Anybody interested in a BRIEF interview?

I'm taking a class on communities, and we are discussing virtual communities. I would like to interview 2-4 Second Life members to get their feedback on how Second Life operates as a community.

Please let me know if you're interested! I would really appreciate it!

Hi Kate, if we happen to be on at the same time, I'd be happy to help.

Can I send you my questions in an email or via AIM? I can't download second life, it keeps telling me my graphics card is inadequate (whatever that means).

Thanks!!

Second Life uses a lot of mashinpower. You might be able to run SL anyway. It said the same about my laptop too, but runs ok.
I can help you out on the interview part too, if you need more people.

if you enable private messages (User CP > edit options > check enable private messaging) i will send you my email so you can send me your questions.

sounds like a survey to me, just in the form of a sort of interview hehe

why do so many students choose SL to do a paper or whatnot on?

good luck Kate, although I am sure it would have helped if you could have been able to get in world, and interview them within the community you are writing about

I'll be happy to take the survey...will send my email via IM

EDIT: You still don't have your PM activated as Lea indicated so I can send my email to you.

Lowercase first name, check
Post count less than 10, check
Asking about personal information (survey, interview etc) check

Sounds like either a scammer, stealth advertiser/data collector, or, best case scenario, someone who heard about SL and wants to do it for a term paper without wanting to know what SL is about firsthand.

not a discussion about my underpants then!

Umm I guess a paper on SL may be more credible than one on HalfLife2, WoW or Halo.
No offense intended, mybe I'm wrong about Kate, but from her displayed details, if someones a new player with an account less than a month old and can't log into SL, are they really useful research for data on the SL community?

I understand the skepticism....but I'm really just a student trying to earn some extra credit! I'm disappointed I haven't been able to really explore Second Life, my class actually met in SL on Friday night (at the Splittsville Bowling Alley) and I missed out on that (despite trying on 2 different computers).

Anyhow, if you have any desire to give me a little feedback and help me out, I'll post my questions here.

Thanks for your time!

1. What do you enjoy most about participating in Second Life?
2. In what ways does Second Life differ from the "real" world?
3. Do you find it easier or more difficult to talk to other people in Second Life?
4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?
5. What do you percieve to be the advantages of participating in a virtual community?
6. Are there any disadvantages?

Perhaps you could get extra credit by improving your spelling.

Have you heard the rhyme " 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' "?

Pep (Weird that it doesn't always apply though)

Argh. You still haven't enabled private messages in your forum options, Kate...otherwise, I would've sent you some answers.

You may find this article I wrote helpful, especially the first half:

http://www.jeremyduffy.com/computers-internet/second-life/the-second-life-ultra-primer/

Still need one?

I will answer one of them, no need for anyone to have my email for a simple survey
(I was not too keen on getting more spam hehe) not saying you would or would not use the emails for malicious means, just don't know you so go on the side of caution.

4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?
yes, or at least one of them had better be, I married him, can't get more sincere than that.

I'm down, I'll send u a PM.


...sure as hell would be nice if u could download SL though, would get a lot more responses for your lil "study".

[EDIT]:

Oh wait...I can't send u a message from this board???

Nvm.

I have mixed feelings on people asking for surveys in the forums because (1) when I was in grad. school, I conducted my research in a particular online community via IRC - yeah it was awhile ago...lol. So, I understand how online communities, especially one with the sophistication of SL (ie. avatars, more than just "texting," etc. but (2) as you can see from some of the responses, this forum has been inundated with requests for "surveys" - some more seemingly credible than others.

My "gut" gives me the impression your's is sincere so with that I offer my answers....



1. What do you enjoy most about participating in Second Life?

So many things. I initially came a year ago to continue with my role play community I had been a part of on IRC for 12 years. When I discovered the enormity of SL with almost endless things to do, I left that community for the most part and spent time exploring many different areas.

If I had to pick ONE thing, it would be enjoying SL with my Partner (met here) followed closely by attending classes and now instructing some myself.


2. In what ways does Second Life differ from the "real" world?

For me, the main way is the inability to experience human interactions of touch, body language, eye contact, etc.


3. Do you find it easier or more difficult to talk to other people in Second Life?

Equal. The person one encounters on SL (or any online venue) is exactly how I am offline. I am very loquacious and outgoing in both.

4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?

This is an issue in all online communities as well as offline, although one has more cues to go by in that respect. (See #2)

In both, basically if I make a connection with someone, generally "time will tell" the degree of sincerity, or lack thereof.

5. What do you percieve to be the advantages of participating in a virtual community?

(Grammarian tip - remember "I before E except after C" - might want to correct the spelling of "perceive." )

Many, including:

*Connection/contact with the world for those who are housebound, ill, disabled, elderly, lonely, are more comfortable with social interaction online than off, etc.

*Educational opportunities one may not be able to obtain offline

*The feeling of "traveling" to other countries, experiencing other cultures, etc.

*Being able to experience things desired offline but not obtained such as: Living an upscale lifestyle on SL with luxuries not imaginable in RL (owning a private jet, living in a grand estate or on a private island, etc.); going through a pregnancy/having "children/family"; owning a pet or multiple pets, horses...an entire ranch, farm, etc.

*Meeting new friends who may over time also become friends offline as well (I have several of these from my IRC days who are now also on SL )

*Social activities - dancing, dating


6. Are there any disadvantages?

A tendency to let some things (chores as an example) in RL slide due to deep involvement in SL.


Good luck with your class and extra credit!

Argggghhhhhh....I did the same thing before I saw your post.

Now it scares me that we were on the same wave length.

1. What do you enjoy most about participating in Second Life?

The room for creativity. I'm becoming a pretty fair builder, and have discovered a means to display the art I do in RL here as well.

2. In what ways does Second Life differ from the "real" world?

That answer is longer than a message forum would allow for.

3. Do you find it easier or more difficult to talk to other people in Second Life?

Much easier. In fact, some folks find it so easy, they're willing to say things to other people they wouldn't dream of saying in face-to-face situations. This is not always a good thing.

4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?

What do you mean by 'sincere'? Since we're talking about the translation of RL communications into a virtual environment, 'sincere' has a different take depending on what you're talking about. Do you mean gender portrayal? Friendships and/or romance? Business dealings?

5. What do you percieve to be the advantages of participating in a virtual community?

One obvious advantage is the lack of a need for physical presense. I don't have to travel to your city, or your office, or your house. I can condust business, or share a dance, in this virtual space. Of course, physical meetings are always better - but virtual meetings are much more convienent.

6. Are there any disadvantages?

Although this may change as the medium progresses, visual and hormonal clues in face-to-face communication are lacking. This is a disadvantage because of the natural way humans use these cues to communicate unsaid messages to each other. Body language, pheromones, and so forth are as important to communication, and therefore to the solidification of relationships, as anything else we do as humans.

I'll throw in 2 Quatloos:

1. What do you enjoy most about participating in Second Life?
The ability do do things not possible in RL either due to physical danger, or financial limitations, or just the fact that they don't exist in RL.

2. In what ways does Second Life differ from the "real" world?
You are not limited by physics, or risk of bodily harm, within the framework of the game you can do pretty much anything you may wish to imagine


3. Do you find it easier or more difficult to talk to other people in Second Life?
No difference for me

4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?
I take all I experience at face value, accepting everyone as they appear.SL is a self contained world. I don't worry about it beyond that.

5. What do you percieve to be the advantages of participating in a virtual community?
You can meet people from places you will never get to visit in RL. And again, you can do things you can't possibly do in RL. You can easily explore fantasies.

6. Are there any disadvantages? Not many, if you keep a perspective, and not let yourself get drawn in too deeply. That can be difficult.

Ok, blame it on the meds + I'm legally "retarded" after 8 concussions in my life, lol. ...ain't even occur ta' me to just post the answers. Here ya' go:


1. What do you enjoy most about participating in Second Life?

The extremely high level of customization. I grew up on videogames, from about 1982 on up. I was playin' ATARI before I could even talk in a full sentence & my 'fro was more than half the size of my body, not ta' mention the bellbottoms but I digress.

I LOVE the avatar customization from textures to attatchments. I love visiting well-built Sims & seeing good artists, builders & scripters illustrate things that can't be done IRL. I also love the fact that I'm gonna be in the 1st "generation" of the "metaverse" (if they stick with that label for it ). I have a lotta fun watching SL, & this technology grow.

2. In what ways does Second Life differ from the "real" world?

In SL, a LOT of the things that experienced users take for granted, can't be done IRL. Flying un-aided, building "with your mind", surviving any attack or mishap, "traveling" to countries around the world without a passport or travel money, etc. There are a lot more ways that SL differs from RL, but the answer is getting longer and longer, as Residents keep gettin' better at making the impossible possible.

3. Do you find it easier or more difficult to talk to other people in Second Life?

Right now, because using Voice chat & text, while I juggle my usual 7 PMs (private/instant messages), it's harder to communicate in SL than RL.

...as far as just communication w/ individuals, it's about the same for me inworld & IRL.

4. How do you know if the connections you make in Second Life are sincere?

IMO you don't. I could be a hollywood actor, doing a personal sociology study for my own enrichment in SL, & the other users wouldn't know. There's no way to be sure if the relationships are "sincere".

5. What do you percieve to be the advantages of participating in a virtual community?

Being part of a community from all over the globe, instead of just Chicago, or even the U.S.A., is a big "plus" to me. I love diversity and freedom. ...also if you are a RL artist, musician, etc...your networking can jump by leaps & bounds once you find the right contacts. The SL Artist community is a prime example, so is the Music Academy.

...other advantages:

* Disabled folks can stay involved in regular communication when they can't leave the house IRL.

* Learning interfaces like this now, will be useful in the future.

* This hobby can keep some kids out of more serious trouble, even if they decide to just be "griefers" (virtual criminals)

* Anybody who wants to build in 3D can just use the default building tools, & don't have to buy expensive 3D modelling programs. If they took the same amount of time just learning building as people take for a RL (American) "Certificate Course", they would be MASTER builders in the "metaverse" in no time. This skill is gonna put money in folks pockets as the technology grows.

6. Are there any disadvantages?

SL can be extremely addictive to some people, to the extreme that they will stay awake for days on end, just to play, or do whatever they do in SL, but that varies by the individual user.

...if a user invests a lot of RL money in SL, there's always the possibility that thier virtual assets can just "vanish", be stolen, or accidentally deleted. ..."islands", for example, cost more than some used vehicles, cost a monthly fee, and have been known to "vanish", with everything on the island at the time it disappeared lost for good. ...in some cases this added up to thousands of RL dollars.

The majority of disadvantages to USING SL, come from bad judgement on the part of the individual user, not SL itself. The high level of immersion has been known to cloud most users' judgement from time to time.

oh...were we supposed to wear underpants? *blush*

Only if you want us to talk about them.

Or wave them if someone mentions Nazis (I think that's how it works anyway.)

/me whips off her pants and waves them in salute.