are guestbooks virtual worlds?

[loren]

since the creation of the this board, i've been thinking a lot about this definition of virtual worlds that Melooon wrote earlier this year:

virtual worlds are supposed to have 3 key qualities (aside from being in a computer); the world should continue to exist/change/evolve when you are not playing; changes one player makes to the world should affect the world for everyone (and remain after everyone has left); and the world should allow for multiple players to enter the world at once.

it got me wondering how personal sites might satisfy this definition, which led me to the idea that site guestbook pages might be virtual worlds. they're pages that change when you (either as the webmaster or as a visitor) aren't there, being built up collaboratively by everyone who leaves a message.

so... do you think guestbooks are virtual worlds? no poll, because i'd love to hear the reasons why you think they are or aren't (or sort of are, or could be)!

[hi_tsem]

Yes, I think they are virtual worlds. I love this idea. Never would have thought of it. I think the reason why I'm responding to it is because I really do feel as though I am entering a semi-fictional space when I read or sign online guestbooks, given that their name references a physical object/counterpart that isn't actually present, as with many other digital phenomena. So you're already in a fictional world - there's already a suspension of disbelief because there is no guestbook.
I recently added a guestbook to my website, specifically for responses to my serial, Serial Sister, and it's feeling really exciting, I think for the exact reasons that we're discussing here...