English 11A Finals : Virtual Selves

        People can get lost in virtual worlds. These days, it is much easier for people to blend their real and virtual lives together. There are thousands of online games where you can make an avatar and just be somebody else instead of yourself. Because of problems with insecurity in our society, the virtual world and characters create an illusion where everyone can be viewed as an equal. For some, it may just be easier to express their emotions and true feelings online rather than in real life. 

        Jason Rowe was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, meaning almost to all muscles in his body don't function properly. Jason says that online, he is treated equally among his peers. "'Not disabled,' he says. 'Not in a wheelchair. In virtual worlds, everyone is on common ground.'" (qtd. in "Alter Egos in a Virtual World" 137). In real life, Jason may be a frail guy in a wheelchair but in the online world, he's a fully functioning robot that fights monsters. Living in a virtual world creates a sense of equality and freedom from prejudice and physical limitations. Though the virtual worlds may give you a sense of freedom, there are plenty of things that can go wrong.

        The accessibility of an Internet-created character can actually hurt our real identity. Playing so many hours of the game with the same people that share your interests can make you addicted  to the game to the point where you're playing every single moment you can. This makes it even easier to blend your two lives together. You should always prioritize real life friends and family over your fantasy life. I know from my own personal experiences and what I've seen. I've seen so many of my friends whose lives revolve around video games. For many of them, their virtual lives are so important that they forgot how to socialize in the real world. There are people all over the world who get on Facebook and just loves to chat 24/7 but once you see them in person, it's like they're a totally different person and they can't even talk to you face-to-face without being awkward or shy. 

        Online media and social networks can be just as bad as creating avatars in a virtual world. Social networking sites like Facebook have millions and millions of people online everyday, with 70% probably being underage teenagers. They post pictures of drugs, alcohol, and themselves with little to no clothing at all. To them, it's just a private network where they can interact with friends, but they don't realize that they're risking their reputation and possibly their safety. Teens don't realize that there are so many other users who can obtain your pictures and personal information. The online world is truly a dangerous place to get into.