It’s not as pathetic as you think.
A lot of people often look down on people who base their entire social life around the Internet. Where it be through MMO or Social Networking most people look down on people who’s entire social life is pretty much based around the Internet.
For the people that don’t know. A virtual life is a life separate (more on that in a moment) from your real life (I use the term real very loosely) and it’s one of the main social outlets in modern day society. It’s the one place on the earth where you can be who you want to be and remain completely anonymous. It’s the place where you can be your true self and be the person you wouldn’t otherwise be able to be in real life.
Now we have that covered a quick analysis of real life. Real life is a widely used term to describe life away from a computer. In real life you can’t say what you feel without risk of getting the evil stare, you can’t walk the streets without the thought that you might get mugged. You can also die in real life. Which is definitely something you want to avoid. Basically real life is the boring version of real life where instead of being who you want to be you are who the people around you force you to be.
So why do people look down on people who have a virtual life? Well usually it’s because they flat out don’t get it. Like an old person trying to use a new radio. If they don’t understand it then quite simply it doesn’t belong. In fact there have been many petitions to ban computers saying that it’s damaging companies like pubs because people are now meeting for chats via Skype and Facebook. Where that may be true. I wouldn’t go to a pub otherwise. They are usually disgusting and unwelcoming places and the punters are usually fat old men you just stare at you and exclaim the dreaded phrase “back in my day”. So yes I agree, some can say that virtual lives are actually ruining business based around social gatherings. They should learn to adapt to their surroundings like cinemas did.
I mentioned earlier MMOs. Now just about everybody who has never played an MMO hate MMOs. Not because they dislike them no, it’s usually because it’s the new social norm to hate on something because someone’s friend did. Bit like how everybody hates Justin Bieber the person rather than just his music. It’s just disgusting that people will hate on a kid just because he is making crap songs. I make crap videos on YouTube, I enjoy it. Will you hate on me for it?
Anyway going back to MMOs (side tracking FTW). I believe MMOs are the future of social gatherings. Sure we already have World Of Warcraft but it’s not exactly user friendly. You can’t properly play the game and have fun without putting a good 50+ hours into it first and that’s not the sort of MMO I’m looking for. I want something that rolls Facebook, Twitter and online gaming into one. The closest I’ve found we have to this so far is DCUO (DC Universe Online) an MMO dedicated to DC heroes and villains. It’s a game that’s both fun and easy to play. And it could be the first MMO that people won’t look down upon simply because it’s an MMO. Specially since soon it will be free to play resulting in a mass of new people joining in to at least give it a try.
So, so far I have pretty much been singing the praises of having a virtual life. So here is a short list of a few disadvantages of having a virtual life.
1 You will get less exercise, less exercise means you may get fat depending on your metabolism.
2 If you spend too much time on the computer eventually you may loose your socialising skills needed for the outside world. Job interviews etc (it happens).
3 you will start using acronyms in spoken conversation like; lol, ftw and lmao.
4 you will rely on google for every little problem you have.
5 you’ll develop a habit of having to snack all the time.
It’s not like I have met the most important people of my life through social networking (I totally did) or learn some valuable life lessons through general with your friends you wouldn’t otherwise have in real life. The virtual life will always have more advantages than disadvantages. If you played your cards right you might even start making money. Just yesterday I made 25p. Go me.
What’s your opinion on a virtual life and if you had the choice would you replace your real life with it?
