Real Love Possible in SL or Not?

This thread on the SL Exchange Forums had me thinking about this topic so I thought I would write a bit about it. Like some of the posters in that thread I agree it is possible. Although you are only represented by an avatar in Second Life, the personality and emotions expressed by the person behind the avatar can be quite real unless you are role-playing or just all out lying. Lying is possible in Real Life too so it’s not something limited just to on-line games. Attraction purely to physical form is out as avatars can be changed at any time and come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes so it is the personality..the real you that comes out more. The personality is what attracts in SL first the rest can come along as you exchange pictures or talk voice. This isn’t limited only to Second Life but can and has happened in other on-line games long before it. I know because it has happened to me before.

One advantage to meeting someone on-line first over that if you saw them first on the street or in a bar you might think way out of my league or blah…by meeting and getting to know the personality first you get to know the most important part of the person. Looks can change or fade over time where as the personality is more constant. True compatibility comes mostly from personality, physical form is a lesser factor. In real life, this process of getting to know the personality of a person usually is much slower as you might just get together for a date once a week and even then might be doing an activity together that doesn’t give you much time to talk in depth. Getting on-line is more convient so we do it more often especially if your job requires it.

Del and I talk at least once a day, sometimes as much as several times a day, the only other person in my life I spend that much time with is my son since the rest of my family and friends are a 2 1/2 hour drive away. So I’ve gotten to know lots about Del even the little things like what he likes to eat and drink and the more important things like what he is like when he’s tired, frustrated, angry, happy…the whole range of emotions. The only thing we haven’t really experienced is a fight and we have been partnered since early February without a single one. Do I really love him? I’ll admit I do and he knows that. How he feels is his story to tell so I won’t get into that here. Whether that love will ever develop into anything in real life is unknown and there is no big hurry to find out. Are we compatible? That can only be judged right now on our life in Second Life, based only on that I do know he and I can spend lots of time alone together without fighting or arguing, that we like many of the same things, and that our personalities seem very compatible. I know I have put on no act to try to impress him. I am just me…like it or leave it. I haven’t focused only on my positives but given him the negatives too. Right now we are just enjoying our time in Second Life together, my feelings for him have only added spice to our relationship…not subtracted from it so what harm is there?

For those that believe real love in Second Life can’t be possible I ask why not? This is a big topic so I might talk about it still more at a future time. Feel free to comment and add your own feelings to this post.