How do you play SL?

Someone help me out.

In the past few months, I've slipped and fallen toward the direction of being a troll. It's not something I've actively fought against, but at the same time it's something that I dislike.

There's something I like about Second Life, something I just can't define. It's something that keeps me coming back, despite several attempts on my part to just leave. So, if anyone would be nice enough, help me out. How do you play Second Life?

Pretend I'm a landless newbie (the first part is right), and I've indicated that I like scripting and I like building. What should I do?

Well that is easy... you should, script and build

Over the time I've been in sl, through all the changes, the one thing that keeps me here and in love with the world is the creativity that is possible.

LL has opened up an enormous digital canvas- the art that occurs here is what keeps me in love with it. Whether it is good art or bad art or even not art at all is, as always, in large part up to the viewer- in my opinion, a great majority of the creations you find in world are art.
In SL someone with no traditional training or background in the arts can experiment with them in ways that do not require the almost mystical link between brain and hand that before our generations has been required to make vision a reality.
In rl, I do the majority of my work in 3d packages. The choice to move to that medium from a traditionally trained background was similarly motivated- I wanted to support a medium that removes traditional skill and the traditional concept of "talent" from the picture, and instead focuses on result.
SL gives us that in spades- the guy who cant draw a straightish line without a ruler in rl might end up being the most accomplished builder in SL.
You never know the potential for creation that lives in each person- SL helps it's users realize that potential, and the users have a great time doing so.
I've seen so many of my friends grow from assuming themselves creatively impotent, to having confidence in implementing thier own ideas and learning how to run with inspiration.
That is beautiful to me.

[Insert obligitory Second Life is not a game post here]

Ok thats done.

I build stuff, I thrive off other peoples need for my ability to convert something (usualy from the real world) to primitive objects.

Find something that interests you at the moment and give it a try -- when it stops interesting you , find something else.

Cruise around and find some people that are into the same things as you and compare notes - swap ideas - do things together.

Take time out to find something, or do something that makes you laugh.

Above all - enjoy yourself and don't take anything too seriously... Avoid drama, and the people who create it.

Siggy.

Jarod,

there are a few ways to go about 'playing' SL to keep you busy..

1) get some land. this way you don't have to worry about dealing with a crowded sandbox.. also, it offers another exact teleportation point.

2) think of something you've always wanted, now build it.

3) challenge yourself to make something that impresses even yourself.. push the limits.. in both building and scripting.

4) see what others are doing. SL is always changing, as you know, ..see what's going on. the city is an interesting place to watch.. to see what types of areas are developing.. for instance, it seems Miramare is more modern-ish..

5) forget what is 'status-quo'.. be silly, experiment, play with prims.. see what kinds of weird shapes you can make.

6) have fun!

7) tell me to take my own advice ..lol

Thanks, everyone, for replying.

Some very good suggestions that I'm going to try out. Seems the best thing to do is just try new stuff -- that seems to be the aggregate suggestion, from the way I read the posts. I'm going to give that a whirl, go exploring and adventuring for a while. Thanks!

Jarod, I dont know what it is either, I have pulled back lately for many reasons both personal and game related. I log in to work on an order still pending, work on something artistic, say hello and chat with those that matter to me and log out.

The more I see how ppl I have respected realy feel the less and less I log on. Dunno Jarod do what makes you feel good and push all the bullshit to the side.

Cath

well...for me i did quit the game for a while to try something else....Final Fantasy 11...When i did everyone that i knew from the past changed in so many wonderful ways that i felt like a fool for comming back now. I come back with a plan to make something out of myself in the game that i might get at least some people to see me as a good person. My goal that i continue to do is make AV designs for personal, and others use. I do miss FF11 but it lacked the total freedom this game offers people. If i really tried i bet i could make chocbos and learn to craft the infamous Beast Armour i attained before i dropped the game.
Like everyone else has said try new things be a rebel, or just have fun! If you work at a job you love then you will never have worked a day in your life. Heed everyone's words and join the SL community with pride and dignity that i know everyone has. The game can make the impossibe, your only curse/blessing is your immagination! Now use it!

Jarod,

The thing that I think a lot of people miss, too, is just talking to people. I, for one, have made most of dearest friends in SL just by walking up and talking to someone. Or being introduced to someone else after tracking a friend down to chat. I say, just go find people, walk up to them, and start talking. The reason I log into SL, more than any other, is to socialize with close friends. And to make stuff.

And explore. Sail, drive, walk, run! Go to all those places that you never thought to go. I for one can't keep up with all the new land and still focus on my builds, so there's always exploring to do! Even if you're like me and generally *think* you've seen it all .

Zana

First, attach a newbie cabin to your head. Then get a prim penis, scale it as large as it will go and attach it. Anywhere will do. Find a gun and a big smoking cigar and attach them as well.

Go to Stage 4 during an event and play the "Boo" and "Get Lost" keys like Beethoven on his piano. If anyone talks to you the customary response is "LOLOLOLLOLOLOLOLOOOOOOL!!!!111!1@1".

Don't forget to take some time to play with your appearance. You'll want to make yourself extremely muscular with tiny stubby arms, hair spiked as far as it will go and colored full-saturation blue, and huge bellbottoms on your pants. Looking good, tiger.

If you can't spell, don't worry. Just type as fast as possible to make up for it. We all know what you mean when you say, "hyesdusdes wutz upn stufufs ne1 wont 2 cibbre w/ em????//" and yes, we do want to cyber with you.

When you decide to try building be sure to check out one of the helpful building classes, shout questions constantly, refuse to listen to the answers, and leave halfway through. If you need a place to build just look for the first spot where you can rez an object. Get a couple houses from a telehub and texture them with nothing but the default tie-dye texture. If you need more room, make a copy of the house and leave it intersecting the original. When you're tired of it, leave it laying around wherever you want.

I hope this guide for how to play SL has helped you. And remember, I'm not bitter.

I just roll with it. SL is a microcosm. Not necessarily virtual, but a reality within a reality. For me, building, scripting, design... these all stem from the constant interactions that influence my thoughts and ideas.

The cycle of paradigm, inspiration, inferrance, and innovation or even invention if you're lucky, is brought to a whole new level. And not in just assembling prims -- what I write about, my awareness of reality, sociology, economic philosophy, intellectual philosophy.. it's even opened up new interests into geometries and mathematical physics.

Even on a purely interactive level, because the focus isn't on the next monster to kill or what weapons you have for sale, people have time to share ideas and thoughts. I get new book reccommendations, new ways to try coding something, and many dialectic discussions on a brilliant array of topics.

To say the well in SL is dry is pure hogwash. There's plenty to do, think about, and experiment with.

Oh my lord.. That is the funniest thing I've read in a long, long time.

nekkid

I get a little burnt out on SL also.