Celebrating Independence Day in Second Life - Pen Dragon Reporting

In 1765 an initially small group of British colonists in the American colonies revolted against King George and his rule. The initial complaint was that there were no representatives from the American colonies in the British parliament and this made their taxation of the colonies illegal. This was the start of the American Revolution that lasted until 1783, but it was in 1776 that the American colonies voted to declare independence from Britain and King George. On July 2nd of that year the Continental Congress voted  to declare the colonies independent of Britain. Two days later, July 4th, they released the Declaration of Independence. That is the day we in the United States celebrate as Independence Day.

John Adams, our first Vice President and second President as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote to his wife Abigail about the day the Continental Congress voted to declare Independence saying “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” He was off by 2 days as Americans have celebrated the 4th of July, the date shown on the Declaration of Independence as opposed to July 2nd when the resolution for independence was passed by the congress.

The first celebrations, in 1777, included 13 gunshots in the morning and evening and a special dinner for the Continental Congress. Some cities held parades, there was music, ships in harbor were dressed out in red, white and blue and, of course, there were fireworks. Those of us in the United States celebrate our Independence Day today much the same way today with barbecues, fireworks and parades.

There are even some great, while somewhat strange, records associated with 4th of July celebrations. This includes town in New England competing for the largest bonfire created from barrels and casks. The towns would arrange them into pyramids and then burn them on the evening of July 3rd, ushering in the holiday. The record is held by Salem, Massachusetts who created a stacked pyramid 40 tiers high.This made the tallest recorded bonfire in history. This custom was commonplace in the 19th and 20th century, and is still practiced in some New England towns today. Another fun fact is that on July 4th 1778, George Washington ordered a double ration of rum of all of his soldiers to celebrate the holiday. Because fireworks are such a big part of the traditional celebration a group of miners actually blew up a post office in Swan, Colorado in 1884 because it wasn’t supplied with fireworks.

While some of the more odd occurrences and traditions are long behind us, we still celebrate the 4th of July in much the same manner, even in Second Life. You can find all sorts of great events taking place to celebrate the holiday, from picnics to live singers and even fireworks. Just don’t blow anything up if they don’t have the fireworks!

Some of these celebrations include a pool party with DJs and food at the Wolf Valley Pool. This event lasts all week and celebrates both Canada Day and Independence Day. Better Life Counselling Community will also be celebrating with a beach party, offering a cookout, live Djs to dance to and a fireworks display as well as a best dressed competition. Another great event to check out will be the DJs and live singers at BabyGirlsSkyGarden. From 4-6p there will be a 40s Wartime themed music set and then at 7p Shaye Dezno-Jonstone will be performing live. If these events don’t grab your attention, just take a look at the events listing and you’re sure to find one that does! Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wolf%20Valley%20Ranch/135/84/22  WOLF VALLEY POOL

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Success%20Isle/123/55/22 Better Life Counselling Community

SLURL: secondlife:///app/region/Misty%20Valley/239/75/3005  BabyGirlsSkyGarden

-Pen Dragon

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GTFO Get The Freight Out - “Seersha Heart Reporting...

GTFO!  I was sitting across the room from my new friend Cosmo Kawabata and he was chuckling at my question.  We both live off route 12 on the continent of Nautilus.  I had been driving down route 12 one day and noticed his business CPK Cartage and Storage.  Many of the boxes in his warehouse bore the stamp “GTFO”.  I had asked him about this acronym.  That is when he began laughing and encouraged me to “look it up”.  If you are even remotely savvy with urban slang you already know why he was laughing.  If you don’t, look up GTFO then return to this article.  His company is a participant in the Second Life RP game developed by Rez Gray, a self-described “scripter and database guy”.  Only last month he revised his profile to notify all that he was only coming in world for basic server and fix-it issues.  He redirects interested residents to the new owners of GTFO.  One problem, he doesn’t name who these owners happen to be in world.  Given the well-designed website and the attention to detail Rez Gray has put into the system, I have no doubt that with the new owners GTFO will move along strongly.

                GTFO in this context means “Get the Freight Out”.  Simply put it is a game for those who are interested in exploring Second Life by using transportation [moving stuff from one place to another] I decided to GTFO myself and see how this game works for me.  To start up, all I needed was the GTFO starter kit from Marketplace and a supported vehicle.  You may purchase a free kit or pay for the premium kit at $699L.  The supported vehicle may be a plane, boat, train, truck, spaceship, car or other vehicle on the list.  The variety vehicle possibilities are staggering; for example, if you wish to fly, you may choose from a small plane, sea plane, jet plane, tiny plane, prop plane and even more varieties.  If you want to travel by sea, you have an equally diverse list of choices from a small boat to a barge.  A freaking barge folks that can transport 24 heavy crates. 

The amount of cargo as well as the kind of cargo may be what you use to determine your mode of transport.  Of course, for those more criminally minded you will need to purchase a specific plane for those midnight air drops.  Yes, you may become a smuggler with a good Bush Plane.  The game provides for everything from the simple take item from point A to point B.  You may choose the other extreme engage in strategic and complicated deliveries by planning and setting goals.  You begin with G$1000 of money with either kit and the balance never falls below G$100. 

I reviewed every vehicle on the supported vehicle listing.  I made the mistake of believing I could pick out a vehicle, jump in and drive.  All the vehicles [even the simplest] require practice to operate.  I purchased a small plane, 33 Debonair by DSA Aircraft, thinking I could fly it.  The detail of the HUD transformed the bottom on my viewer into an airplane dashboard.  A beauty of a plane and very affordable to get your foot in the door of flying.  There are methods of transporting freight that are free such as the Shields Class sailboat V2 and the Hovercraft 1.0 . The vehicle with the lowest amount of prim at 7 is the Sea Boss – Xtreme Jet Ski, the vehicle with the highest prim count is the Prometheus 2.0 with 3000 prim.  The Prometheus is a work of art as well as a space ship garnering 5.5 to 6 stars on every review.  The highest priced vehicle is a stunning beauty large sailboat Falcon Frigate at $7500L.  The more time I spent researching these modes of transport, the more impressed I was with the quality and the craftmanship that is put into most of these items.  With each item I could see the pride and the imagination of the builder come alive in a complex expression, displayed in their work.  You may begin with a free vehicle or any one of many variations.  I have already planned my next purchase as the Hermes Truck Pack.  Owen Lusch has bundled a Flatbed, Box Truck, Liquid tanker and Tipper Truck into one package.  I would really love to drive a big rig in SL on one of the small mainland routes.  Maybe by accident drive across a parcel or three.

I feel I reached a good balance with an initial Linden outlay of $249L.  I began with the $0L starter kit, Amariah Francis’ 1966 Bronco with advanced suspension and GFS fuel system .  This Bronco has some pretty sweet options and to be honest I was impressed by the customizing I would be able to perform on the vehicle.  I also picked up the GFS fuel system for $0L and GFS Fuel Cans for $0L.  [GFS = Global Fuel System].  My initial investment totaling only $249L to give this game a try. 

I enjoy building a great deal.  I took a couple hours and set up a GTFO office with maps and information on my land.  Next to the building I set up my GFS fuel pump and parked the Bronco at the pumps.  The decision to use or not to use the fuel aspect is up to the player.  I decided I wanted the risk involved with running out of fuel, so I filled my cans.  Pulling out the instructions from the GTFO starter kit, I set up my Bronco to be a recognized GTFO vehicle.  This is a very simple process.  You make a prim and name it as specified in the instructions.  My prim is GTFO- Bronco.  I put this prim in the Bronco, then also added the API script provided directly to the Bronco too.  For me, customizing my Bronco was a priority.  I did not wish to be seen cruising around in an “off the rack” looking vehicle.  All supported vehicles are MOD since you must add items to tie it to the GTFO system.  On my Bronco, I may change just about every feature on this vehicle to my current whim.  I would soon learn that having a hot pink Bronco with cool bumper stickers was not as helpful as removing the driver side door.  It took me quite a lot of time to upload the perfect bumper stickers.  My bronco also allows other drivers to use it if unlocked.  I rezzed a small fleet of them at a LL premium sandbox.  Vehicles are to newbie SL residents as sugar is for flies.  It was a lot of fun to watch people come over to the Broncos, then hop in and drive them.  Most without saying a single word to me.  [laughs]

I was finally ready to try to retrieve cargo then make a delivery.  I read the notecard, the website and my vehicle was gassed up and ready to go.  I put on the GTFO HUD, fixed my hair in the mirror and clicked on the HUD.  It listed nearby locations and I picked one to visit.  I backed out onto route 12 and began driving towards Cosmo’s CPK Cartage and Storage warehouse.  The Bronco handles well on the road and I arrive at CPK in about twenty minutes.  I didn’t know how to shift the ATV to drive faster at the time.  I have since learned to set it to “automatic” and drive.  Arriving at CPK, I pull the Bronco into the cargo bay.  I clicked on the HUD and it lists any cargo this location may have for me.  I am in luck and choose to accept the cargo.  If you do not deliver cargo, you will lose $G, if you deliver you are paid $G.  You also receive experience for each delivery.  I am instructed by my bossy HUD to stay in place while the cargo is loaded onto the Bronco.  I watch the countdown clock from the HUD and find myself getting nervous.  What if I don’t make it in time to the delivery location?  I realize I am not at all familiar with driving the roads, I usually fly.

                Bronco loaded, I tap the HUD and scan the map.  I make my first mistake.  I have no idea how to get my land driving Bronco to a different continent for delivery.  Do I need a ship too?  The lore of the game is that cargo is damaged if you TP.  I check the status of my friends in world and notice Cosmo is not online.  I tap the dashboard nervously and do the smart thing and panic.  The FAQs save my mission.  GTFO will not send your vehicle to a location you cannot make it to using the identified vehicle.  For my Bronco, this means I misread the map and my delivery is on the same continent I am currently sitting on in my Bronco.  I am enlightened as I realize there will be some strategy involved for me to make the delivery.

I back out of the cargo bay and drive down the road in the generally correct direction.  The clock is ticking in my head like Poe’s Tell-tale heart and the Bronco seems to move more and more slowly.  As I have not read about the automatic transmission at this point, I am traveling in first gear.  I decide to do what every gamer does at one point or another [yet frequently denies] and I cheat.  I TP to the delivery location.  Without my Bronco it doesn’t help me out because the cargo is IN the Bronco.  I TP back and pick up my Bronco.  I thought “can’t I even cheat well?”.  I TP to the delivery location.  No rez area!  I walk to the nearby road and find a rez station.  I pull my Bronco out of inventory and drive to the delivery destination.  My HUD notifies me that I made it and to stay in place while the cargo is off loaded.

                My face reddens as I realize this isn’t the goal of the game.  The goal is to drive around and deliver stuff.  I pull out the Notecard and scan the instructions again.  I convert my hood to a media panel and load the GTFO website.  This modification to the Bronco looks bizarre.  The HUD pays me for the delivery in both $G and experience points.  I make a promise to never ever cheat again.  I click the HUD and learn there is some manure to be taken too, wait for it, Cosmo’s CPK!  If I leave it here will the ‘manure hit the fan?’ I wonder.  Since I didn’t follow the rules to arrive at the manure pick-up location, I am uncertain how to negotiate the roads and the ban lines to return.  Should I cheat again?  Technically wouldn’t this be part of the same cheat?  I am a pro at rationalizing when it serves my purposes.  I have a priority item, MANURE!!  How can I pass up taking four cargo boxes of cow poo to a friend’s warehouse?  Earning $G and experience points for delivering such a gift?  Before I accent the cargo, the bovine poo, I study the map this time.  I drive all the way to CPK in first gear on roads and through land parcels.  I learn that my Bronco is not always steady and I need practice.  I watch myself drive several meters upside down, then on the side of my vehicle.  I make it to CPK on time and receive honest payment and XP.

                After the cargo is unloaded at CPK I promise to never, ever cheat again.  I sit down on a worn-out couch in the cargo bay area by an old German Shepard dog who looks, well, dog tired.  I am gifted with a brilliant idea!  Maybe all I need is another supported vehicle.  One that I can handle better.  My marketplace addiction kicks into high gear and I review the vehicle options again.  This time I choose a slightly more expensive [$400L] Mainlander Jeep that can only carry one cargo box to the Bronco’s four.  It is a peppy bright light green color.  Down side is I can’t change the license plate or the options easily.  I pout and then take both vehicles to one of the LL premium sandboxes.  The Jeep is much steadier to drive and has ten gears.  Currently I only understand how to use first gear.  I have moved up to automatic with the Bronco, and I am not easily deterred by upside down driving.

                On the GTFO Q&A page one of the questions is the cost of the game.  To get to levels after 5, you need the premium kit.  I read a couple SL residents [whiners] on the cost of $699L.  Please readers, that is less than $3.00 US dollars!  Should we really begrudge a scripter such a paltry amount?  I found the game to be quite brilliantly crafted for the player.  How each player chooses to experience the game is entirely their choice.  There are no required ongoing costs unless the player chooses to invest.  It is a lot of fun to drive down the roads in Second Life.  You will see some amazing builds and surprises along the road.  I also promise you will see a good handful of things that will make you smack your forehead and say out loud “only in SL”.

                I recommend this RP for a few reasons.  The cost is low without ongoing participation expenses.  It is an opportunity to travel SL in a way most residents never choose the opportunity to do.  Using different vehicles is a skill and each one is different.  For those who love to learn new skills in world, this is a perfect game.  For me, I will keep GTFO as one of my RPs.  It doesn’t require a specific amount of participation so keeping it is another advantage.

                This began with a drive down my road on the mainland.  Cosmo’s detailed build caught my eye and I pulled on the thread.  I encourage you to follow the things that catch your eye in SL.  One thing will always lead to another as GTFO has already taken me places and given me more ideas for stories.  Think you can drive a car in SL?  Try this game and see if you feel the same way.  There is a lot going on when you GTFO, I think most will enjoy the drive.+

-Seersha Heart [saoirseheart resident]

Photos by Karmaghna Ulrik

Links:

GTFO website 

https://tradeandtreasure.com/

Cartage & Storage: http://maps.secondlife://GAVELLO/74/192/79

Seersha’s GTFO http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Potter/100/70/27

                       

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SL Newser: SL15B: Another Whole Week To Go- Gemma Cleanslate

There's so many exhibits to see at the Second Life Birthday, The Newser can't show you all of them. But we can show you a sample of what's there. Following her trip on Press Day, Gemma Cleanslate went to the SL15B grounds again to check more of them out.

http://slnewser.blogspot.com/2018/06/sl15b-another-whole-week-to-go.html

by Gemma Cleanslate, originally printed by the SL Newser

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Eugene Rodgers (Adolphe Menjou in SL) has written an intriguing new mystery novel, “Femme Fatale Online,” featuring a virtual world much like SL.

  It goes on sale at Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and other ebook stores on Wednesday, July 11th. Until then, it may be pre-ordered on those sites at a 33% discount. It continues to be available on Amazon. https://books2read.com/u/bxZgnq

The novel centers on a provocative question: if a friend in a virtual world is totally anonymous—their RL is completely blank—and your life depends on identifying them, what do you do? As the novel’s hero says when he finds himself in exactly that situation, “I couldn't see any way to investigate a woman who was nothing but pixels on a computer screen.” But he tries mightily, and readers are invited to try along with him. Details on the book and author can be found in the ebook stores on the book’s pages and at facebook.com/rodgersmystery.

The novel has been featured in the SL Enquirer and SL Newser and on the national cable TV program, “America Trends.”

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Learning the Ropes: The Omega D/s library - Pen Dragon Reporting...

The world of BDSM can be daunting and sometimes perilous. There are protocols, rules, do’s and don’ts that can be overwhelming to the novice lifestyle practitioner. Where does your style fit in? How can I be a better Dominant or submissive? It can seem like getting involved in the lifestyle is difficult and confusing. But there is a place in Second Life that can make the journey less stressful and more accessible: The Omega D/s Library.

Omega was opened twelve years ago by Nikos Alexandre.His initial idea was to create a library for those interested in the BDSM lifestyle. Over the years it has grown, not only in popularity, but in the services it offers. Today Omega offers discussion groups, support groups and even workshops for aspiring writers. Many of those writers are even self publishing their works. With daily sim traffic over 10 thousand, Omega isn’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

BDSM has its own share of problems, from those who attempt to practice various forms of punishment without having the knowledge of how to be safe with the activity to people who claim to have knowledge of the lifestyle and its practices but actually have none. These issues can cause not only bodily harm to an individual, but also give the lifestyle in general a bad reputation. This is why a resource like the Omega library is so important. It allows people to come and learn from their peers in a safe and friendly environment.

“We are all lifestyle friendly here, we are warm,welcoming, and we allow zero drama here. We’re not cliquish and we help people be the strongest version of themselves they can be, hence enabling them to make the best choices for themselves in the lifestyle.” said careena, one of the owners of the Omega library. “We do not consider ourselves to be teachers at Omega, just people in the lifestyle. We don't profess to know all of the answers or ask people to embrace the way we do D/s. We know there is no such thing as cookie cutter D/s.” she went on to explain.

The opportunities at Omega reach outside the lifestyle as evidenced by their writers workshop, inspired by rayne bowdit and her Master Renny, both of whom are authors in real life. But it’s the lifestyle and information offered at Omega that drives its popularity and importance. Not enough can be said for learning, especially in a lifestyle that demands knowledge to protect safety.

As with everything, the Omega library changes as the community around it changes. In addition to their regular munches, discussions and support group meetings for Dominants and submissives alike, they offer the same for the polyamorous and soon the transgender community.  Omega’s goal is to make a safe, friendly environment for everyone whose lifestyle differs from the societal norm.

No one is ever finished learning, especially those of us in the BDSM lifestyle, and Omega has created a place where we can continue to learn and grow as well as share our experiences so that others might learn from us. It is an invaluable tool for anyone living, or interested in, the lifestyle.

Additional Information

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Broadwater/138/32/302

Group: secondlife:///app/group/67bf42e4-9af0-1f1c-6b4f-3297b58ae02e/about

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SLGeekSpeak – how do we fight extreme poverty? Join the discussion June 30th at 12pm SLT

Poverty makes people do terrible things.  They sell their children, they become terrorists or pirates.  They let some of their children starve to save others. 

What is the cause of poverty?  And what is the solution?  Printing more money?  Donating more food?  Free contraception?  An end to child marriage?  Education?  More power and choice for women?

How can we put an end to extreme poverty?  Move your feet and bring your brain to GeekSpeak.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have ideas for future subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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Second Life Children Launch Keyword:YOUTHSPOT to Connect the Community - Shiny Blackheart Reporting...

The oldest youth group of second life has a new campaign to help foster an inclusive and accessible community for the children of Second Life.

The group Second Life Children, established in 2006, co-founded by citizens Gemini Enfield and Linnian Sugar, helps SL kids get together, but the mission has been challenged the group said. A notecard distributed by SLC lamented a run of recent closures of youth focused SIMS; attributing the loss, “due to a lack of support or awareness that the location even existed.” The grid wide, global economic crisis was also attributed as creating difficulty for youth sims and others.

“Knowing where to go is a problem many of us frequently encounter.” SLC said. To simplify the process of finding kid hangouts and events the group created a searchable term inworld. Typing YOUTHSPOT into the search field yields a list of locations and events as a result.

SLC ‘s campaign is informing and encouraging parcels to participate by emphasizing the benefit of “getting found” which SLC says, “is easy.” The simple addition of the word youthspot to the parcel description even the last word, assures all locations that are enrolled in the Linden’s Second Life Search Directory will be located. (Linden Lab charge L$30 a week for inclusion.)

Approximately 28 locations are using the youthspot searchable term, but SLC’s relaunch of this project is in the early stages. In the last week, work has only just begun and an outreach team has compiled a significant list of locations to canvas, “and will be encouraging the owners to use the term and agree to inclusion into the directory magazine HUD.” co-founder Gemini said.

The HUD is a major component of the new campaign as the creation of The ‘keyword: youthspot' Directory Magazine, a wearable HUD that will list all of those searchable parcels but also many of the places that are not listed in Second Life's 'Search Places'.

Gemini explains, “The general idea is to encourage virtual kid locations to use the term ''youthspot' in their parcel descriptions. Then virtual kids can use Search in their SL app and the results would list a large amount of places they can explore.”

There are as many reasons why users play a child in Second Life as there are users, but at least six reason are listed on SL’s website:

·         A way to recapture some of the spirit of youth. Much like the old Twilight Zone episode, "Kick The Can," it allows one to 'be' a child, and run and jump, and play unencumbered with the responsibilities of adulthood.

·         "Re-imagining" bad childhoods. Many SL kids have faced childhoods filled with illness or disability. Many (by no means all) were victims of sexual or other abuses as a child, and this is allowing them to "rewrite" some of those childhood experiences with much healthier ones.

·         Related to the above, many may also want to have childhoods they could not, with all the toys and goodies they may have been denied for some reason. Always wanted that Easy Bake Oven? Go buy or make it in SL. Want the big swing set, or a pony, or whatever? All yours for a few pennies.

·         For fun. It can be a fun type of character to play, allowing for a childlike innocence and whimsy to come to the forefront, and providing for many opportunities to be "silly" that might not otherwise feel comfortable in an adult avatar.

·         A few may feel more comfortable in the role of a child, for whatever reason. While some of these might fall under various "philia" subsets (adult babies, for example), not all do.

·         Some may simply enjoy the roleplaying challenge of playing a kid, which isn't always as easy as one might think.

·         Some avatars may specifically create a child avatar to "escape" from the sexual content in other areas of Second Life. This may include victims of RL child abuse or it may not.

The youth avatar scene is a vibrant, hilarious, and creative one and the Second Life Children group and many others hope to keep the community thriving and spriteful. As the song goes, “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” Youthspot encourages just that.

Interview with Second Life Children co-founder Gemini Einfield

*Shiny BlackHeart (narayanraja): Questions from Shiny to Gemini

• SB: When was SLC established?

GI: SLC was established Spring of 2006.

• SB: Who are the citizen founders/admins?

GI: It was co-founded by Linnian Sugar & Gemini Enfield.

• SB: Any thing you want to mention about the SLC parcel or any parcels?

GI: We have 2 adjoining parcels in the Orleans sim on the Bay City continent.

We are planning to host some future events there to encourage use of the keyword youthspot

• SB: You mentioned significant closures:

GI: I mentioned many sims and virtual kid locations had closed, but that was a grid wide issue when the global economic crisis occurred.

• SB: How many over time?

GI: Hard to say

• SB: What percentage of the community uses ‘YOUTHSPOT” in search directory now?

GI: At the current time 28 locations are using it, but we haven't relaunched to the wider community yet.

Work has just started this week and we have drawn up a large list of locations we plan to visit,

and will be encouraging the owners to use the term and agree to addition to the directory magazine HUD.

• SB: What kind of correspondence did you have with Linden Lab about YOUTHSPOT, (If any.)

GI: We have never discussed the project with Linden Lab.

• SB: Are you personally reaching out to Parcels along with the campaign to encourage them to use Youthspeak?

GI: Yes, we plan to speak to everybody before including them in the directory.

• SB: Any recent parcels start using that might want to comment on their experience?

GI: Not yet

• SB: Given these questions any other thing to come mind you’d like to share that might help the story?

GI: Keyword : Youthspot is a relaunch of a project started in July 2010 but was never taken to the next level until now.

The general idea is to encourage virtual kid locations to use the term ''youthspot' in their parcel descriptions.

Then virtual kids can use Search in their SL app and the results would list a large amount of places they can explore.

The 'keyword : youthspot' Directory Magazine is a wearable HUD magazine that will list all of those places and

many of the places that are not listed in SL's 'Search Places'.

We would also like kid friendly locations to add the words 'youthspot friendly' in their parcel descriptions.

This will also help us find them so we can include them in the directory too.

For more information or to get involved SLC Group and Land links are listed below here:

SLURL Link Hint:

Second Life Children Group  (http://world.secondlife.com/group/82017c80-6aa1-6fa3-e946-317a4a8175d3)

Second Life Children Youthspot Parcel/Sim: Meet other boys and girls in Second Life.  All children welcome!  Release your inner child and learn about all of the fun youthful activities going on in SL -- Be a kid again and meet other kids ... Boy and Girl

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bay%20City%20-%20Orleans/88/40/2

For more about Child Avatars visit:

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Child_Avatar

Additional Information:

SLURL:http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bay%20City%20-%20Orleans/88/40/2

URL:http://world.secondlife.com/group/82017c80-6aa1-6fa3-e946-317a4a8175d3

Other:http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Child_Avatar

-Shiny Blackheart

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Trouble Communicating in SL – Instand Messages [IMs] A Complicated Process- Seersha Heart Reporting...

I have never put as much thought into an introduction paragraph as I have with this subject.  As research indicates, the receiver of written electronic communication understands emotion conveyed by another person slightly under 60% of the time.  There is one attribute we all share in Second Life.  We all must use written communication to express feelings, observations, thoughts and ideas.  For some, written is the only form of communication used in Second Life.  Other residents combine one of the many voice application with the written text.  Still others combine writing, audio and visual to communicate in world.  That seems like a lot of variations.  Wait there is more to consider, who communicates to a friend who does not understand English very well?  Lastly, studies indicate that sarcasm is the least understood of the written feelings communicated between people electronically.  Our own government [USA] has spent time and research on sarcasm in electronic communication within ongoing studies by the NIH.

The who/what/when/why of electronic communication is ever changing for we as end users.  Different rules for communicating apply in different settings.  There is no single rule book titled “Texting, Emailing and Emoting for Dummies”.  Believe me, I have checked for such a book.  The web is a Hydra of electronic communication advice; select and read one and three more appear.  The good news is that I believe Second Life residents are generally well versed in communicating.  In this article I will cover what I found to be the most helpful advice.

I don’t believe there is a single person who doesn’t know that writing in ALL CAPITAL letters is considered shouting in text.  There are several other considerations when composing your texts.  Words matter to the recipient.  The word you select to open and to close a text as well as the specific words you use should be considered in your communication.  The length of a response you write may convey meaning to your recipient.  Psychologytoday writes that one of the most important items to consider is that the person you are “speaking” to may be in a very different mood than you are when you write them.  This effects how they understand your intentions and your meanings.  Studies have learned that when someone receives an ambiguous or open-ended text, they are most likely to consider the meaning as negative or indifferent.  Ironically the study also found that negative emotions are the most frequently misunderstood communications within individuals electronically.

This is excellent advice, consider the receiver before firing off that IM.  If you want to be understood consider a few factors that affect the receiver.  How long have you known this person?  Research indicates that the less you know a person, the more formal your replies should be to them.  Communicating using IMs is how you manage some very important relationships.  What might you say to this person if you were speaking to them in the same room?  Read your IM before sending it.  How may it be interpreted?  When in doubt, you may always ask a friend for help.  In Second Life that is frequently not possible so doing your best is fine.  Depending on your relationship with a person, know when to go “voice” or “video” with them.

Now you are thinking about your receiver and how they may or may not interpret your words.  When we communicate with someone in person we have the benefit of expressing ourselves with touch, facial expressions, sounds and body language.  Psychologytoday reports that words set less than10% of the emotional tone of our interaction.  That means with our IMs over 90% of the communication tools we have may not be used.  Everyone in Second Life knows that with that less than 10%, there are frequently misunderstandings.  That is perhaps the understatement of the year. [laughs] Let’s look at an example from Psychologytoday from a couple’s interaction.

He: Luv u, 2 2

The challenge of this short IM is that he doesn’t know exactly how the woman he sends this too is currently feeling.  With the brevity here, she may interpret this as he is too lazy to write more, he is too busy for her, or perhaps she will merely feel indifferent.  Here is one suggested response:

He: I was just listening to one of your favorite songs.  I was thinking of you.  I wanted to tell you I love you.  I am happy we are together.  I can’t wait to see you tonight.

The actual response in Psychologytoday is laughable.  [Think the Pina Colada song meets an unpublished romance novel left in a mud puddle].  It is two paragraphs long.  In Second Life SIZE MATTERS with communication.  Here what is the suggested style that instead of short “couples speak”, writing a thoughtful line or two will go a long way toward sending the message you want the recipient to receive from you.  Using their guidelines, I crafted a response using their points of connection.  The important points gleaned from this article is that you may convey body language [sitting on sand], facial expression [smiling], voice [singing] and touching [toes in the sand] using words.  Frequently we are just plain lazy.  We pay dearly at times for that laziness.  Sit for a moment and consider any one of the misunderstandings you have experienced in Second Life.  If you had added a few more words and considered how the other person felt, would things have gone differently for you.  In almost every case the answer is yes for me.  Though we all know that sometimes we try our best and ‘people be crazy’.

Techwalla.com had some very good suggestions for IMs.  Abbreviations may seem curt or disinterested to some people.  A slightly longer response may make your IM easier to understand.  What punctuation have you used in this particular IM?  Some people fine ending a statement with a period (.) to be unfriendly whereas ending with a semi-colon or no punctuation may lead some to believe it is open-ended.  It was at this point of my research I felt almost unable to IM anyone I knew in Second Life.  So many things to consider before hitting that enter key.  When we respond to an IM we frequently whisper or hear our response in our head.  That response is perfect in emotion tone and delivery.  We need to remember that is not sent along with the words.

Stated the obvious that we frequently forget, Fastcodesi HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"gn.com adds some helpful ideas.  “Without the benefit of vocal inflections or physical gestures, it can be tough to tell e-sarcastic from e-serious, or e-cold from e-formal, or e-busy from e-angry. Emoticons and exclamation points only do so much.  (short answer: we’re selfish) and what we can do about it (short answer: make some face or phone time).  A big problem people have when conveying digital emotions is often that they fail to appreciate there’s a problem at all.”  Incredible, I wondered, I am selfish and inconsiderate that is why I have misunderstandings.  Ouch, let’s dial it back just a bit for context.  It’s is all the recipient’s fault!  No that isn’t the answer either.  As with most things in life, time and experience will help us develop our talent or lack of talent.

One situation that how we word our IMs may be very critical between a “great” time and a “should have watched TV” time we spend with another person; romance.  Emoting is considered by some residents to be a great skill, while other residents can’t be bothered to use it.  Emoting is conveying your feelings, actions, observations by using the /me before writing an IM to another person.  When doing chat at a RP SIM, there are rules for how, when and what format written communication must follow such as “turn-based paragraph-roleplay”.  When you are with your special someone, there are no rules.  I would recommend asking the individual how they prefer to communicate.  Do they prefer short responses or longer responses?  Do they enjoy a rapid reply or proceed more slowly?  Truth is, I don’t do this most of the time and most other residents don’t either.  We don’t do the obvious thing because we are embarrassed or uncomfortable asking our date.

Considering the research, the reading and all the ways IMs may go wrong; I believe the best way to approach this is to pay attention to your date [recipient].  Pay attention to how they communicate with you, their style.  Stay out of local chat, this demonstrates how you prioritize your receiver.  For some people that is hard to ignore.  Trust me, there will always be plenty of location chat.  There is only one time to make that first impression IM.  Being attentive is rewarding as it adds to the comfort of communication.  If both people are paying attention to each other, then asking questions such as “do you want…” or “do you like…” or “should we…” become much easier to ask.  Take a moment and consider what I am suggesting to you.  A little time up front, gives the relationship [whether romantic or friendship] a good chance to become a good relationship.  You can keep your own style and be you.  When you have questions along the way, clarify with the recipient.  That is the magic silver bullet as I see it; listen and pay attention.

“Digital miscommunication wouldn’t be much of a problem if we always adopted the most optimistic or generous view of an ambiguous email or text.”  Justin Kruger, NYU

…But we don’t assume the most optimistic or generous view, we assume the negative or the indifferent view.  We don’t pay attention closely and view them only through our own filters.  The phrase “no drama” never fails to make me smile in world.  With all the complexities of our communications how can there be anything except drama?

“Elementary”, said he.  “It is one of those instances where the reasoner can produce an effect which seems remarkable to this neighbor, because the latter has missed the one little point which is the basis of the deduction.”  Sherlock Holmes speaking to Dr. Watson, “The Hound of the Baskervilles” [1901].

References:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/threat-management/201311/dont-type-me-email-and-emotions

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/b HYPERLINK "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201305/communicating-emotions-online"l HYPERLINK "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201305/communicating-emotions-online"og/rediscovering-love/201305/communica HYPERLINK "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201305/communicating-emotions-online"t HYPERLINK "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201305/communicating-emotions-online"ing-emotions-online

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/ HYPERLINK "https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-convey-emotion-in-text-communication"h HYPERLINK "https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-convey-emotion-in-text-communication"ow-to-convey-emotion-in-text-communication

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/a HYPERLINK "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4999054/"r HYPERLINK "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4999054/"ticles/PMC4999054/

https://www.fastcodesig HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"n HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts".com/3 HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"0 HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"36748 HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"/ HYPERLINK "https://www.fastcodesign.com/3036748/why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts"why-its-so-hard-to-detect-emotion-in-emails-and-texts

Specific to Second Life Emoting:

http://asphyxiationpoint.weebly.com/emoting-basics.html

http://esmieblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-emote.html

https://elysiumcabaretblog.wordpress.com/classes/emoting/

This is what the Pina Colada song meets an unpublished romance novel left in a mud puddle sounds like to me:

Psychology HYPERLINK "https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201305/communicating-emotions-online"Today advised text in place of Luv u,u2:

“I’m sitting on the sand where we first met, wrapped in the love blanket you gave me. The sun is going down and I can feel you close to me. I’ve got a big smile on my face, but I have tears in my eyes, wishing you were here. If I were speaking now, my voice would be a little croaky because I’ve been singing too long in the cold, but I know you would still love the way I sound. I’m running the warm sand through my fingers and toes, listening to the beautiful sounds of the ocean going dark. I love you so much and I hope you miss me, too.”

 Seersha Heart [saoirseheart resident]

Photos by Karmaghna Ulrik

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