Project about Second Life: Plz, be welcome ^^

Hello Second Life Users.

We are to boys from Denmark, and we are in a progress of making a Project about Second Life. Our question for our project, is something abut the social life in Second Life. And since this forum is about Second Life we thought that maybe, you could tell us your expiriences, ur oppinion, and your reason "to play Second Life".

We had read a lot of things happening in the Second Life, like peadophiles in Second Life, "robbers" there "stealing" L$ and exchange them to USD. What is great thing about being in a virtual world, where there is no police, or judges?

We also wonder, we heard that some use very much of theit time in Second Life, and some earn real money because of the possibillities. we would like to know how much time you use in Second Life. If much, why being social with an avatar instead of being social with being together with your real friends?

Well, maybe we set up a few things that maybe is very "directly", but that isn't meant in a bad way, any of things

For see it from your users "sight" we had also made an account and are trying to make som contacts, and get new friends. But I/we don't know how to handle situations in a virtuel world, so we wondered if you could give us a little help. That would be nice.

And please be welcome to write if you think that we are wrong about some things. And also be welcome to add some of your comments if you think we forgot something or something like that (=

Best regards
Hikari Jiminy Aka. Tobias and Patrick.

Hi Hikari!

One thing to be aware of about the social fabric of Second Life: Its dramatically different things to different people.

Some folks spend their time creating, while others spend their time socializing. Still others spend their time immersed in various forms of roleplay, or operating a buisness. Some folks spend their time helping others - the list goes on and on.

All of us coexist in this world, under the basic sets of laws that Linden Labs enforces (the community standards & TOS). Sometimes RL laws do creep into our world, such as the gambling ban - but the ultimate gatekeeper on what rules are enforced is Linden Lab.

I'm sure this will spawn more questions - but I hope this gives you a general idea of how complex things are here

The people who do this kind of research should publish their findings better. That way people like the OPs wouldn't need to start from scratch every time.

Welcome to Second Life and the forums, Tobias and Patrick!

I can answer one of those questions for you. Many do not make a distinction between their friends in real life and those they've meant in SL. They don't have to make a choice between spending time with some over others, just as in RL, you sometimes wish to spend time with your close friends, and other times with your family or colleagues. You still get to keep them all as friends.

You can learn many things about other cultures, how different and the same people are, (ex. people from Denmark )

Hi Hikari!

Welcome to Second Life. There are many people who have done the same studies that you are doing. I would suggest searching for these studies on the internet; hopefully you can get some good information there.

To really "learn" about SL, you are doing the right thing by trying to meet people and "living" in the world. Spend time exploring and talking to people. There are many places for new people ("newbies" to go: The Shelter is a very good one, as are the many different NCI (New Citizens Incorporated) sites.

Also, you might consider, after spending some time inworld, making an online survey that people can take. Your questions are many and varied; it might be easier for people to answer specific questions.

Good luck and welcome!

Well, since you asked so nicely:

The main experience in SL, contrary to popular belief among those who aren't actually there, is NOT to spend your day searching out possible pedophiles and robbers, but to stand at a convenient tp point, dressed in a dashing shade of grey and converse with nearby strangers in the hope that your hair is not currently attached to your butt.

Once the sim is reasonably rezzed you can walk about, unless you find yourself pacing in the same spot which may or may not mean you're walking into a still-invisible object or are trampling previously mentioned strangers. When you finally meet people that are not either entirely grey, black&white, or frozen in a strangely cruciform shape, you can accept their immediate demands for money or pixel whooppie, depending on your mood.

You can find many interesting places to visit by using the search feature, aka 503. It is recommended that you outfit your avatar by seeking out randomly placed boxes labelled such as "500 free women's shoes". These boxes are generally NOT worn on your head. Once you've collected enough shoes you can begin to build your commercial SL empire but should be cautioned that you will NOT be earning a six-figure income by Tuesday next week.

You may find yourself frozen or that your software will suddenly shut itself down without notice. That means you've done something very bad and have broken the grid.



Seriously, you need to spend time in SL to figure it out. I'm sure I will, some day. It's the only way you're NOT going to end up with misguided conclusions regarding pedophiles and criminals.

About your question regarding how much time we spend there and why - again you had better log in for a while. You'll find out...

B.

oh god... *another* research...

Brann, they're not going to understand 90% of your post...

Ah yes, but someday, somewhere they will find themselves with an undergarment bag where their heads should be and look back on this thread to think: "well gosh darnit, that Brann, she sure was right. I should have taken her cautions to heart."


.

Most of the bad stuff you read or hear about Second Life in the media is not what most of us do. We just lead normal virtual lives and for many, like myself, it is the creativity that keeps us here.

You need to live the Second Life to the full for some time to understand it. You will learn more from that than any surveys. For many of us, the bad stuff we see in Second Life is ugly buildings, annoying spinning advertisments and sometimes agressive residents who try to upset others.

I'm sure we have all seen evidence of darker things in Second Life at times but unless it's actually against the law or terms of service it's best to just walk away.

Hallo!

First off, you might wish to know that sharing an account can be a violation of Second Life's terms of service (TOS).

There are indeed "police" of sorts in Second Life (arguments about the effectiveness of same aside) and an abuse reporting system. This is why you will find that "pedophiles" are a very small minority, and that theft, while it does occur, is less common than the news media would like you to believe.

I socialize with real friends. Some of them are also friends of mine on Second Life. I'm also 99.44% sure that the folks who I only know within Second Life are also real people behind keyboards somewhere in the world.

I also earn real money in SL.

Mari

Thx everyone, we surely could need all that feedback. We are going to "discuss" wich form of product we should end out with. thx again! .
Tobias & Patrick .

I for one welcome our new research overlords.

whisper

Welcome
Hikari Jiminy Aka. Tobias and Patrick to forum and SL.
my real life partner sometimes is here when I play but he doesn't like SL much, I usually force him to see my creations and stuff.
I offered to have him watch over my shoulder doing different things once I joked I could visit house of Prostitution but he wasn't very interested.
I personally have only visited one of those places maybe twice and it was pretty boring to me or I just couldn't get into being there.
SL is different for different people not everyone is here to make money, some just hang out and create with friends.

Hi Hikari. I'm from Norway, my main time in SL usually starts from 7 PM GMT, with is same as 2000 your local time. I'm home from work some days now so if you like it, send me an IM and see if you would like to meet. I might be in SL a lot of the day. I hate to type in Danish.....Danish and Norwgian is similar but with enough differences that I need to stop and think twice. I also use voice, but not much.

I roleplay, but take it easy...I'm not going to force it upon you. There is no real force in SL, whatever people may tell you. Those who kneel in chains has put on their own chains, they can detach it whan they want, log off or break all contact with the dominant partner. They choose their submissive role freely.
I'm in charachter, as they say, when I roleplay. So I kind of have 2 SL lifes as well, the "me" who is a Gorean and the "me" who is just, well, a better looking version of the person I am in RL. The roleplay or RP version is more like an actress interacting with others based upon the RP rules in that SIM. I know 2 roleplay SIMS run by danish people and can take you there. One loosely based upon northic mythology and one darker based upon Gor. Should give you an idea upon the RP part.

Why I spend time in SL? I have small kids RL and can't go out and party all night as I used to and loved. I was breastfeeding until last christmas. There is a fact that 50% of all married couples split up, and the number of those couples not married who part is even higher.
So instead of sitting in the sofa watching TV as I used before SL, me and my RL partner now log into SL and interact with people we would newer meet if it wasn't for SL. Much safer in my opinion, than to start a flirt with the guy who has the office next to you at work RL.
The number of "grownups" in SL is high, most of my friends is almost 30 years, and older. They use SL instead of TV as I do.

Media is fun, yes?

And when will people realize that not all SL denizens are here for the same reason?

Any way, I wished to comment on one of the OP's comments/questions, because I hadn't seen this aspect discussed before (not to say that it hasn't).

But... why interact with others via SL rather than RL? Whether SL or other internet social circles, I find for me it's quite convenient. I love my RL friends, but it's not always possible to "hook up" in RL (timing etc.). SL and other internet social circles provide a convenient social base for those of us who are busy or keep odd hours.

And of course, the biggest bonus is meeting people from all demographics and regions of the world -- I can't walk out of my house and have that experience as easily. That's a huge draw for me.