With the crunch of space on earth, I think we have only our mind to expand. With Internet and the world becoming one global village , with culture, custom and cuisines getting intermingled between different parts of the world, this seems to be only true. So, the reality is we are virtual - we feel virtual, we seek virtual, we live virtual.
The Chinese real estate magnate, Anshe Chung made a million by selling house virtually http://secondlife.com/ . Initially, I found the idea to be weird. I thought we are happy in our home because we live in it. We enjoy because we can feel it, as in, walk on the floor or carpet, sit on the sofa. But by the amount of money Anshe made, I am obviously wrong. The concept is same as buying a house in real life. Choose a good neighbourhood, create the design, get the finest furniture and home decor and feel happy seeing it.
Then, came the concept of owning/adopting and pampering virtual pets http://www.virtualpet.com/vp/links/links.htm . I am not a animal lover. I have nothing against them but I cannot take care of them. The only pet I believe I would be able to have is a fish. I have friends who have pets. From what I understood, they own pets because they love animals, want a companion, feel good (cuddling, playing and pampering them) and be responsible. I am not very clear how you can feel all these virtually.
Well things don't end here. There are online sites, where all one needs to do is get registered online to get engaged or get married virtually. And there are the concepts of soul mate, soul friend, work spouse. All these clearly emphasis that happiness is just a state of mind.
I think we have already started living a second life - one is real , what we see in the mirror, the other is virtual, what we see through our mind's eye.
10 comments:
u , my lady, hve managed to scare and confuse me at the same time...now iam a lil worried which one of me is the real thing...i wudnt mind a virtual pet...as long as they eat virtual food and poops virtualy which i can virtually clean without the reality hitting me ...
iam virtually entralled.
Yep virtuality. Virtual petting is so weird although it is the latest fad. I have started to hear of virtual doctors and not surprised if virtual surgeries eventually evolve.
ToI: I don't think we can distinguish ourselves easily.
Sumana: Virtual surgeries? Would the patient poke the needles on himself while watching the doc on a video stream? or is it pure virtual and no pain? :)
Happiness is becoming virtual?
My God...next would be a virtual life.
But then I wonder if it will be any different from the artificial life we are already leading :(
'I think we have already started living a second life - one is real , what we see in the mirror, the other is virtual, what we see through our mind's eye.'
Scary I say.where are we heading?
Kavitha, If you think this life is artificial, may be it is virtual! Hey does that mean I am not responsible for my deeds? It was all virtual, right, Imagination? :)
HHG, To a virtual disaster , maybe? Would that be a disaster a the first place? Maybe, then we would know our true self. :)
a virtual alter ego...sounds interesting!!!Hmmm...lots of possibilites open up, too..
and scary that i am thinking this way!!!
aren't we all connected virtually now!!!
and now, joy, i'm thoroghly confused!!!
TA: Me too confused. When I was writing the post, it was more on lines of how virtual stuff ( things we cannot feel physically) are enchanting humans now. After reading the comments and getting various perspectives, it does seem scary and confusing.
makes me shudder...i think i have a more active virtual life! the virtual me will overpower the real me one day... i know it.
Sreejith, I think the scariest part would be if we are expressing ourselves more in a virtual life than in a real life. This would make virtual to be the true life, which could lead to confusion.
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