Dr. Neil Hair

Ive known for a while that people were making money (good money relatively speaking) from farming gold – in popular virtual worlds – to sell to other gamers who dont have the time to rack up the points. Ive known for some time that people buy and sell characters developed over time with special powers and abilities. What I didnt realize however was that people from the poorest parts of the world were using it as a way of supplementing income. Part of me is amazed by the whole sub culture that has developed around virtual worlds – especially as it relates to their economies. Part of me says good for the person wanting to make money from it. And part of me realizes that making an extra $77 a month must take game play of at least ten hours a day. Im thinking digital sweat shops – and to my mind that is a rather sad reflection on a modern society that turns having fun in a virtual environment into a form of modern day serfdom.