Does anyone else hate Second Life?

Tags: Second Life

Wendy posted on Dec 6th 2006 3:45PM

I love simulation games. I love online communities... But when I tried Second Life during the summer of 2006, I didn't get that.

I just found a game with no direction and it was difficult to understand, too. A game like The Sims 2 is complex but it starts you off with some tutorials and premade characters and situations.

It would also seem that, in order to really have fun in Second Life, you need to spend money. I can have fun for free on Gaia Online and Neopets! Come on now! Sure you can do stuff for free on Second Life, but when it comes down to it, money matters.

And don't you feel irritated instead on inspired when you read about people making a million dollars on Second Life? What about the people
who teach actual college courses through Second Life? Or how about the people that take it sooooo seriously that they make Second Life their First Life? They cut out real social activities so that they can go to their DJ job and work from 8pm until 5am? And now it is becoming a big advertising thing with car companies making their Second Life cars for sale on there. Yes... Some big car companies have put their cars in the game.

It's not completely bad, but it seems like things are getting a little out of hand. That's my big beef about it and beef is fuckin' delicious!

9 votesEmail this | Bookmark

Comments

	Rasti says: That sounds pretty bad John. Posted: 06/20/07 00:06
	Care W. says: Yeah, my boyfriend went out and bought a new computer so he could play this game for continous amounts of time and now until 5:00 a.m. since he is on vacation. He says it's $10 here and there. What a waste of money! What a waste of time! He ignores me and his three teens.But it's not real!!!! I Don't Care! Posted: 08/22/07 20:32
	stop the hate says: guys guys come on...i've read all of these posts and I too have a wife that spends a lot of time in the game and I did actually try to bond with her in game. I made an avatar and played for a few weeks but the SL world is too wide open and I'll admit as a Gamer I look for a video game to provide me with a structure to play within. So SL is not for me. My wifes background is in theater and performance so she enjoys the roleplay aspects of the game. But however, I understand John's anger and many of the other posts hell i am angry many days when I come home from work to a kitchen full of dishes and an appartment that's covered in crap and a baby that's in need of attention. Some days it's like I'm working two jobs one for a pay check and another as a Nanny. So before you SL fanboys start flaming again remember this post was intended to help some people vent thier frustrations at their problems, why do you feel the need to jump on the SL fan wagon and blather off at the mouth dispensing your Marital advice? I could understand if we were on the SL site! but please go back to your own forums and SHUT THE HELL UP. that being said now that i have all the SL fanboys ready to piss liquid napalm...I do agree with your views on the need for communication in a relationship and I dont blame SL for my marital problems. However, to jump on a post and start berating people who you think are "ignorant" Spanky is rude and shows just how short sighted and juvinile you are. I'm sure you think you're the sh$t in SL/RL but really you're not. You're just like everyone else only you have a bloated ego. So pack your bloated ego up and go back to SL and keep on keepin on. As for the rest of us SL Haters! well i think it's good to get things off your chest and complain..helps ease the pain but the truth stands you have to communicate to your loved one that you are not down with what's happening and you have to put your foot down...an adiction is an adiction weather it be drugs, alcohol or video games force your loved one into a corner and give them an ultimatium. set up a play time schedule? but talk about it. Marriage is about working things out and equal compromise. Posted: 08/29/07 14:43
	me says: hi, I agree with most of what has been said, as I have a friend who is addicted to SL. I don't like the avatars or the expense. It's too geared to cater for people who are hung up on appearance and materialism in RL, and who have maybe failed in that in RL. So it probably has all the worst elements in there. That dosn't attract me- I have tried it but I don't see the point. However, I must say that for some it is true that they are drawn to the internet because of something they are missing. I have spent a lot of time in an internet chat room (no avatars, no money, friendly people). Why? Well primarily because I am lonely. My partner is cold and distant, hates having people around the house, and is often out or away. Yeah yeah I know you'll say ditch them, but hey thats the way things are. I'm just saying. There may be something in it that there is something some of these people are missing out on. However, I wouldn't assume that any of you are so dumb as not to have asked. And even if they ARE missing something, if they don't realise it or don't think there is a problem then there is nothing you can do. My partner would never deign to take an interest in my activities enough to even ask. Or complain. So I think that those of you who said you are losing people to SL are probably not at fault really. It's a horrible, pseudo-materialistic nightmare so far as I can see. Maybe you married the wrong people? Certainly my addicted friend was ALWAYS this shallow, appearance-and-status-obsessed person, it just becomes glaringly obvious to anyone when they become obsessed with SL 'clothes', 'hair', 'makeup' and so on. I just wanted to say that it can be true that people do these things because they are hurting, too. Posted: 09/02/07 13:01
	Steven says: My wife spends on average 10 to 12 hours a day on SL. Our entire marriage has completely gone in the crapper. The worst arguments in our entire lives has resulted from this rediculous electric tome. She has refuse to go back to work because of it and I will serve her papers coming up at the beginning of the new year. I can no longer play the chump to her fantasy. By leaving her she will have to go back to work or suffer the addiction like Crack Cocaine. But I have to get back to a normal life. Even the kids are extremely upset with her and they have been out of the house for years now. I have need for a companion not a dis-avowed zombie pecking away on a keyboard at all hours of the day and night Posted: 10/15/07 21:42
	Justlikejohn says: I feel your pain. My Wife is addicted to SL...spends every waking moment that she can...on the computer. It's gotten to the point where everything else in her life is left to fend for itself...or for me and the kids to do. This isn't fair to the kids, or me. I work all day...the kids go to school...we come home and have to do all the things that she neglected, while she goes to work. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect her to work all day at home...and all night at work, we share the load! But since discovering SL, she ignores her share...and I have to pick it up. I've told her I think she's addicted...but she thinks it's funny! It's getting to the point where she's getting (maybe) 4-5 hours sleep a night...staying up until 3am, losing track of time! Posted: 11/19/07 19:30
	I gate SL says: I hate SL, It has f***ed my life Posted: 11/25/07 07:17
	Tiffany says: my fiance is glued to this shit... i want to burn down the second life corp. in Cali. Posted: 11/30/07 12:26
	Jacob says: I think that all of you who defend this game don't really like people, real people. You make up excuses, twist and insult people , all to make you feel better about an addiction. My plays wife this game constantly. From the time she comes home from work, to the time she finally comes to bed at midnight-2am. She makes excuses to NOT do anything on the weekends so she can flirt and talk to other people on this game. It's even progressed to the point they call her on her cell phone. She never says "I love you" or "I miss you". That is left for me, with no return answer. She talks to me for 30-40 min, saying she wants to patch things up, to spend more time together. She then goes back to SL and proceeds to bash me behind my back. I've witnessed this in some of the IM conversations she's had with SL people outside the game. She doesn't understand why I think she spends too much time on it. SHe doesn't understand why I think it's wrong for her to flirt with other men online, and have phone conversations with them. We moved to another state 4 MONTHS ago to try starting our lives again. We're living with HER parents. I've wanted to move out for 2 months now. We have the money, but she would rather spend time on SL than look for apartments. She'd rather spend time on SL than help with ANY house work. I have no idea what to do about this... Posted: 12/01/07 12:38
	The Plain And Simple Truth. says: Hey I am just fuckin glad im single and limit my expenses on this game its very overwhelming for me. I got hurt and was temporarily disabled for 2 months well in that time i joined SL and started in the game my mistake was having people there to already get me hooked on the damn game. I didnt start out haveing to learn all of it i had friends there showing me from the miniute i joined. I Can see how Husbands and wives feel SL has or is destroying thier lives. Its very sad to see this. I have a brother that im working desperatly to keep his real life in perspective to him so he dont do anything to mess it up. I see it commine already down tht road tho. I dont actually blame SL For any of this. And You all shouldnt either. It comes down to individual people that are choosing to do this stuff to there own family and selves. I do not claim to be and expert but all Linden Labs is doing is Offering a Service to consumers. And its not thier fault that hundereds of thousands are jumping in on it to escape thier Real lives for a few hours of fantacy. In my opinion I look at it this way. I love SL Its a tool i use at the end of the day or during. I make priorities for myself and do my best to keep those priorities. for the people that are already so far gone that they can not do this then I advise you to pull the plug on your pc for a few weeks or more so you will have to deal with rl and not fantacies that have no real physical effect unless your a stalker and hunt people down that way haha. Like i say my main point is Second Life isnt resposible for People choosing for thierselves to neglect and ignore thier families. Some of you I admire the strenght you have showed by your comments I am not that strong of a man i could not live with a wife that does like your's does John. Your love for her is much stronger than Mine would be. And the guy punching his monitor haha thats so childish. but it serves him right to have to go out and buy a new one for his addiction. Love Your Families and Make Strong priorities about where your attention should be. Single people just whatch the credit card use haha. We should all be fine with SecondLife then. Be Safe this New year everyone. Posted: 01/08/08 11:51
	John says: Second Life hmmmm Very addicting indeed if you play this game it will addict you soo much. i can't beleive im about to write this but i "im" very addicted i currently still play second life last year i got held back for not showing up for school. for nearly 2 months! this game really took over my Real life i hate the fact i ever heard about it. im a lost soul and i need help im controlling myself from playing but its just gets me happy having a girlfriend which i doubt i'll ever get and having friends which i hardly have. i need to stop this addiction. Before i destroy my mothers credit score. Thanks for lisening to me. P.S. ZionVII Sella. Posted: 01/08/08 14:51
	Jacob says: EddieRo... It's already happened for me. Like you, I'm lucky we didn't have children. I've already moved out, have my own house and am ready to go looking again. Soon as the divorse is final. She's still living with her parents, still has not cleaned or picked up anything, and STILL plays that game constantly. Only thing I have to say now "IT'S HER AND HER PARENTS PROBLEM NOW!" I separated the funds (what was left). Moved out, and things have been geting much better for me. My job is progressing better, I'm up for advancement. My stress is MUCH better. My finances are extremely better. My living space is so much better, cleaner. I can actually get on the internet anytime I please. I loved her and it's over. If she wants back, tough luck. It's happened once, never again. If you have kids, take them with you and see if they even notice. I wish more Anti-Second Life news and stories would get out in the open. The "love of my life" turned into the biggest jinx, frustration, distrust, and heart break of my life. Freedom is the only answer for some. Good luck to those trying to deal and fix the problem, I hope it works for you. The lingering doubt that they will go back to SL, or some other online alternative to real life will always be there, but maybe it won't happen again. For me... That chapter is ended and closes the book, and I'm BURNING it. Posted: 01/24/08 23:19
	nikki says: I agree with "Fed-up with immaturity". Most of the relationships described in this post didnt sound healthy to begin with. I know several RL business owners who use SL in a HEALTHY WAY. I log onto SL everyday and anytime I have nothing to do, but as soon as something comes up in RL, I'm out the door! I've seen the same addictions on forums that I've moderated and even phone party lines (old school). Posted: 01/29/08 19:29
	Jacob says: Good for you Nikki. This isn't a thread for you to agree with a person who can hardly type! This is a thread for people that have problems with other people obsessing about something other than their real life responsibilities. This is not healthy. We're not talking about people that only get on a few hours a week. "Didn't sound healthy to begin with"? Get out! It's not something that was at the start of the relationship. Internet addiction can happen at anytime. Why do you people constantly have to defend this alternate life? Is real life too much for you? You need something where people agree with everything you say because they don't know you and don't really care? What's "healthy" about sitting in front of a monitor? Posted: 02/02/08 21:01
	hi says: If you have someone obsessing over the game then cut them off from the internets and throw the computer out the window, or just break it internally while they aren’t looking. Problem solved. (It’s worth a try isn’t it?) Posted: 02/06/08 13:50
	Mary says: I have invested 49 years in real life. I have invested time, Thousands of dollars energy and passion to my Marriage and Family. I have been faithful and compassionate, understanding and forgiving. I refuse to let SL steal our time and history, for a virtual relationship, based on idealized festures, instant friendships, mind games, role play and cartoon sex. These online singles have no vested interest in keeping a marriage intact. I do. So to all you singles, you have no business advising on marriage and relationships unless you have invested every thing you have into real life one. You know with real marriage, money, children realestate contracts, problems and resolutions. Love and forgiveness, life and death. Posted: 02/25/08 10:42
	Francescoco says: I dion't know about all the addiction stuff. But you have to be pretty stupid to get addicted to this shite. I've been on SL for two weeks and I've only met sanctimonious geeks. In real life I like going to fetish clubs. The proper kind - with sex and people and bloody freedom of expression. In SL you find these 19-year olds prancing around in their 'costumes' telling each other off about manners. You get banned for sitting on the wrong stool! And apart from some ridiculous animated cartoon figures is NO sex. Nada. Or drugs. Zip. Or rock and roll. Zero. So good riddance to any dumbo who gets lost in this load of crap. Posted: 03/03/08 17:29
	Kelly says: If you or anyone you know is addicted to second life and live in Southern California I may have a solution for you. We are doing a documentary and are looking for people who are addicted to this game, we are offering them help with their addiction. If interested please have them contact us at therapycasting@tijuanaent.com or call us at 310-341-2500 Posted: 03/04/08 13:37
	Lost says: I read the comments of people who are going through similar situtations as myself and it depresses me more. I am barely holding my marriage together and to be honest if it wasn't for the fact that I won't let it end then SL would have ended it a long time ago. I tried SL with my wife a year ago. We played in world together and with RL friends. The 4 of us would hang out and we had fun. My wife discovered that she liked to role play and immersed herself in Gor. I wasn't into that and we separated in SL and I started a business (I actually made real money go figure) but she would spend 20 hours a day in world. We sat in different rooms. I had enough but clearly she was addicted. I left the game (which I at most played 4 hours a day amd many days I didn't play at all). She almost left me for another guy. We have been married for 14 years and we have 7 children. She still plays online with this guy. They webcam and do unspeakable things in my mind. I try to be kind and talk to her and she is defensive. I can't go into all of it here. to say the least I am lost, lonely, tired, but I can't give up. I need her back in my life 100%. I need help and I can't find any. Posted: 03/18/08 10:35
	Name says: I "play" second life and I agree for some reason it is very addicting. But you have to make yourself not play it to the point that it ruins your whole real life. I am a wife in my mid twenties, and for me its just about playing barbies and creating things. I chat with some friends, but I never ever get emotionally involved with anyone. I don't cyber. If I'm doing something in sl and my husband needs something, I immediatly stop and go tend to what he needs. My husband plays Guild Wars, sitting right next to me. And he knows every single thing I do in the game. It's about balance and not using the virtual world as a way to completely escape the things you are disatisfied with in real life. I see too many ppl that I talk to in that game in over their heads with second life affairs and crumbling real life marriages. If they put half as much energy into repairing their real life relantionships as they do their virtual ones they would find themselves a whole lot happier in real life. I'm not a expert by any means. But it just seems like comman sense. RL over SL. If things are really so horrible in RL...go seek some professional help. Posted: 03/27/08 17:38
	bryan says: I walked in on my wife having sex with someone in this game, her excuse was it got aroused enough to have sex. so SL, thank you for destroying my marriage,and my frienship with my wife. I you and your fucking game burn in hell. Posted: 08/28/09 14:51
	Annabear says: I use SL to keep in touch with my husband in the army because we can't be together while he's away. That's all I use it for and I love it. It beats the phone. Posted: 09/04/09 23:36
	ex Second life looser says: says: I have been trying to quit SL now for 2 months, it is addictive and anyone with any hint of depression or insecurity should clearly avoid it, It nearly cost me my health and loving family, its not worth it, if your bored take up a hobby or sport, read a book watch a movie, meet new friends but not in SL. Posted: 09/29/09 05:42
	SL Name: Rhiannon McKeenan says: To all you guys and/or gals out there, I apologize for your lives falling apart, and I sincerely hope that all of you will do better with someone else, or do better without SL in general. I just started Second Life, and I'm not seeing what's so great about it. Yes, I get that you can be whatever you want and such, but that can be done in RL. Unfortunately, most addicts I've met on SL are people who don't want to put in the effort and change themselves, vs. the click of a mouse and bam! you're 25 again or abnormally thin. As SL is for losers said, it's mostly about escapism, and you really have to pay attention and make sure that what you are doing in-game stays a GAME. Leave SL in the servers where it belongs and come back to your families! It seems like most of the game, even the "PG" one, is about sex and partying. It's like being stuck in your early 20s again. I'm 22, and I guess it's not that enthralling for me because I'm not much of a partier/social butterfly. The only thing I do is change my clothes everyday there, with FREE clothes! I'm not wasting one red cent of my money on a game where the only bonuses are: 1. Being able to fly; 2. Being able to change my avatar; 3. Being able to stay underwater without drowning. I believe that online gaming/gambling is worse than RL gambling because when you spend money online, it's like Monopoly money (Linden Dollars); you don't pay attention to it! The only way you know it's real is when you get a maxed-out credit card bill I spent my first hour just wandering aimlessly because there are no objectives and such. I mostly just fly around and check out peoples' houses (I'm a graphic designer, so I am really more interested in the aesthetics of the game than talking to others). Speaking of talking to others, some of the people I have spoken to have RL friends in-game, and said that practically no one in SL looks like themselves. They've gotten pictures from people who were COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from their avatars! I went to great pains to make mine look exactly like me - except for the fat part, which I am; however, they do not make clothes for fat people in SL, and I'm not interested in designing anything for them. It's like in your "Second Life," you're not allowed to keep much of yourself from your "First Life," even if you want to! The folks who play SL, World of Warcraft and the like just boggle my mind. I only spend money on the internet itself, and that's too much. I can spend hours at a PC, doing my job, playing games and such, but not one game all of the time... Have we slowly reverted back to the olden computer days where the only things you could do was post in forums and on message boards, only now you can have fancy pictures, rendering, and waste hard-earned money? I think so, because when you think about it, that ultimately is what SL and Facebook and Myspace and Twitter and WoW are! Posted: 10/02/09 03:31
	Anthony T. says: Hey faggots, guess what. It's a video game, and its fucking Epic. Just because we like to play it doesn't mean we have no real life or we don't like real people. So what if we like to play it? Get over it. Posted: 10/12/09 15:35
	sue says: Second Life ruined my 10 year relationship with my man. He's off seeing his "Second Life" partner in another country as we speak! Posted: 10/18/09 07:56
	Jennifer says: Second Life gave my husband cancer of the heart and soul. It turned a wonderful hardworking family man into a man who left me and his children to be with his Second Life girlfriend. He devastated my and his children's life. I know that it was HIS choice but I still blame Second Life. Posted: 10/20/09 18:37
	Izzy says: My 16 year old daughter is totally addicted to SL and I am concerned that it is consuming her life! She spends hours on end on it and is loosing all communications skills in the real world. I don't know how to get her back to the real world! Posted: 10/26/09 18:33
	Acko2002 says: For a few years, I have been with a wonderful woman and have taken her daughter on as my own and on the whole, we are a happy family. For almost a year, my wife was deeply addicted to SL - spending up to 36 hours straight on the game, but luckily, we worked through the worst of it but now, I have implored her to give up SL and have just discovered, for the 3rd time, that she has been on SL behind my back. After the second time, we had a massive discussion and I told her that my trust was shaken but if she was serious about me and gave up the game, I'd work through it. My problem now is that she isn't on a lot (so she says) but I don't believe her at all when it comes to SL and what she is doing etc. I don't know what to do and it is truly tearing me up inside. Posted: 10/28/09 18:52
	shaytay says: I too have had my life turned upside down because of second life. My husband that i have been with since i was sixteen,I'm 32 now started an affair with a 50 year old woman which i dont think he knew at the time she was 50.Anyway it has been the most horrible thing to go through.So many years of love and trust and dedication to each other down the drain.He said it was over he was done with sl but i have caught him several times on it after this talking to the same woman.He also would call her on the phone.She knew he was married but didnt care.If he doesnt stop he will loose his two daughters and a woman that has been by his side through all the bad times and good times. I hate second life! Posted: 11/05/09 15:51
	Conflcted says: Gave up SL more than a year ago, and yes it almost ruined my life, met someone very special, connected with this person and had an affair and completely got torn up inside about it. Realized that instead of working with my own spouse that I ran from them to get on SL and do all the things I should have been doing with my spouse. I broke it off with my SL partner and am working with my spouse and things are a lot better but still do get that yearning and its good to read(sorry) how it still is messing up people and their families and how important it is to stay away. You can beat it, make your spouse your own avatar. They will love the attention and it will put that relationship where it once was so long ago. Posted: 11/14/09 16:20