I'm all about the gaming today
There's a very interesting discussion here, started by Schneier's inclusion of the word 'imaginary' when referencing World of Warcraft scams, phishing, and hacks. Something has value to a person in World of Warcraft, regardless of it being in the physical world or not. Some amount of value, that someone has spent time and energy to earn, albeit through the rules of a virtual world, is just as valuable to them as a physical item of value that they have created through their own effort.
Also in the article are referenced some of The Register's articles about the state of virtual worlds, particularly in Asia. There was a story a while back of one man stabbing another for selling his "dragon sabre" without his permission. The story I linked above discussed a woman being charged, with a real world charge, for emptying out her exe's account in a version of Lineage.
Where does the line stop? Human energy is invested in these things in the same way as in the rest of life.
Interesting things.
Also in the article are referenced some of The Register's articles about the state of virtual worlds, particularly in Asia. There was a story a while back of one man stabbing another for selling his "dragon sabre" without his permission. The story I linked above discussed a woman being charged, with a real world charge, for emptying out her exe's account in a version of Lineage.
Where does the line stop? Human energy is invested in these things in the same way as in the rest of life.
Interesting things.