how the oldest public beach in the country is similar to SL

I was reading this article about Revere Beach, and was suddenly struck by how much it made me think of SL.

"A two-plus-mile stretch of the truly odd and improbable"
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/04747384.asp


I'm curious...when you try to describe SL to newbies in terms of RL places, what do you compare it to?

I've never really tried to compare it to any real places. I'm more likely to describe it in terms of some of the odd and wacky experiences I've had here, like the time a priest crashed his flying cross in my back yard, or when I was wearing my tree man avatar and my friends set me on fire and roasted marshmallows over me. I go for the "only in SL" moments

I simply tell them all about SL then I say;

"If it was all just a dream, what a beautiful dream it was"

Cat

I know when I try to describe Revere beach to anybody all I can think of is Kelly's... *sigh*

In a sort of small British way I was at the Chelsea Flower Show and kept thinking "Am I in SL here?"

Chelsea Flower Show

In fact some time in the near future, I will be hosting a flower/garden show in SL using Chelsea as a model.

Someone want to send me a nice Kelly's roast beef and a bowl of clam chowder? I really miss that stuff.

*phew* glad I'm not the only one hehe... shrimp & fries for me, please!

And Laukosargas, that is a beautiful place! I can see the resemblance with some places I've visited in SL

I thought this paragraph from the article was especially appropriate to SL...

"Still, in a age of excessive self-segregation, Revere Beach is the anti-gated community. Going there means ceding control, risking discomfort, facing the myriad and often bizarre facets of the human condition. If that sounds unpleasant, by all means, stay away. Because for some of us, that’s exactly what makes Revere Beach an essential summertime destination."

I describe it like a cross between The Matrix and the afterlife scenes in "What Dreams May Come".

I think this paragraph is particularly appropriate to SL.

"Still, in a age of excessive self-segregation, Revere Beach is the anti-gated community. Going there means ceding control, risking discomfort, facing the myriad and often bizarre facets of the human condition. If that sounds unpleasant, by all means, stay away. Because for some of us, that’s exactly what makes Revere Beach an essential summertime destination."

hehe, great minds think alike Ingrid

I think Burning Man / Burning Life are a pretty good comparison.

That's true of SL in terms of personality types, but there definitely are gates to SL--access to decent hardware, high speed internet, and leisure time being chief among them. No way to prove it, but I'm sure SL is predominantly middle-and-upper class, with college students over-represented compared to the general population.

As for describing SL, I describe it as a 3D microcosm of the WWW in it's infantile stages. I don't find it to be anything more or less than that.

ALTS!!

I describe it as like the boardwalk in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, Coney Island, and Seagate, and that's why I tend to make places like that myself in the game.

They are like in the variety, socializing, wierdness, freak shows, carneys, rides, Ferris wheels, entertainment, beaches, scantily clad girls, cotton candy, Nathan's hotdogs, dancing, rock concerts, sex under the boardwalk, gated communities, retirement homes, bingo, eating contests, parks with chess, mahjong and nardy being played by Chinese, Russian, Hasidic Jews, and Puerto Ricans -- well, what can I say, separated at birth.

I especially loved this quote from the Boston "Phoenix":

"we’re swapping gritty idiosyncrasy for a soulless diet of luxury condos, day spas, and yuppified bistros"

But we do have gated communities in SL, we have the private islands. Not to mention many other types of "gates" that exist such as forum-muting, in-game muting, boots, bans, shuns, etc.

sometimes you're just driving along minding your own business, and somethin comes up an just bout smacks ya on the head 'from SL' heh

(as seen in a small southern NJ town)

Whoa did that happen???


JINX!!!

Yep, that's true too. Some people just don't like the beach

This description exactly applies to the Internet as a whole ten years ago.

SL reminds me a lot of Key West particularly during the Fantasy Fest Celebration.

http://www.fantasyfest.net/

This year it's: "Freaks, Geeks and Goddesses" a dalliance of Key West style diversion, another nutcake romp through the realms of the ridiculous. Captain Morgan returns as the official parade sponsor, swaggering down Duval Street, leading the cavalcade of floats, bands and beads in the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade.

It even has many of the same problems as SL too:

There are two schools of thought on Key West -- one is that it has become way too commercial, and the other is that it's still a place where one can go and not worry about being prim, proper, or even well groomed. I think it's a bizarre fusion of both -- a fascinating look at small-town America in which people truly live by the (off) beat of their own drum, albeit one with a Gap and Banana Republic -- but not yet a Starbuck's -- thrown in to bring you back to some reality.

The locals, or "conchs" (pronounced conks), and the developers here have been at odds for years. This once low-key island has been thoroughly commercialized -- there's a Hard Rock Cafe smack in the middle of Duval Street and thousands of cruise-ship passengers descend on Mallory Square each day. It's definitely not the seedy town Hemingway and his cronies once called their own. Or is it?

Laid-back Key West still exists, but it's now found in different places: the backyard of a popular guesthouse, for example, or an art gallery, a secret garden, a clothing optional bar, or the hip hangouts of Bahama Village. Fortunately there are plenty of these, and Key West's greatest historic charm is found just off the beaten path. Don't be afraid to explore these residential areas, as conchs are notoriously friendly. In fact, exploring the side streets always seems to yield a new discovery of some sort. Of course, there are always the calm waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico all around.

The heart of town offers party people a good time -- that is, if your idea of a good time is the smell of stale beer, loud music, and hardly-shy revelers. Here, you'll find good restaurants, fun bars, live music, rickshaw rides, and lots of shopping.

Same-sex couples walking hand in hand are the norm here, and if you're not open minded and would prefer to avoid this scene, just look for the ubiquitous rainbow flag hanging outside of gay establishments and you'll know what to expect. For the most part, however, the scene is extremely mixed and colorful.

I've never visited Key West during Fantasy Fest, but I'd like to add to Rose's analogy since I tend to visit there often. After all, it's not so far a drive from where I live.


Two places I'd like to add that really flesh out the experience:

The Boardwalk:

While I haven't visited the boardwalk in some time, every evening at sunset a diverse set of people come out to ply their wares. I can picture the sort of people from the article taking part in the boardwalk showcase.

Usually featuring eye-catching stunts, exhibits, and plenty of shopping, this very handily shows how the population is meeting the new ties of commercialism. Strangely, it's not so bad.



The Hemmingway House/Museum:

See here.



As for commercialism and diversity, I notice a marked difference in Key West, as I did in Grand Bahama recently; it's not yet all about the money. People will still greet you with a smile and sincere welcome, then proceed to be very friendly. I think this is due in part to the tolerance bred by diversity and the overall culture, and believe this outlook would benefit Second Life greatly.

----

Reflecting back on the topic, Second Life is not too far from who and what we are as human beings. The only difference is it focuses each of us in our own funhouse mirror, magnifying certain qualities and diminishing others.

What will yours reflect? That's completely up to you.