In the interest of research...

Rapid change in communication technology has brought about a networked society.  Virtual communities are common place in society as people are no longer bound by geography, race or cultural heritage; characteristics that historically defined the traditional community.  Virtual communities are viral and are everywhere. 
These technologies and communities are fundamentally different from the world in which I grew up in, in the 1970’s.  A community was my local netball squad and my school.  To fully understand this new community (I mistakenly had believed that Facebook was a virtual community - but I am better informed now; it is a social network) I have joined 'Second Life', in the interests of social science - of course!  As Turkle states, “The internet has become a significant social laboratory for experimenting with the self constructions and reconstructions of self that characterise postmodern life.  In its virtual reality, we self-fashion and self-create" (Turkle, 1995, Life on the screen).  I will endeavor to self fashion, self create and dive into the world of Virtual communities.  Watch this space...

Gain an understanding of what Second Life is about and what it offers in this attached video.

 
Please view the link below to get a light hearted look at Second Life.  Daily Show with John Stewart - Avatar Hereos