The most serious devotees are mainly artists using the virtual setting as a showcase for their work. That is where the $350k/day spent figure comes from. People buy real products or artworks based on what they can see online in the “catalog” rooms.

Second are the true geeks, programmers who like building “stuff” with the tools available to the subscribing members. Very often a few of these will hookup with a few of the artist crowd to collaborate on a well-decorated building design.

At the lower level are what might be called trolls, though voyeurs is just as valid a term. They don’t contribute anything to the “world”, they just “cruise” it looking to come across as a serious player.

After a friend who had been involved in SL for a time suggested it, I took a look at it, and found far too much “adult” content for my comfort. There are restricted locations where the lifestyles are predefined (you have to accept the terms of the local customs at a signpost before you can get in), and can be as odd as you can imagine, and then some. Deviant “virtual” behaviors and settings are more the norm than the exception, and clever children would not have a hard time getting past the minimal protections in place.

chsw

Let’s say for a moment that you’re Reuters. (What? I know, I know, I don’t blame you. But let me roll with this, huh?) Only a few months ago, you were caught red-handed manufacturing news, airbrushing the daylights (literally) out……

Grand Prize Winner for Most Honest Quote of the Year award!

Players spend around US$350,000 a day on average, or a rate of $13 million a year.

Math lesson please… Either the total number is close to $130 million (doubtful), or they clearly aren’t doing $350k/day.

Either way, Second Life is a pretty cool game (for geeks) and the corporate dollars will continue to roll in.