What's Real?

The "Treachery of Images" by Belgian Surrealist René Magritte, famous for its inscription "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" - "this is not a pipe" raises the question: What is REAL?

Margritte's painting depicts the representation of a pipe but is it REAL? Like Margritte implies in his inscription, the painting is not a pipe, but rather an image of a pipe.
As Magritte himself commented: "Just try to stuff it with tobacco! If I were to have had written on my picture 'This is a pipe' I would have been lying." (Source: www.wikipedia.org).

A few days ago Herman Miller followed in the footsteps of American Apparel, Giorgio Armani and other Real Life corporations seeking to enhance their Brand presence in virtual markets by opening a store in Second Life.

However, in what could be perceived as a smear campaign designed to maliciously inflict damage upon the reputation of avid devotees and proponents of their classic products, like myself and others, Herman Miller has decided that the "Get Real" campaign is the cleverest way to gain attention for a product, which I'm sure many would agree does not need to be marketed in such an underhanded manner, if at all!

The campaign urges Second Life residents to exchange their 'knock-offs' for Herman Miller's "real" sculpties of their collection. That's right, you can buy a Herman Miller classic from anywhere in Second Life and simply exchange it at the Herman Miller store for the REAL thing! So my dear clients I urge you to buy a model of a "pipe" from me, then exchange it for the "real" pipe you can actually smoke from Herman Miller!

But all jokes aside, I strongly urge all of you who know me and how passionate I am about creating beauty at all costs to go and see for yourselves.

If Herman Miller think that success in Second Life happens by ridiculing the very people who have raised their brand's awareness whilst they were still playing on Orientation Island, then good luck to them!

Frankly I am surprised that a multinational company would commence their in-world presence by endorsing such a low-rate advertising campaign that does nothing but antagonise people who make this metaverse a fun place to be! Clearly they have little or no understanding of the virtual communities that make Second Life such an exciting place to be and that Second Lifer's are not your average campers!

I certainly do not operate that way and I look forward to bringing you many more beautiful pieces that will delight you whilst in this crazy, wonderful Second Life!

So Herman Miller, put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!