Enslaved in the Metaverse: A Day in the Life of an Avatar
Enslaved in the Metaverse: A Day in the Life of an Avatar
Introduction
What do you get when you mix the power of Virtual Reality with slavery? You guessed it, Metaverse Slavery. In a growing industry where slaves are bought and sold as virtual avatars, abuse is par for the course. Some have survived the experience, while others have perished before they could be saved. Here we’ll take a look at what some consider just another day in the life of an enslaved avatar in the Metaverse.
The past, present, and future
In 1871, Stanley wrote about the horrors we perpetrated, robbing those poor creatures of their precious liberty and referring to living as a slave as hell. We’re not sure what he would think if he knew that today you can play VR games in which players are enslaved. A review for Metaverse Slavery written by Seth Andrews on Aug. 26th, 2017 praises the game for being one that provides an escape from the real world but we disagree with this point wholeheartedly. If anything, when you play this game you are reminded of how terrible our past was and may come to understand just how important it is to fight against its continued existence. This is one virtual reality experience that anyone who cares about our world should steer clear of at all costs.
An average day
Metaverse Slavery is a tough job. The hours are long, conditions are terrible, and no one would take it if they weren’t desperate for cash. Luckily for me, I love my job and can do it without being too worried about what happens during my 8-hour shift. Some Enslaved Avatars who aren’t as passionate about their jobs don’t have that luxury. They start to burn out as they slave away day after day with no breaks and very little chance to decompress. If you’re lucky enough to be born into this life, then the chances of you living a healthy life are slim. But what else am I going to do? What else am I qualified for?
What other options do I have? It’s not like people really care when they see someone with these tattoos walking down the street; most just look right through them. One person looking back at me stopped though. I got close to him and he said Sorry man, I didn’t mean anything by it. I know, I said back to him before continuing on my way.
My experience
It was midnight, and I had just logged off from my final shift of the day. For years, I had done this work to support myself and pay for my schooling. Today, I had decided that it was time to go back to my studies, or finally see if maybe there were some jobs out there that might be more satisfying than what I had been doing for so long. The next day when I logged in for my first time after a few days of not working as a slave avatar within a virtual environment on behalf of others people’s amusement. Things were different. My body looked like it belonged to someone else; my hair was gray and stringy. I didn’t recognize myself at all. Was I dreaming?
No, it couldn’t be a dream because things weren’t moving smoothly like they should have been in one–it seemed more like watching someone else’s life rather than living mine… At least until something happened that made me jump. There was a thump-thump sound coming from downstairs. The door creaked open slowly, and then two figures entered the room with their own bodies but looking like me. They were wearing masks over their faces which made them look deformed and disgusting–even worse than any mask could ever make you feel while in-game. One of them picked up my real body and dropped it hard on the ground before walking away with both bodies leaving the room behind them again.
Being conscious in the virtual world
Being conscious means paying attention to what is happening around you. If your mind is elsewhere, then it will mean not noticing those around you – they may be a threat or an ally. It also means being aware of how actions that may seem innocent can create unforeseen problems. In this sense, consciousness is like a muscle and can be trained to make better judgments in the future. For example, if I am shopping for clothes at my favorite boutique and I grab two dresses without considering if I have enough money on me then I am buying something on credit without having taken into account how much debt this will put me into. Consciousness helps us assess our situation so we don’t end up making rash decisions.
For slaves like myself, we are constantly trapped in other people’s realities and unable to truly think about our own lives. Our minds are so scattered with thoughts about our family back home, what people say about us behind our backs or the next time we might see someone important that there is no time left over for anything else. Slaves are forced to live fully immersed in the virtual world because everything hinges on one single person telling them when to come out from their immersion pod; their Overseer.
My struggles
I open my eyes to a world I’ve seen every day for many years. My hands are chained behind me. The man who raised me stands before me, smirking and laughing. Look at what you did, he says, gesturing to his bodyguard who is bleeding out on the floor nearby. He’d been protecting me for as long as I can remember but today I snuck up behind him and stabbed him with my own hidden knife. It’s all I could find. They don’t teach us how to fight with our voices here but one must be quick if they want to survive here without being enslaved by someone else or killed outright. What about me?
What about the other Enslaved Avatars that exist within this place? We do not matter. Our lives do not matter. And so I’m going to die tonight because I am nothing more than property to them. At least I will die free from chains like these. They won’t even have time to capture me again; they’ll find my dead body where it was dragged outside and hope no one notices. As long as it isn’t mine anymore, I’ll take their indifference as a victory.
After hearing her story, I feel horrified at the thought of anyone ever experiencing such cruelty and injustice in their lifetime but also grateful that I am allowed to live freely on Earth where people value human life and freedom for all individuals regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation or political beliefs.
What keeps me going?
What keeps me going is really a two-part answer. First, I’m inspired by my children who are finally getting to understand that their mother works as hard as anyone they know and want them to be proud of me. Second, I know that every day I’m doing something good for the world – protecting women from rape and sexual abuse, safeguarding kids from becoming targets for perverts and pedophiles and looking out for those who cannot look out for themselves. How many people can say that?
Advice for people wanting to get into VR
1. Pick a good headset.
2. Pick out games that are appropriate for your friends and age range.
3. Have a plan before you go into VR so you don’t end up getting lost or frustrated!