Wile surfing the wordpress blogs, i found a quite interesting article called “Is Romance in a virtual world real?” And Ii could not help to reply:

A very well written piece you got here. As I have experienced, and rather also have experienced first anded, for many, if not most people, second life is about emotions.

Mostly, i think, this is contributed because what every you do, your mind and soul are always there, where as your body does not follow into the virtual world. Supporting the theory that everything you encounter has influence upon who you are (and vice versa) It is not hard to see how you can form a emotional relationship with people you meet in a virtual world.

Since physical appearance is a no issue in virtual worlds like Second Life (after all you can change alter your avatar as wanted..  and it is even possible to make a good looking avatar with only freebies now a days) the difference between persons is more found in the difference in your personality, emotions.

Another thing: people in virtual worlds are more open about their wants and needs. On both emotional and sexual issues. Especially if they are talking to people they don;t know in real life. Simple because it is safe.  If someone thinks you are weird because of your different sexual fantasies, you just mute them, and delete them form your friends list, only to never encounter him or her again. And unless you already send pictures or  an address, you will never know who it was in real life, if he or she walked by.

The above 2 reasons (emotions and mind being more important, and the ability to be more open about things in a virtual world) can make people form very strong emotional bonds with each other.  Maybe even stronger sometimes then any real world bond.

I think that knowingly enter into a emotional relationship with someone in a virtual world, while you know your real world partner would not like this, is a form of cheating.

In the end , I think dealing with virtual relationships is more a case to case based issue. For some, trying out new things in a Virtual World, can sparkle a new interest into the Real World relationship. while for others, it surely might be the beginning of the end of the relationship.