The Matrix changed the way that sci-fi movies were viewed in the US. Before the Matrix they were thought of as cheesy time-wasters that only appealed to pizza-faced teenagers in high school. But, withe the release of The Matrix, sci-fi movies have become more socially acceptable (like they were in the late 70s with Star Wars and Alien). The Matrix played on on the idea of virtual reality -- hence the whole people plugged into a big computer program thing -- and the irony that our conceived, virtual world(s) would eventually become our "real world."
This idea is not new to sci-fi. Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451 (published in 1953) brushed on the idea of simulated entertainment with the lead character's wife being a junkie with an entire virtual family. Subsequent movies have since made virtual reality a more believable idea. Movies and shows such as Ghost in the Shell (also a TV show), The Island, Total Recall, Star Trek (through use of the holodeck) and The Thirteenth Floor (novel and movie) all use virtual reality in some way or the other -- usually in a negative light. Games and software (like Second Life), however, appear to be accelerating the idea and social acceptance of virtual reality as a way of life.
Originally, "virtual worlds" were places were young people used avatars to fight off monsters in fantasy lands. Games like World of Warcraft, Everquest, and Guild Wars are all examples of this older form of "virtual playing." Now, a new idea is starting to sweep the online community: "virtual living." Second Life allows it users to actually manage land, businesses and to an extent, people (like the owner's of clubs who allow "dirty" dancing). Also, Second Life allows you to generate actual money from the virtual money used in the game world. This is quite a revolutionizing and exciting concept. I personally love the idea of virtual reality because it has the potential to save us from ourselves. We could potentially be uploaded into a computer network that would simulate a paradise where there is no war or environmental degradation. People could have unlimited life (so long as the hardware is maintained), land, money, etc.
The "ever-knowing" architect in The Matrix Reloaded stated that a virtual paradise would never be accepted by our flawed, mammalian brains but let's be serious here. If you can get killed in the Matrix and the damage that you experience in the "virtual world" can harm your "real body" then I would imagine that we could accept a virtual paradise.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Ah hell people, why DIDN'T you take the blue pill?
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3 comments:
If Second Life is the Matrix, consider me Neo. We are getting so entrapped in a game mocking our own life, that we have forgotten how to take a step back and observe what is going on elsewhere. One thing I failed to mention in my blog was HOW moderation is key. If we all end up spending all our time on SL, in effect it WILL become our life. Our existence will become meaningless, void, and null. Why do you think that the sky is black is in the "real" world in the movie The Matrix? It is because programs like SL made it so that there was absolutely no hope left in the world. As your savior I'm living out my prophecy in saying that without moderation, we will darken the sky.
Basically, I'm trying to save humanity. Buying 30,000+ items seems a little bit shy of completely ridiculous. World of Warcraft (WOW) should survive, becasue it doesn't mock reality. When was the last time you ran around like something that looked like a giant monster? If it was not 5 seconds ago, it is a suspension of reality/belief. Why would I want to run around doing something that I already do now? Plus, you are battling your opponents and getting out your inner-violent self in WOW. Granted, at that, I've never played WOW.
While you can't die in SL and have it reflected in the real world, playing SL without moderation, aren't you alread dead? There is no spoon
I don't think that we can say that people are in the virtual worlds to escape the reality of wars, famine, and politics. We enter it for social reasons. Whether or not we like it there are many problems in a virtual world just like the real world. People are still people. The only thing a virtual reality like Second Life can give us is a social reprieve, it can allow us a cover, a mask.
"Everything in moderation."
I agree. There are obviously some benefits to SL in some corporations. There are obviously those that love SL, and the virtual world it provides. However, I think that we're closely coming to a line. It seems like today, we are expected to be constantly connected via internet, cellphone, facebook, etc.
SL is just another example of such.
I think that in order to have a meaningful life and meaningful relationships (both personal and business) one has to have at least some face-to-face interactions.
It's so interesting how Sue was talking about how they have meetings in SL. That's really cool and it saves money on flying everyone to one location, but I wonder how often they rely on these virtual meetings.
I noticed that you can show some emotions on you avatar - embarrassment, happy, etc. But I think you still lose the subtle, unintentional non-verbal signals. You lose the ability to read what someone is truly thinking or feeling. These are important not only in your social life, but in business as well.
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