Would you ever consider Second Life as your "Fourth Place"?
First of all, let's get these numbers straight. Starbucks calls their coffee shops your "third place", putting it behind your home (your first place), and work (your second place). According to MMOGChart.com, over 13 million people consider Second Life, and dozens of other Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) their "fourth place".
Although most of these online games are war-like and apocalyptic, there are many that cast a more tranquil, or life-like setting. In Second Life, you can meet people, shop, buy real estate, establish a business and transact with other people. Second Life has it's own currency called "Linden dollars" that's used for all transaction inside the game. There are over 1.5 million people registered, and about 640,000 of those actively log on.
Recently, Pontiac, Wells Fargo, Vodafone, and over 60 schools and educational organizations have gone to great extents to establish a presence in Second Life. Some have even purchased entire "islands" that they are building out as entertainment destination complexes to attract people and promote community both inside the game, and in the real world.
Wells Fargo's intension is to teach young people how to manage their finances. Hmmm, interesting concept! Vodafone wants to sell mobile phones to "avatars" (your character inside Second Life) with hopes that their real world counterparts will do the same at Vodafone stores on earth. Educators are exploring ways it can be used to promote learning.
Should Crown Financial Ministries consider a presence here too?
As George Murphy (Crown CTO) says; "...We must go where they are."
