When we started d i g i t a l  m i s s i v e, blogging about Michael Jackson probably wasn’t what came to mind first.

Yet, I began to wonder how the recent passing of a hugely popular global icon might play out inside our still relatively new online virtual world environments? Next thing I know, DM has its very own Michael Jackson post:

You are probably familiar with Second Life. In fact, you might long have your own avatar inside the popular online 3D environment created by users for users to meet and interact “in-world” with others.

Think virtual bars, restaurants, shows, homes, and yes – the occasional fantasy island, Second Life is probably the closest to the metaphysical most of us will ever experience.

Yet, knowing that it has in many ways managed to establish partial replica of the world around us, how does SL deal in-world with real-world deaths of its members? In other words, what happens to SL avatars of those real life members that sadly passed away in the physical world?

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