I'm Going to Save the World, Just Not the Real World

I’m Going to Save the World, Just Not the Real World

By Roxy Haji

 

 

 

After watching A Better World In Second Life, I am surprisingly and uncomfortably confused. I don’t know whether to be repulsed by Second Life or intrigued. I must say that my gut is going with the former, but I hate to disregard altogether the latter.

            One of the “activist” projects in Second Life deals with the Darfur crisis. Obviously, since I put quotations around the word activist, I am a bit cynical about just how active the projects are in making a difference in the world. Do I think avatars in cyber space riding on whales can affect change in the real world? Well, my first inclination is to say “Uh, no, duh.” However, after contemplating the possibility that the make believe can affect reality, I am now more inclined to dial down the cynicism and answer “Well, maybe.”

            Life is not black and white. Not everybody is affected by the same stimuli in the exact same way. We are not robots, yet. For now, we are still human beings with different mental and emotional processes. One person might be exposed to the virtual Darfur and end up only chatting with other virtual beings while climbing coral reefs or dancing on a giant squid (or, since Sudan is not in the ocean, ride on a lizard). This person might just want to play around. Or worse, this person might think they’re actually making a difference. But the bottom line is that they are climbing coral reefs and dancing on squids (or riding lizards); not taking any concrete action toward saving Darfur. Another person, however, might be exposed to the virtual world of Darfur and be inspired to do something once he or she logs off, or whatever, of Second Life. Once back in the real world, he or she might donate money to the Save Darfur fund or picket Washington to take more action or actually travel to Sudan. Without Second Life, this particular person may not have thought about engaging in a conflict thousands of miles away from his Cleveland, Ohio, or wherever else, computer desk.

            It’s too simple to say that the activist projects in Second Life can or cannot affect change, just like it’s too simple to say that a film depicting the horrors of the meat industry will make everyone who watches it a vegetarian. Some, after watching the film, will never touch another hamburger for the rest of their life; others will be in a line at McDonalds within five minutes of the end credits. Some Second Life users will use the program to further real world action. Others will use the program to play.

            I believe the best way to be an activist is to already have a passionate stance on something, and then to actively pursue it. And by pursuing it, I don’t mean as HotGuy123 in a make believe world. I mean as John Smith on Planet Earth. Maybe HotGuy123 finds inspiration from his make believe world, but then he returns to being John Smith, a real human being who can really do things. Perhaps John Smith is worried about how the poor in Los Angeles, California have trouble getting legal advice. He can join Justice Corps, an affiliate of AmeriCorps, and donate his time to helping these people in need with their legal woes. Unfortunately, for all those who might be interested in Justice Corps, it does not operate in New York. Apparently, it is only in Los Angeles. But AmeriCorps is another example of an activist program that an individual can volunteer for and actively make a difference through. Activism is for real people. And inspiration for activism can come in all forms.