It’s always confusing to deal with any doomsday statements, especially when they use scientific data to prove their points, but saying virtual reality will bring about the end of humanity is a bit far fetched in “Fertility and Virtual Reality” by Edward Castronova. Although I agree with Edward Castronova up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that virtual reality will end humanity. Actually I’m sure you could prove anything with enough data behind it. The writer’s premise is that the increase of digital technology and virtual worlds has decreased fertility in the modernized world, whereas in under developed countries without the digital technology there is no decrease in fertility. It doesn’t take into account that developed countries generally have many other things to do besides just have sex. Leisure time and entertainment in general in developed countries are much more common. By extension we also have a lot more ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies through prophylactics and birth control.

Though I concede that virtual reality does let one live out their fantasies, I still insist that this will not end humanity. In fact I believe that the internet and virtual worlds actually help people connect with others who have certain fantasies they want to fulfill rather than make them all virtual. For example, there have been many people who have found each other and have gotten married because of games such as World of Warcraft. Also consider communities that have come together specifically because of the internet, such as the furry fandom.

Sadly I really don’t agree with much of what Edward Castronova has said with his piece. He is right that people want to live out their fantasies and doing so only really helps, but he seems on more dubious ground when he claims that it will lead to the downfall of man. And why, because people need human interaction. Most cannot stay by themselves for the rest of their lives. The ones who do were probably going to stay by themselves with or without technology. You can’t get the same satisfaction from VR that you can from a real person and I doubt anything will change that until we have real AI and holodecks like in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The whole thing makes me think of uncanny valley. Yeah it may feel good, but it is usually off putting and never quite the same as something that is truly real.