http://computerscience1124.blogspot.com/ , According to this blog social networking sites such as second life have had more success than failure and believes it's a good way to socialize, buy and sell through this site, since it uses real money. He or She makes a very interesting point that real transactions are being made through these site but is it social or anti-social? Networking sites may bring people together online but in the real world they may still feel awkward and like strangers when standing face to face with one another, which may just about be to steps backwards. As social creatures, we must remember the art of communication and not just how to speak through typing but vocalizing and being comfortable talking to another person without being shy, scared or timid. The next generation may be bold and brave online but are they weak and scared in the real world? Let's all take a deeper look at the severe long term consequences rather than the short term benefits. What is socializing online doing to the human race?

http://brainwashedpeople.blogspot.com/, This blog has many interesting points but one that stood out to me in particular is the following statement : " Are we so tired of our actual reality,(and) to (o) stressed out with the so called real world that we need to create a new one in order to be happy." This makes us think about our relationship with the real world and our relationship with virtual online realities. If we're going online to find happiness in a world that doesn't even exist, we're obviously desperate for a better life. I too thought I could find happiness online but when I found Jesus Christ to be my God, my life has been lived in a completely new mind set and true joy.

Are you living a second life or in second life?

Many people with disabilities who cannot enjoy the fun and freedom of hanging out with friends are enjoying these everyday privileges on Social Networks such as Second Life. Virtual Realities are proving to be a very useful way of socializing and marketing many products.

Obama's campaign's use of social networking tools

• "In short, Obama, the former Chicago community organizer, created the ultimate online political machine." Barack Obama was able to create the ultimate political machine because of his campaign's focus on using the internet as a way to achieve voter support.
  

• "By July 2008, the campaign had raised more than $200 million from more than a million online donors (Obama had raised $340 million from all sources by the end of June), and MyBO had logged more than a million user accounts and facilitated 75,000 local events, according to Blue State Digital." Use of the internet as a way of getting voter donation and support is not only cheap but it's fast and very effective, taht's why Barack Obama had such a successful champaign.
  

• "104,000 Texans had joined Obama's social-networkingsite, www.my.barackobama.com, known as MyBO. MyBO and the main Obama site had already logged their share of achievements, particularly in helping rake in cash." Obama's champaign decided to create a network similar to myspace and facebook known as "MYBO".
  

• "The world has now caught up with the technology."The Obama campaign, he adds, recognized this early: "The key networking advance in the Obama field operation was really deploying community-building tools in a smart way from the very beginning." Obama realized that many americans do go online and understand how to use the internet, this was a great advantage for him and thats the reason he fame and support took off and sky rocketed.
  

• "Throughout the political season, the Obama campaign has dominated new media, capitalizing on a confluence of trends. Americans are more able to access media-rich content online; 55 percent have broadband Internet connections at home, double the figure for spring 2004. Social-networking technologies have matured, and more Americans are comfortable with them." Social-networking is proving to be a very useful and important part of any campaign. American's are becoming internet savey's and now the internet can be used as a way of cmmunicating with all american's. Barack Obama used the internet and Social-networking sites to publicize himself and to help him win the 2008 Presidential Election.
  

Social Networking

DID you KNOW????

That your life may just about, be online.
Is your life the same as offline or are you a completely different person online?
Are there things that you do or say online that you would never do or say offline?
Have you ever bullied someone online?
Do you only tell the people online how your really feeling on the inside and walk around as if everything is perfect offline?
If the answer is yes to any of the above questions you may want to think about ways to start appreciating who you are outside of a virtual reality.