This begins a small mini-series of blog entries that I will make over the next few days~weeks. It is strictly coming from a paper that I had written in a philosophy course that I had taken.
I will be dividing up the paper into parts and seeing what other people have to say. I am not literally copying + pasting the actual paper here obviously as that would provide no further insight for me.
First off, many of you are aware of the terms "real" and "virtual". But what do those 2 words really mean to you?
Is it far fetched to say that something "virtual" has no "real" existence merely on the premise that it does not physically interact, but is an interaction between 0s and 1s being processed inside of a computer as a result of the input that you, the user, gives while on a computer?
Quite possibly that in itself could be enough to justify some people's belief that "virtual" is in no way "real". However, others would disagree that even though it is not physically in existence, it does have some "reality" applications.
When someone explicit tells another to "Get a life." What do they mean, really? The "real" world life that people physically embodies is what is most likely being requested to do when one gives the statement, "Get a life."
But, there is actually a "life" from a virtual point of view. This "life" though not physically viewable, requires thought, care, and some level of basic skill for one to begin being involved with.
How one may ask?
Well, such things include FaceBook, YouTube, MySpace, AIM, Twitter, World of WarCraft, Second Life...and even this blog.
From a social point of view (speaking in regards to the "real" world), a life is often comprised of individual inhabiting an area among others. These individual gather to form a community, and within this community many activities occur every day.
Strictly from that point of view, a "virtual world" is quite contrary to its name. If we consider it from that point of view, the "virtual" world is actually a "real life setting".
There are:
a. individuals (in the form of users)
b. there are communities (blogs, forums, chat rooms, World of WarCraft, Facebook, etc)
c. there are activities (chatting, posting messages, playing games, sending emails)
What do you think about this? Please comment below.
