Dairy of a Avatar

Ok so i finally got the chance to fire up secondlife, make an account and attempt to rule the virtual world. AS IF.

After completing the short registration, and throwing myself into the THEpond community, i quickly realise how im going to need alot of money, patience and ego to become even the slight bit successful. After struggling to create a avatar that resembles me in any way i decided to really try a '2nd life' and i recreated my character into a girl, a much easier option (as most male avatar look quite femine anyway).


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The next half an hour was filled by bumbling around, getting to know the controls and realising that this virtual world offered everything a real one does... and more.
Apart from the obvious social interaction, scripting offers the user the chance to build anything they want... from mansions to shops, which can even sell virtual things to other users.
At first i hated the system, as i thought i would have to buy 'linden' (virtual currency) for real money. After a while a few friendly people (bearing in mind my avatar) showed me that virtual currency is obtainable through job seeking, survey taking and much more, which opens this virtual world into... well... a 'real' world.

Did i mention you can fly?

Even with all this in mind, im still not sure the average joe needs a program like this. I know that for some people social interaction is daunting, but something like this doesnt solve any problems, its surely unhealthy to spend all your time playing with your 2nd life rather than dealing with problems with your first. The question im really asking is... When does a SecondLife become a persons first????????

Anyway the program is quite fun and slightly addictive... but i cant see myself loggin on every night. In my opinion people should lead a successful real life... before concentrating on a second. I can see that some people would just use this as a social site, but with the likes of facebook.. why bother?

I think thats enough virtual living for one day... ill try and keep you updated on the happenings of my second life within the next four weeks... After then who knows, it could grow on me and completely destroy my first life, but, somehow i doubt it.