Now that we are familiar with different functions, controls and features of the second life game, we started visiting new places, meeting people and making friends. Following were the goals for this week:
- Meet new people.
- Discover new places.
- Start conversations and make friends.
- Get an idea of the overall tone of conversations on Second Life.
Method of Study:
- Teleport to a new location - Newbie Island.
- Observe the interactions between newbies and second life experienced users.
- Observe the actions of people, if they are willing and helpful or reluctant.
- Observe how many people take initiative in starting conversations.
Introduction:
We found a lot of people at the newbie island. However, not a lot of them were newbies though. Most of them were experienced Second Life users who were regular visitors of the place. Many of them knew each other and were busy in conversations. Almost every place on second life has a leader, he the once who owns the place, since land on SL is not free.
I have noticed that some people purposely hang out at places like the help island and the newbie island where they can make contacts with newbies and advertise their business. Many people own businesses on second life and earn real dollars from the sale of virtual products. They try to lure newbies into buying products and earn money. However, as long as you are clever enough not to go on a shopping spree as soon as you sign up on second life, you can save yourself from most of the trouble.
There are many people like you and me, college students, professors, scientists, inventors and businessmen who also have second life avatars. Interaction with nice people on second life can often be very motivating and enlightening.
Newbie Island Screenshots
Detailed Description:
After landing at the newbie island, we tried to start conversation with some of the people who seemed to be doing nothing. We were successful in getting some of them to talk to us. A couple of them recommended us some interesting places worth visiting. However, these conversations were pretty short. These people seemed like experienced users bored with newbie questions.
However, while we were wandering around the place, one of the ladies initiated the conversation with me. I am not sure why she did that, maybe she thought I was lost and lonely, or maybe something else. Anyway, it turned out that we had a long and very interesting conversation that went for couple of hours. Following are the parts of the conversation:
me: how would you compare SL meetings and interactions with RL interactions?
MB: when you meet someone in sl it’s more the character than the stuff that shines, so when you meet them in RL after knowing them in SL, you already know them, just now you see they have a twinkle in their eye; or wow those are some big feet… hmmm looks diff than in picture but who cares, it’s your friend….you've bypassed all the stuff and gotten to the essence of that person much faster.
MB: why do you ask?
me: hmm, i was just curious....i have read about ppl meeting on SL and then actually meeting in RL, some of them even ended up gettin' married.
MB: yes, i know some...some form RL relationships, some even get married while some horribly fall on their faces. just because you chat in sl doesn't mean you are mentally well or prepared to be with a virtual stranger. One may have horrible personal habits in RL.
MB: so what bought you to SL?
me: honestly, a class project. u?
MB: non profits, art, fun...it's all here.
Then she provided me with some interesting landmarks to visit. She mentioned a place where native Americans tell people about their culture. They do this to increase awareness about their cultural values. She also gave me a landmark in Texas called "The Lonestar". During the conversation I mentioned that I was on SL as a part of the HCI class project and gave her the link to my blog. After that, the conversation goes like this:
MB: r u indian?
me: yes ma'am ,i am....where r u from?
MB: Germany, working in the US in the finance industry.
MB: you might like this place : paradise. I love it there. Pluralism rocks!
me: indeed it does!
MB: thats why i love sl you can be in the room and have all continents there and all get along...fabulous
me: yup, i think i'm gonna get addicted to this thing, it's way better than FB
MB: fb is for kids and grandmoms
me: i think i'm gonna be a SL junkie
MB: never never leave...i love it here.
me: i dont think i will :) now that i can make friends from all over the world
MB: it can be intelligent conversation or just silly goofy stuff. you can make a lot of contacts and connections. I have met disney inventors, people from hallmark and many creative people on SL. and obviously, and some very stupid drunk ones too.
me: just like RL, there are wise people and there are always some stupid ones, but atleast SL brings all of em closer....and i dont mind meeting stupid ppl :)
me: i met one australian lady on SL who owns a furniture business on SL, she's disabled in RL, making fortune on SL. now thats the power of innovation...changing lives. its up to you if u wanna change it to better or worse.
After this verbose conversation, she sent me a friend request. I had just made yet another friend on SL.
Some advantages of Second Life
Virtual Conferencing
I realized that second life can be used as a tool for virtual conferencing. Two sisters, living in different continents meet on second life everyday, have lunch and go for shopping together. Thus, second life can act as an important communication channel and can help in fostering relationships.
Making contacts and connections
You can make professional contacts on second life. You might need an appointment to meet a CEO of a company, but if he is signed up on SL, he is totally approachable. There are many professionals on SL, who are very busy in their personal lives and spend some leisure time on SL.
Thinking beyond the differences
You can meet and make friends with people from various countries, having different religious backgrounds and skin color. Second life avatars filter out the external differences and the emphasis is laid on the character, thoughts and the person's ideas. It is very possible that you might not be comfortable talking to a person in real life just because he/she doesn't look like you, doesn't talk like you or maybe doesn't share the same religious values that you do, however, you can befriend this person very easily on SL, thus filtering out all the differences and removing the barrier that restricts the flow of ideas.
Overall Experience:
Just like real life, not everyone on second life is a nice person and everyone has to pick and choose their friends, people who match their own interests and hobbies. The overall experience was wonderful, I had a really nice conversation, got to know new places and made a friend. Some conversations on SL can be a total waste of time, while others can be interesting, informative and motivating.
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