Are You Enjoying Yourself in Second Life?

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

Eleanor Roosevelt  

         

          Significant Other asked me a question the other day. 

(For those of you who may not be one of my three loyal followers, Significant Other is my Real Life (RL) partner who exercises what little adult supervision is still left in my life.) 

The question was, “Do you really enjoy yourself in Second Life (SL) for all the time

that you spend there?”  

Which was followed by two more questions, “Why do you enjoy yourself there?” and “How do you enjoy yourself while there?”

(Significant Other has been very happy that I no longer travel away from home in RL as I once did and limit my peregrinations to the Metaverse.  This means that home based tech support is now available on an immediate basis.) 

The questions got me thinking (Significant Other is pleased that I do pay attention.) about not only me enjoying myself inworld but other residents as well. 

What follows are some of my ramblings about enjoying ourselves inworld.  

      

First, for the record, my answer is an emphatic “Yes” that I do enjoy myself in SL and

always have!  

Next question, why do I enjoy myself in SL?

I enjoy the unknown that exists there.  The challenge of getting into SL in the first place and then struggling to get by and becoming accepted by other residents.  Then there are the communities inworld.  I have many friends (Not to worry, I won’t out anyone.) and even family.  (Why L’il Sis was willing to admit that she not only knew me but was willing to be family still mystifies both Significant Other and myself.  Although Significant Other has a theory that it could be professional curiosity.) 

Third question, how do I enjoy myself inworld?

I explore SL with three purposes in mind.  I look for new places to wander about in, new people to meet, and new experiences to try out.  (Check out my stories if you want the

details!)  Then there is my writing which happens in this blog.  

I look forward to all these activities and they make my SL experience very enjoyable. 

Then what about everyone else in SL, are they enjoying themselves?  

Here, I only have anecdotal evidence and no metrics but given how long I’ve been inworld and how much I’ve blogged about SL, I think it’s valid. (If you disagree then tough.  It’s my blog!)  

In my inworld experience, most people are enjoying themselves.  I’ve met some people who’ve come into SL because they can’t enjoy themselves for whatever reasons in RL!  

Be honest, who does something they don’t enjoy doing unless they have to?

Their how’s and why’s vary just as they do in RL where everyone’s idea of a good time is different.  

So, as far as enjoying ourselves in SL, let the good times roll!  

SL is different from many other online experiences.  It’s not a game.  There are communities of real people here with real feelings just as in RL.  If we can enjoy ourselves in these in RL then why not in SL?

Do you enjoy yourself in SL?

Whether you do or not, why not share your experiences with us in the comments below?  

Look forward to hearing from you!  

As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives!  

          My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!

More Thoughts about Whom We Are in Second Life

 

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

Albert Einstein

 

 

          After several years of exploring and blogging about Second Life (SL) I’ve been to many new places, met many new friends, and had many new experiences.  (If you read my earlier stories then you’ll get all the details!)

          All this activity constantly brings me back to the question of whom we are in SL and is it that different at all from Real Life (RL)? 

          Earlier stories went into identity and questioned whom we were inworld.  

          I’m still not satisfied with my answers so far and I’m returning to this topic once more with this story.  (Significant Other’s eyes roll.)

          My dissatisfaction may arise from the nature of itself.  (Significant Other eyes are really rolling now,)

          While I’m in the camp that SL is an extension of RL, some look on it as a mere game. 

          For some, SL is all about role play (RP).  Whether historical, fantasy, or something else altogether, they’re here for a reenactment of a community with rules of some sort.

          Others are here for a truer RL experience.  This can be religious or helping others such as Relay for Life among others.    

          Then I encounter the question of where do we all fit in with this.

          Are we here for fun and pleasure?

          Are we looking for a technical challenge?

          Are we here to be of service to others?

          With me so far?

          Finally, I come to the ultimate question about SL.

          Does any of this really matter?

          Is a purpose really necessary to be inworld?  (I’ve lost Significant Other at this point.  Who has exited complaining of eye strain.) 

          Can we be here for multiple reasons?

          Is it selfish to come inworld only to play and hang out?

          I don’t have any good answers presently.

          I do know that like RL, SL is diverse.

          We’re all here inworld for our own purposes of this I’m certain.  Anyone who enters SL more than once has a purpose.

          Then there’s for me the inescapable fact that we all need one another inworld regardless of whatever reasons we have for being here.

          I apologize for leaving more questions than answers with this story.

          But, I truly believe that as virtual communities develop and evolve these questions will become more and more important. 

          I’ll return to this topic in the future.  (This may not be for a while, I have to convince Significant Other to come back into the room.)  

          As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

My flickr Photostream is located here.

On Skype I’m webspelunker Ghostraven.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and kind fires!