...the name "Second Life"

The eye should be blinking - maybe add a tongue sticking out.

Too wordy, IMO

How about Labyrinth or Ouroboros? Archipelago? Since it's a chain of islands.

No words at all then: 𝄐 Or maybe ⏏ or ☰ or ∞ or ༀ.

I like this one: ∞

Prim City

Tis kinda catchy, but maybe a bit too much like Sim City?

Yeah, and people will refer to it as "the artists formerly known as . . ."

Finity.

Just your imagination.

I admit that 'Second Life' works very well as a brand in terms of media visibility but I cannot shake off a niggling distaste for the alternative to real life promised by those two words. It is healthy to escape from real life: we manage to do so in ways too numerous and obvious to mention and let's just say that's entertainment. Nevertheless, my opinion is that less is more when it comes to promises and even the suggestion that anyone needs a second life is absurd and vaguely sinister in its bluntness.

Xio:
I think sl is becoming immersed in a series of issues that may become a barrier to artists who are looking to expand their markets and thier media. I notice you were "born" when my most recent avi was born and so you must recall the artistic endeavours that came about at that "heady" time following teh CNN positive review of sl. That is when we had an influx of artists tha created a viable community. But I think we lost track of that when teh Art and Artist group changed its approach and banned IMing. Bu it attracted griefers as you know. I still support teh group but wish we could have more ability to share ideas in-world.
The name Secondlife may well be a stigma also. But will changing the name change the direction sl is going? Its heading for a corporate world and that may become an issue of determining the content of the arts. A thread for another day.

Lots of names spring to mind.

"Drama school"
"Pose ball heaven" (or hell)
"Lag city"

or "That silly game you keep playing" as my wife calls it.

It may be accurate in a name but it doesn't exactly enthrall people to want to login, if you show other people they sort of look at the name and you can see them thinking something like, "poor sod, failing at Real Life addicted to fake life..........."

THe problem with any name intended to be descriptive (and short) is that one has to satisfy two very different types of user.

1) The Immersionists - who want to be what they want to be
2) The Augmentists - who see SL as an extension of their RL

That would seem to make 'Life' a difficulty in the name.

Second Look might fly as it covers both views, and we could keep on typing SL.


Add:

but.....
SecondLook.com is already registered as a domain.


Many other likely runners may also be registered by other parties.

I hadn't thought of this before but I do remember thinking the name 'Second Life' was a bit odd when I first came across it. It did hint at the idea of being able to start again because your first life wasn't all that good, since it implies that you move on from first to second life. However I'm used to the name now and I'm happy in my 'main life' so it doesn't have those overtones to me now.

Second Life is really more of an 'extra life' or 'broadened life' depending on how you relate your RL and SL. Those would be clumsy names for a virtual world, however!

I remember looking on the net to see if there was a previous product or service called Second Life. There was something but I can't remember what it was but it wasn't a virtual world!

They could do what Microsoft did with NT:

"Oh no, it doesn't mean New Technology, it never did, it's just two letters, honest."

WankLand?

SecretLife

You wouldn't even need to stop typing SL.

And it reflects how most participants think about it.

And makes it intriguing instead of sordid.

But conflicts with LL's obvious intent to attract commercial clients, although maybe they could run a parallel separate but complementary world/continent called SecureLife (SL again) and for those individuals who wanted something similar another world/continent called PrivateLife - or SeparateLife if you wanted to continue the SL theme.

Or recognise the underlying "reality" of the environment and call it MittyLife.

Pep (LewisPR are/were their PR advisers)

That's what NT means? Huh. Thanks.

Interesting observation.....

I have found when describing SL to people......those who would have an interest, don't even blink at the name....because they have a genuine interest in the concept and immediately understand what I'm trying to describe....

Those that have zero interest (like my fiancee who refers to SL as my playing with mannaquins LOL) will focus on the name "second life" and draw conclusions that anyone using SL must have no first life...or very little going on IRL. For those to whom the stigma applies....it wouldn't matter what the name was..... and for those that assume the stigma.....they would never be involved in anything like SL anyway. For the rest of us.....the same is true. I don't have any sort of second life in SL......it's simply a platform for a certain type of creativity for me. It's a fascinating virtual canvas and I thoroughly enjoy exploring. As an artist....I have always been into some kind of creative 'escape'.....since the time I was a child. And...I have always had a love of PC graphics.....a fascination with the technology and social potential. It's a logical step for me to take....getting involved in SL.
If people want to bemoan the name.....they are missing the boat completely, but they're not even worth the time it might take to convince them otherwise. And....furthermore....for those who are physically limited IRL....SL has been a godsend....and in a way.....has given them back their first life.

In my mind....second life is just another avenue to enjoy 'life' through.

It's bad luck to rename a boat anyway.

/me is quite fond of the name

I always thought the name sucked. It makes great negative publicty though.

"People with no lives go to Second Life"
"Lacking a real life? Try Second Life!"
"Second Life... for those who find real life too hard"

This not only counts for people with physical limitations. Lots of us have mental issues/illness/disease/disorder and SL is great for us because it allows us the freedom to live in SL without all the fears or stresses RL causes to our mental state of being.

I'd gladly trade away my schizo-affective bipolar for a wheel chair and colostomy bag any day.