I have very serious reservations about virtual communities like these that some people see as antidote for loneliness.

Forging relationships built completely on fantasy--it reminds me of the movie "Total Recall". What's real and what's a fantasy?

I first heard about Second Life during a radio program. During the show the commentator gave background information about the program and then he started to take calls from members. One of the call-ins related that he had been to several huge meet-ups. The radio host asked him what type of social event it was, and if singles used these meet-ups to make connections. I was dumbfounded when the caller said that basically what happens is that everybody brings a lap top and they sit side by side playing the game. Talk about red flags being raised!!!