Modern Adventures in Second Life®️… and Beyond
Part I: What is Second Life?
What a question - What is Second Life®
Second Life® is a virtual world that has a unique economy and community. Residents (avatars) create most of the content and own the rights to their creations. Since creators maintain ownership over their creations, many residents own businesses and regularly sell services and goods.
This is a rich environment where one can interact with anything created. This world is not limited to socializing or to specific activities. Its abilities are truly in the eye of the beholder. Scripters, musicians, movie-makers, publishers, artists, designers, and more login daily.
Unlike a game, there is no perceived “goal” to Second Life®. Instead, this world is an immersive community. You could design a game within Second Life®, but Second Life® itself is not a game.
Every avatar resident you meet is a real person with a real life and real feelings. Gamers who traditionally experience only computer-generated characters often find this transition challenging - and are often corrected by long-time residents when a behavioral faux pas is committed. While Linden Lab® provides a Terms of Service agreement which defines the base rules of Second Life® society, resident-created groups often add their own societal norms. Behavioral expectations vary between groups.
I have met people from all over the world in Second Life® and have chatted with some of them through online translators (we get by - thanks Google). I have met some of them in person, in the physical world. Many are life-long friends.
I have participated in design teams and educational forums with people I would have never met in “the real world”. The virtual world is truly a world without borders.
If you haven’t given this fascinating, better version of social media a spin... it’s definitely worth a try! And while I am focused on travel in this amazing place, there are some great blogs out there that focus on a myriad of other things including clubs, fashion, academics, communities, and “inworld news”.
Part II: Second Life Resources
15th birthday message from Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Altberg and founder Philip Rosedale. Many thanks to Draxtor Despres for making these wonderful videos.
Hang with me - I’m gathering links and stuff to some great resources that will help you discover more about virtual worlds and Second Life. Stay tuned.
