Virtual Losses

I just read an article in the local paper called “Reality Bytes” that discusses the losses people have suffered through the death or disappearance of a avatar in a virtual reality environment.  The article talks about what happens when “virtual reality collides with physical reality”. 

People who spend a great deal of time in the realm of virtual reality and invest emotional ties have become physically tied to the reality (or non-reality) of their virtual reality existence.  When there is a death (whether real or not), the article discusses the need for those involved to go through the normal greiving process – only this process is unclear and uncharted in the virtual reality existence.   The article talks about how a group of friends of an avatar named Monique (who died) have set up a virtual memorial fund by auctioning off articles of clothing and accessories for the avatars so that they have virtual funding to provide to virtual members who have done nice things. 

The article talks about how “Relationships are evolving, expanding.  They’re different today.”   I think that is an understatement.  I’m curious where this will lead in the future.