Location: University of Richmond’s Heilman Dining Center

Dianna Defiant…I mean Dianne and I met for lunch in real life.  We’d decided since we are both locals that it was time to get together and talk in real life about an often crazy virtual world.

We’ve both discussed what comes across in avatarian form from our real selves—since of course our avatars are, physically, perfect.  This leads to all sorts of lunchtime questions I want all my readers to ponder:

—What can my avatar do that I cannot?
—Why does that matter?
—Would I trade places with my avatar?
—Will people in real life begin to make changes to themselves because SL makes them less fearful?
—Who will the “hold outs” be, when virtual worlds become commonplace?

Di and I continue to plan new SL adventures, including opening a business…but more on that one later.

Meanwhile, Pappy Enoch notes: look at this-hear foto o’ Jawge Clooney.

Ain’t we dead-ringers?  I tells yu, it egg-splanes why awl the wimmin-folk luvs me so.  I woodn’t change a durn thang, ‘cept fo’ bein’ in jail nowadays.

Be sure to check the “In a Strange Land” Archive for old posts

Miz Di,

Now not everybuddy kin look like Jawge Clooney o’ Pennyloafer Cruise o’ Salami Hi-yak in this-hear fake wirld.

In reel life I ain’t half so han-sum as I are in Secund Life.  An’ I still cain’t ware no heels nor minis!

Luv,

Pappy

Hey - I wanted a hot sexy avvie who wears short skirts & stillettos because that’s something that I was just not built for in RL…*sigh*...

Hold outs? I suppose I would be one of them, though I am enjoying my Second Life when I can get to it! Yes, I’d be one of the hold outs, preferring to engage my body with the natural world…but this doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what SL offers me.

How might we describe what SL offers?
It is an expansion of personality via creative visual expression for sure, and its relative anonymity can empower us for bold experiments in identity, but is this identity more than just visual?

I know our friend Pappy has an identity that includes his charming hillbilly dialect, but are there other expansions of identity that we can pursue?

I love the picture of you two (four?) but if Beeble ever peaks one of his several heads over my shoulder, I’ll probably scream!

This is unfortunately true. The media coverage of SL here in germany is very negative. I know only of one series of articles (the sponto diaries on Spiegel Online) that tries to give the broad perspective that SL actually offers.

But to be honest I am not too unhappy with that coverage either. Going to public places often shows one thing .... there are far to many jerks, weirdos, nutcases and whatever kind of people you do not want to spend your time with (and I am not talking of the typical Givenchi weirdo here *G*). I fear that if the coverage of SL would be far better then it is now the situation would lead to the fact that we have more immigrants into SL, what actually would bring even worse SL experience because of the much increased traffic and lag. In this suction you will get what for free ... right ... even more weirdos, griefers and what not. Private zones will be even more common and the area an avatar will move in will be far smaller since its home is its castle. Even though this might sound like an avatar supremacist please do not get me wrong. I like meeting new people and I like good conversations as much as i like having fun but I hate to have to run around with protective devices because I cannot go to bare rose for some shopping without some griefer trying to annoy me.

And here is another little annecdote .... I am not a black haired girl .... well not until Tenchi chose this as her significant colour and it somehow washed into RL

Tenchi—good answers!

In my case, having Iggy’s head nearly bald helped me decide to “take the plunge” and do something I’ve hesitated to do in real life: get my head shaved (almost completely).

Can, then, SL give us the courage to take healthy chances we’d not take in real life without the practice?

In my case, yes.  I find, though, that the American media (and from what Cynthia says, the German media) only focus on the negative effects of SL on people’s lives, relationships, and finances.

Interesting question which followed me a good deal of my breakfast break

—What can my avatar do that I cannot?
Apart from the obvious things like flying, walk under the water I think the most significant thing my avatar can enjoy is the freedom and open mindedness of the fellow residents I share my Second Life with.

—Why does that matter?
One word ... opportunities. My avatar has the opportunity to do whatever she likes and give me an insight into myself.

—Would I trade places with my avatar?
ehm ... no.

—Will people in real life begin to make changes to themselves because SL makes them less fearful?
Possibly. I see the effect on myself. I try more things in rl then before but this may also depend on my charatcer which contains a sometimes unhealthy dosage of curiousity *G*

—Who will the “hold outs” be, when virtual worlds become commonplace?
Difficult to say. Most likely those who are having a hard time to adjust. very conservative people maybe? I think it could be everyone since it a question if people are willing to get involved and this can be everyone or noone. I do not think that you can pinpoint it directly.

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