How real are virtual worlds?

Daniel LivingstoneUniversity of the West of Scotland

1994

Life on the Screen:Identity in the Age ofthe Internet (1997)

Cybercultures reader (2nd Edition 2006)

Medicalization of Cyberspace (2008)http://medicalizationofcyberspace.wordpress.com/

http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2008/02/ziggy-revealed.htmlhttp://www.virtuallawconference.com/http://virtuallyblind.com/http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/

Law andDisorder in

Cyberspace

http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2008/02/ziggy-revealed.htmlhttp://www.virtuallawconference.com/http://virtuallyblind.com/http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/

Crimes against the person

Is there a person in cyberspace to be harmed?Read: A rape in cyberspace by Julian Dibbell

http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/10/15/us-congress-launchs-probe-into-virtual-economies/http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/10/15/us-congress-launchs-probe-into-virtual-economies/

Where there are laws... there are politicians

2001: "Indeed, only 16% of MPs have their own websites, and a recent survey described most of those as comically inept."

2007: (Unofficial) Front National HQ opens in Second Life - and is met with vigorous protests

2007: US Congress representative gives press conference in Second Life followed by a presidential candidate

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/dailyprayer/

Faith andSpiritualityUSA TodaySupport for Healing (on YouTube)Yesha in Second Life- Christian Ministrysecondlife://Yesha/171/213/31/

Do virtual worlds enhanceonline worship?

Career and love online: Alayne Wartell's Second Life(Channel 4)

Virtual RelationshipsInfidelity on the Internet

Wonderland: Virtual Adultery and Cyberspace Love

Promoting real environments with virtual ones...

Some ReferencesPolitics: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1132136.stmhttp://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/obama-is-first-in-their-second-life/http://www.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2007/04/obama_puppet_in.htmlFront National in SL:http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/jan/20/news.francehttp://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2007/01/stronger_than_h.htmlFaith in SL: http://supportforhealing.com/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-04-01-second-life-religion_N.htmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR2007061501902.htmlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm9xYWYUxI4Virtual Relationships: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/jan/21/life1.lifemagazine2http://www.amazon.co.uk/Infidelity-Internet-Virtual-Relationships-Betrayal/dp/1570717222Promoting real environments:Virtual Holland: http://www.ourvirtualholland.nl/enSwedish Embassy in SL: http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____16345.aspxBusinesses based on real environments: http://www.dublinsl.com/index.php