When your virtual world life merges with your real life

Normally we think of taking ourselves into a virtual world, so that our avatar has aspects of our real world personality. However, the reverse is occurring for some. They are merging aspects of their avatar or in-world existence with their real lives. For example:

• Having an email address that using the avatar's name
• Setting up meetings/events using the time zone for the virtual world
• Answering to their avatar's name
• Having business cards for their avatar
• Owning a blog in the avatar's name

Will blurring the lines between real life and virtual life end up being confusing? Will it actually allow the person to have one life that spans two realities? I don't know the answers...do you?

BTW you know someone has got to be studying this!

---

Technorati tag: Second Life, Virtual Worlds