Facebook and Second Life (Session 4)

This week's reading was so interesting to me. I would like to write about the effect of facebook on my life and education, and virtual communication.

1) I recently started facebook, and it is kind of interesting to connect with others and get feedback. I usually log in facebook when I use laptop, and keep doing while studying, and it is true that sometimes it disturbs my study. However, as the author mentioned in the article- Facebook and academic performance 'we CAN'T be stated that FB use cause a student to study less hours per week or have a lower GPA,' Rather I can save time to meet people by meeting on-line space, and also it makes me to have good relationship with others.

Also, facebook can be used in a classroom as a positive way, to interact with each other, and to communicate with parents, teachers use facebook. The link below is the news related to using facebook in a classroom

Teachers use facebook to update parents

2) Second life is a virtual reality that people can live "second" life. In this life, it is possible to meet other individuals, go to events, take classes in cyber space, and buy property with real money. People who aren't satisfied with their first life can go to second life. Everything is as similar as real life except people create digital personality called "Avatar." so they can create "ideal" appearance and personality as they want.
I think the reason why some people enjoy second life more than first life is that they can conceal who they really are. They can selectively show themselves(hyperpersonal communication), and it makes people more attractive than real one, as mentioned in the article; Computer-Mediated Communication, so less is more, imagination makes people have high expectation of others.

That reminds me of the movie, 'Avatar,' which Jake who can't walk in real life, go into Na'vi tribe as an avatar identity, save tribe, and fall in love with Neytiri. He can't distinguish between the real and the virtual life as time goes by, finally he chooses avatar life as his second life.


so, my question is this, some might be satisfied with second life more than their "real" life, but what is "real" For them? first life which is not meaningful them is real or second life is real?