Dwight's Second Second Life

One of the interesting characteristics of television is its ability to self-reference itself and build upon those references. I suppose it comes as no surprise then that other cultural media forms (SL, the YouTube, etc.) that sometimes reference television in their user generated content are now also being referenced by television. Where will all this snow balling get us? Well, I don't know yet but if I figure it out before you it will probably be posted on this blog.

Anyway, here's a the YouTube clip of The Office when Dwight is talking about his avatar Dwight in Second Life. I haven't found one yet that has the part when Dwights creation of SL within SL to make a SL SL for himself yet. I'm sure it will also end up here when I find it.

Life's Intrinsic Value

I read recently that, "Human lives are intrinsically valuable." The argument the author was making was that we should do all that we can to maximize reproduction including space colonization as a moral imperative. Maybe he was just a horny philosopher that wanted to get laid. I see the potential for the religious right to get a hold of this argument. Sex might turn into a holy imperative. Fun?!

Anyway, what about the colonization of virtual space? Are the lives of our avatars valuable because they are the internet "face" of a real human? Or are they just valued based on how much you have bought in terms of skin, hair, shape, etc.? If our avatars are intrinsically valuable, than we should want the babies we can buy in second life to be more than just accessories that we basically "wear." We should want them to carry on our virtual genes and ideals right? Maybe we should petition the Lindens? Who do we talk to about getting to really reproduce in SL? I mean enough people are having sex all the time without any consequences. But what if I want to reproduce there without having to buy the baby and just "wear" it?

Another Fellow YouTuber's Take on SL