Second What?

Here's a quick question that I've been mulling over for some time:

What's Second Life's biggest problem?

I mean this from the perspective of people scratching their heads over it and wondering what all the fuss is about.

There are many problems of course, but the main one for me is hinted at in Debbie Weil's recent post from Las Vegas, in Steve Crescenzo's post from a while back and countless other people who I've discussed it with.

But, I'm going to confuse your thinking by saying I'm very pro-Second Life, sort of.

So come on, before I give my answer, I'd like to hear your thoughts. Free virtual cup of coffee if you guess what I'm thinking.

Comments

[Vincent Sorel]

Well, I can see why Second Life is interesting, but for me it has two major drawbacks:

- Are people really willing to spend a lot of time developing a "second life" when they barely have time to do all they want to do with their "first" life!

- I find the "quality" of the interaction in Second Life quite limited. In my eyes, it is just a chatroom in a complex graphic environment!

My feeling is that Second Life will only ever have a limited reach. As the stats show, a lot of people are willing to try it (and do so), but then never go back! I registered with Second Life about 4 months ago; visited twice in the first two weeks; and then never went back.

[Alex Manchester]

I'd agree Vince, that the initial user experience with SL is pretty bad. Web lag, confusing and difficult controls at first, and the general vagueness that seems to go with it are very off-putting.

I'd also agree that few people really have time for a "second life".

However, whether it (and by "it" I'm referring to Second Life specifically) has limited reach is connected to the point about having time for a second life. For me it's in those two words where the true problem - or maybe barrier - lies.

[Colm O'Callaghan]

I've never been into Second Life and it's been worrying me to be honest; it seems that everyone is talking about and everyone is thinking - 'we've got to be in there'. I'm based in Sweden and the country has set up an embassy in there. A Swedish bank is also in there and you can carry out real financial transactions in this virtual world.
What worries me is that we've got yet another channel to keep tabs on. Like my colleagues above, how do people have time for the Second life when the first one is pretty much occupied - or am I just getting old and unwilling to change!