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From: james@TWG.COM (James Marshall)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: VR Directions of Growth: IX, X
Message-ID: <14577@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 16 Jan 91 23:50:30 GMT
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William Bricken says:
>
>    [talk about the psychological and social dangers of VR...]
>

I agree absolutely, and more so.  I think the potential danger of
VR cannot even be imagined today.  I never say much about it, because
then I'm perceived as an anti-technologist (which I'm not).  It's
encouraging to hear other people discuss it.

Truly, I think VR can be amazing.  It gives us tremendous
power over our environment.  History has shown this power to
be both rewarding and dangerous.

I think any forum on VR should spend some of its time researching
these potential problems.  Hopefully, this will cause a firm
social foundation for VR.

Compare our situation to that of nuclear science 50 years ago.  There
was no social or philosophical preparation for its entry into the
world, and the results are easy to see.  Hopefully, we can avoid any
crisis situation that might arise with VR (call me crazy, but I
believe that much in the power of VR).

Gotta go.  Iraqi war started on the radio.

-James Marshall
 james@twg.com