Trite, Cliched & Done...Everyone Knows Already

So, a RL relationship in Britain goes kaput due to SL. Okaaay...So of course (naturally, because after all SL's a cesspool of sex and deviant behavior, right?) this leads to a Daily Mail article about the usual lurid crap we're used to hearing. And in a game of "I see your 3-breasted woman picture, and I'll raise you some antlers", the BBCNews cranked out their own report. We've been there and done that. We get it. SL has got some pervy qualities to it, but when you and your editors are bored of sensationalist drivel, why don't you try these topics on for size?

1. The current OS debacle and how it compares to the RL real estate crisis
2. Are people turning to virtual worlds for entertainment as their RL budgets tighten?
3. The use of SL to present models of RL architectural and other projects ("Original Sim" by Sam Lubell, New York Times Magazine, Holiday 2008)
4. The creative use of SL for artists--both visual and performing ("Portrait of an Artist as Avatar" by Sara Corbett, New York Times Magazine, 3/5/09)
5. Ways educators are using SL for long-distance learning and other opportunities ("Towson U. study breaks on Second Life" by Stephen Kiehl, Baltimore Sun, 4/7/09); ("A Whole New World of Studying" by Lucy Tobin, The Guardian, 4/21/09)
6. Does SL help with socialization or are personalities even more heightened?
7. SL as a way to cross cultural boundaries and learn from one another
8. Themed communities and how they help to bring history to life
9. How RL museums can learn from the interactive exhibits inworld

and #10? If you are going to discuss relationships and sex in SL, why not talk about why virtual relationships and friendships are formed in the first place? And why not talk about them in the positive? [UPDATE: Finally. A positive one: "A Geek Love Story" by Jessica Bennett, Newsweek, 4/14/09] There are plenty of RL relationships who aren't screwed up by SL and find it as a alternate way to have fun as a couple. Oh that's right, sorry...no antlers and "Total Recall" women involved. At least the Guardian more or less tried to write a more straightforward account.

If anything, you read these and watch TV reports and it's usually a reporter who creates a new account and comes in to check it out and wow...they're not keying in "Arts & Culture" for their search. They immediately end up in some scuzzy club or the free orgy room! Hey M and LL, something to think about for all of those new residents you seem to be so interested in: You can lead a horse to content, but you can't make it drink.

Reflections on St Torley

As part of the SL Bloggers Mix n Match, this is what I posted on "Samantha Speaks", the blog of Samantha Poindexter of the 1st Church of Rosedale (Immersionists) in Caledon Penzance. The topic, "Is SL Truly a Second Life or an Extension of the First?" was suggested by Kirasha Urqhart. I was feeling a bit...inspired.Pastor Poindexter has held many services here at the Church of Rosedale. After donning my vestments in the colors of the Order of St. Torley, I gazed upon the image of Philip our Creator and thought about the smiting of communities, but today I want to create positivity. WWTD? I wish to reflect upon the teachings of our beloved Saint--he who believes in the infinite goodness of watermelons, creativity, and our world with its power to change and transform us. We are in a time of trouble and turmoil, and for many of us, our lives inworld are mimicking that of our lives in RL and currently involve worry, stress and drama. We must ask ourselves, "What do we want from our precious time in here? What makes it all worthwhile for us to be present--to have a presence?" Our lives inworld are what we make of them and this is a world of infinite possibilities if you can see them. Believe me when I say that they exist. This can be a place of wondrous imagination if you know where to look for it and change can happen even easier than it can in RL. St. Torley once said, "Second Life should be a complement to RL." It does not take its place. It should not take its place. Reclaim your Second Life and make it work for bettering your real one. Our lives inworld can make us walk away afterwards understanding more...wanting more...or perhaps inspiring us more. I will leave you with these thoughts: "Blessed are the travellers on this path we call our virtual lives. Forgive those who conspire against you, as your life here is not theirs. Cherish those who make life inworld a joy, as our lives here are ephemeral and every moment is to be treasured. Go forth into this world and experience all it has to offer while you can. May your inventory stay intact, your prims rezzed, your lag nonexistent, and your crashes be few."

As I left the 1st Church of Rosedale, I thought about a question St. Torley asked, “What’s your greatest dream of being free?”

Thanks to Vint and ArminasX for all of the hard work they did herding us blogger cats to do this...I really enjoyed it. Young Geoffrion wrote about my suggested topic, "SL as an Exploration of Culture & Diversity," on Harper Beresford's blog.

SL Blogger Swap: Guest Blogger Mykyl Nordwind

Today's post is part of the SL Blogger's 1st Mix 'n' Match blog swap. My guest blogger is Mykyl Nordwind ("Constructs of a Mind"), whose blog has a lovely literary style. Her topic "Deep Psychological Impact of What I Wear" was suggested by Katt Linden. Enjoy...

The question in its entirety left much room for interpretation I think and could have resulted in a very long post, so I have taken the liberty to simplify it a bit and just ask if there is a psychological impact of my choice of clothing in SL on myself. If you wish to wander some of the constructs of my mind, please come with me while I rez myself….

In the mists of twilight, I arrive – naught but a glowing silver cloud – undefined, unshaped, and unreal. I must become something or someone – must apply a face with which to deal with this world.

I must first select a gender to wear, or it must select me. Though most tend to select the gender they wear in the actual world (TAW), it is a choice – or sometimes an expression within us that refuses that choice. I choose my normal form, female – soft – needing to be held – needing to touch – needing to love – wanting to dance – nurturing the plants in her gardens.

Shall my skin be white, supple, soft – crying out for a hand to caress it – or shall it be dark, defined, hardened and strong? Shall my skin be coarse and dry, or shall I anoint myself with oil, calling attention to the curve of my breast as it sparkles in the sun?

And in what shall I drape myself? Shall I adorn myself with jewels and fine robes, place upon my head the crown of the Queene, or shall I hide behind tattered rags, expressing the smallness within me – the simplicity that wants to hide, but choosing a torn and patched dress does not? Shall I wear a dress that swirls when I walk, like dandelion seeds dancing in the arms of a zephyr, or like leaves whipped by an autumn wind to twist and turn in the corners – making haste to fly to the ground? Perhaps I should wear only leaves – let myself become the wind around which they turn – the desire at the heart of their dance toward death and decay – or maybe flowers – scented splashes of color begging the senses of those around to partake of me, to touch and to dance with me in the open air.

But no – I cannot be the Queen for she is beautiful and respected and I do not feel beautiful. Neither can I wear rags, even though it is in them that my self in TAW feels the most comfortable, for people tell me I am expressing too much of the darkness within me – that I should be seeking light and joy…. but I cannot dress in leaves or flowers either, for to be desired would be wrong too. I must hide this body, for it is filled with shame and does not wish to be looked upon – want desperately not to be desired or sought after.

I try on jeans and a sweater – but that drags me much to close to the actual world I have come here to escape… though it feels good to walk without shoes even as the snow begins to fly around me in the actual world. I must find something from the past or from the depths of fantasy to become – must run farther from the self that struggles through the actual world.

My mind begins to shred as the options fall. I stand naked on the shore of an ocean, my skin changes to blue scales, my eyes ignite with a yellow flame – my legs dissolve and are replaced with a tail as I become a mermaid and hurl myself into the waves – but still I feel wrong – still too human. With a scream I leap from the water and my body crashes on the rocks, flesh torn away, tail ripped to bits along with my heart as I am suddenly set free. I become wings and light – that which was a body is crushed and twisted by an AO – then thrust beneath the ground to be ignored by myself and those who pass – only a silver sparkle with filigree wings remains to be seen by the world .

No clothing at all – I am completely naked – without a dress, without skin – without shape or even gender… even the wings fade leaving only a glow of light. I am nearly back to what I was when I arrived, still undefined. Not to be seen, but also with nothing to hide. I am amorphous and free, though chained by my AO. Finally I feel like "me" and can go out to face others in this virtual world.

But then a friend tells me I really need to get out from under my rock. I blink my eyes, stunned a bit at the bluntness of her words, but then realize that she is right. I return to a mostly human form, clothed in a simple peasant dress. My bare foot tentatively touches the dance floor atop a mountain and pulls my body with it. I begin to turn, and my dress swirls in the wind, reminding me of wings. I sprout wings - gossamer tendrils of fairy flight - and I feel myself lighten. The dress feels too heavy with the wings, so I shift to a lighter and shorter dress. Still swirling in the breeze, but more free and light. The music clothes my heart, and I feel lighter still... I doff the dress and dance clad in nothing but flowers and wings, and the some in me makes me soar.This is much better than hiding under a rock ... dancing naked, not a hidden nakedness, but exposed to the sky and the trees and the wind and the world - clothed in the skin of my definition - clothed in the ideal that I know myself to be. I AM beautiful - inside - I just had to wear the right skin, the right flowers, the right wings - and the right thoughts in my heart.

No – Clothing has no deep psychological impact on me or my actual life – none whatsoever…

Exploring Openlife: Freebies to De-Noob Yourself, Kinda

I've been exploring Openlife. Yes, it is rough. Yes, it feels like SL back in the early days. Go in there knowing it isn't SL, and you'll be fine. You will crash, TPs become an "adventure" and there isn't a lot there yet. And it's a bit unusual to not have an economy or AOs. Did I mention it was rough? But here are a few things that'll make your life easier while there. First, appearance. This is a pic of me...one is SL and one is OL. Only change to my SL pic is that I am wearing my original grey eyes and unhinged my ears. I uploaded one of my own designs so I am wearing the same outfit (sans the prim parts I haven't re-created yet) in both pics and my shape measurements are the same (here's a hint...I have more freckles in SL). There are freebies available...be a little creative and you can make a reasonable version of yourself. For those SLers who are nekos or furries or have very different skins and body mods, no, it isn't there yet. If you want freebies, you can go to the following in OL:

Openlife Island & Openlife Island 2
Suspiria's Secret (Wind Blue 173,152,26) (skins, hair, and more)
Julie's Freebies (Tune Valley 132,118,62) (Lots of freebies. Guys, there are skins and suits there)
Lektor's Roadhouse (Moire 229,96,23)
While freebie hopping, I came across Lektor Hannibal, owner of the Moire sim. We talked for a while and I found out he'd been in OL for about 5-6 months now after being in SL since 2004. I mentioned I was visiting from SL and he told me he spent a lot of time in Darkmere. I had a flashback to me and Puck roasting while there. He's enjoying the difference in prim counts and sizing and how it feels like being a pioneer of sorts. I suppose the folks there are in a way, but despite all the naysayer and doombringers, it's something about it. With the announcement of a new non-SL viewer, I still feel like there's some potential there. I'm still in SL 'til it crashes and burns, but it's nice to explore another virtual world...

In Boomtown's Gardens

I needed to take a pic for an ad in an the Primgraph. They are featuring Steelhead in the next issue so I thought I'd shoot in Boomtown's central gardens. I actually ended up going with a different pic, like I like this one too. And wow, the metal and glass arcade canopy above me is beautiful...

SL Bloggers Mix 'n' Match

The SL Bloggers group is having a mix 'n' match blog swap that yours truly is participating in. On Nov 12, participating members will be blogging on one another's blogs as guest bloggers. You'll be able to read my post over at "Samantha Speaks", and here's a teaser photo...

SL Simple Pleasures: Crazy Fun Toys

We all have them...crazy parrot shooting guns, weird fun toys that are a lot of fun to actually play with. In my case, I was given a catnip mousie toy...
It's like I lost my steampunk kitty mind! I thought I was immune to the 'nip!Guess not! *keels over from too much pouncing and falls asleep*