Why would anyone pay money to play a dumb game online? (2nd life)?

So I just heard that this game that was on the news, 2nd Life, the one for people who don't have a RL, involves spending real money!! What gives? I reviewed their site and I don't get it. I mean com'on! Buy yourself imaginary clothes, furniture, land, cars and collectibles? Why? You can go to ebay and shell out the same money for something you can actually use! My first thought is I guess the internet found yet another way for drunks and other lowlives to shell out a spouse's well earned money! What do you think? Am I missing something here? I mean I'm sure it's "fun" and "addictive" but so are tons of other games you can own or play for free or a flat fee.



What's the appeal? I read that IBM has "a major presence". What the--? I guess they sell you stuff? I couldn't get any facts that made sense on why people like it or would even CONSIDER SHELLING OUT REAL DOUGH for nothing.



If you play the game, do you feel conned? Or what do you get out of it that you couldn't get for free?Why would anyone pay money to play a dumb game online? (2nd life)?
You don't HAVE to pay anything if you don't want to. It's a free download and you can do most of the stuff without money. It's extra stuff that you have to pay for. Which I never did. I used to play every now and again just to see what it was like. But for some reason I can't stay focused enough to "play" a "game" when there's no point or objective to it...wayyy to boring for me.
Games in some way are like drugs. It lets you escape from real life so some people are willing to spend money to get away to a virtual world.



Some people have a lot of money so they can spend it anyway they want.



Some people want to show off or brag about what they have, so they're willing to spend money just for that.Why would anyone pay money to play a dumb game online? (2nd life)?
Why would someone pay money to watch cars drive around in a circle for three hours? (NASCAR, in other words).



Why would people pay money to watch moving images on a flat screen? (TV or movies)



They find it entertaining. The fact that you don't does not mean the people who do are flawed.



EDIT: It sounds like you're bitter because your BF or husband is playing Second Life rather than spending time and money on you. Perhaps he finds the game more interesting than you.
These MMO games aren't just for people with no life. You can play at your own free time. You don't have to buy their stuff.Why would anyone pay money to play a dumb game online? (2nd life)?
well in some cases this game is used for good, some people build a school on there and teach students, and some times use 2nd life for blue print uses and other ways of showing how something is going to be built...on the other hand i can so see what you mean by buying imaginary clothes and things..



but you have to keep in mind alot of people in our world are very much unstable and are unhappy with reality...so they find freedom from making a 2nd life character, and living there may give them relief. you should be careful what is said on the Internet harming peoples feelings is not wise!

(i do not play second life)



Good Luck!
I myself don't play games like that, but the reason people play it is.. To escape Reality or To concour up somebody they could never be. Its fun to imagine how different you could be.

You can also make money out of Second Life.
Who cares people pay for different things all over the world.

Who's to say the stuff you buy is worthless to some one else