Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby

[Kire]

Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 23, 3:48 pm ETTOKYO – A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.

The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.

She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.

Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.

The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.

The woman was arrested Wednesday and was taken across the country, traveling 620 miles from her home in southern Miyazaki to be detained in Sappporo, where the man lives, the official said.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081023/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_avatar_murder

I wasn't sure the exact forum to put this one, but I took Postmodern Anthropology and a few other courses like that in the mid-1990's. I am sure that this article would be an almost fun topic of discussion. It's important to not make too much fun of this, though. Being detained and sent 620 miles is weird, but the fear and anxiety she must be feeling is quite real.

There is a lot of fear and anxiety in post-modern societies, and I believe a lot of it has to do with the fact that it is either not based in reality, or the fact that no one will treat you like a real human being because your problem is so "absurd" or "ridiculous". If that is still unbelievable to you, just look at what ridicule did to the French Aristocracy.

Thank you for your time.

Warm Regards,
Erik B. Anderson
Hackettstown, NJ

[NashVegas]

1. Virtual Worlds Tend to Be Dramatic

For a lot of reasons, probably not the least of which is that the user only sees 1/2 of what's going on, or what they are allowed to see, and are gradually given other perspectives to piece a reality together.

You also have people who *will* go to extremes for vengeance because, "it's just a game;" but it's a game where they are determined to fix the outcome to their liking/benefit.