What has SL taught you?

I was just curious as to what SL has taught you. I know people who are amazing scripters and builders, only because they joined SL. I think seeing what is possible inside of SL has inspired them to learn how to do what they wanted to do, and they succeeded. What has SL taught you, or inspired you to try?

Sweet thread topic!

I never thought I was inclined whatsoever to 3D building until I really started practicing in SL. Granted I may never get to the level on professional 3D software apps that I'd like to be, but I'm a hell of a lot better at it than I ever dreamed.

I've also gotten a lot better at graphics - working with textures in SL and learning how they apply has really made me learn some new techniques to create effects that I hadn't had the opportunity to use before.

I can think of quite a few people as well that tapped into unknown wellsprings of talent that they otherwise wouldn't have known existed.

I agree with the texture part. I probably wouldn't be working very much, if at all, in photoshop if it weren't for SL. I haven't tried any 3-D model programs, like Maya, or 3D max, but I'm sure SL has helped me gain some skill if I do try to use them.

Typing fast with one hand.

I answered other, because I fit more than one:

Building, clothes, texture, social skills.

I have also learned a lot about myself, my weaknesses, faults, and shortcomings, as well as my strengths, and latent creative abilty I never knew I possessed.

"Always get it in writing."

I discovered I am actaully pretty creative and talented when it comes to designing clothes and costumes. If you had told me before I started playing SL that I would be able to do what I am doing now, I wouldn't have believed you.

I still have trouble seeing the 3D in game so my prim building skills are still lacking a little bit, unless I am building a hat or other accessory for one of my creations.

and I learned I still have rather poor social skills....

That's why I made it a multi-choice poll.

That there will always be jackasses that support censorship.

Ah man, I had high hopes for this thread too.

Pie! Pie and architecture! Pie and architecture and landscaping! And Pie!

I'm with Nolan. SL taught me a lot about myself; but also I learned a lot about other people and how I relate to them. I guess that falls under social skills.

Oh, and I've learned just how much work I can put off before things fall apart.

I picked up quite a few skills since I joined up with Second Life. My Photoshop skills went from fair to great. I learned Maya. I picked up some basic scripting skills. I learned how to use After Effects. Finally, by posting and blogging, I brushed up on writing skills that were otherwise suffering from atrophy.

I also feel I learned a great deal about people. Second Life gives you great insight into a large number of people at rapid-fire. That's a difficult thing to achieve in RL. I've met some wonderful folks who taught me a lot about the world and myself. I've also met some not-so-wonderful people who taught me to grow a thick skin .

Gotta love Pie! Building has been one of the greatest joys I have discovered in SL. It has expanded the way I see things in RL and has offered me some wonderful challenges. I have also loved learning how to market things and how to open boxes instead of wearing them

SL has caused me to delve into a lot of areas I thought I never had much use for before.

I'm not a terribly good builder, but I've discovered that I really enjoy trying to make the image in my head come out into a recognizable form. (I usually fail, but I still enjoy it. )

Although I used GIMP for work/photo manipulation before SL, I had never bothered with layers or most of the fun options is has. Now, it's like a great coloring book that can actually keep me in spending money. Bonus

I've played around with Poser, with creating textures from scratch, with creating seamless textures from photos.. all very useful skills which I get better and better at the more I play with.

And although I didn't select the Social option, in retrospect, SL has also shown me that I can have something in common and decent conversation with a 20 year old pimpin' hard-core rap fan, a 65 year old gospel loving housewife, and everything in between. It does a great job of breaking down the obvious if superficial social barriers that hampen our every-day lives.

i have learned that the Gods have feet of play,
i have learned that peopel are people no matter where they are
i have learned that i have a alotta faults that in others make me nuts
i have learned that some of teh most talented people in SL are also the most helpful and supportive of people while they learn.
i am learning to use Photoshop which i can pretty much promise you i never would have.
i have learned that i do have a creative streak and a good eye for composition
i have learned that i can barely build a box!
but that i can have fun playin with prims

I have learned that virtual worlds are not really virtual at all.

Someone had to say it.

I took a C course in college. I got..... a C.

Before I came to SL, my scripting experience was limited to dos batch files.

3d Modelling? Whaaaa?

Photo-what?

Since I've been here, I've gotten to the point where most of my scripting needs I can handle on my own. And if I do need help, I can usually actually understand what the heck they did.... that's an accomplishment unto itself.

I picked up Photoshop. I'm no Aimee - but I can get navigate my way around the app pretty well, and get what I need done.

I can build pretty much whatever I need from a utilitarian perspective. But no Startax

Its just too bad artistic talent isn't something someone can learn (I am an artistic retard).

More or less - Second Life has taught me a lot. I'm still no expert in anything, but I think I've become a fair jack of all

I learneda great deal from SL, actually. I leared the inner workings of games. Before SL, I had no idea how particles worked in games.

For that matter, I never really understood much of the inner workings of how games worked. I still don't, but I'm closer.

I got to try my hand at an easier(for me) method of 3D modelling..

And by Dog, I met people. Lots of people. I found within myself an exporer and social-type person that I only vaguely thought was there. I think someone hit him with a brick recently, but I'm sure he's still there somewhere, slowly bleeding to death from a massive head wound.

Marvellously put. SL has helped me practice in areas of challenge (visual art and being a detail person (I'm very big-picture oriented)). It also taught me to laugh at myself a little more and worry less.

I find i go into Poser 6 and try to use it Like SL now

SL has taught me that California has at least one good thing about it

And not to move to Florida.

I was pretty good at Photoshop when I arrived at SL, but I've definitely picked up some shading tips. I've learned how to build some nifty heavy primmed things... and more importantly, how to make it look like I've built heavy primmed things while using hardly any. Never would have figured out something like that without SL.

I never would have touched Poser if it hadn't been for SL, and I've gotten pretty darn good at putting that program through it's paces.