How Much Second Life Is Too Much Second Life?
Second Life is addictive.
It is. I know it. We all do… all of us who have sat in front of the monitor half hour past the time we promised ourselves that we would log out and said to ourselves ‘ten more minutes….’
I love Second Life. Educationally, socially, creatively and as a business platform, I think it’s amazing. I have met some wonderful people in world, embarked upon some great projects and made some fantastic connections thanks to SL. I have a Second Life blog (yes, this one), that I wouldn’t give up for anything. Ok, maybe for the Euromillions… but anyway!
Recently, I have had far less time in world. I’ve had like 2 hours per day during the week and very few weekends. A lot of this is owing to changes in personal circumstances that have led to my needing to commit more time to ‘real life’. Some of these changes have been bad/sad/boo stuff. But some of them have been really, really exciting changes. But anyway, the point I am trying to make is that I did not realise how addicted I was/am to Second Life until I had less time. The past few weeks have been full of adjustments, but I now feel as though I have the perfect balance. Of course, there are days I curse the fact that I don’t get enough Skylar time. But balancing Second Life with being a full time Dad to an energetic five year old and doing business in real life…. well it’s working well for me.
Fortunately, I have never been the type of person who has let RL slip for SL. My house is clean… my duties have always been taken care of and I have always made time for RL friends. Most of the people I know are like that too.
I’ll never give up Second Life completely. No way…. I have way too much hope for the potential of the platform and community alike. And I have too many people I care about in world.
But…. a question… or a thought. How much Second Life is too much? Is it when you don’t sleep because of SL? When you skip meals? When a parent neglects her children? Where’s the line? I’m curious about your opinions….
Tags: internet addiction, Second Life
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Random Thoughts and Musings
Skylar Smythe
I think when people only order in food, or confess that they eat alot of canned food because it is “easier” and takes them away from their computer less. I think neglecting physical fitness, family and friends, doggy walks, and living in a pig pen because you are online 24/7 is indicative of a real mental illness.
I love Second Life too. But its a hobby. And while the friendships are important, the platform itself is a software application that can and should be unplugged when someone is struggling to maintain a certain level of life balance/sanity.
I feel sooo sooo bad for the kids of virtual world or gaming addicts.
Fast forward to how messed up they are going to be…
Balance
SL is for peeps who can maintain balance. If you can’t… you need to take up a different hobby.
Lets go to Watertown
[...] Stick says SL is addictive… Well, so is Beating your Meat, Playing the Organ, Assault on a [...]
Jillian
SL is way addictive but its not to much to be online all the time if u have nothing else to do. to much is when you start getting upset about things that are happening in sl
Johnny
It’s been suggested that internet addiction should be included in DSM V, with the following diagnostic criteria:
“Conceptually, the diagnosis is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder that involves online and/or offline computer usage and consists of at least three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging. All of the variants share the following four components: 1) excessive use, often associated with a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives, 2) withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible, 3) tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use, and 4) negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue.”
So if your SL use is ticking those boxes you should probably be concerned.
Ref:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/3/306
Lauren
I think SL comes in waves. And when we are in a more out-world wave we ask this question. The more active you are with someone or a group of friends in firstlife the less you utlize secondlife. For some, there only social life is SL. It can be from deformities on all scales. I’m not sure how to judge this other then individually .
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