Thoughts from a new resident

I’m new to this world, so please bear with any overgeneralizations I may make. I’ve noticed so far that the people of SL seem to do a few things, dance, sell, buy, and play tringo. And while this is as good as any utopia out there, I feel it is missing something. In such a free society that SL enjoys, where are the thinkers?

I know good and well where they are, they are here in the forums. But why can’t I find them in SL? That’s a problem I would like to address. I think there should be a public forum held within SL, a place where my fellow philosophers can meet and think out loud and enjoy the benefits of discussing their ideas in public and not on text. I guess you can say I’m thinking back to the days of the Greeks and of Aristotle and Plato and all the other great philosophers.

But like I said before, I am new to this world. My eyes are like a child, bright and shining with idealism, yet to be shown any harsh reality of this place.

ctrl+f
go to groups tab
type "thinkers"

cut thread here:
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Hi Yatima -

Welcome to SL!

There is a group named Thinker - and they use and possibly still have regular Events where a topic is discussed. There are other groups also.

Check for them in the Finder inWorld.

There's a difference between "thinkers" and "those who come to SL specifically to engage in philosophical discussion." I definitely belong to the first group. But the second is not my purpose in SL -- even if I do find myself discussing very heady topics at times with my friends.

I have heard of the "Thinkers" group(s), but it seems they usually meet in SL when I'm busy at work. In 1st life though I find myself un-attracted to such groups however -- I've met far too many people who participate in them merely to peacock themselves. I'm just not interested in that.

Does it happen with these groups in SL too?

Meilian, I couldn't agree more that Thinkers is a peacock session. That's why I don't go to many of those sessions.

Thinkers has its charms, and has some very noble and established older players running it and raises very important issues. But...there are those peacocks. And it is at an inconvenient time of day for many.

There's another group called Philosophers started by Kasandra Morgan which is more down-to-earth with less of that show-off stuff but still prone to griefers and run-on sentencers like any of these events.

I myself sometimes convene people for discussions in my club in Sutherland called THAT DAMMED PROKOFY (because it's behind the dam LOL) and you're welcome to come, I'll put you on the mailing list.

We need many more opportunities for various affinity and non-affinity groups to get together and discuss the burning issues of the day.

Hmmm I'll have to check out Kasandra's group then. I'm more for free and independent thinking then repeating what other philosophers have said. Right now I'm at where the Thinkers hang out and it seems to be centered around one person getting up on a soap box monologuing then actual group discussion. But then no one is here to prove that impression.

Yatima, in some respects, SL is a lot like real life. The interesting people are not hanging around bars, they are out doing things and enjoying smorgasbord of life. Thus, the only answer is to get out and enjoy your second life, do the things that interest you and you will inevitably stumble on fellow travelers.

Only the most gregarious among us make friends wherever they go, most of us build our friends and relationships over time. We meet like-minded people and add them to our list. Because of the 24/7, international nature of SL, it is hard to maintain small groups since everybody has to be in close time zones.

It is hard at first to find a place where you “belong” in SL as it is a huge community. It is also a very informal community, great discussions crop up all over the place at all hours of the day and night, but they are rarely organized as events

You're right, I guess. I'm trying to hard to find a group to jump into. It is a big place and so its easy to just go exploring alone then trying to find some like minded people.

Much as in reality, it can be challenging to hit your social stride in this new place. I understand your frustration in finding people with minds, ideas and curiosity.

All I can say is that, again, much like reality, you'll bump into the right people when you least expect it. Wander the world, explore, say hello to people and before you know it, you'll discover folks you can respect and enjoy talking to.

also check out the Digital Cultures group


what you find in a few of the forums **here** are a lot of people who care deeply about the future/success of SL, as well as the theory and structural dynamics behind SL.

Things get heated sometimes, but that happens when people really care about a subject. Or when they lack verbal tact.

Another option and one of the beautiful things about SL (as in RL) is that if you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, you can start your own group and market it to attract people of like mind. You can do that through postings here in the forums or by holding events in-world.

They key would be for you not to be disillusioned if you don't have a full house at your first several events. Maybe you will only have one person show up, but if you hold them with some kind of regularity, the word will spread and people will show up.

Good luck and welcome to SL!

Tito

if you go out and wander, you'll run into them eventually.

Philosophy Club meets Saturday nights at 6. The group is open for anyone to join. So far most of our topics have been worldly or virtual worldly. However, a lot of the members have backgrounds that expose us to philosophy and literature so if you make reference to Hume or Kant well be able to keep up. Also the format is open discussion instead of soap box because in a system where everything that is said is recorded it really doesn't matter if we "talk" over one another. And so far, having done discussions like these over a dozen times I have yet to have the problem of everyone being on different topics. So the format works pretty well.

East or West coast? <--- Wow, first post

6pm SL time.

You can also find these types of discussions in the oddest places, at times. I've attended SL parties or dance events with friends, where the topics ranged from movies, to technology, to politics, religion, cultural differences, and everything inbetween. At a Bingo event quite a while ago, the main topic being discussed was the pros and cons of spanking/physical punishment of children.

I find that it's the attendees more than the type of event that dictate what sort of banter you can be involved in. Attend various types of events, and when you find those that have interesting observations or debates to offer, exchange cards with them and ask about other events they attend that are open to everyone.

I thought about having a "Craft Lovers Club" to meet in my house and in other members' houses, to talk about crafts (rl crafts) and oh, well, any other stuff we want to talk about, lol.

Do you think I should? Or would that be too loose?

coco

I'd find it interesting depending on the craft that was the topic of discussion. I'd thought about something similar for gormet cooking and gardening too. I've seen some but they are always during the day when I'm at work.


.

i once thunk about something

i thunk it was a mall.

Briana Dawson

Interesting; I'll keep Kasandra and Prokofy's groups in mind, but I still tend to steer clear of formal discussion groups. They seem to attract egos like beetles to carrion

And just to be clear, I know nothing of SL's "Thinkers" group other than it exists and, apparently, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. SL time. My previous question was just that, a question.

Well said Jon!! Great advice!

I enjoy mental masturbation as much as the next person. But the philosophy group hasn't turned into that. Honestly, thats what I was expecting it to be when I started it because intellectual elitists are drawn to these types of groups. However so far its been good times and good discussions and no one has gone out of their way to show how smart they are. I mean the topic of spirtuality somehow veered off into bikini waxing for five minutes and no one got an attitude about it. You can tell how well read people are by some of the references they make but usually they make the reference to prove a point and its not all "look at me, I'm so smart".

I was at one time a member of the Thinkers group and the Bohemians group, but I've found that I have too short of an attention span for either. I do my best deep thinking/discussing at about 1am with a blood supply that is 40% rum.

The best and most thought-provoking discussions I've had in SL were usually spur of the moment things, with an intimate gathering of people that chance, or design had brought together in a random location.

As far as regular discussion groups go, the one at Perilous Pleasures every Wednesday evening at 6pm (game time) is the most interesting, heated and fun I've seen, though the topic is somewhat narrow, being a D/s lifestyle thing.

Once I get this new project I'm working on completed, maybe I'll start up an open discussion group and just throw out topics randomly, from shallow and fun, to deep and unsettling. Might be interesting. Then afterwards we can play naked twister or Truth or Dare.

hehe.. I knew there was a reason we get along so well David!

Yatima, first and foremost.. welcome.

secondly.. all the groups mentioned here (peacock session or not) have points that are attractive about them.. the great thing is, you can join multiple groups.. and/or start your own. it's the beauty of SL. plus, you can leave any groups you wish as well. no harm, no foul.


and lastly, feel free to look up my group(s). discarding my SecondSpacers group, look for Erga Obinex and Erga Arcinex. ~Obinex is the "thinkers" group.. but so much more. it's meant to be a resource of bright and talented minds who tend to specialize in philosophy, scripting, and activities that are publicly concerned in nature.. etc..
~Arcniex is the same idea, but for the creative and artistic types. builders would belong in both groups in my eyes.. there's really no discernment in where you come from, it's more of where you feel comfortable.

Two resources that will be huge pools of talent and information. my intention is to build a strong and reliable resource for everyone from Joe Noobie to Elite FICer. and to eleviate any conspiracy fears, my intentions are also staunchly passive.

We're over in Miramare.. very slowly in progress of building the HeadQuarter builings. take a visit in Armord and the other stores/builds in the area... some excellent work there.

i hope you find your niche and enjoy your stay.. it can be such a marvelous place.