Visiting Second Life (I've been in the Jewish area) again reminded me of a science fiction title by Terry Patchett. (Can't locate the title now; I'll post it when I find it, although this will be a spoiler.) Well in the future, when the worlds are run by corporations, the biggest social problem is addiction to game interfaces. The games don't show up on screens--they're right in your brain. Anyways, the story starts with a down-and-out loser type guy who has the amazing luck to become a stowaway on an interstellar ship.
An amazing story ensues where our guy survives almost everyone else on the ship, which has been taken over by an intelligent race of cats that evolved on the ship. He becomes a hero, and then has the "perfect life" in a small town, with a loving wife, etc. One day he wonders why it's always winter. Also he thinks he keeps seeing the same word everywhere-it keeps popping up.
Finally he discovers that the word is scratched into his arm. Why? Because someone is trying to get him to stop playing a game. Yes, it's all been a dream in virtual reality, and he's inside "It's a Wonderful Life" and doesn't want to leave...
Nuff said.
