Get a second life

I've just read about an extreme example of serial bullying. First, the victim was chucked around by her tormentors. Then it escalated. The poor woman's house was burnt down. Even worse, the bullies started shooting guns at her. I couldn't help but laugh.

This was an example of bullying (or "griefing") in the virtual world of Second Life. I hadn't realised it but cyberspace bullying is a terrible thing. Luckily there is a heroic band of Nottingham University academics who are willing to investigate this scourge and then travel to Switzerland on a freebie to give their findings.

Nottingham University's website tells us:

Experts initially carried out an observational study during three different time periods over one week.  Then they rented a plot of land in Second Life, set up their own office and ran four cyber based focus groups. Avatar, Cray Cramer, the Second Life face of The University of Nottingham, approached residents and around 50 responded. The residents were asked about their experiences and responses to bullying. The sessions were monitored in the real world of The University of Nottingham by Dr Chesney and Occupational Psychologist, Dr Iain Coyne. The discussions were filmed by one of their PhD researchers and the text was emailed back to the real world.

So a bunch of academics enter a make-believe world and talk to a bunch of make-believe characters about make-believe acts of bullying and then they plan to relate it back to the real world. It's not very rigorous is it? How, for instance, do they know if the make-believe characters are telling the (make believe or otherwise) truth? Bloody hell! Can you imagine Karl Popper doing this? And can anyone give me a reason why this project isn't just nonsense on virtual stilts?

Robbie Millen

Comments

[Tom]

The issue of 'griefing' in online games has existed for years, since the internet began. It is common knowledge that some players get enjoyment from disrupting other players enjoyment. This is done in any number of ways, to hinder progress in an online game, or simply irritate another players.

The argument however, that acts perpetrated in the online space can be classed in the same light as in reality is ridiculous. Recently in the game 'Second Life' a virtual 'rape' was reported, the victim seeking to recieve the same treatment had it been real. This not only acts to diminish the significance of it's real life equivalent, but negates the fact that the two things are so different the comparison is an insult to any person who has suffered real rape.

Any form of griefing can be easily combated by simply logging off, or muting the other player, or any other number of options provided to the player.

People who write about online worlds, who neither play, nor understand them would do well to try them, to remove the stigmas and misconceptions that surround them.

[Hein Maassen, Leidschendam, The Netherlands]

I can understand those psychologists from Nottingham University. Of course virtual rapes or arsons are non-events, but the emotions which surround them are real. Investigating these emotions surely is a work of science.

[Walt O'Brien]

For those addicted to online serial bullying, here is the Olympics-grade net game for those who cannot get enough of exactly that which makes French Foreign Legionnaires or cloistered nuns of even the most seasoned of online thugs: http://www.sissyfight.com/

It's been around since 1999, and is still growing in popularity. Also makes me feel better about not getting my teaching degree.

Sites like this show people the importance of being decent instead of being middle-middle classless brownies, in the same way a game called "Beachhead 2000" did which was discontinued because it exactly allowed one to experience what it is like to oppose an amphibious assault by Marines. I used to give out copies to those who had asked me what the U.S. Marine Corps was like: this gave them the opportunity to shoot lots of virtual Marines before getting overrun, bayonetted, then shot.

Some of those people still aren't talking to me. It's called reverse conditioning.

All families are Alexander Calder mobiles with one "runt of the litter" dangling out on the edges for each. There ought to be a sim for family structure-related bullying, but I daresay that's too close to the bone, too. It would do a world of good, though.

[Matthew Riley]

Vitrual bullying? Go cry some virtual tears.