depends on the individual - but there will always be a divide between people who live completely in the real world and people who choose to interact in a virtual world.
Note: As a disclaimer, I hate these programs myself and in alot of cases agree entirely whith your comment. I just don't think it's always the case :)
Nicely put Joanne :)
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home