heart felt thankyous to our world

hi all~

I know i dont come into the forums very often, but i wanted to take this moment to say that Second Life is such a powerful force... and show you a small glimpse of what it's doing for a group of people i know and work with.

After living my Second Life awhile I began advocating at my jobsite to get a computer able to sustain it. I work at a day program for adults with extreme disabilities. We had some ancient computers but nothing that would run SL. After some time and effort they were able to come into Second Life on a decrepit, limpy computer and begin the spectacular journey that so many of us take for granted each day.

This group of 9, all incorporated into a single avatar named Wilde Cunningham, have quite extreme physical challenges/limitations.... ranging from not being able to speak to very limited use of their bodies, most with disfigurements. This group of golden hearted people have hit SL with wide open arms. They've been transformed by this new in-world freedom of expression. The way the community has welcomed them has provided them with a great sense of empowerment.

They decided to enter second life not merely as takers, as much of the world views such folks, but to give back. they wanted to be open about themselves. They started by sharing a lil bit of their world (some of their deep insights) at a lil kiosk € and maybe educate and desensetize folks to others in their situations. It gives them dignity to be able to communicate so freely. A few hundred residents have taken notecards from the dispensors there which has made them feel they are making a difference in SL. Already one of this group, (a man of 70) feels his life dream was realized in sl!!

Theres way to much to say about them and what each gets from second life... but the joy has brought them to tears more than once. I'm so proud of Second Life and all that you have offered to Wilde, the chance to be on an equal playing field for once, to not have to have folks get past what they look or sound like... to be warmly received... to play and have fun the way their peers do. I just want to say thank you! Thank you Linden Labs and thank you Second Life community for your role in this!

I only wish more could know and taste the richness which is second life!

If you'd like a chance to meet Wilde, they (he) usually come in world m-f between the hours of 7-11:30 pst. The times and days vary, but always within those parameters. They have also formed their first group (go wilde) just to get to know folks and stay in touch. It's called FRIENDS OF FRIENDS and all are welcome!

Each of you whose met Wilde, ty soooo much for all you've done! from me, and from them!

bretton 74 144 is the location of their kiosk~ i couldn't figure out how to insert it correctly! heh! (=

I have been priveleged enough to meet Wilde over the past few weeks, and it has been a wonderful experience. Even thru the wires, their joy is infectious, their passion for this experience quite obvious.

Each time they wish to express their "opinion" a poll is taken among the group. How wonderful to work together this way. We can all learn a lesson about working together from them.

So many times we all complain about such small things in life... I urge you all to go and see the pictures of the terrific people in this group; each of them faces immense challenges and does not whine or complain. They merely talk of what they might do to contribute to our world.

What Lilone is not saying is that the group is sorely in need of a new computer to play. They are hampered terribly by the lack of speed on their machine, so that the limited time they have already (they need the services of an already overworked aide) is lessened waiting for the machine to catch up with their thoughts and ideas.
Many of us have already gone and donated money to Wilde at the site, or directly thru the FIND window to the av itself. What a wonderful holiday gift it would be for them to have a shiny new computer to join us in our exciting world. Whatever you give will be used to supplement their account (9 people spending one stipend doesn't go far) and to purchase a new machine.

In this wonderful place that has given us so much, please find it in your hearts to help out even a little bit if you can.... It will come back to you many times over, as Wilde spreads joy throughout our world. Also, take the time to seek Wilde out and speak to him. (them) It's a wonderful experience...

Love to all & Happy Holidays, Baccara

woot!

lilone Sandgrain makes my heart happy to read this

This is an example of the powerful positive things I dreamed for SL. This kind of impact cannot be measured by the land or the money. Thank you for helping me remain hopeful.
Hope remains

Warmest reguards;

Cat Cotton

I always consider a THUMBS up from you to be so lovely !!! PLease bring friends to see and hear about these amazing people ok !

how much second life has to offer is limited only to the dream of the heart~

i'm just so grateful for my friends

and all the other second life residents who are also bettered by second life! it can be so easy to take things for granted and complain!! theres so much good experienced now that i dont think it can be measured!

thx for the reply catherine

Great post, sis!!!! I always look forward to the talks with Wilde. The poems are always so thoughtful.

Yo what up lilone

That's really sweet. You let me know a bit about this before, at that "Autisticus Spasticus" Thinkers meeting, and it goes to show how SL includes gamelike components but goes far beyond that to really touch people's lives and make an impact. A way to empower people to communicate, interact, and share thoughts + feelings with one another.

I know it did for me as well.

What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea

I am absolutely speechless. Thank you so much for broadening the horizons of SL. Thank you for rekindeling my hope in the kindness and ingenuity of those working for the greater good. Thank you for having the ability to look beyond disability and find the capability so many of us miss. You are a true blessing to the world, and I don't just mean SL. You have dibs on everything in my pixel pockets.

I am totally blown away by this. I need to talk to somebody about how contributions get made.

I wonder if it'd be possible to get LL involved in this to collect credit card donations?

Or Merwan, Mr. Resourceful, if you're out there: do you have any ideas on how to grease the skids for getting these folks hooked up with some hardware?

lilone, barring all else, can you come up with a snailmail address for check/money order donations to the computer fund?

- yoshi

This story literally brought a tear to my eye.....thank you so much for sharing!

I'd really like details on how to help with the new computer fund as well, it's a very worthy cause.

Same here if you find out let us all know. Perhaps one of us should contact Dell or IBM's PR department. They donate to schools all the time. If nothing else they may do matching funds.

i have to say i'm surprised by all the feedback... (= i'm a bit stuned at YA"LL haha.

i can get a snail mail addy and possibly even a non profit receipt if needed. i still need to do a secondary presentation to the hiearcarchy... looks about for a cup of courage heh. that should be this week.

i'd really encourage you to check the kiosk out. its at christmas joys shop in the finder for lack of a better place (for now). also if you join the friends of friends group, they'll say hi when they come in world~

second life is made better by each
everyone doing their lil part
just like rl

huuugs and thx for the nice comments!

lilone

Here is a number for Apple Computer's Disability Support. Second Life also runs on Mac OS X. Perhaps they might be an avenue for you for a grant or donation of some kind?

Apple Disability Solutions (800) 767-277

the idea is a good one to call on that, but its important to wilde to work some and save up for it... like they are having an active roll in bringing the computer into exsistance. but the thought is a good one and i'll double check with them tomorrow on it. i'm thinking they're probably commited to a lil bit of patience and doing what they can to make it happen as well. cant know for sure till i double check tho~

thx!!

You've done more than a little part....tis an awesome thing

This is really wonderful. I love hearing about stuff like this!

omg talen said "tis" I knew we were soul mates kidding just kidding

I'll be on my way to the kiosk later tonight. Yay.

Excellent work, lilone. I visited the kiosk, donated a bit to Wilde, bought some groovy christmas lights and a cool snow globe for my wife. Although I am unable to be in SL during the day, I did IM Wilde.

While I cannot imagine what RL is like for all of Wilde, I have been temporarily physically disabled before and on some days still don't walk so well. The relief SL has brought me has been immeasurable. It is so good of you to introduce them to our world.

I know a lot of folks have offered full new pc's and mac's and I don't have the scratch to match them. I do have an awful lot of old/recent extra PC parts, like memory (PC66, PC100, PC133 and DDR2100) that I would be glad to donate to tide you over. You can IM me if you are interested.

Joy.

I hope this group of individuals behind Wilde will be an example for us all!

Wow! I encourage everyone to go visit the kiosk! Not only can you support Wilde through your purchases made in the shop, but there is also a very amazing display of notecards from the Wilde "players". There are poems, stories and more from all of Wilde's contributors. It is truly heartwarming. Thank you, lilone, for bringing this to our attention. It is fantastic!

Says it all

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