In the Daily Telegraph article “The Couple Divorcing Over Husband’s Virtual Lover”, we follow Amy Pollard’s outrage over her husband committing “Adultery” in the virtual world simulator Second Life.

Her husband first had a virtual affair with an online call girl. Amy eventually hired a private detective to confirm these facts, which were confirmed to be true. David Pollard, her husband held the virtual wedding in Second Life in July 2005. She filed for divorce after seeing him “cuddling with a woman on a sofa in the game”.

The IT System is Software and Communications Technology. Second Life is a free piece of Software which allows one to simulate another life within the virtual world. Like any online game, it allows communication with others from around the world. Second Life relates to the area of impact of Arts & Entertainment as Second Life is meant to be a form of virtual entertainment. Which poses the question, at one point do games become less for fun than a way of life. Many people play games just as a form of entertainment. After all, we could all use a break from reality once in a while. But the problem really persists when we interpret the virtual reality as a true reality itself. This article relates to the ITGS Triangle component of People & Machines, as it discusses the way in which we interpret virtual reality.

Should wives be worried that their husbands are cheating when their husbands have a virtual affair? Should my mom be worried when I mow down a group of pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto?

We all interpret digital media in different ways. Some take gaming more seriously than others, while some perceive it more seriously than others. To conclude, gaming shouldn’t be interpreted in such a serious manner. Virtual reality is about escaping and having fun, and taking it seriously makes gaming just as mundane as reality can be itself.