Backstage Report: The AVI Choice Awards 2016 By: Persia Bravin

Since 2011, the AVI Choice Awards have highlighted the immense talent of content creators from all genres in Second Life. Originally conceived by Nikki Mathieson as a way to boost traffic for the very first Relay For Life of Second Life ‘Christmas Expo’, the awards quickly gained recognition and momentum as an important cultural event of their own. The Avi Choice Awards have continued, on its own since 2011, but it has always supported Relay For Life as its charity. Since 2011, nearly 1.2 million votes have been cast for nearly 7,000 nominees and the associated websites have had 800,000 hits. This year alone, there were more than 249,000 votes cast across 98 categories – impressive statistics indeed. In addition, the AVI stage has been an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to guests and audiences about the incredible work The American Cancer Society has done - and continues to do - in the fight against cancer.

Photos: Austin Novaland

On Sunday 4 December, the very last AVI Choice Awards took place in front of a packed auditorium.The votes had been counted, the crew and performers were assembled and the audience were dressed in their finest couture ready to hear the nominees and winners. Backstage, I asked Nikki Mathieson just why she felt the awards were so important for creators. “I hope that creators have considered them important,” she said, as she prepared to raise the red velvet theatre curtains. “I've heard, over the years, that they are considered to be…and that's definitely important to me.  Second Life is a unique virtual world in that so much of the great in it is created by its own users.  Each creator makes our world better.  They share a part of them with us, their imaginations and talents and the Awards are important because it gives us the opportunity to let them know that we recognize their abilities and appreciate them.”

Photos: Austin Novaland

The awards got off to a dazzling start thanks to an outstanding performance by singer, Savannah Rain before show hosts, Trader Whiplash and Nuala Maracas made the official welcome. SL television stalwarts, Saffia Widdershins and Elrik Merlinfrom the ever popular ‘Designing Worlds’ show then took to the spotlight to announce the nominees and winners in the SLIFEsection. The duo delighted the audience with their presentation skills and witty repartee before handing the microphone over to SL singer, Chris Quan. It was then my turn to announce the winners in the fashion section alongside Frolic Mills, but a major technical hitch meant that Frolic was unable to log into SL – or skype. With the clock ticking, and with only 20 seconds before the fashion awards were due to be announced, the ever gallant Elrik Merlin leapt onstage to help me host. The show must always go on!

The audience were then treated to the sweet singing voice of SL performer, AleyKat, before the awards for the Arts were presented by Jill MacKenzie and singer, LuvofMusicResident. Next, a singer who I haven’t heard perform before, but who instantly gained me as a fangirl, took to the stage – Luciano Lionheart. Luc sang a selection of hauntingly beautiful songs that showcased his wide vocal range and dulcet tones – much to the delight of the audience. Finally, show hosts Trader and Nuala wrapped up the very last AVI Choice Awards by surprising Nikki Mathieson with her own much deserved tribute. Nikki has played an integral part in all Relay For Life events over the years, and if anyone in SL deserves public recognition for their fundraising activities then surely it is her.

Photos: Austin Novaland

After the show, I asked Nikki what she hopes the legacy of the AVI Choice Awards will be. “The awards have never been about who is BEST,” she reflects. “It’s so unfair to try to judge 'best' in an amazing world such as ours.  I hope that our virtual community have gotten the message that when you find a favorite or a piece of work that just fits you so perfectly… take the time to let that creator know.  Complaints in the business world, online or not, are frequent.  But, appreciation and compliments not so much.  We all need to just take the time to notice good work and give acknowledgement for it.  We could all stop being so critical and start being appreciative and generous with our applause and gratitude.” As I left the awards and prepared to log off for much needed sleep, Nikki’s words resonated a great deal with me and made me realise that the AVI Choice Awards may be over, but that their positive impact will always remain.

Photos: Austin Novaland

Nikki Mathieson would like to thank: Jill MacKenzie, Dextresis Dejavu, Roman Godde, Trader Whiplash, Nuala Maracas, Shayla Juran and all performers, presenters and crew.

AVI Choice Awards Nominees and Winners: https://avichoiceawards.com/

AVI Choice Show by AVIEW TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD3zXnpElJM

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PLAYMATES MAGAZINES DECEMBER ISSUE IS OUT NOW!

This is our 9th annual holiday special issue. Santa told us you all have been very good this year so we put some playmates under the tree. We start our celebration with a hot pictorial, "Unwrap The Playmates Models".  Plus a list of the most expensive and best gifts for that someone special, holiday fashion idea's and more.  We spread holiday cheer throughout the entire issue.  Get your free December Playmates Magazine in-world at our headquarters or get one now on SL Marketplace using this link:

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Playmates-Magazine-December-2016-Issue/10428682

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Misfit Dance & Performance Art is proud to participate in this years Second Life Christmas Expo for RFL and to present: " A Very Misfit Christmas"= Dec 3rd-4th!

A full production - 90 minute holiday Theater Dance Art show that will warm your heart & make you smile

We have so many surprises for you!  This will be the most fun you could possibly imagine in SL!

Amazing music;  fun, colorful sets and costumes; and dancing "Misfit" style!  Each show will be an experience you do not want to miss

 Come join the fun with The Misfit Dancers this season and help us be part of the solution to wipe out cancer!

The Misfits will be doing 2 awesome shows at the event 

Performance dates are :

Saturday December 3rd  at 10 AM SL 

      &

Sunday December 4th at 7 PM SL 

Please arrive early for these shows to guarantee your seating 

As another fun contribution from JenzZa Misfit will be a Misfit Silent Auction at the 12 day event to take part in!  The prize is the fun opportunity to be a  " Misfit Dancer for a Day! " .  The lucky winner will be a dancer in one of our future shows with full costumes and outrageous fun.  Don't miss your chance to be on the Big Stage as a Misfit Dancer !

Contact JenzZa Misfit for more information

More information about the Second Life Christmas Expo for RFL can be found here at the website    https://slchristmasexpo.wordpress.com/

The 6th annual Second Life Christmas Expo will be held  December 1 to 12, 2016 and is a mega event that raises funds for Relay For Life of Second Life (RFL of SL). 100% of registration fees, sponsorship fees, kiosk donations, hunt, raffle, auction, and vendor donation items are paid to RFL of SL. Relay For Life of Second Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and is a virtual version of the real life Relay For Life. You can find more information about RFL of SL by visiting Relayforlifeofsecondlife.org

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tinsel/248/127/23

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GeekSpeak SL – are humans becoming less intelligent? Join the discussion Saturday December 3rd at 12pm slt

Were the people in old civilizations like ancient Athens more intelligent than us?  If so, what has happened to us?  How far will the deterioration go?  And how long ago did it start?  Our brains are smaller now than the brains of Cro-Magnon people.  Were the Cro-Magnons more intelligent than we are?

What will happen in the future?  How realistic is the movie ‘Idiocracy’?  Will the human species in the future become really stupid, as happened in that movie?  How can we turn the tide?

Perhaps you think that we are not becoming less intelligent.  Or perhaps you think that we are developing different modes of thought that may be more valuable than the logical thought of the past?  Or perhaps you think it might be a good idea to be a bit stupider.  We might be happier that way.

Come and join us to talk about brainpower over the ages.  IM Kathen Ohtobide if you have any trouble finding us.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/141/128/51

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SPOTLIGHT ON SL’S GOT TALENT 2016 WINNER Scarlett LaRoux

SL’s GOT TALENT (SLGT) Contest was created and first produced in 2013 by Jackie Lefko. She is the CEO of BlueByrd Entertainment (formerly Lefko Entertainment). The idea of SLGT came to Jackie after debuting several new SL performers at her venue, The Speakeasy.  She felt a contest would be a great opportunity for those looking to showcase their talent but to also engage in a personal challenge.

Jakie Lefko

Each round features a variety of genres and the judges have the difficult task of deciding who moves on to the next round.  Artists who make it to through have a significant chance to be the last competitor standing to receive this prestigious award. 

Scarlett LaRoux

Sound the trumpet… This year’s SL’s Got Talent Winner is Scarlett LaRoux  (scarlettla.roux), a musical gem in Second Life as well as the owner of Scarlett’s Place; a venue built on love and mutual admiration for soul, good music and good company. Scarlett’s sound is smooth and soulful. She truly has a fabulous gift that she readily shares with others. If you were to close your eyes and listen closely, you would almost feel as if you have been transported back in time to a smoky Jazz club.

In RL she sings Jazz, R&B, and Soft Rock. She has sung in a cappella groups that covered genres from gospel to rock, and has done solo performances that cover many genres. Her voice is her instrument and she loves use it to speak to and influence audiences.

The SL Enquirer caught up with Scarlett to give you a behind the scenes look at the woman behind the voice.

Meet Scarlett LaRoux

Hi Scarlett first and foremost, congratulations on winning SL’s Got Talent 2016. Can you tell your fans what it felt like to hear the announcement?

Scarlett:  I was hoping for that outcome, but mostly I was surprised.  It was amazing to know that the judges felt that I deserved to win the contest.  It was a privilege to be considered the top performer from this great group of performers in the contest.  I heard that the scores in the final round were really close.  That fact makes me more grateful for the opportunity to sing for this group.  I met some really dynamic performers during the contest, and hope to remain friends with them for a long time.  The first couple of days after the event were a bit overwhelming with lots of places to be and a lot of people to talk to.

Where are you from and when did you begin singing?

Scarlett:  I’m from North Carolina, near the Southern Part of Heaven.  J  I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember.  My first performances were in church.  I remember the first time I realized that people applauded a performance of mine.  It was when I was about four years old, and my dad was singing in church.  Somehow I made my way from the pews to where he was singing, and I started singing with him.  I also did a little dance.  Evidently the singing was okay, but the dancing put my mother over the edge.  After that I sang with the youth choir and in school. 

My first solo performance was for a celebration for the small town I lived in.  I was about eleven years old at the time.  The ceremony was held in the town square, and I sang “The Wings of a Dove.”  I remember everyone had gone quiet.  I thought they’d hated it.   But people were crying, and afterwards I was overwhelmed by hugs.  That’s when I realized music had an emotional impact and I decided I’d sing “to” people not “at” them or “for” them.

Who inspired you the most throughout your singing career? (both in SL and RL)

Scarlett:  Hmmm.  Inspiration comes in many forms.  So I’d say in RL one of my biggest inspirations was my 8^th grade choral instructor, who at the time told me that my vocal range was “impractical.”  Even with that assessment, he worked with me to increase my range and develop vocal control.

Professionally, I’m in love with Ella Fitzgerald and her vocal acrobatics, and ease of improvisation.  I also derive some of my vocal stylings from artists like Luther Vandross and Natalie Cole.  

In SL, I think my inspiration comes from my closest SL friends.  They have believed in me since day one.  I still have friends in SL that I met when I logged in about nine years ago.  Some I have met in person, and we’ve become great friends in RL and in SL. There are some special people that I have connected with deeply and their opinion and suggestions matter a lot to me.  I use their input to continue to develop my craft.  I rely on their ears to tell me whether or not a song is suited to me. 

Believe me, there are times I want to sing certain songs, but I cannot connect to them emotionally. When I practice, or try out new music, these friends can tell immediately whether I am connecting, just by the tone of my voice when I sing.

When did you discover you could perform in Second Life? What were your thoughts?

Scarlett:  I’d gone around listening to various performers with a friend of mine, and heard MidKnight Auer. He’s a great jazz performer.  For some time after hearing that performance I thought how cool was that? I too could actually sing music that I liked in a place like this, and to people who liked the same kind of music I do.

A few weeks later, I scheduled my first performance at a venue called Catch a Falling Star.  Silverwind Tzedek was the owner. That first performance was rough.  I nearly hyperventilated, and the stream was too slow, so it was a little choppy.  I still can’t believe the people who were there sat through it.

As a singer, what do you find the most challenging and rewarding?

Scarlett:  The most challenging thing for me is to keep my fingers on the audience’s pulse, and to find music that I can share with them that they’ll like.

Describe what it feels like to perform. Is it something that comes naturally or do you feel nervous before a performance? 

Scarlett: Before most performances I am a little nervous. I talk through an intro to make a connection with the audience, and sing the first few notes of a song, after which things start to come more easily.  As long as I feel like I have two-way communication with the audience I’m fine.  My dad has always said that I put the ham in ham, so if I know someone likes what I’m doing that’s like adding wood to the fire, and makes me go a little bigger. 

Can you share one of your most memorable moments in your singing career?

Scarlett:  One of the most memorable moments has been winning the SLGT contest.  It blew my mind right outta my head.  Who knew!  I had taken some time away and was a little bit out of practice. 

Someone hadn’t shown up for a performance at Café Musique, and I asked Laya Sugarplum if I could sing until the next scheduled performer showed up.  She said, “yes,” even though she didn’t know me from Adam.  Shortly after that she told me about the SLGT contest.  She knew I was trying to ease back into performing in SL and thought that it would be good for me. 

Not only do you perform in Second Life but you also manage your own venue; Scarlett’s Place. Can you tell our readers about this venue and people who visit and talent that graces your stage?

Scarlett:  Scarlett’s place came about because I had benefactors in SL for a while, Atticus Falconer and Arwyn Lavendel.  They actually built Scarlett’s place because they wanted me to have somewhere to sing that had my name on it. Sadly, Atticus died RL and we had to move Scarlett’s place, so I moved the physical club to the first plot of land I ever “lived” on in SL. 

As you can probably tell, I’m a little sentimental, holding on to that parcel for so long.  Scarlett’s place is pretty much a hangout for anyone who wants to go there, and for anyone who wants to sing there.  When I run into people who are learning to perform in SL, I bring them to Scarlett’s Place and help them with the technical aspects of it.  If they need or want vocal coaching, I provide that too.  I’m just paying forward the kindnesses that people have shown me through the years. 

Before we wrap up this interview, is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Scarlett:  I love singing as much as some people love chocolate.  RL my coworkers know whether I’m having a good day or a bad day by the songs I sing, or by the phrases I set to music coming out of just general conversation. 

Thank you so much for taking the time for this interview and again congratulations!

Additional Information

Scarlett’s Place SLURL:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Duzzclown/239/80/702

Facebook:  ScarlettLaroux

Twitter: ScarlettLaRoux

Other: 

Manager:  Jerry Stringer

Preferred Contact:  Jerry Stringer

Booking information:  bookscarlett@gmail.com

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Second Life Christmas Sims Worth Seeing - Part 3-A review of Holiday Christmas Town - Dean Lawson reporting

 

 

Holiday Christmas Town owned by Tayren’s Fantasy Fashions, is a picturesque sim great for Second Life photographers. Upon teleporting to the sim you will arrive in front of the main store, but if you negotiate your way across a cobble stone road you will find a wintry landscape worthy of a snapshot or two.  

On either side of this cobble stone path are smaller stores with Medieval winter outfits for sale.  Past the shops is a river and an old rustic bridge that leads to a pasture where mythical beasts graze. 

Beyond this pasture is a campsite with a gazebo with a piano that can be used should you be in the mood to serenade that special someone. And when you tire of tickling the ivories you can follow a winding path to a plateau where you will find reindeer, an igloo hideaway, a merry-go-round, an ice skating rink, carolling elves and Santa’s workshop. 

 

 

 

This is a family friendly fantasy sim that rates 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nightless%20Isle/169/196/23

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Bono Fouroux : Mindblowing Guitarist in SL- Seersha Heart reporting...

Bono Fouroux is a unique musician in SL.  He can make his guitar “sing” as he plays blues, jazz, or rock [no acoustic].  He also can *make* his guitar!  Bono constructs guitars from scratch “Always trying to make different characters of sounds.” Self taught from an early age, this Amsterdam native plays as many as three to four sets many days in SL.  He came to SL on the recommendation of friends and has been here since that time.  Here are what people are saying about him:

“THE GUITAR WIZARD and all it takes to agree is listen to him for a few minutes. Whether it's Blues, Rock, or Jazz, his smooth playing is filled with emotion, speaking to your heart.”

“CHOCK full of pure passion! Bono is one of the most innovative guitarists of the decade. His soul inspired techniques, styles and intonations are woven into wonderful melodies that only a truly gifted artist of his nature of his kind can produce!!!”

“A symphonic collision waiting to happen, Bono is a man with intense connections to his music. He delves into the very soul of it, inviting you to experience with him the joy, sadness, love and excitement of an amazing journey powered by a guitar that lives to sing under his fingertips.”

I caught up with Bono at the Guitar Museum in world to ask him a few questions.  I hope you will enjoy his personal anecdotes, they are great.

Interview with Bono

Seersha Heart:  Hello Bono.  I have read that you taught yourself how to play the guitar when you were very young, around twelve years old.  What lead you to that first guitar at such an early age?

Bono Fouroux:  Hello Seersha.  I heard albatross of peter green and that made me buy a first guitar, I was still in school, it was 1968 or so.  I earned my money for it myself

Seersha Heart:           When did you become ~passionate~ with guitar? 

Bono Fouroux: I already played a few years but soso then Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green was my main drive later…but this was my serious sign to work on the study for playing

Seersha Heart:           Do you customize your guitars?  You make a whole guitar?

Bono Fouroux: I started to make guitars about 5 years ago…but not all need to be customized ..some are so well made I don’t need to change them.  For the ones I make, I order great parts....well chosen and I make them fitting the other parts, because not all fit.

Seersha Heart:           Which part is hardest to pick? The neck?

Bono Fouroux:In fact every part has its own difficulties, a neck can be just slightly too thick for the body then I have to sand it very precisely, but mostly it will fit.  I do sanding fitting ,.,sanding fitting etc. until it is okay.

Seersha Heart:           Do you have a sound in your head that guitar should make?

Bono Fouroux: Not exactly....it is always a surprise how it is going to sound, but once I’ve heard it I can go on with that too.  I search my wiring diagrams and sometime I find even one myself by accident at some guitar, then I solder the wiring.  I look for good luxury parts what makes the guitar better quality too...so it is always a nice product  For instance a thing where I look for is nowadays 22 fretted necks.......because once I studied my songs at the neck ..I learned them to play on that way...and I use 24 fretted ones too but that is 2 extra for the really high notes.  Those necks are on ‘ready’ sold guitars, btw I get myself always locking tuners on my own products.

Seersha Heart:           I have read that you are also a composer of music.  Will you tell me the name of one of your favorite compositions?

Bono Fouroux:          I once made a piece called Confuse Me....it was a long time ago and it was a number of all different rhythms and riffs fitted together. I recorded it with a friend in his semiprofessional studio and in fact it never was ready to play. Too complicated for a band and to play it live, but it was great.

Seersha Heart:           I have read that you make the guitar sing with emotion.  How does that statement make you feel?  Are you flattered/happy?  Do you think guitars sing?

Bono Fouroux:          It is just nice to hear that listeners like what I do on guitar. That they enjoy what I play. It seems to be so that true listeners of me can hear in what kind of mood I even am. The most funny was the comment in local of a woman who heard me play and said after some songs in local:

“Bono your playing is so good and touches me so in the centre of my soul that I have to smack somebody in the face and since I am here alone with my husband, he will be the one.”

And a little later she said I did it. You understand that I laughed the hell out of it, And so did the whole room of the audience. That was so funny.

Seersha Heart:           That is hysterically funny!  I can read from your profile have many deep wonderful friendships in SL.  Your profile says no relations?  Why?

Bono Fouroux:          I am here just for the music and/but I tried two times to be with a woman here, but it didn’t work out and gave me a lot troubles in fact, so that I decided not to get involved here in SL anymore. I had not tried it in 8 years of my stay in SL and that was without any troubles in relations. I tried it two times and it didn’t work. The coincidence was that they both were having their birthday on the same day. 11/11 :) Another coincidence is that I answered your questions at the same date. Isn’t that funny.

Seersha Heart:           That IS funny and ironic.  What advice would you give other musicians interested in trying SL?

Bono Fouroux:          That it is fun to do and you get some appreciation for your playing on this way [in SL]. 

Seersha Heart:           Please tell me about the people you sing/play with in world.  Who are your best partnerships for performances?

Bono Fouroux:          Of course that is with Luvofmusic and Veronica Weksler.

The best partnerships are the ones where you are very close friends with somebody, so that you share the same feelings while playing and that happens with some of the ones. It is such a fun then to play together and to appreciate what the other does. It is too bad that there still is not a way of playing live with them on the internet so that we both can hear us well, without any problems. Sometimes they say try this and try that, but I play mostly with people from The States and that is for software what can make u share the music in real time together, not very easy. Normal dual streaming goes like in a chain. The first one plays his music and streams it uploading to the second one who receives the stream in his computer and ads his sound to it and that together he streams to the internet. So the first one doesn’t hear the second one. A recording of the sum of the two makes it all possible later to hear it for the first one.

Seersha Heart:           It’s been a pleasure Bono, thank you for your time.

Bono Fouroux:          Sure any time.

            Bono plays the guitar between three and four hours most days in SL.  Along with playing and building guitars he rides a Harley Davidson IRL.  He tried motorcycles in world but to quote him “suddenly u bump in too lag and u fly high un the sky with it ha ha ha”.

Sample listing of equipment Bono has on hand to use to play his music:  Fender Stratocasters, Fender 12 electric (Hockeystick), Gibson Les Paul, ES 335, SG Custom, Ibanez LP,
Marshall JCM 900 Stack, Fender Vibroverb, Peavy Combo, Sessionette 75
Digitech 2120, Roland V99, Ibanez PT-5, Dunlop Wah, Cry Baby, Deja Vibe

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Seven great Second Life gift ideas for the Christmas Holidays - Dean Lawson reporting

 

’Tis the season to be stressing about what to get your loved ones! Do you have friends and family in SL? Do you have a Secret Santa going on at your place of business? Well here are seven awesome gift ideas.

 

 

The *MCS* HolidayToyTrainSet-Tree is a nice way to decorate a home or place of business. With an animated toy train that circles a fully decorated tree with an assortment of wrapped gifts at the base, this holiday gift goes for 300L at the Winter Holiday Village sim.

 

 

The Christmas scenery - Xmas Carolers *E&M*, brought to you by Love Garden *E&M* Design, is a fun and interactive gift idea where you and a friend can sit on stage and join the carollers in performing Christmas classics. The stage is propped up by a tree truck with a multilingual sign that bids all a Merry Christmas in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German. This is a large object so, while it is not ideal for smaller indoor spaces, it will surely attract the attention and is a great entrance decoration for anyone with a large sim.

 

 

 

Tyren’s Fantasy Fashions, located at Holiday Christmas Town, has an assortment of Medieval costumes that fit the Christmas season. My pick would be the Toy Soldier costume with designs for both men and women. For 150L this is perfect for a costume party, a stage performance of the Nutracker Suite or can be used for alts or employees to enhance a sim’s Christmas theme.

 

 

 

For those of you with a taste for the unusual, Never You Mind has an assortment of oddities for the Christmas season. Oh My Ears Krismischifs for 140L is a great revenge gift for someone you feel obligated to shop for but don’t really want to. Oh My Ears Krismischifs are two adorably grotesque carollers who half sing half rant their way through an assortment of Christmas classics. The recipient of this gift will surely find it amusing for the first few minutes but will inevitably be driven insane by the endless cacophony.

 

 

 

There are times when the commercialism of Christmas can lead to cynicism but, in remembrance of the true Christmas Spirit there are several nativity scenes that can be purchased in the marketplace, many of them are under ten lindens, however the one that appealed to me in its simplicity is the Light Box Silhouette - Nativity by Challis Products that offers a demo version so you can see for yourself if it will make a good gift before spending 200L for the full version.

 

 

 

While there is little doubt that Second Life vendors will be saturating the market with candy cane stripper gear, the sexiest outfit on the grid is easily THUD - Santa Avatar by Tommy Hilf Unique Designs. For 200L it’s a great gift to give yourself as it's sure to get the hotties sitting on your lap.

 

 

 

Now if you’re facing the Holiday season with a limited budget, Santa Claus is giving away free gifts at Christmas Decorations at The House of Avro. Everyday the old fellow gives away a free random gift and all you have to do is sit on his lap and make him smile.

 

 

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mazur/149/214/40

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Glaze/195/245/1008

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nightless%20Isle/58/160/36

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Never%20You%20Mind/157/98/24

 

 

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Challis-Light-Box-Silhouette-Nativity-MCBOXED/8114357

 

 

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/THUD-Santa-Avatar/5447638

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Christmas%20Decorations/91/244/24

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Are you addicted to SL? - Lacy Muircastle reporting...

Image from New World Notes

The other day I was happily profile perving, you know as one does...  I mean how else am I going to weed out interesting tid bits to pass on?

Anyway apologies to the avatar whose profile I stole this from, I omitted to make a note of his name.

It went as follows:

You know you're addicted to SL when:

#10.Checking out at a Grocery store You sign your Avatar's name instead of your own

# 9. You tell your Mom you will TP Over In 5 mins.

# 8. When a friend asks you for directions, you offer to give him a landmark or a TP.

# 7. You jump up into the air, thinking you can fly.

# 6. When someone asks to borrow your notes in class, you tell them they are no-transfer.

# 5. When you walk, and say to yourself, "/ao on"

# 4. You start using the words "Rez"and "Prim"...

# 3. You keep trying to right click things...

# 2. When you look in the mirror and think, "I need to adjust my appearance".

#1.  When you are in getting intimate with someone, you look for pose balls and ask your partner why the menu isn't there?

This is just a bit of fun but it got me thinking, is SL addictive?  In my opinion it is.  

The definition of addiction is:

addiction

noun

the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.

"he committed the offence to finance his drug addiction"

synonyms:

dependency, dependence, craving, habit, weakness, compulsion, fixation,enslavement;

Think back to when you first joined Second Life.  The learning curve was immense and getting your head around moving, changing your avatar’s appearance and generally acclimatising to the wonderful world of SL was simply mind blowing.  It may have been a challenge, but hey you were up for said challenge weren’t you?  The lure of the mystical virtual world was compelling, you couldn’t wait to log on.  Am I wrong?

You began to find yourself doing stupid things like taking your laptop to bed with you and putting it in the laundry basket in the bathroom?  Right?  What were you going to do? Log on while pretending to be on the loo?  And to what end?  It’s not like it wasn’t going to be there the next day.

What exactly was it that you were addicted to?  The opportunity to connect with people?  Playing Barbie Dolls for big girls and Action Man for big boys? Was it the fear of missing out?  Or was it because you were now the cool popular girl or guy in your circle of friends? Think back to when you were a teenager: how important was it for you to be cool?

The word cool originated back in the 1920’s in jazz clubs where if you were cool, it meant you were someone who knew how to strut your stuff via dancing, the clothes you wore, and the way you talked. It was an acknowledgement that the way you expressed yourself was unique and respected by others. It’s very similar to when a peacock struts its feathers to show off.

In today’s day and age, to be cool or popular is a bit different from how it originally started. Because everyone wants to be cool it’s now more about social acceptance via standing out. There’s still a slight component of being different and unique but because everyone is trying to be different and unique it’s now a form of conformity.

Okay so maybe it’s not being cool that you’re addicted to.  Is it the fact that Second Life allows you to try things you would never do in real life?  You can fly, express you creativity in a myriad of ways, start your own business, you name it, you can do it.

Does it offer sexual freedom?  Does Fifty Shades of Grey tickle your fancy, but it’s never going to happen in RL?  Does SL offer you a safe environment to be as promiscuous as you like in the safety of the anonymity it offers?  Is your real life missing something?  Or do you just want to be beautiful?

At some point you begin asking yourself what are you doing in SL and for most the addiction does wane.  Eventually… And gets replaced with disillusion.  And why disillusion?  That’s easy to answer, residents of SL are operated by RL humans and therefore are inclined to perpetuate the negative traits of said humans due to the aforementioned anonymity.  That’s not to say that the positive traits aren’t in play as well.  Because they are, especially when it comes to raising funds for charity.

It’s difficult to sustain a productive real life whilst fully immersing yourself in your virtual life.  Moderation is required as with most things in life.  Second Life can and does facilitate personal growth.  You just have to learn how to embrace it without letting it consume you.

Join the conversation and let me know why you were or are addicted to Second Life.

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