Interpersonal caution...

Something I wish someone had told me when I started out, and which I think probably deserves a thread of it's own (and which, I'm sure, actually has any number by now):

Things move rapidly in-world, but between humans, no matter what the setting, the basics always apply. It takes time to get to know people - regardless of the venue, regardless of what they say or how they "look". It seems to be an article of faith among a lot of (maybe younger) folks that "people are essentially trustworthy" - certainly my younger two kids still get angry with me when I (try to ) gently suggest that such-and-such a person they've met might just not be as advertised. This is about a zillion times harder to sort out online. I'd not consider anyone a "friend" whom I knew for less than at least several months, regardless of how "nice" they seemed.

Remember, anonymity gives emotional manipulators lots of leeway to construct attractive personae - and believe me, they're out there. Consider - the charming person you meet? - may be in prison. May be a sociopath - usually very charismatic people. Gender? - who knows. Motivations? You simply don't know.

Obviously there are lots of exceptions - but when they finally get around to putting an FDA black-box warning on SL, it will almost certainly include something like: "Persons you meet in this setting may, and probably do bear very little actual resemblance to their outward appearance. You should be aware that emotional vulnerabilities can be easily manipulated by persons who are skilled in projecting certain attributes which you may find attractive. Caveat subscriber."

SL in prison? Maybe in one of those Euro resort prisons. But I can't think of any American prison that would allow convicts access to the net with the freedom to come on SL.

i'd venture to guess that 65%+ of the SL population has a few screws loose (i didn't do the math according to my experience or anything). it doesn't take some of us skepticals long to sniff them out and duly note our findings (both inworld and in forums). that shouldn't sound judgemental, because it's not. but i am a practicalist and a realist, and a spade is spade, no matter its outside appearance. i feel privileged to have been gifted with this awareness tool. i do shake my head more often than i reply.... i'm certain you all appreciate that. LOL

/me wonders if I should ask Chris how he knows this ... (winks)

Not been to prison, I have never been caught. Besides, I am too pretty for the joint.

That's what Floyd said, and look what happened to him...

At the risk of being accused of derailing another thread, here's the picture from the FL section of my Profile that I posted in another thread that deals with precisely the same area as this thread

He ended up in the Witness Protection Program, cutting hair in Mayberry.

TOTALLY HOW I PICTURE IT! LOLOL

Whatever it is you have been drinking/ingesting is not healthy.

quite the contrary. i am very lucid and can sniff out a fruit loop in a box of cheerios in just one slip up --- if they aren't careful.

i dont agree with the assessment made in this thread. Second Life isnt full of any specific type of people. Its full of mostly online gamers or online users familiar with chatrooms or housewives. Which are specific demographics. Basically, Caucasians in middle class or upper middle class. With the exception that Second Life draws more creative artistic types by the nature of the platform. Although, those are generalizations. I think the point could be made that the residents of Second Life are simply us. its really easy to try to separate yourself from your neighbors and classify them as sociopaths in order to come to terms with it. But its also lazy and thoughtless and wrong.

If you dont like what you see when you look around in this world, if you dont like the people who are your neighbor's here, then you are rejecting your own humanity. Because, face it, this is who we are as a species. Furries, Vampires, Robots, Escorts, kids at heart. This is who people choose to be when they have the anonymity to do so, when there are no consequences.

I know there are people here who have mental disorders or physical ones. People who have all kinds of baggage. But who doesnt have baggage? Im not defending people who use this world to spread their hate and ignorance and apathy. But making generalizations its helpful either. Its so much easier to be nasty to people when you try to strip away their humanity. Let actions and deeds speak for themselves and try to be more openminded. Otherwise, its a very lonely world.

Most problems in SL are caused by simple intolerance. Everyone has a right to be here, no matter who they are.

I figure if you want to date in real life - then try to meet people in real life.

If you want to date online - then try to meet people online.



I know some people have had success in mixing the two. I think they beat the odds.



I know a lot more people who wish they never had tried mixing the two. Something to think about.

LMAO.

On a similar note, check out the following video "What if chat rooms were real?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC1xFjGcZ7c

Warning: it's 11 minutes long... Funny, and disturbing too. Especially the ending.

Never been caught, huh? I hear you.


No, not for you. Where I work, the ones who get special attention are flower boys like "I just went out my way to AR everyone I could" boy. He's the special one.


Only a selected few get internet access but under supervision.

I'm trying to figure out what you mean -

You mean you can tell if someone has mental issues just by speaking to them online?

sometimes, yes. not really speaking, but reading what they say. i don't usually engage them anymore once i figure it out.

So by reading what they say in chat you can tell if they have mental issues?

well sure.

You can't always tell how someone is just by talking to them. People who want can disguise their true selves very easily on-line. Doesn't take much to do this. Even someone who acted a certain way can be deceiving so you don't really know, not until you got to know the person and even then it may not be as it seems. This is the advantage or disavantage of online.

by now, i hope you have discovered that i am a pompous ass. LOL

OMG that vedio is too much.........the police guy is a like a few lindens we have in the game . Which one is community service linden in this vedio

Thank you for sharing...............

usagi

I think its precisely because of the fact that people can hide how they are online, on the phone, and even in person is why you should remain cautious.

Online people tend to let their guards down. But then make the mistake after having done that of trusting that same person a couple of weeks later with personal information.

Forgetting they had only let their guard down because this information was "safe" in the first place.