Virtual Reality the Future

     Virtual reality is a phrase out of sci-fi. It evokes images of futuristic goggles that hold their own screen and create a new reality for the wearer. This virtual reality does not exist just in this instance now, though. Now virtual reality takes place in chat rooms, in places where the users can manipulate the space around them to create a world of their own. But is this a good thing?
     As Julian Dibbell points out in his article "A Rape in Cyberspace," these new worlds are not regulated. There is no official rulebook for how circumstances should be handled, and this can obviously cause some very dangerous problems. Virtual reality can't be stopped though; at this point it has to be embraced. And there needs to be a set of rules in place for these "worlds" if virtual reality is to remain a positive thing.
     The article proved that these realities are fairly adept at self-governing, but that does not mean the governing is effective. This is proved by Mr. Bungle returning after banishment under a different username. Something has to change in order for virtual realities to become truly safe.
     Virtual reality is growing, gaining momentum. And it's not slowing down any time soon. It's a world that is becoming more real with each passing day, and as users get more drawn in, the lines between "real" reality and virtual reality will become more blurred. To protect these users, there needs to be some reform in the wide sweeping rules of virtual reality to help keep users safe.
     I know it's nearly impossible to solve the problem, but there can be improvements. These will help the general populace embrace virtual reality and lead to more use, for more purposes. Eventually, if virtual reality can become a safe place, we could be living in the future world of Phil of the Future, with virtual reality a commonplace occurrence. That is the world I hope for.