I have been reading a lot lately about Second Life and how so many people are gravitating towards it. It serves as an escape from the rigors of daily life, allows a person to be whomever they want and meet others they may not ordinarily come across in the real world.
An article I read about intimate Second Life relationships, however, gave me serious pause. The article asks, Is A Virtual Affair Real-World Infidelity? Initially I was unsure, and had more questions than an opinion. These people usually keep it to the space; they rarely call, email or meet in real life. But by the end of the article, I had wholeheartedly chosen a side.
An important part of the equation is defining infidelity. I subscribe to the belief that there are two types: physical and emotional. For me, if my partner fell for someone else and engaged in intimate conversations that should only be had between the two of us, I would be very upset. Given this fact, I would feel the same if I found that my guy was carrying on in Second Life with someone else.
Second Life relationships can also go far beyond conversation. The characters can do pretty much whatever one can think of, including having sex. Although it’s only virtual, I believe a line gets crossed here. It isn’t like calling a sex line or something when you’re bored and randy; this is an interactive experience with two people who’ve made a connection.
Sometimes, users develop a desire to be in Second Life more than their real one, or interact with their avatar partners instead of the ones who are there in the flesh. These instances serve as a testament to the dangerous potential this type of affair has. Even if the two don’t ever meet in real life, the aftermath can mimic that of traditional affairs.
So my position is that while Second Life may be a cool escape, I say no to affairs in that space if you’re taken in real life. If you feel a need to go there, maybe you should reevaluate where you are and what you want, or why you feel you can’t be who you want to be with your mate.
