We live in a virtual world. Our virtual bodies existing on virtual land, doing virtual jobs, making virtual friends, and maybe having virtual relationships. But this is our make believe existence, and we are all pretending, while side by side living our real lives, away from our SL selves. We do not even go by our real names. With all this facade and fantasy, it is only natural that SL residents can start to have issues over what they believe. What is truth and what is acting? Who’s playing a game, and who is being played?
Due to this, it’s hardly surprising that a number of Private Investigators have set up shop in Second Life, snooping the dark areas of the grid on the trail of that piece of evidence that could either confirm your fears or prove that the object of your doubts is true to their word. One of the most established and successful of these is Mercury Madsen, the man behind the ' Mercury Heat' Detective Agency. Mercury investigates everything from possible partner cheating to property being used when you’re not online, and even unscrupulous business partners or employees. I had the chance to sit down with him, to have a chat about his unique perspectives coming from his inworld experiences:
Due to this, it’s hardly surprising that a number of Private Investigators have set up shop in Second Life, snooping the dark areas of the grid on the trail of that piece of evidence that could either confirm your fears or prove that the object of your doubts is true to their word. One of the most established and successful of these is Mercury Madsen, the man behind the ' Mercury Heat' Detective Agency. Mercury investigates everything from possible partner cheating to property being used when you’re not online, and even unscrupulous business partners or employees. I had the chance to sit down with him, to have a chat about his unique perspectives coming from his inworld experiences:
Voodoo: So how long have you been working as an investigator in SL?
Mercury Madsen: 6 months
Voodoo: What drew you to doing this as your inworld profession?
Mercury Madsen: Just fancied the idea of detective and gadgets to follow and find out things used to be club manager and had to keep track of staff. That’s how I started to learn trade then set u business after that
Voodoo: And you've been in demand?
Mercury Madsen: Yep, there’s a high demand for PI’s. There’s many different reasons. The most popular reason for hire is cheating partners, but have had many different.
Voodoo: What has been the most unusual, if you can tell me?
Mercury Madsen: Can't go into any details, but tracking objects from different places including cash and sexual equipment. A company owner thought staff were stealing money, so I tracked them. That’s really all can say about that (confidential etc). Can get nasty though and have to watch my back, keep distance….
Voodoo: Have you ever had any comeback from those you have investigated?
Mercury Madsen: No. I am very careful to cover my tracks and I have a lot of tracking and bugging equipment to prevent that.
Voodoo: Do you think that SL naturally makes people suspicious? Due to the fact that we are all wearing these AV masks?
Mercury Madsen: There are 2 types of people in my experience on here. The 1st is the type that see sl as a completely different world and what happens on here stays on here, but very real too; and there are people who see this as a game and it don't matter what they do on here.
Voodoo: So, the problems arise when the one gets involved with the other?
Mercury Madsen: Problem arises when people see sl as true to life and the other person sees as a bit of fun. If playing a game you act differently to when your actions have an effect on life, even if a sl, and that’s when problems can occur
Voodoo: When one person is serious, and the other persons freewheeling actions can cause hurt?
Mercury Madsen: Yep, in many cases, but there are many different situations and every case is slightly different.
Voodoo: There have been stories of RL partners hiring detectives to look into what their other halves are doing inworld. Have you been approached to do any of these?
Mercury Madsen: No, not had that one yet, but will maybe get some soon. Have also heard stories about that, but mostly sl partners.
Voodoo: So, in your experience, how justified are the suspicions of SL residents? Are people generally untrustworthy?
Mercury Madsen: I deal with the people that are untrustworthy. That could be a low % of total people compared to total population, but in many cases the people suspicions are right.
Voodoo: But there are still a few people who are true to their words?
Mercury Madsen: In what way u mean, as in trustworthy?
Voodoo: Yes, that people are suspected of being up to no good, but the suspicions are found to be unfounded?
Mercury Madsen: Yes, there are a few, and the person hiring me is just being over cautious.
Voodoo: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers, if they are worried that they might be being deceived? Any telltale signs?
Mercury Madsen: Well exactly like rl, really if a story of when on sl or what doing does not add up, or someone’s lying about when they’re on, like clicking appear off line option, then they are up to something. Then it is my job to find that out, with evidence for them!
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