Role-playing & Virtual Worlds

[Bini]

What is your opinion on role-playing and virtual worlds? How does the Mormon Church view it? Are there official guidelines for those that participate in such activities? Or is it one of those things where it's left for members to use their own good judgment, like, what husband and wife do in the privacy of their own bedroom? I've heard different things from different people on this.


Anyway, what brought this line of thought up was Second Life. It's a virtual world where you vicariously live through a pixelated character, being and doing, whatever you want. There are no limits, only those that you set. After hearing about this virtual world from people, I decided to register and see what all the hype was about. In short, I was very disappointed. I actually removed the program from my computer the same day that I installed it. But during my short visit there, I was surprised to find several LDS communities. One location, even having a replica of the Salt Lake Temple. I had chatted to a couple people there and apparently they even hold church activities! Yes, it was very interesting.. Would it be safe to say that a virtual life is only as dangerous as you allow yourself to stray from good morals and the Gospel?


How about role-playing? Video-games that allow you to command the destiny of a protagonist, where depending on your choices and actions, determines the path of good or evil? I'm actually a big fan of RPGs and I've played many hours through this very kind of scenario. I've even played the bad-guy a few times.. =/

[mnn727]

Its left to the individual, but having been a D&D player and currently a World of Warcraft player, I would warn against wasting too much time on games. I limit myself on World of Warcraft to times that wouldn't normally be family time - I gotta say, it is adicting and I can understand how people could spend hours a day playing.
I also say the first time I don't get 100% Home Teaching in a month, the game has to go.