Is Place Still a Place in Social Virtual Worlds?

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the meaning of “place” in social virtual worlds, focusing on Second Life. We address questions that include the following: How do geographers view place? How can geographical points of view be used to inform how place is defined in a social virtual world? Can we identify a classification of places in a social virtual world like Second Life? We begin with a review, guided by Cresswell, of how place is conceptualized by geographers. We consequently propose a definition of place in social virtual worlds to include locations that are viewed as real and inhabited by real selves in avatar form, a source of meaning and affect for place occupants and their users, constituted by a gathering of heterogeneous entities and forces in relation with the virtual environment at multiple scales, and constantly emerging or becoming. We suggest and examine a classification of social virtual worlds that include commercial/government/public places, places for embodiment re-creation, places for improvement and respite, places for intellectual and artistic engagement, and primarily residential places. We conclude that place is still a place in social virtual worlds, though different from actual-world equivalents in response to the affordances and shortcomings associated with the technology.