Other Realms of Existence

Today's quote comes from Edward Castronova who is an Associate Professor of Telecommunications at Indiana University who studies virtual economies in games such as Everquest.

"These computers on our desks are turning into portals to other realms of existence... realms that will one day be preferred to earth"

I've often talked to friends about how the emergence of realistic virtual realities such as we see in the Matrix or with 3D glasses would lead to a dangerous level of immersion by video gamers but people don't need a jack in the back of their head or 3D glasses to become dangerously obsessed. Last month in South Korea a couple allowed their three month old daughter to starve to death while they spent all their time at internet cafes raising a virtual child in an MMORPG.

Well it's a beautiful day out so I'm turning off my computer for the rest of the day and going outside.