Second Life Partnerships Gone Wild

Ah, to be "virtually" young and in love. SL partnerships seem to be cropping up all over the place as of late. I know several people who have tied, untied and retied the proverbial knot, and that is just in my five short months in the SL universe. So what makes a virtual union so appealing? That is dependent on the individuals involved. I have met people who are in a thriving relationship in RL as well as SL, though not always exclusive to both. I met one couple who is very happily married in RL, and both parties are partnered in SL, but not to one another. They lead completely separate SL lives and when the PC gets turned off in the evening, they are still happily married. The female in the relationship once told me that SL was their way of "cheating on one another, without actually cheating". To them, it is a way of having variety in their relationship without anyone getting hurt, because it isn't "real". Though interesting, these types of situations are not the norm, in most cases I have found that people who are partnered in SL are also in a relationship in RL, giving them just another adventure to embark on.

Even more interesting are those SL partnerships that involve a "mister or mistress". In these cases, it plays out much like RL in that one person in a relationship is partnered to someone else, but still maintains "a little something extra" on the side. Honestly I don't understand the need for this, it seems like an awful lot of work to me. I do realize that there are many people out there who have found "the one" in SL, and that there are always some manner of feelings involved in any relationship in SL, whether it be just friends or more, but I don't see how it is any different than RL in the way that, it's much easier to the conscience to simply break off one relationship before starting another. Feelings might get hurt, but honesty is still the best way to go.

Wow that went way off the track I intended...my full intent was to shed a glowing light on the thought of SL partnerships. Knowing that you have someone to spend your time online with is always a plus, especially if there is a connection between you, so with that said it seems the logical next step to partner with that person. It's a declaration that your avi is linked to someone on a personal level. Some take it more seriously than others, and actually have a full out virtual wedding, though I have a sneaking suspicion that it the lady of the partnership that wants/needs that part. Because, let's face facts, every girl wants that big beautiful wedding she has always dreamed of, and SL can make all those nuptial dreams come true.

All in all, I think that SL partnerships are based on the needs of the individuals within the relationship, with both trying to consider the feelings of the other. Not unlike a relationship based in RL. A lot of people try to convince themselves that SL is just a game, but in the end all have to admit that, that is not always the case. SL is a place where "love" can bloom and flourish, or wither and die. How it effects you, is entirely up to well-you.