| Whenever I am asked to tell people what is so | | | | exactly the same as in real life. Second Life never |
| great about the virtual world of Second Life, I | | | | gets enough credit for this, in my opinion. |
| struggle to begin. The list of possibilities of the | | | | Education |
| virtual world of Second Life is seemingly endless. | | | | Most major US colleges and universities now have |
| Needless to say, if I were to elaborate on them | | | | campuses in Second Life. That speaks volumes. |
| all I would be here all day. I tend to break my top | | | | Many of the UK institutions are now following suit |
| reasons for loving Second Life down into four. | | | | as well. The ability to replicate a classroom setting |
| Creative Expression | | | | from the comfort of your own home, enables |
| From designing and building an architectural | | | | teachers to share their skills with students from all |
| masterpiece, to sharing your poetry on live | | | | over the world. And even outside of the official |
| microphone with a group of people from across | | | | institutions, there are organisations in world who |
| the world, Second Life is king for online creative | | | | are offering free classes in all sorts of skills, not |
| expression. Everything in Second Life is art, from | | | | just Second Life related ones! You can learn any |
| the buildings, to the clothing, to the landscaping. | | | | one of a number of languages for free at these |
| And all the content is user created. So what you | | | | virtual institutions. You can learn web |
| see really is what the residents have dreamed up. | | | | development, marketing skills and a whole host of |
| I love the fact that you can give a hundred | | | | others too. |
| different residents the same resources, come | | | | Socialising |
| back a couple of days later and take a walk | | | | I would never give up my real life socialising for |
| around 100 very different imaginations. It is | | | | Second Life socialising. Never. But Second Life |
| amazing. Artistically, musically, in terms of | | | | should not be underestimated as a platform for |
| literature and vision, this platform allows for the | | | | socialising, particularly for those who cannot get |
| ultimate in creative expression. | | | | out much, such as single parents or those who |
| Business | | | | struggle financially. I went into Second Life to find |
| Although some people make money in Second | | | | out what it was all about. I insisted I would make |
| Life to such a degree that it becomes their real | | | | no personal ties in there. But two years later and |
| life income, the reality is that for most people, this | | | | I have a group of people in Second Life I would |
| will never be the case. Being creative enough to | | | | consider very much friends, and these are people |
| earn a little bit of cash to treat yourself or even | | | | I would definitely keep in touch with even if I |
| just for the game to pay for itself for you, if you | | | | stopped using Second Life. |
| like to spend money in world, is great. But what | | | | Boundaries online are always lowered. People are |
| cannot be underestimated about Second Life is | | | | less defensive, have fewer inhibitions and so on. |
| the fact that, as a platform for business | | | | Particularly with the addition of voice |
| simulation, it is almost unrivalled. You can conceive | | | | communication, this has made Second Life a great |
| of, consider, develop and put into practice your | | | | platform for meeting and getting to know people |
| business on a smaller scale, without risking your | | | | from all over the world. So there. That is what, in |
| home and your child's university fund! And the | | | | my opinion, is so great about Second Life. Try it! |
| principals of business in this virtual world are | | | | |