Second Life - creepy or am I just old?

I guess I'm behind the times because I'm just finding out about this "Second Life" online gaming experience that is supposedly the hottest thing going right now.

The game is self-explanatory by the title - you get to live a second online life, purchasing dollars to spend, running a business, scoring with the ladies, etc., etc., etc. I've read a couple of articles on it and people are quoted about how in real life they can't do this but on "Second Life" they can, etc., etc. And a lot of people seem to be replacing their "real" lives with their better "virtual" ones.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone here participate?

2. Am I wrong to be creeped out by this?

 

I gave it a shot. Learned to fly, wandered around. Some girl from China followed me a bit, and then I got ignored by three people when I tried to talk to them.

It was way too much like my real life, so I quit.

 

Never played this game, though I'll give it a shot when my home computer gets fixed. However, I've played the Sims religiously for a few years and you could suggest I need a life for playing so avidly a pretend life.

 

I've played it before ... couldn't keep my interest.

 

OK, this guy is definitely into second life a bit too much: http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/public/article/SB118670164592393622.html?mod=blog

 

I vote creepy. Besides, it would cut into my SportsJournalists.com time.

 

A House That's Just Unreal:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/garden/09second.html?em&ex=1186891200&en=7dd41b2c1a4e476a&ei=5087%0A

Apparently, with a second life comes a second mortgage.

 

The Communications dept at the college I attend bought an island in 2nd life. We (the journalism students) found it less than amusing that they were spending money on that shit instead of on better journalism teachers.

 

I liked this alternate online universe where I can make a bunch of pretend friends and the cute chicks find me funny and attractive the first time I was there. When it was called sportsjournalists.com.

 

We were lying.

 

Even about the lipstick on the walls?