If everyone you know was in SL

aren't we in second life because we have run screaming from them in real life?

I think it'd be pretty cool actually (except the inevitable part of having to walk my mother through various things boggling her). The only part I would like to change is that they have the freedom to create whatever avatar they want to. I would love to see what people came up with, particularly my mail man, delivery man, electrician and some of the tellers at the market. I have some good guesses

My usual hang-out promotes itself on elements of BDSM and transformation fantasy, so finding my parents there would be a "run screaming" situation. Anyone else who knew me would have as much explaining to do as I would ("Bondage? I just dropped in to buy cigarettes!". I'd prefer to keep most RL contacts in the dark about what I do, but I might talk to some of them incognito.

A few of my RL friends might remember my av's name and know who I am. Ditto close family. There are a some details in my profile I'd edit very quickly before they got a chance to read them, although even the kink wouldn't be news to a couple of *very* close friends.

how would i know if they are in SL? that can only be certain, if i see them in RL using SL.
Everybody could say, i'm this or that person.. but you never know for sure.

And IF they where, the chances are quite slim, i would encounter them inworld.
So many places, so many logins, it's like 0,0001% chance.

And i don't care either, they are free to do as they please, just as i am. If i encounter them, an would feel uncomfortable, i would simple say: "i'm going bye bye, see you in the other world soon " and tp away.

Well, I've been trying, and failing, for years to get my 'First Life' friends and acquaintances into SL. It's been an epic fail in most cases: they're either computer-illiterate or so full of tabloid nonsense that I just give up on them. I explain to them that, yes, I'm a blue dragon in SL, build and sell treehouses and do regular music shows and I can see their eyes glaze over with an 'It does not compute' look in their faces.

If avatars with names of people I know in First-Life showed up in SL, I'd assume that it was all faked and staged and would consider informing my First-Life friends that they may be vicitms of identity theft. They'd have to prove to me the veracity of their identity by inviting me over to their house and showing me the view from their computer screen or something like that. After that...would we talk or spend any time hanging out? Maybe but I have my doubts. They'd be new to SL while I'm a 'seen-it-all done-it-all' oldbie. I'd leave them to scamper off to Zindra while I build my next stage.

I would just adapt.

I don't really do anything that I would need to hide from them, so no big deal.

I think the challenge for some would be the choices they have made in SL based on the level of anonymity available in SL.

I was surprised at the level of anonymity in SL when I first got here.
It is fantastic for some who are seeking to escape the usual constraints of thier lives.
For me it has been pretty much a non issue as 90% of my activity has been about learning and creating.

On the subject of anonymity however it is wise to maintain a certain level of it due to the unfortunate fact that there are those who will use the RL info they may gain about another to harass or exploit them.

^^^ That. Although in my case it's way too late as my SL avatar is intertwined with my First-Life stage persona / nom-de-plume.

I try and find out how they got their real names and avatars so quickly and cheaply (because they sure as hell wouldn't have done it at the current prices), so I can run off and make one for the lulz.

Hummmm...

Go back to that last bar, and insist they throw out anything that was left in the bottle they poured my drink from, as someone obviously spiked it with hallucinogens? (Since my parents can't even get e-mail to work regularly, my sister wouldn't be caught dead in SL, etc...)

And if it *was* the new "way it is..." I would almost certainly leave SL forever, because all those "My avatar is exactly like the Real Me!" virtual clones of people's Players would, for me, destroy what attracts me to SL. I don't mind if *some* people live their Second Lives as carbon copies of their Real Selves. But if it was expected that *Everyone* would do so? No thanks. Ceera is NOT "the real me", nor are any of my alts. The one time I tried to make an avatar that looked exactly like the Real Me, I found it almost impossible to be interested in using that Avatar, even if I attached no other similarities to it other than my appearance. The attraction of SL for me is the ability to be *anything* that my imagination can conceive, and often to be something very different from my "real self". Most of my avatar forms aren't even Human, and most of my friends, if I do show up in my "Low lag Human form", react along the lines of "Eeeek! Someone shaved all her fur off!".

I'd run screaming, then give it 24 hours. They'd all be scared away by then so I could go back

They all know my SL name anyway, so I wouldn't pretend I don't know them or anything, but I come in here to escape, not to find more RL.

Yes. This is why i would ban and mute them.

You have just won a free Accidental Avatar T Shirt.

I'd have pretty fair sized ban list. Seriously how many of us even LIKE all the people we come in contact with every day in RL. We tolerate. We cope. The we get home and find a little peace with the few people we DO like.

Most everyone that knows me knows Immy... I'd probably get on their case for using their RL names because of the risks involved. (^_^)y

All my RL folk in SL?

No, I definitely wouldn't like that.

The reason I joined in the first place was to try what it'd be like to have another life, different and distinct from the one I already have. If my RL invaded my SL, it'd be time to decamp and find a Third Life.

--
Aes

One observation I have made over time, a general one is how we sometimes describe people we know that aren't in SL. W say they "Don't get it", or are "Computer Illiterate" or too warpped up in whatever time wasting activity they mat be into. While this can be true in cases, in general, it strikes me as very judgemental and elitist. For a crowd who howls about live and let live in SL, we seem to not want to apply that to everyone else. Not wishing to use SL or trying it and not liking it is not a character flaw of any type. I have friends, a married couple who are big into WoW and several other of those games. They know what SL is, have looked at it tried it and didn't care for it. It just doesn't interest them, just like their games do not interest me.

On the other hand, turning it around, if I could become Argent in RL? No hesitation, mate. Especially if I get to keep my inventory.

Uhm. Think: Dark Angel - Season 2.

Might not be much fun.

But i guess having your inventory makes most people the equivalent of Gods in RL depending on what goodies they have.

Me, I would back away slowly. If it was my ex and I knew it, I jot his name down and create an alt, return and simply grief him to death before he learns how to AR. That would be so therapeutic and cheaper.

am i the only one who would have a fucking blast if everyone i knew irl was in sl?

i would love it..
i guess thats just me o.O

geesh.

wuts everyone got to hide

hell, i been tryin to get my friends in here over a year.

SL party at my house.. bring ya laptops! ;p

Don't know that one. I watch maybe ten hours of TV a year. Was there a giant ferret in that?

Edit: after googling, I think we can skip the EMP attack on the US infrastructure bit.

get a new alt and avoid the hangout like the plague.

I think the more realistic question is: would you change your avatar, hide groups or otherwise stop feeling free to express your virtual personality?

I didn't see anything about them knowing who I was in the original post.

I would definitely not go there anymore, and might consider uninstalling SL entirely (you'd have to know my family to understand the EXTREME prejudice embodied in seeing them in SL) other people I know, I couldn't care less, I live essentially the same IRL, but I probably wouldn't hang out where ever I found them nearly as much ( I enjoy SL because it's convenient to get away from the type of people I know)