While the ever increasing popularity of online universes might lead one to question what the heck is so wrong with the real world, it can't be ignored that more and more people on using these cyber worlds to get a fresh start on life. It must have been tough in times gone past, back before these online realities. If your life wasn't going well, you had to actually work to try to improve it. Now you can just cut your losses and move online. You can walk around your crummy real life with your head held high, content with the knowledge that: "If only these people knew how cool I was online, THEN they'd respect me."

Anyway, if you're looking to step into a virtual world but without putting in too much time, there is a new flash-based option that might help you out. MyMiniLife is sort of a cross between a virtual world and a social networking site that allows you to create your own little online space. You can start from a number of base models (apartment, house, garden) and customize it using items that you can purchase. You can also embed pictures and videos in your little space. Other users can then visit, look around, view your posted items, leave notes, and chat in real time. The number of items you can purchase is pretty large, allowing you to either re-create the real life space you live in, or create a fantasy space that you've always wanted. The only really difficult decision is deciding which is more depressing. Creating your real life space so you can essentially mirror your real life online (if your real life is boring to the point that you want to create an online world, why would you recreate that same boring life on the internet?) or creating a fantasy space and eventually coming to the sobering realization that "Hey, my online life is way better than my real life. Oh. Dang."