Diaspora

Diasproa - the dispersion or spreading of something that was originally localized (as a people or language or culture)

wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Diaspora is a an open source project started by four students at NYU. Unlike facebook, myspace, and other social networking sites, you don't hand over all your information to a single entity. Instead, you'll be responsible for your information, and where it's stored. You'll also have control over who has access to you and your information. Diaspora isn't meant to take over as the next big thing. Instead, it's an alternative. I have no first hand experience with the site as it hasn't been released to the general public yet, but it sounds interesting. The only drawback is that hosting your information may not be completely free. But, with so many people willing to spend money on Farmeville and other games, it may not be an issue.

Second - coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude

Life - the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living

wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

When Second Life first came out, I thought it was going to be the coolest thing online. I promptly signed up for an account and a few days later realized what I had done, and wondered, "Why?" Given what the definition implies, I wondered what was I going to do with yet another life? I already had a life in school, a life with friends, and a life with my family, why would I want one online?

But then I realized that not everyone is moderately satisfied with their life, and Second Life provides a venue for them to be someone else, to explore places they'll never see in real life, or to meet people they would never have a chance to. Because Second Life is providing a place for people to live, it makes since that there are goods and services offered there as well. NPSL helps non-profits establish a presence in a virtual world that is full of new opportunities. I haven't had a chance to interact with these individuals virtually, but I can imagine that they bring another, more tangible, element of real life into a virtual world.