Behind Closed Doors

*listens to the RL radio and sighs* Definitely the idea of people blaming external sources for their own stupidity. Dear deities, I heard no less than 4 commercials for credit card debt "help" that started off with the words, "It's not your fault..." Hi, you took out a credit card (or two dozen), lived beyond your means, so yes, it IS your fault.

My relationship in RL is great and honestly the idea of sex in SL.. is well, boring, to be honest. I'd far rather be doing it in RL than SL.

Has SL helped me in my relationship? Not really, unless you want to count the fact that I have a creative outlet and am thus a lot less irritable than I would have been otherwise.

Yes.
Yes.
SL is a tool, It can greatly benefit people, or it can hurt them. Like any tool, it is all in what you use it for. For me, it's taught me a lot about myself and it's helped me grow as a person and as a designer.
I've not had sex or been in a partnership in SL. I've seen others in them who have found their true loves. I've found others get deeply profoundly hurt. Just like first life.

I love this story.

Beautiful story! This also reminds me...

IRL, my inworld sister should not have lived more than 18 months due to health issues. Her RL childhood was full of doctors, not playtime. Being legally blind and crippled meant a lot of the experiences I might ake for granted were not in her life then. SL has given her a chance to fill in those experiences in one form or another. Now she's a demon on skates an a ball of energy.

One of my friends suffered terrible abuse and neglect as a child. Horrific stuff. SL has given her a chance for a happier childhood, where she can be loved and cared for like she wasn't. This has helped her break away from some of the pain she experienced, and learn that not everyone exists to hurt her.

I can tell you a lot more stories like these. *This* is the beauty of Second Life.

You really should try RL skydiving once - it is a major blast. I do remember my fear the first time though -- the guy I was strapped to said that I would do a sailor proud with the words I uttered right before we jumped out the door.

Then there was also the part about being strapped so tightly to the instructor's crotch that you could not have slid a piece of the thinnest paper between us.

These are the stories that LL should be seeking out and making big PR over. In my almost two years in SL, I think I have read only a few stories of this nature.

I get cranky and fed up easily with stuff sometimes here but you know
before I returned and created FD Spark things were even worse.
I have just one friend that my partner, a caregiver who comes helps me
several times week and visiting nurse.
I am in lot of physical and emotional pain, often get very depressed and due
to trauma and health issues my view of world is pretty ugly place because of my
first life past and present struggles.
I have tried for last years to learn art skills, digital content.
I start making progress but I always get sick become unconscious for periods of
time sometimes 6 months with few potty breaks and when I return to trying
to do artwork I have to relearn everything.
That went on for like first 3 years of my other alt, no friends, no hope, i started to actually plan to just let myself die because there was literally no hope for me.
Nothing would ever get better I was convince of that but then had this passing thought
what if I cease exist and just went into that unconsciousness of non-existence never returned and fell in deep coma never waking up what would I miss the most?
I came back with one thing I would miss creating so I returned back to SL and gave it
another shot since then I have made some very close friends who are very encouraging,
I have learned new things, and my first Christmas someone I didn't really know very well
gave me their old version of Photoshop CS because they were upgrading.
Something I could never have afforded on my own because it was very expensive even a older version.
I had person who briefly came into my first life as fast as she went but drove very long distance to help me update my video card and bring me new video card only charging
for the memory and graphic card.
I met few other people like that in world who have been constant sources of inspiration, who make my world a whole lot less gray with their patience and encouragement.
I have met people who never met me in real life who geninuely care about who I am
inside, not because what is in my pants or pocketbook that actually understand me and
I seem to be able to understand them and I don't feel like a freak around.
I never belonged any where in any reality but with handful of friends I finally found a place I belonged.
Heck and they aren't even Gay or anything, and I didn't even belong or feel very welcomed
ever in any community no matter what or where it was I never felt like I belonged anywhere ever until now.
I never thought people out there were capable of that much caring and generosity.
I figured most were too shallow. I was shocked and inspired, it warmed up heart a little bit.
I didn't even have to have sex with them nor sell my soul or body to get it. I wasn't expecting any of those things. I figured people just weren't capable of that amount of generosity and kindness without strings.
So yes SL and things around it have given me hope but it also sometimes reminds me of why I don't like any reality or life much too.
Sometimes it is Ying and Yang, Shadow and light thing. One side of coin is worse in humanity, the other is best in humanity.
And sometimes I get surprised and inspired to truly see best that humans have to offer through pixelated people that truthfully for many years and I had given hope in ever knowing about in my own life.
Most of all it is outlet for me to create and learn things I couldn't afford to do any where else.
I still go into my spells where I am sleep for five days straight but it not the same since I returned.

complete derailment, but FD, I know that view...I remember seeing it the times I've been through Seattle. I'm your neighbor to the south, down in the 'aroma' area.

Now back to the thread...Yeah, in SL, I've met people who have treated me better than most have in person.. SL has the good and the bad...I'm homebound with a disabled child. If it weren't for SL, I wouldn't talk to another adult for days on end.

Seriously, I laughed a lot at this. Thanks!

QFT