Virtual Affair, Real Divorce

So, the world progresses, and internet relationships get more ... er ... serious?

The news from the dignified UK is that a husband caught canoodling with another woman on Second Life (the online world where you can live inside your digital "avatar" and spend digital dollars) is now being divorced by his real world wife.

If it sounds like the wife is overreacting, keep in mind that the couple met on Second Life and held their wedding online as well. The husband and the Other Woman are apparently "in love" and engaged, although they've never met in person. I'm suspecting everyone is in for some disappointments, since the husband is 40, the wife 28, and the never-met new fiance, who lives in Arkansas, is 55.

The wife is now seeing someone she met on World of Warcraft.

I could make an effort to spin this, but frankly, I'm a bit speechless. I mean, you can say that the virtual realm is just a new way of meeting people, except that this affair was conducted entirely online. The adulterers have never met each other! I understand why the wife would take it seriously, given her history with her husband, but why would anyone try to conduct relationships online?

Argh. Any insights?