Shoes and Avatars

A woman has created a successful business selling virtual accessories (shoes, jewelry, bags etc.) for Avatars (avatar = virtual double of a real person). Scientists say that in a few years’ time a whole virtual universe will be created. It seems that a virtual community called “Second Life” already exists and it has more than 5 million “residents”. Here people (as I imagine it) willingly plunge into a world that does not exist in order to live a life that does not exist. Why do they feel the need to do that? Interesting question worth pondering.