SL vs. RL

I'm not sure how much of the community has an active "roleplaying" life in SL. I was kind of just curious. What I mean as Roleplaying, is that you basically live SL like you live RL. You have friends, family, possible a significant other. I'm not talking about the Elven community in this particular situation. Basically I am wondering how everyone feels about this. Do you take your SL family to heart.. do you allow dramatic things to happen, arguments and fights and not talking and such. Also, do real life events that effect your Second Life constitute your online family being upset at you or mad.

The situation I am in is that IRL, my cable company is having problems. The cable has been out for 70% of the time in the last two weeks. Sometimes its all cable, internet and TV. Sometimes it's only Internet. But basically it has effected my gameplay as of yet. Right before the problems started to occur, I started a relationship. My significant other hasnt really jumped down my throat about my lack of gameplay lately, but I know it effects her. But on the other hand, my "family" has been pretty blunt about being upset. Last night I was supposed to throw my SL brother a Bachelor party, as he gets married in game this weekend. Welp, lo-and behold my cable crapped out yesterday morning, and wasnt active again until this morning. It comes on and goes off as it feels, and being that i am in a neighborhood where only 4 residents have this cable company, we're on the bottom of the barrel as to when we get our problems fixed. The problems are happening due to the dramatic change in weather we have had lately in Georgia. Anyway, my SL sister is upset with me, im sure everyone else in my clique of friends is also upset with me. But should they be ? I mean, Real life circumstances have kept me from playing. Also, I'm supposed to be his best man in game this weekend. But I work on saturdays. Everyone is upset about that as well. But I mean, I only let SL reach so far into my RL before I have to put a barrier between Reality and SL.

Should I be apologizing and begging forgiveness (which is what i will do either way, but is that the way it should be ?) Or should they just understand that My world does not revolve around SL, and I can't MAKE my cable work??? Please reply, I am so lost as to what to do !

both. you can apologize for committing to things that you didn't attend. they can also understand that connections go pear shaped. this is one of those things that we never tolerate in real life but do in second life. there is a difference between "i was stuck in traffic (didn't give myself enough time to get here)" and "i lost my connection." short of having a phone number or dialup email & chat, there's nothing to be done until the connection comes back.

if people are incapable of adjusting, keep your distance. they either won't be inworld very long or they'll be miserably hateful to people who follow virtual world rules of conduct when they differ from real life.

RL always has to come first. It's RL that feeds you and keeps your broadband on...

My in world relationships are *very* real to me. Some as real as any first world relationships I have/had. That said, my first life is where I have to work to help feed, clothe, raise, and live with my family and my flesh body. Therefore, to me, first life will always be just that; First.

I am sorry that your in world friends and family are upset with you. If they are really your friends and family though, they will get over being upset in time and will just be happy to have you back in their lives.

Thanks for your reply's. They have helped me alot. I just hope that everyone can understand that I couldnt do anything about it, the cable went out again, and again i couldnt even get on Yahoo to say "i cant make it." but either way, I guess they will just have to forgive

Ayd lol

Dont worry about it man lol ... How can they be mad at you for not throwin a party for me, that I wouldnt have even been around for LOL .. Besides your cable went out, thats something you cant control, so dont let them stress you out. I do hope the problem gets fixed soon cuz we all miss your punkass lol ... I dont think anyones mad at you, and if they are, screw em cuz im not mad at ya and im the only important one *shrugs* LOL

- Mike

My philosophy: Stay away from people online that can't handle an AFK.

That's why your my bro I appreciate it, I was worried u were gonna be so pissed off at me. Didnt know u looked on the forums!!! ha. Aight man, hopefully this stuff will get sorted out Ttyl

Wise words.

And then the freakout begins.

I share your grief! I've had the same problem during the last 3 weeks. I'm at a friend's house tonight, so I can actually post. I haven't been in game since hmmm Sunday or Monday. I can't go on YIM, or ICQ or IRC, or anything. I can connect for about 15 seconds and then I'm off line again. Can't even read my e-mail. Only one of my SL friends has my phone number. He is notifying those who ask for me about my connection problem.

Ah..yes.....I AM getting DSL (downgrading, if you will), but at least I'll be able to play! My cable company is unable to "get parts" to replace the fiber optic line that the squirrels chewed up. Go figure.....

Your friends WILL understand if you manage to get through to one of them. Maybe leave a message here and one of the forum users can send them an IM.

Aydyn,
I never, ever jumped down your throat about that. I told you that my cable goes out sometimes too... so I fully understood.... but thanks for making me look bad... I really appreciate it... thanks a ton and thanks for makin our friends or online family whatever you call it look bad. To me Ashley, Erika, etc are RL to me also! I wouldn't go buy them stuff in rl if they weren't. I wouldn't talk to them on the phone if they weren't. I'm sorry friendship means so much less to you than it does to us that is actually in our group.... but I just wanted to make sure to THANK YOU for posting this instead of talking to us about the fact... really ... wonderful....

My SL is drama and relationship free.

What kinda absolute idiots get upset because a computer problem keeps you from getting in world, or because you hafta work. That is ridiculously stupid. I wish these self-absorbed assholes would find somewhere else to spend their time.

I'm hurt that anyone in our group of friends see's what i said as making anyone look bad. I simply stated that Erika was upset with me, which she was, and she was pretty blunt about it. I love my online family and love spending my time with them, and ontop of all things I feel very strongly about you Jessi, and You know that. Im sorry it was taken as me being out of hand or whatever. I was simply trying to get advice on how to make it up to you everyone, especially you. Im sorry for what happened. I truly am. And i'll just show myself the way out. :|

Sometimes is not that a friendship means "less" but that some don't have the need to blur the lines between 1st and 2nd life. If you got 1st life contact then you are blurring the lines. Your choice. But some choose not to, and that doesn't make them less of a 2nd life friend, it just means, don't go there! Important to respect everyone's boundaries. And guilt tripping won't help lol