disturbing trends

Okay, first of all, game or no game...yes its real people behind the avatars. Because of this everyone is going to perceive this virtual world differently. You can try your hardest to separate emotions from it..i've tried but failed miserably. I've made some really good friends and feel very close to them. Believe it or not i actually have a first life too lol. Alot of my friends in rl differ from me, most of them just aren't in to computers so its nice to find common ground with people in something like SL, although i've never come across anything like SL lol. Anyway, i've been really enjoying my experience up until lately. It seems i'm afraid that SL witch trials are about to begin and i think i might just be a target. I recently stopped by to say hello to someone i considered a good friend of mine only to find myself unwelcome. It seems that i have been labeled a "henchman" or "gang" member, because of someone i associate with who has done nothing but be absolutely wonderful to me since the first day i met them. I had outragous accusations thrown at me and was told that it didnt matter if i didn't like it...i was going to be painted with the same brush as my friend. Anyways the point is, I was judged not based on the person she knew, but on what she thought of someone else. At first i tried to say this is just a game, but i was actually upset. Those of you that know me, know what i'm like..and know that the last thing i would ever do is intentionally ruin or hurt someone or something. Yes i've dragged this post wayyyy out but obviously everyone is different in this game, some take it so seriously that the line of reality vs virtual reality is blurred, others take it as nothing more than a means of simple fun. Your going to come across people that are unstable just like you do in real life, sometimes more so because of the fact that its from the safety of their home, but for the most part there are really great, talented people playing this "game" and take it serious to some extent because we know that we are real people, with real emotions. Can't we all just get along? lol yeah unrealistic i know...but i can dream right?

There once was a guy that gamed the game by making game of the wild game in the game, he thought he had game, but really was lame.

Sure, I'll elaborate. I come to SL solely for my own entertainment. I often have no intention of doing anything productive. I have no desire to hinder those that do, but hey, if there is a Bump N Run event starting up, I'll be there. I might even play paintball with my friends in Little Tokyo (they don't seem to mind that I am terrible at it.) I play games with people in SL all of the time. Sometimes, the environment is merely a container for those games. I will build stuff and buy things to support this container, but the more people argue, the more I am beginning to wonder if you are just a dozen Lindens gathered to make us think the other players are real... It is all a conspiracy on the part of Phillip and Peter. You guys are just bots. Admit it!
OK, sorry, I couldn't resist. The board isn't a game to me even though I play around a lot. I see it as a tool to help me become a better player.
It may not be a game to you, but it is to me. It doesn't mean that I won't respect you.

peace guys

i didnt start this to rile you up, was just an opinion
to all that know me you should remember that i dont cause troube. i only want to help and enjoy.

to those who dont know me...come see me...im me and ill come see you. get to know me before you condem me

thanks

Well you are a tatoo'd freak

I'll come see you.

He's a shaved head, very large goatee, tatoo'd freak.
But also a good guy all around.
Crow

I'm not riled up (not sure who that was referring to). I actually enjoy the discussion quite a bit. What I do in these forums is really just a ga... errr, nevermind.

Anyway, I think we all (mostly) agree that we need to treat the other "players" in SL like people and not just cartoon characters. There will always be rude and obnoxious people in this world with whom no amount of reasoning will have any effect. My experience with these types has been that when they finally alienate so many people that they are about to be banned for life they often resort to phrases such as "I was just joking", or "it's just a game" as a defense of their action.

For the adults among us, an apology, followed by a change in behavior works much better.

Do no harm, play no head games, enjoy the game, enjoy the company. To do otherwise in my opinion is a waste of everyones time. Now if you will excuse me I got some building to do, some chatting, some events and above all else I need a good laugh

Peace

Cat

It's a hallmark of a good game when folks are capable of becoming really, really, SERIOUS about it. Take a look at the face on any football player just before the snap. Observe what happens in the stands when one soccer player fouls another. These folks are dead serious about what they are doing. Also, recognize that when people get this immersed and intent on something, they are never more alive than at that moment.

Revel in it! And never consider that it is "just" a game. After all, the same could be said about our real lives.

This is a game? Really? Where's the dice?

Dice can be found on the northern edge of Taber at Ama's Arcade courtesy of Bob Brightwillow, next to blackjack and memory.