I couldn't resist this. A Japanese man reportedly fell in love with a virtual girl named Nene Anegasaki and held a public wedding reception in Tokyo.
Since the girl doesn't really exist, "Sal9000" reportedly took his Nintendo DS to Guam for a legal ceremony and honeymoon, and broadcast the reception online.
"Sal9000" met his bride on the video game "Love Plus," which requires players to take out the virtual girl on dates, buy her gifts and make their girlfriends happy just as they would in real life. If the two are compatible, they advance to the next level which is the more "physical" level with touching, kissing and even having sex (huh!).
More info. on YouTube under "First-Ever Marriage Between Man and Video game character in Japan: Nintendo DS Love Plus"
That is a fascinating story! How do they get physical? and what's the point of marrying a virtual woman? I think it goes back to some of our class discussions about some people "hiding" online and not participating in RL. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteThis also reminded me of artifical intelligence and artificial life. The character can't "think" of course, but the man connects to it on an emotional level. We encourage children to play with stuffed animals and give them personalities, and of course in books, we get attached to fictional characters. I think that kind of thing is healthy to a certain extent. I won't say this didn't strike me as weird, though; I think he's taking it kind of far--more than "kind of"; he's committing his life to it. :) I guess in a way we are all machines, though, but still...
ReplyDeleteIf the batteries go dead, would he just replace the batteries and start over, or does this one have a specific personality that is impossible--or if possible, feels "wrong"--to recreate?
People meet each other online and then get married soon after they meet in RL. Divorce is high between "flesh-and-blood" people, some of whom maybe only know each other superficially before they get married.
Also, I feel gross for wondering, but my first question was (after "WTF?") how would he and the girl "do it"? :) I guess it's like cybersex, except with that, there's still a person at the other end.
Anyway, this is really interesting. I know it's possible to have intimacy (physical and emotional) online; I guess this guy is just taking it to its extreme conclusion? :)
I think that this is an instance of RL and VL becoming mixed up, as they become for the MUD and MOO users. Perhaps this man has decided that he does not want to deal with the unpredictability of a living, breathing spouse. After all, he can pretty much control this virtual spouse by continuing to buy her things, etc. I really do not understand how this relationship could possibly be physically or particularly emotionally stimulating, for this virtual woman is not able to reciprocate anything that her husband does to or for her. I think am able to wrap my mind around the emotional part of it to a certain extent because he clearly feels attached enough to "her" to marry "her." I do understand the mental aspect because I suppose he has to use his mind in order to interact with her through the DS, for I am pretty sure that the game itself is not easy, though I am almost sure that it is not nearly as complex as real life and real relationships.
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