Due to advances in computer and network technology, virtual reality (VR) is no longer just an area of scientific research. It has also become a popular consumer product, as demonstrated by the proliferation of massive multiplayer online role-playing games. Second Life (SL), in particular, has gained popularity among casual users since it became available to the public in 2003 (www.secondlife.com). SL is a three-dimensional virtual world whose content is open-ended and created by its users based on their imagination. As of January 2008, over 1 million users have logged into the system. Although SL was not designed or intended for use in corporate environments as a business tool, the open-ended aspect of the system allows a high degree of customizability on the part of SL users, which in theory would make it a potentially powerful training and development tool. In order to have a better understanding about the current status of adopting SL as a training and development tool, the authors conducted a survey of professionals working in training and development in winter 2007. The main purpose of the survey was to find out how much experience and interest in using SL they have and how much they value SL as a training and development tool. A review of the data from the question asking participants about the usefulness of SL indicated that many of those who rated themselves as very familiar with it agree that it has potential, but they also indicate that its potential usefulness is overshadowed by what they perceive as functional barriers: a steep learning curve for new users, a nonintuitive interface, and the high investment of time and money required for programming content relative to its benefits. (Contains 6 figures and 1 table.)