Location: Off the Coast of Orientation Island

One of the purest pleasures in Second Life involves flying like a bird. . .like Superman. . .like a jet. . . like a dorky English professor in a turtleneck. . .uh, yeah.

Wish-fulfillment is one of the greatest motives for this new virtual world, and what human hasn’t wanted to fly at some point?  By clicking the “fly” button or pushing Page Up on the keyboard, I make my avatar fly. 

The game includes some hilarious special effects (known, I think, as game physics) for when one hits an obstacle or accidentally hits the “stop flying” button. Consider what happens to a cartoon character who steps off a cliff. . . I know that readers will enjoy a shot of me falling from the sky (I’ll have to explain the car in another post).

But landing does not kill the avatar.  Landing in the water, or merely stepping off the shore, also does not drown the avatar.  One can walk around underwater forever. . .and practice gestures and dance-moves.  And get rid of the awful stock glasses and begin to make a pair of shades. . . Second Life’s hidden gem, which I’ll discuss soon, is how players can create objects (from sunglasses to skyscrapers) for no cost.  It’s the show-stopper in-world: players BUILD this world themselves.

Since we professors are full of hot air, we should float nicely.

Anyhow, your wish is my command. Next I am certain that a fire-breathing dragon will set me on fire. . .

Welcome to the virtual world!

I always wnated to see an English prof plumment to earth.

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