In my recent explorations of net identity, I offer the conclusion that the reality of these identities is real in so far as they are our virtual realities (which are intrinsically subjective/mediated). What we need to come to grips with is that this is a reality that marks our modern day existence in a huge way. As critical as I myself am of the “reality” of our virtual reality and the constructed identities abound on the net, I am slowly realizing that it is something we have to embrace as a powerful force in our immediate reality.

In questions of reality, I now recall Plato’s theory of the forms (the three forms of the couch). The virtual identities we create are like the painting of the couch, which is at a third remove from Plato’s notion of an ideal reality. Virtual realities are our digital art form, to paint ourselves how we want to appear.

That power technologies have granted us is part of our reality. It’s sort of like MTVs the Real World, where the producers and directors are able to cut and paste footage from film of so-called “real life” and reconstruct it to build an alternate television reality: one that’s a little more exciting, a little more dramatic, or perhaps, in some scenarios, a little more censored.

But in the grander scheme of things, shows like the Real World are our modern day reality. Our increased taste for such shows during the late 20th and early 21st century was a precursor to our indulgence of blogging culture shortly after. Xanga, Friendster, and Myspace allowed us a space for our own confessionals. If I couldn’t get chosen to be filmed spilling my guts on an MTV show, then this was good enough.

You see, our version of reality is undeniably seen through the artistic lenses of fast-paced, widely-used technology. The more we find out what’s going on in the real world through mediums like Facebook, the more our reality resembles the third form of Plato’s couch.

Or have we reached a new form? There’s the ideal form of the couch, the physical couch, the painting of the couch, and now the photo-shopped, online profile version of the couch?! Perhaps Plato did not foresee that there would one day be a fourth, digital form, at a further remove from his idea of reality.

And yet, this is what is so very real to us in our modern day existence. We cannot escape it.

Star Wars

I entered the Star Wars area with interest not knowing what to expect. I had heard a little about Lightsabor fighting and thought that would be pretty cool. Instead of being attacked by a light saber an R2D2 droid came up to me and tried to light me on fire which was undesirable but expected due to the fact that I was defiling his part of the neighborhood with my less then enthusiastic attire. Unfortunately after being literally burned I realized that Star Wars area was semi off limits to people with out enthusiasm. Sorry, I will be returning…. once I can get a good rate on the linden exchange.

Apple store

The apple store is pretty cool looking and feeling just like a real store. One can enter various areas that could be very helpful in the event that a person were interested in buying an apple product or even just testing a product one is thinking of buying in the future. After visiting the Apple store I thought the IBM store may be interesting but I found that it was much more of a spacey rendition of the future of IBM. Floating molecules were in the air and the atmosphere was much to dark to really draw me in like the apple store.

Mature

At this point I was not interested in the mature sites offered via second life’s close to home content what I am interested in are the marketing taboos created by a group that has no other interest then the marketing of ones body. Would it be safe to call them leaches or just fun loving, quasi-realistic, minimally interesting 3d images of a nonhuman event? Ok so maybe it isn’t that bad actually I didn’t see any marketing of the mature areas going on but my suggestion if you are interested in going to third base with a 3d rendition of Godzilla try to keep it in doors. Even if this were something I were interested in I would still suggest going to a more realistic human based website for emotional stimuli because second life is just not up to par as far as I could tell. None the less I know many people are interested in experimenting so what ever your pleasure may be, let it be known that mine is not unrealistic sex.

Uci

Anteater Island was interesting due to that fact that I attend there and couldn’t recognize much of the area. I do like the fact that on the video game water is much more close then it would be in real life in the same event seeming to come right up to the edge of the school. Yes; I know this is a virtual island but some resemblance should be made to the actual place, right? Even though I was a little disappointed with the appearance and disturbed because a large section of the island is off limits I settled with a precursory visit only to return for bigger and better ventures in the near future.
I found that you could buy a cell phone, shoes, close and organs. Various styles are more prevalent in certain areas and are actually over emphasized in some of the areas that I was interested in like Star Wars. You could buy storm trooper suits by the dozen if you just forked out the serious lindens that would be required. Real computers could be bought at the apple store and the events that could be played are totally awesome. I am definitely looking forward to returning to this game with many personable experiences left to come.