Fast Talk: Getting A (Second) Life examines the wonderful positives of being a part of the virtual world. One can hold business meetings, network with others, or even fly. The article states that the IBM uses second life in order to educate and accustom its new employees to the culture of IBM.
While this all sounds fine and dandy, think about how people skew their actual personalities and appearances on the Web. How do you know who you are speaking with is genuinely what they act like online? You don't.
I feel that it is extremely risky for businesses to have mentoring programs or any sort of acclamation into office culture on the Web because...it isn't REAL. No one can actually gauge the office mood by being online.
Even in a Virtual World, 'Stuff Matters emphasizes my point of people being something they're not. I have a cousin who gets so caught up in the virtual world that he just sits on his computer all day and does nothing else. Who knows, he could be THE man in second life.
But it's not real life. And to the public who engages and interacts with you everyday - you, in the real world, is what matters.
2 comments:
I think you bring up a great point that many elements of real interaction aids social activity. I think its a strong and valid point as well. Although I'd like to offer a counter that there are also some benefits to having social interaction in a business setting, such as not having to censor yourself as much and not being subject to prejudices.
I immediately thought about the show "How to catch a predator" when you discussed people changing their personalities online. The show uses cameras to catch "predators," people that contact underage kids on the internet for sex. These people often change their identities and mask themselves. i think this brings up the other scary issue you mentioned about you don't know who your talking to. With more usage of the internet for business and entertainment, it makes you wonder who's really out there.
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