The average age in the metaverse game, Second Life, is somewhere around 30, according to a straw poll in the Second Life forums. The minimum age in the game is 18, and the oldest players to admit to it have been over 60. There are, apparently, minors who manage to slip into the game on their parents’ credit card. This is painfully obvious in some in-world “business transactions” (the “L$800” in this conversation is roughly equivalent to only $3.25 US):
Davo: Yo
Me: Hi Davo.
Davo: Hi
Me: You said hi first :) What’s up?
Davo: Is It Possible For Me To Get A Plane Now That Is L$800 And i pay you Lets see L$150 a week
Davo: i pay L$200 right away
Davo: Erm u know the LODESTAr is it possible for u to write a contract or sumtin for me where i paid L$150 a week and i pay L$200 right away
Me: I’m sorry, but I don’t sell stuff like that Davo. I’m sure that you can just save up, though. Or maybe buy a less expensive plane?
Davo: Darn
Davo: U can trust me dude
Davo: ull pay 250 right away
Davo: ill apy L$200 a week
Me: For any new player, I’d suggest not spending more than you earn. If you really want a good plane, save up for it. Have a look at Busy Ben’s in Oak Grove. There are some good, smaller vehicles that cost less.
Davo: Erm
Davo: hang on me consult sum friends…
I really don’t want to take money from this kid. The Lodestar is my biggest, most expensive plane — the luxury model. This is like a teen who walks into a Dodge dealership and asks to buy a Viper on his weekly allowance.
Sigh. Part of me wants to just give him a copy. The other part wants to send him off to There.com to play with other kids his age. Who let him in the front door, anyway?