"Its interesting watching how it all develops."

Indeed. IIRC some real world companies had set up shop in Second Life. I can imagine some interesting opportunities for education, global activism etc. in a more controlled or focused virtual environment. As to the purely social/entertainment side of it, I'm I see it as just another incentive for people to tune out of real, in person interaction. But, for better or worse, that seems to be the way things are going. * *

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken