More Virtual Reality Ethics

Once again the new virtual reality world called Second Life ignites a flurry of ethical quandaries. Patrick Davidson's talk at Ignite (http://ignite.oreilly.com/2009/12/patrick-davison-and-the-plight-of-the-digital-chickens.html) about virtual chicken farming raises some interesting issues relating to virtual property ownership and anonymous social interactions. The main thrust of his talk, however, is that different people perceive the function of virtual spaces differently, and this difference in perception leads to conflict.

When dealing with digital ethics, it is important to keep in mind the different ways of perceiving digital reality. To some it is a new way of being, to others it is merely a tool, to others still it is just a game. When conflicts of digital ethics arise, it is often the case, but rarely noticed, that the conflict stems from a fundamentally different view of digital reality.