Virtual Reality

The virtual world can be a tough concept. Many consider it to be not real, cause that is technically what virtual means. But to many people it is very real. The virtual world is just an extension of themselves and their lives. People become so involved and so consumed with their virtual lives, its almost just as real as what happens in the real world. For example Dibbell's article about a rape in cyberspace greatly effected the woman who was actually raped in the MOO. To many other people that doesn't even make sense. It didn't happen in real life, how could it have so much of an effect on her. But to her it was almost as bad as if it would have happened in real life. Should there be some sort of regulation for the things you can say in online communities such as the lambdaMOO? I think in a perfect world there would be, but it's virtually impossible to control what people are doing over the internet, and we are entitled to free speech.
I think virtual reality does have an affect on interpersonal communication. I think spending so much time in the virtual world can affect the way you communicate with people in the real world. I think people get so used to communicating over the internet, and not face to face that it can make them a little more introverted. Once someone gets so used to communicating in the internet, and how comfortable it is, it can make it a lot harder for them to communicate face to face.
I also think that people can have very real friendships over the internet. Even though they don't see each other or communicate face to face, they are still talking every day, and can grow very close even over the internet. However, I do think that a virtual relationship will never be the same as a "real world" interpersonal relationship. Being together in real life and being able communicate in person brings your relationship to a different level. It makes you closer, and is a totally different relationship than a virtual relationship.