Virtual Reality

Someone on a thread (I believe it was on the Offbeat forum) recently wondered aloud if any regular posters on that venue ever shared with other's in real life, the very fact that they were regular posters.

Hmm. Interesting question.

In my own case, I have told friends and family that I used to be a regular poster on Topix. I was neither proud of this nor ashamed. It was and occasionally still is, one of those things that seemed like the thing to do at the time... Tens of thousands of people do it every day. Thousands of those people also do it as dozens of other identities every day. It's very popular.

Years ago, I had a young step-brother who was heavily into Dungeons & Dragons. Evidently this was some sort of virtual reality game played by geeks. None of us in the family objected to Eddie playing this game. We only objected to him TALKING ABOUT IT! We didn't want to hear about fairies and trolls and whatever he was yammering about, seemingly ALL THE TIME!

Topix is the same way even though it's not actually a game. People have virtual friendships complete with alliance's and enemies. Sometimes virtual tea and (fat-free) cookies are served. And often, real life trial's and tribulations are shared with one's virtual friends and enemies. This is where the lines get blurred. Most everyone reaches a point where they discuss real life with imaginary people. Well, okay, that's not too weird I guess. There is an exchange of thoughts and feelings with un-seen people. It's, at times, kinda like a big ol' Dear Abby letter on steroids. It's not that bad, in that respect. You could consider it as an expanded, almost instantaneous version of pen-pals. It's basicaly harmless, new age, time-killing "fun".

But, would you tell your real life friends, family and neighbors about your time spent on Topix?

I doubt few Topix posters would. Again, I've told my people that I go there but, it's like Vegas in that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in Topix most likely stays in Topix.

Would you, perhaps at an IRL family party, have this conversation with your siblings:

"So, then this troll comes on. He starts messing with Uncle Joe! And Tamora Rose steps in and she says: 'People DFTT!' And Angelique- she' so pretty!- she misses Nancy, who was like the best troll EVER! And PEllen thinks she knows who the troll is but Angela thinks it might be that Ferrerman cause he's got mad internet skills and can be anybody, anywhere, ANYTIME! E E E said so! Don't forget that he published teri@home's address, phone number, a google map to her house, her ENTIRE FAMILY HISTORY- not to mention her shoe size- which really is a very wrong thing to do! And Roo's new boyfriend turned out to be a jerk, AS ALL MEN ARE! (except rational! E say's he's "hunky"). Well, all of our reg boys are! Except maybe Edogxxx! He's a jerk! Nobody knows where Raptor is. Have you guys seen him?

I don't think so. They, like us back in the day with Eddie, would most likely reply: "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

I don't guess that virtual Topix worlds make it into too many IRL conversations. It, like masturbation, is probably best left unsaid in conversation. If you must talk about THAT, well, there is the Kittens thread...

These are grown men and women ranging in age fron 25 to 60+, discussing friends, enemies and trolls everyday. One woman recently broke up with her IRL boyfriend. I wonder if she ever shared her virtual world with this guy? She must have shown him around to her IRL family, friends and neighbors. Did she show him around her virtual world? I doubt it. There would be some explaining involved. Her virtual world knew intimate details about their relationship, like girlfriend's do IRL but, this is girlfriend's plus thousands of other people. And, true, these thousands of people don't actually know the girl or the boy and so, in that respect, it doesn't really matter. Or, does it?

In real life, would you have friends that your loved one was never to know about? Would you zealously guard these friends and keep your loved one from knowing of their existence?

Why hide an imaginary world from your loved one? Shame? Embarrassment?

Real life is hard. Real love and friendship is hard. Love comes and goes- all too often with tears and heartache.

But, virtual worlds are always there. Fantasy awaits with open arms. Imaginary people don't go away, they just change avatars.

Beats reality, I guess. Bubble tea anyone?