MUDs, MOOs, and Society :: Technology Society Technological Papers

MUDs, MOOs, and Society INTRODUCTION Imagine a place where one can encounter strange creatures that are part human and part animal. Imagine a place where human beings have the ability to destroy and create things with just a flick of a finger. Imagine a place where people from all over the world come together at all times of the day and night to talk about attacking the evil overlord to free their kingdom. Imagine a place where people can meet and talk without ever seeing the other but still create a world or an academic project. This place is found in the endless void that is called the internet. This place has two names: MOO and MUD. These virtual places create many different worlds, have different purposes, and allow different actions by the user. Essentially, these MUDs and MOOs allow many people to be whatever they want and do whatever they want. This concept alone open up many issues that may and will affect a society that increasingly connects RL (real life) to the VL (virtual life). In analyzing this technology, MUDs, MOOs, etc. are essentially online societies. Therefore, it is subjected to nearly all the issues that RL (real life) society is subjected to. People are people regardless if they interact face to face, over the telephone, or in the virtual realm. The only difference is the physicality of the parties involved. By no means is this difference to be taken lightly because physicality of parties does and will affect the interaction of everyone involved. However, humanity still reacts, emotes, feels, and communicates regardless of time, space, or dimension. All of these issues will be addressed through analyzing what the technology is, the types of literacy necessary to be involved with this technology, and the ethical issues bred out of this technology. TARGET TECHNOLOGY Description Cowan defines a MUD as a "†¦multi-user domain, multi-user dungeon, or multi-user dimension, all of which are referring to the same thing, an environment where multiple people may be logged on and interacting with one another." This environment creates a society much like any other RL society. The only "real" prerequisite is to be a part of these online societies is to have a computer with an internet connection. Once entered in the MUD/MOO domain, prompts will appear asking for your real name, email address, the sex of the character to be playing, and a password for logging in.