The Voices

Tonight I spent some time in Second Life, in the space of Virtual Hallucinations.  As I entered, I was given a badge and unlike someone living with Schizophrenia, I was in control of the voices.  Hesitantly I turned them on and immediately had to remind myself that thankfully, this is not my reality.  As I toured the building, objects were not always as they seem and many changed before my eyes.  I could easily tell between this world and reality, but many are not so fortunate.  Leaving the building, I was relieved that I could turn off the voices and end the whispering and suggestions that had accompanied me through my journey.

I appreciate the creation of a place that can mimic situations I would never have imagined and have never experienced first hand.  This journey allowed me to walk in someone else's shoes for the moment.  To hear what they hear, to see what they see.  The ability to experience (see, hear, touch) life through an other's viewpoint is a powerful tool.  In education, teachers hear stories and learn about experiences of many of their students, but a simulation like this could make it much more real.  For students, could you imagine teaching segregation by offering your students an opportunity to live through segregation.  Or could students learn to understand their peers by walking in their shoes, literally, in a simulation.  The possibilities are endless.  What a valuable tool!