Just like in real life...

...one person makes all the difference. One of my best friends, (sl/rl), is offline this weekend. So, I've logged on a few times, done some freebie hunting (I'm a pro), tinkered with the house, hit my usual sims, but it's no good. When the one person who really matters is gone, it's flat-out lonesome in ANY reality.

It's funny how the more time I spend in SL, the more convinced I am in the lack of a line between RL and SL. And then...something to make me think twice. While shopping yesterday, I profile perved an avi who's First Life message point blank states that he uses his avatar to explore his deepest, most disturbing and (from the looks of his group memberships) violent and sexually aggressive compulsions. It was perhaps one of the scariest profiles I've ever encountered. I guess SL is good for him, if he's harboring all these violent tendencies...as long as SL quenches the need rather than fans the flame. I just don't know. I guess it's not much different than some of the more violent video games out there, except the RPing aspect can become extraordinarily 'real' from a psychological perspective. SL seems more 'authentic' than any FPS game I've ever played or heard about.

I hope he finds what he needs in SL, and I hope he can keep the divide successfully intact, something I could never do.

peace

Who are You in SL?

I don't think SL is a 'game.' The reason I don't is because for the first few months of my time there, I tried to treat it as such, and I failed miserably. What I mean by 'game' is that if you engage in behavior in SL that you would not in RL, that is a game mentality. Obviously, there are no winners or losers in SL (although a case could be made...). I think the 'game' mentality is what allows people to lie, cheat, steal, and otherwise manipulate avi's in ways they would never have the guts or the malice to in RL. I think SL is positive in that it fosters people's creativity and need for companionship, but also a negative for allowing avi's to engage in ANY sort of behavior they wish to without risk of pesky, RL consequences.

I grant that the environment allows us to live out our wildest fantasies, and there is nothing wrong with that, per say. The problem, for many, is when what you are doing in SL conflicts with who you think you are in RL. It became a problem for me, at any rate. Once I realized I could no longer do things in SL that I wouldn't in RL, the 'game' aspect disappeared entirely for me, and I had to completely redefine my purpose in SL. It wasn't easy. It's still evolving.

peace ;)

On Blank Profiles...

I don't like them. While working at Sanctuary Rock today, an avatar IM'd me, and the first thing I did, the first thing I always do prior to responding to an IM from someone I don't know, is look at the profile. Mostly, his was blank. One group membership showing, but that was all. Nothing in "About Me" and nothing in "First Life."

He admitted it made him look like a spy or a perv. I agreed. He even admitted the avi was an alt (much more to come on the subject of alts).

So, Lissa's tip of the day is this: Put something in your profile. Even if it's a message about how much you hate profiles, don't have anything witty to say, or could care less if anyone ever IM's you because of your profile. Take some effort and write a little something. (says the compulsive writer) :P

peace

Oh, and...

I created this blog about a month ago...in anxious anticipation of my first rez day in SL...and promptly forgot about it. So, October 17 marked my one year anniversary of 'life' in SL. I tend to get annoyingly philosophical with very little prompting, so there.

Sound and Fury

signifying nothing...that's sort of my overall opinion of blogs, and the idea of an SL avatar blog is just too asinine to pass up. So, welcome. ;))

This is basically going to be Lissa's journal, her experiences, her philosophy on life, the universe, and everything, and what happens in SL that doesn't stay in SL.

First of all, if you've read my in-world profile, you know I have an issue with those who insist they keep SL and RL separate. Basically, I think they are either totally full of shit, or they are pathological liars who treat the real humans behind the avi's in SL with a great measure of contempt. I don't trust anyone who either has their first life section blank or says it's none of your business or anything along those lines. What, exactly, are they hiding that they need to keep the two so far apart? I know a thing or two about hiding, so I understand what they are saying, and I don't like it. :P Sure, it's a free SL...

OK, another thing I'm going to ramble on and on about is my view on the psychological impact of the SL experience. In a nutshell, I think it is profound, transformative, and in some cases, destructive, negative, and distracting from RL friendships and responsibilities. There will be lots of posts along those lines.

Stay tuned...I'm going to try to keep the posts short, so all two of you who read them won't be too damn bored.

peace ;)