Life #2

After reading the Cites & Insights article (Library 2.0 Revisited) for class I was very curious about this "Second Life" thing. Apparently I'm very behind on my web 2.0 knowledge. So, I looked it up. I have some friends who play WoW (World of Warcraft) and it seemed like basically the same thing, but rather than being mythical creatures teaming up to fight battles and accomplish quests, you create an avitar of yourself, or who you'd like to be, and do everyday stuff like chat with friends, design buildings and clothes, make money...though that part seemed a bit sketchy to me. Oh, you do get to fly!:)
So, I created a little person, kind of similar to me. It took a good hour to figure the very basics out, and I felt like I had massively wasted my time. But, I guess I can see how it would help to connect people who otherwise wouldn't. Like I saw "free translators" being advertised because apparently there are lots of people who speak a variety of languages in this "world."
The marketing concerned me. It's supposed to be a game, yet it's presented as a place to live out fantasies like being a fashion designer, scuba diving, having a big house, or even falling in love... also the fact that in order to get money "the easiest way is to convert real money" with your paypal account. Yikes.
Like I said, I know some people who play WoW, and yeah, it's scary how obsessed they can get. On the otherhand, some of them play on occasion just like any other form of entertainment and it's just good fun.

In my opinion, life is not to be lived in front of a screen. I do that enough with classwork, email, skype, facebook, news, and the occasional hulu or youtube break. If I had a "second life" that I had to keep up with and felt compelled to play constantly, it would be unhealthy. Humans need fresh air, sunlight, walks, face-to-face interaction, hugs, smiles (not just the :) kind), tactile experience like a paintbrush stroking a canvass or a book open in your lap...

I was wondering, has anyone else used this? What do you think? Is it really a tool libraries could use (other than provide a place it could be played...)? Feelings about the whole escapist/fantasy mindset? Please let me know if you disagree or if you have a very vibrant "second life" and I've offended you. I'd love to get your input!