virtual world vs. reality

I would not wear six inches pair of heels in day time to work but that what I wear in the Kim kardashian game, haha :). what does that say about me? that I like heels and will love to wear them all the time. but because I can't do that in real life, I turned to the virtual world and model that life. it is easy, the internet made and technology made it possible. it is very convenient and less expense (may cost you more in the long run). virtual world might be a true expression of who we really are. the article on NYTimes, "No Budget, No Boundaries. its the real you" is a good article that analyses the online gaming form of virtual world. it discussed why people turn to virtual would and how it affects their day to day lives. it also discussed how it helped Mandy Cocke (the study subject of the article) trim her spending in real life.


let us take it into take a look at how much gamer actually spend on these games because the article also discussed how players spends $40 in purchasing "therebucks" which is the form of money gamers spend on purchasing virtual goods. it virtual world also have effected our social lives. people who turn to virtual world just to get away from reality tend to socialize less. it can also take a toll on mental health as these individual have higher chances of developing social anxiety. "I've been in that club, just not in real life" is an excellent article on NYTimes that talks about socializing in virtual world and its reflexing on who we really are. the writer discussed how he wasn't comfortable to change his outfit and how challenging it was for his to finally do so. just like the instance I gave about myself in the beginning of this blog, that I would where heels in virtual games but not in real life. virtual world is a reflection of who we are in the real world. it is another way of expressing ourselves.


references:
 No Budget, No Boundaries: It’s the Real You by RUTH LA FERLA, the New York Times, Oct 22, 2009.  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/fashion/22Avatar.html


 "I've Been in That Club, Just Not in Real Life" by Dave Itzkoff, The New York Times, January 6, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/arts/television/06itzk.html