This document discusses various topics related to virtual worlds and their impact on society. It references several academic papers and news articles about politics, religion, relationships, and businesses being conducted in virtual worlds like Second Life. The document suggests that virtual worlds are becoming more integrated into real-world activities as politicians give press conferences in them, religious groups use them for worship, and businesses promote real locations through virtual representations of them.

1. How real are virtual worlds?
Daniel Livingstone
University of the West of Scotland

2. 1994

4. Life on the Screen:
Identity in the Age of
the Internet (1997)
Cybercultures reader
(2nd Edition 2006)
Medicalization of Cyberspace (2008)
http://medicalizationofcyberspace.wordpress.com/

5. Law and
Disorder in
Cyberspace
http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2008/02/ziggy-revealed.html
http://www.virtuallawconference.com/
http://virtuallyblind.com/
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/cyberone/

6. Crimes against the person
Is there a person in cyberspace to be harmed?
Read: A rape in cyberspace by Julian Dibbell

7. http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/10/15/us-congress-launchs-probe-into-virtual-economies/
http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/10/15/us-congress-launchs-probe-into-virtual-
economies/

8. Where there are laws
... there are politicians
2001: quot;Indeed, only 16% of MPs have
their own websites, and a recent survey
described most of those as comically
inept.quot;
2007: US Congress representative
gives press conference in Second Life
followed by a presidential candidate
2007: (Unofficial) Front National
HQ opens in Second Life - and
is met with vigorous protests

9. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/dailyprayer/

10. Faith and
Spirituality
USA Today
Support for Healing (on
YouTube)
Yesha in Second Life
- Christian Ministry
secondlife://Yesha/171/213/31/
Do virtual worlds enhance
online worship?

11. Career and
love online:
Alayne
Wartell's
Second Life
(Channel 4)

12. Virtual Relationships
Infidelity on the Internet
Wonderland: Virtual Adultery and
Cyberspace Love

13. Promoting real environments with virtual
ones...

14. Some References
Politics: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1132136.stm
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/obama-is-first-in-their-second-life/
http://www.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2007/04/obama_puppet_in.html
Front National in SL:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/jan/20/news.france
http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2007/01/stronger_than_h.html
Faith in SL: http://supportforhealing.com/
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-04-01-second-life-religion_N.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR2007061501902.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm9xYWYUxI4
Virtual Relationships: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/jan/21/life1.lifemagazine2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Infidelity-Internet-Virtual-Relationships-Betrayal/dp/1570717222
Promoting real environments:
Virtual Holland: http://www.ourvirtualholland.nl/en
Swedish Embassy in SL: http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____16345.aspx
Businesses based on real environments: http://www.dublinsl.com/index.php