Can virtual life replace "real" life?

Yeah, and it's really sad...

People should try harder to make their real life work, rather than opt for a falsified world where nothing is real. 

They are not replacing life (only in some sad cases) they complete them; they allow us to meet new people on an imaginary bases, which is much harder in real life.

Face it, for most of the people in the world life are not that interesting. I am sure Paris Hilton does not need a virtual ego because people like her lead a very “unreal” life.

sorry to go all "deep" on you guys, but i do feel society has made some people have to go to these virtual places just to make them feel they exist. i mean so many people work too hard just to pay bills its unreal, as for social lives it has become harder and harder for people to just relax in each others company, i mean where i come from if i just walked up to someone male/female and said "hi, how you doing? had a good day?" they would look at me as if i'd escaped from somewhere, where as online these bounderies are broken down,and people can say and do anything they feel.

this is of course a very sad state we have created and i feel this needs to be addressed.

i am in no way saying these people are strange, weak or anything else but just feel these bussinesses are cashing in on other peoples uncomfortableness in our everyday lives.

if someone preferes to go in to a virtual coffee shop and pay for a virtual coffee and chat to someone is that worse than doing it for real??? i say yes!! i for one don't want to end up in my old age sitting in a hole with a laptop talking to my virtual wife whilst walking my virtual dog.... what a life.....???

A virtual life can never replace a real life. Although many people do spend a lot of time in front of their computers, it should never be dealt as a replacement for a healthy social life.

You know - there are all kinds of reasons people may go into a virtual reality.  There is a large population of individuals with disabilities represented online, whose mobility is limited... and who suffer from social prejudice in the 'real world'.  There are others who are trapped in bad relationships, have children at home, live in isolated areas,  have bizarre work schedules, etc etc etc.... that makes it difficult to socialize in their daily lives.  Not everyone is young, urban, pretty and healthy.  So basically- whose business is it for other people to judge how they decide to spend their time?