2. Hajj IS dangerous. Yes I know that the Saudi’s work hard to keep everyone safe. They do a good job considering the millions that they fit into that size of an area and the millions that go home safe. That being said I’m sure if you’re familiar with Hajj that there was a major fire in the past and tramplings that cause deathsd. IMO I consider that dangerous. Which is another reason why I posted. My father had a mild heart attack on Hajj several years ago. Not everone can handle the phsycal aspects of Hajj. Hajj being risk that it is and obligitory why would I or any Muslim be worried about swine flu? I could go into the blessings in dying during Hajj but I’ll assume since you’re an expert you already know that. I thought it would be silly that a Muslim would consider skipping Hajj because of swine flu but again…I asked in my comment about the context of the report.

3. I didn’t bring up article it was someone else who I was reponding to. Kitty O’Toole who said :

“I don’t know why, but the BBC, Sky News..none of them can see the positives in it, yet Al-Jazeera broadcast a piece today about the Hajj in Second Life, and how instead of going and making pilgrinage to Mecca, because of swine flu, pilgrims could visit it in Second Life instead..isn’t that a positive? Why can’t they focus on that?”

Depending on if I’m posting at work or at home determines if I can reply directly or have to just post. My error was in not putting @ Kitty O’Toole. But if you had actually read my post before seeing red you would have seen that I was asking about the article not sharing it with others.

Stella: “I’ll have to look that story up and see the context. If a Muslim is suggesting going to Hajj on SL instead of going in RL that’s a little crazy to me.”

As for mucking up with misinformation:

Stella:

“If someone actually could replicate the steps and locations SL could be a good teaching tool for what to expect. A replacement for the real thing? No.”

Did you actually read my comment? I think we’re in agreement about most things except for our concept of “dangerous”. I don’t know what the intentions are of the people working on Virtual Hajj in SL. I never commented on their intentions or said anything negative about anyone on SL but only on the context of the article that Kitty O’toole mentioned.

First. Virtual Hajj doesn’t replace the real thing. Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage that All Muslims are expected to make at some point in their lives, finances, health, and money permitting. It’s done at a very particular time of year, and while one can go through the process any other time of year, it’s called Umrah, and doesn’t count as the Hajj.

IOL’s Virtual Hajj project is an educational tool. It throws the veil off of the Hajj process, letting non-Muslims get a peek at what this extremely important event is like. It teaches Muslims who have not participated in their Hajj what to expect when they do get to go. It’s an excellent tool, a LOT of work goes into it every year.

Second. Hajj is NOT Dangerous. The Saudi Government keeps a very tight control on the number and distribution of Hajj Visas issued each year. A Hajj Visa greatly inhibits travel around the Kingdom. And the lack of a Hajj permit prevents anyone not on the Hajj for mixing themselves in with the pilgrims. I’ve never felt endangered in Mecca at any time. Though granted, that time of year is MURDER on traffic.

I ran a check through the Al-Jazeera site (in both languages) and could not find this article you claim exists. No one from the IOL Team has ever stated that the SL Virtual Hajj is a replacement for the real thing, and it’s never been advertised as such.

Yes, it’s a wonderful thing they do. Too bad you had to muck it up with misinformation and stuff that..kinda stinks of stereotyping.

Wow that’s a large can of worms. I’ll have to look that story up and see the context. If a Muslim is suggesting going to Hajj on SL instead of going in RL that’s a little crazy to me. Hajj is dangerous in itself and most Muslims know that, I can’t see why anyone would be worried about swine flu when there are other issues. People die every year from natural causes, over exertion, or accidents. If someone actually could replicate the steps and locations SL could be a good teaching tool for what to expect. A replacement for the real thing? No.

I thought that was one of the selling points?

He does have a point about the newbie experience.