From Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”
Real Life (RL) identities are the ones that adhere to us from birth. We always have our RL identities, which cling tenaciously to our consciousness if not our interfaces. Virtual Reality (VR) is a relatively new concept for the majority of us.
There are virtual homes, virtual relationships, and virtually anything you can dream up in these 3-D universes. The space between RL and VR shrinks with every technological step we take forward.
Sometimes there are RL repercussions for VR identities. Identity fraud is booming; the virtual information tied directly to our RL identities lies meekly to be snatched up by the first virulent cracker (as opposed to hacker) who wants it. Our profiles are captured and sold.[Cookies anyone?]
We are individuals just as much in RL as in a VR--respect our privacies. In that, we err online. This merging of souls is not always healthy--barriers are sometimes good and necessary. We should not be bartered, traded, or sold. Use your digital high-calibre firearm/wall to shield yourself.