Genesis of the Virtual World, Exodus from the Real World

Edward Castronova's book "Exodus to the Virtual World: How Online Fun is Changing Reality" discusses his speculations on how virtual worlds and video games are affecting and will affect the real world. Castronova claims that if a virtual world is more fun or rewarding than being in the real world then people will spend more and more time in a virtual world. The truth of the matter is that the development of virtual worlds have opened up an infinite frontier that can be created and will be explored, creating more opportunities for people to leave behind this reality. We ought to face this change constructively rather than with fear. If there is a growing exodus to the virtual world because people think that it offers more than the real world does, then we need to change society into a place where these people will find an equal or greater amount of meaning and satisfaction than the virtual world. The virtual world is attractive because it offers pleasure and satisfaction at a cheaper price than the real world without the financial stress, social injustice and political strife. There are no obvious solutions to these issues, but we can make the real world a place that makes obtaining an education more fun than button-mashing and working at a meaningful job more satisfying than reaching level 100. If we can achieve this, then the exodus to the virtual world will not be such a scary thing.