Virtual Worlds

  Virtual worlds are online communities in which users come face to face with an enviornment similar to the real world. In virtual worlds, which is usually in a 3D format, the users are usually faced with real life situations in which they have to make decisions. Virtual worlds can be used for many different factors. For example, vitual worlds can be used for training or educational purposes. Virtual worlds can also be used for medical, sales, or just recreational purposes.
  There are good things and bad things about virtual worlds. One of the benefits to virtual worlds is that it allows for users to use their creativity. It can also be a very good tool for training in jobs because virtual worlds are stimulated to be a model of what should be done and its similar to real life. So one who is being trained for a job will get the real feel of the job before they start working. Virtual worlds allows the users to get full perspective of what they are looking at. For example, in the article titled "Avatar II", author Stephanie Simon talks about a virtual world which is a hospital with patients all lined up in the emergency room. This allows for nurses to learn how they would deal with patients at that kind of a moment. Furthermore, she explains that this method is used in many hospitals as a training drill so that doctors and nurses will learn how to handle themselves in different situations.
  Another benefit to virtual worlds is that it can help users to improve their moods. For example, in the article "Chelsea, In Room 100, its Sid and Nancy All Over Again", the users create the hotel for themseleves on Second Life, a virtual world, where users are avatars. They create it to their own liking which satisfies them because its not like the actual hotel, but as to what they wish the hotel were like. In return, they feel a self satisfaction. Virtual worlds also allow lonely or shy people to find company online which gives them self satisfaction as well.
  Virtual worlds also have its cons. For example, the world is still a 3D world, its not real life. Therefore, users might fantasize it as a real world where its not. Also, users might behave in ways in which they might not behave in real life. There might be abuse in virtual worlds that might encourage them to get violent in real life as well.