Boogie Panda (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} boogiepanda) wrote,@ 2008-06-30 23:58:00 |
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Dystopia
It is funny how a couple of hours can really change your frame of mind. It almost didn't happen. I could have kept my head buried in the sand, eagerly optimistic as ever. When I clicked a link and filled out a form last week, the conversation I had tonight was the farthest thing from my mind. I was thinking, "gee it would be nice if I could cash out some of my virtual credits and get a PS3, or maybe an EeePC".
Instead I got a wakeup call.
The complexity of virtual commerce came crashing down around me as I heard exactly what kinds of nightmares the people that take my virtual money and give me real money have to put up with. What was a fun pass-time for the last few years now seems like a really bad delusion. Its the kind of thing that can really shake a person up. On the one hand, it has helped me reaffirm my commitment to some things, but makes me really question others.
It makes me wonder if there was anyone in the tobacco industry that did a complete 180 the second they realized the evils they were unleashing on the world. After tonight I have to question whether I want to be one of the actors making virtual commerce look glamorous. I have a good day job, I do the other stuff for fun. Its really easy for me to shrug and say, "eh" when things go boom.
I also have a lot of other questions weighing on my mind now. Fortunately for me it is after midnight and the real world calls. I have to be up and at work in the morning.
It is funny how a couple of hours can really change your frame of mind. It almost didn't happen. I could have kept my head buried in the sand, eagerly optimistic as ever. When I clicked a link and filled out a form last week, the conversation I had tonight was the farthest thing from my mind. I was thinking, "gee it would be nice if I could cash out some of my virtual credits and get a PS3, or maybe an EeePC".
Instead I got a wakeup call.
The complexity of virtual commerce came crashing down around me as I heard exactly what kinds of nightmares the people that take my virtual money and give me real money have to put up with. What was a fun pass-time for the last few years now seems like a really bad delusion. Its the kind of thing that can really shake a person up. On the one hand, it has helped me reaffirm my commitment to some things, but makes me really question others.
It makes me wonder if there was anyone in the tobacco industry that did a complete 180 the second they realized the evils they were unleashing on the world. After tonight I have to question whether I want to be one of the actors making virtual commerce look glamorous. I have a good day job, I do the other stuff for fun. Its really easy for me to shrug and say, "eh" when things go boom.
I also have a lot of other questions weighing on my mind now. Fortunately for me it is after midnight and the real world calls. I have to be up and at work in the morning.
