Whimsyy's Second Week

Whimsyy's Second Week

On our second week in SL we were discussing blogs and having an online voice. How the tone in the blog/ article could tell a lot about the writer. Before class we were asked to read 4 articles to get a feel for each one and during class discussed the differences between them. Gianni, who was a director and product designer, ‘Illustration Friday’ which was more about the images than the text. ‘Brain pickings’ which was a lot of quotes and Chris Brogan which even though it was a very business orientated blog, I found it interesting how it was presented, very factual.

The task given this week I found to be difficult, to pluck up the courage to start talking to random people in SL seemed to make me nervous. I chose to steer clear of ‘New Citizens Incorporation’ as it seems as if it is run by its second life admins and I’d rather get input from users instead of staff for more natural conversation. I went to ‘Social Island’. It seemed to be a good choice to begin interacting with other avatars outside of the class. I noticed that I couldn’t fly and tried asking in the nearby chat which had several other avatars, one of which approached me but didn’t reply so I chose to go to a different location.

‘Social Island’ wasn't so sociable.

I googled the best places to go for socialising in SL, there was a lot planned for the 31^st of October but nothing that was happening at this moment so I went back to the ‘Editors pick’ options and went into ‘New Resident Island’. I was approached and welcomed by an avatar dressed as a clown, ‘Quirk Sugarplum’, asking me how I was and if I needed anything to just ask. I then managed somehow to get myself stuck upside down in a mountain of leaves with my legs frantically dangling out. ‘Quirk Sugarplum’ was laughing and asking did I need a hand out of there. Even though it wasn’t happening in real life, I still found myself feeling embarrassed and becoming awkward. I laughed it off and said I was just getting use to the new legs.

Embarrassing moments can be experienced even in the virtual world.

Off I went again looking for a new place to hopefully spark up a conversation when, BINGO! I went to ‘The Shelter' and straight away was welcomed and asked to come join everyone dancing. I asked what the place was like and was told to make it what I wanted from it and to have a good time and look around so I went for a wonder and found stalls surrounding a pool which I unfortunately couldn’t swim in. There were no avatars in the shopping hub either, everyone was up dancing instead.

Conversations in ‘The Shelter'

My next stop was 'Miami beach' since it always seemed like a busy place in the movies. I was loving the music there! I went to the beach and asked nearby avatars if they wanted to go for a swim but no luck so I went by myself. I saw an outdoor dance floor and decided to go dance and see if I could pluck up a conversation there as it worked in the last location. I received the basic hi how are you but that was all.

'Miami beach' view in SL.

I proceeded to ‘The arcade Halloween special’ to get into the mood. Unfortunately, that world was full apparently, with 32, there must be an avatar cap so I went to the location beside it, ‘2018 Halloween Town’. There was a stall with free witch’s hats to get into the spirit. I asked how to get one but none of us could figure it out, we just swarmed around the hats like children in a candy store. It was a quick way to talking to others though again just the basic hi and bye. I then fell into a dark well and couldn’t get back out so had to relocate.

Next stop was ‘The Reanimator Hunt’ to see if I could join in with conversation there, I’m finding this harder than I thought, I assumed everyone would be here in SL wanting to chat to new people.

Image captured in ‘The Reanimator Hunt’.

I eventually went to ‘Miami Beach- South Pointe Park’. It was night time there and managed to start talking to another avatar until I got a notice saying ‘you need to have more than 26 days to visit this land’ so it was a short conversation lived.

Night time in ‘Miami Beach- South Pointe Park’.

The last place I tried to go back to the place that was full earlier. I asked if anyone else was new here and finally got some chat back from people. I think once others knew they weren’t alone in being new to SL, it flowed up a conversation. It was mostly small talk. Hopefully if I attend one of the specifically dated events at the correct time, people will be more open to interact with each other as they are there gathering for common interests.

Striking up a conversation.

Back again with good news! I was going back to the locations I visited earlier to get the web reference and was in ‘The Shelter’ when all of a sudden I noticed everyone welcoming me back and asked me to join them to dance. They were all in a line doing the same dance and I was curious to learn more so went to join them. The fact that I couldn’t figure out how to join the dance and was struggling being new, they were so helpful. My chat box was flowing with messages; everyone was trying to help me to join the dance. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t figure it out as quick like the other places I danced at, and then caught myself thinking, “why am I embarrassed, I’m an avatar, they don’t know me” and got over that quickly. We all had a giggle and everyone cheered me on when I finally figured it out. The conversation began to flow with comments like “it’s the best place to open up” and avatars openly talking about places they originally met in and go traveling in SL together even though in real life they are living on opposite ends of the world. One avatar even said they met their boyfriend on SL which I thought was so unusual and had so many questions but didn’t want to be nosy as I felt at times it was like reading someone’s diary, they were letting out this information for everyone to see but I wasn’t sure they were always aware that they were doing it as it can be like chatting to a friend with text and forgetting that there is an audience hung on your every word. I asked for advice on any other interesting places to visit and got a few responses like ‘Hotlanta’ and ‘Franks’ which seemed to be a favorite of everyone’s in the chat. I decided to leave the conversation here and said my goodbyes for now and thank everyone for being so welcoming. I found it unusual to think that even though I was in SL and am talking behind a screen, I still feel the need and want to be welcomed by others.