Purpose

Second Life is an online virtual world in which a person is able to escape the real, tangible world around them, through the use of an Avatar (yes something similar to the movie Avatar) a person is able to create a “Second Life” for themselves. A user can be whoever or whatever they want in the second life world. It is a means to escape this universe and enter into one somewhere in the world of the Internet. It allows you the ability to connect to people that the current restraints of things such as gravity, time and space put limitations on in our universe. Politicians have seen the opportunity in this game and are taking advantage of the fact that they can reach people all over the world through this community. As a result, politicians are beginning to use the Second Life universe as a means for political advocacy. The allowance of press conferences and lobbying within this world provides a forum for their messages to be presented.

The purpose of this blog will be to follow my experience through the game and document my understanding of political advocacy through this form of social networking.

I will create an Avatar, find employment and search out the virtual capitol hill, a far less expensive approach than physically travelling to Washington or Ottawa in the real world. The reasoning for chosing the american alternative to Canada's Ottawa is because the game is very much American based and at this point I am uncertain if I can find a Canadian Political hub, but it is certainly worth a try.