Have you heard of the Virtual Internet Universe Called Entropia, that actually requires you to use REAL DOLLARS to purchase Virtual Entropia Property?

My mouth dropped when I saw this. Apparently people actually use real US dollars to purchase virtual property in an internet virtual universe called Entropia. There is even an exchange rate in which one US dollar equals 10 "Virtual Peds". My initial reaction is this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

I just have to wonder if this entire scheme was developed on Wall Street by a derivatives hedge fund conglomerate that was already investing in things unseen and things never made. Certainly Bernie Madoff must be impressed by Entropia.

Since I know very little about Entropia, I will refrain from absolutely condemning the premise of exchanging one real dollar for 10 virtual "PED" dollars while I mull over the concept some more.

I suppose if one is a "shut in" for a myriad of reasons, including some form of mobility handicap, but they have real money to spend, Entropia apparently is a way of communicating and living a virtual alternative lifestyle without leaving home.

Someone might be financially supporting Entropia so that it can continue to be available for their own personal enjoyment.

I think I saw a story where Entropia devotees literally spend their entire days and nights in the virtual land of Entropia. So buying an estate in Entropia, if it helps ensure that Entropia makes real money, is probably not quite as dumb as it seems to those of us who do not visit Entropia and are having trouble with the concept of buying virtual estates with real money.

However, if people start buying of properties in a virtual world with real money, then they probably have made as good an investment as can be expected nowadays. (that was a joke, or was it?). Nowadays, we are finding that more and money is not real anyways, so maybe Entropia is just ahead of the curve. Certainly Bernie Madoff could be the honorary cheftian who oversees the land of Entropia, or the villan who could cause Entropia's demise.

Maybe Entropia is the natural evolution to "Star Naming" rights. Star naming rights was really big in the late 70's and 80's. People could actually purchase the naming rights to a "star" up in space, and actually receive a document stating that they were the owner of the name of that star. So it would seem that the next logical step after naming your own star would be to actually...drum roll please, inhabit that star and develop your own colony and create a way of life.

Is the day fast approaching when buying an "estate" on Entropia could actually be a cost effective alternative to actually traveling in our world???

Imagine the lives that could be saved if we could retrain texters who text while they drive, texters who operate heavy equipment even as they text, to instead live in the land of Entropia in front of a "real computer" in a room, instead of being out in public texting and possibly causing some tragic accident.

Mulling this over has made me feel like I need a vacation, but in which world?

There may be a way to intelligently explain the exchange of dollars for Peds. One is not actually buying an estate in a virtual universe. One is actually buying time-share on an interactive computer program.

Perhaps the only number that really matters is what is the cost per hour to maintain an estate in Entropia. If it turns out that one can afford to spend 5,000 hours in Entropia, and their estate costs 5,000 dollars, then in actuality, their virtual entertainment is costing them one dollar an hour, and perhaps that can be considered a bargain after all.

At the end of the day, maybe the cost per hour to live in the land of Entropia is what matters most. Just don't forget to add in the real rent, electricity, food, heating, and clothing that is also needed to sustain that virtual environment.

A dollar an hour to live in the land of Entropia becomes pointless if one has no way to make money because they spend all of their time in Entropia.