Discussion: Second Life and "generation gaps"?

Yeah, that was my take. Some of these people seem to take it seriously, though.

Yeah Blaze... I would hope that no one who takes the FIC seriously doesn't know the jokes behind it. I'd dislike for them to get all wrapped up without a punchline dropping down in sight.


As some may know, I am in FIC because "Torley Torgeson" is the alt-turned-main account of one Chaoma Chung, who was around in June 2003 A.D. but I also did some delta testing prior to that. I used to script and practice eating land. That grass sure did taste good. Back then, I was into bittermelons, because the grass stained my teeth like the lawnmower man and I played pan flutes into the high nights. I have many fond memories of hanging out with oldbies before Linden dollars were invented. A past hypnotic regression strongly suggests that I was once a primatar by the numerical designation of #2086, and that Jeff Linden is myself from a future timeline, not unlike the Yalevard of the popular Dr. What science-fantasy series. Even before that, I was a primpanzee featured in the movie Grid of the Apes. I can mash twisted toruses together without fear of the chorus, and it was I who named a sim Da Bomb. Some of my famous scripting contributions to SL include: Towers of Hanoi, the Money Bush, and an adult novelty magazine with pages that don't actually flip because... uh... anyway *sighs*

^fictionalized fiction out of the imagination

Of course, if anyone is wondering about Feted Inner Core, they are free to ask questions. We're like, really nice!

My friends and associates tend to cross over all the generations of Second Life. While I don't cross paths with the real oldbies that often, I do know some of them and have no problem socializing with them. I also see, and deal with, alot of real new folks, and find many of thier ideas and outlooks refreshing. To see someone experiencing the wonders of Sl for the first time tends to revitalize me.

As with any social interaction, it depends upon the attitude of the person Im speaking with. For awhile it seemed as if everyone joining SL was either just out for a greed or grief-fest, though I'm sure that was just a bad apple impression. But the new folks I've dealt with lately have been polite, respectful, funny and eager to learn for the most part.

Of course folks that have known each other longer are probably more comfortable with each other, thus the oldbies hanging out together. And the newbies that are club goers and socializers would of course get to know others that hang out at clubs.

Oh yes, David... and one thing I'm mindful of is: all great friends were once strangers.

It helps me to keep going.

You know what I find amazing? I am, shall we say, well into my adult years in the RW. However, something quite unexpected has occurred in SL that probably would never take place in the RW. I have developed a number of in-world friendships with several much younger pups; as young as 18 and on average about 25. I seriously doubt this phenomenon would ever surface in the RW (at least for me).

That said, if RW age has very little influence over SL socialization patterns, why then are we obsessing over these trivial SL age ranges? We have a little over two years of SL existence. Why does it matter if one is an oldbie/midbie/newbie? Yeah, yeah -- I know the FIC stuff is all in jest. Even so, I am growing weary of this topic. Can we move along?

/end cranky old fart rant

I don't know. I don't even look at SL ages or ratings. Neither have any relevance to someone's personality. I think most people feel the same about this.

I'm one of those noobs that came from There (hm, what was my category's name again... ).
Believe me, it is EXACTLY the same there. People going on and on about the good old beta times and the decay having followed that. I was very amused to find it here too.

I must say tho, I have never been noob-discriminated against in game.

And you won't be. For all the jokes and dubious forum humour, most SLers are really rather nice people.

I agree. It's been said before that the inworld experience is quite different from being here. I do find it friendlier roaming around in 3D myself.

Yes, that's my experience.

Sorry, I have. On several occasions. And strangely, it's been related to something that I've apparently done well enough that they refuse to believe I did it.

But then I'll state in the strongest possible terms, this is NOT the norm, the huge majority of people I've met inworld have been very kind, new or old.

Then I apologise on behalf of my fellow residents. Indeed there are some bad apples (fetid cores?), but as you say, it's not normal...

LOL

I wonder if apple pies made with fetid cores would be worthy of being feted.

Especially if the apples were pureed by fetid feet!

LMAO, I was just refering to myself...LOL far as I know the olbies took on the name olbies not Ancients so .. Im Ancient the rest are...well what ever they want to call themselves..hehe. but gotta admit Ancient does exhude an aura of wisdom and authority...

Shadow...The Ancient..

There we have it, humble to the last, Shadow Weaver, most Fetid of the Feted, or something... and ancient as the ground that LL is built on. The wisdom of aeons and the discipline of a 2 year old... er or something...

That's exactly how I feel Ghoti. Some of my favorite people in SL are relatively new. I look at the whole oldbie/newbie thing as a joke. I don't recommend anyone taking is seriously. It's always been bandied about in a rather tongue in cheek way. The one thing I'll say about the people that have been around for a long time is that there's comfort in familiarity and having a good idea what you can expect from someone. I do feel a special kinship with those I've been around for the past two years, but people will miss out on a lot if they limit themselves to some self imposed imaginary caste. My best SL friend probably hasn't even joined yet and could show up any day. I agree with Paolo's cranky rant. I also agree with Jauani about this kind of thing making new players feel marginalized. SL has never had any kind of social caste system except in forum satire. Let's not start one please.

The other day I was chatting with one of my best SL friends who happens to be fairly new. She told me that she mentioned to one of her other friends that she was on her way to hang with me and her friend said something to the effect of "you know him? how cool!" When she told me that my reaction was ACK!!!!!! Anyone that wants to get to know me just come introduce yourself and chat. Please don't put me on some kind of pedestal or think of me as different than anyone else. It's flattering but it's silly and a bit depressing. You could be my next best friend but for never getting the chance to meet you.

It's exactly this kind of thing that made me bristle so much at Prokofy's feted inner core bullshit, as funny as it was. I don't like being labeled, lumped, or attributed with imagined qualities I don't possess. It's very nice to be respected for my work and accomplishments but it's a mistake to assume that any of it makes me different or better or worse than anyone else. I view everyone in SL as my equal. It doesn't matter if they joined two years ago or two days ago.

I grew up the son of a TV weatherman who was locally famous. It made it hard to make friends because people wouldn't look past my father's fame to see that I was a real person and that who I was had nothing whatever to do with who my father was. I hated it. It's ironic to find myself in a similar situation in SL. It most definitely isn't something I sought.

Wonders which weatherman it is? thinking Bob or Norm....leaning towards Bob

hehe, neither Talen. Unless you grew up in Western Michigan you wouldn't have heard of him. He got offered the weatherman position at WNBC but turned it down because he didn't want to raise his kids in NYC. He's been retired for about 15 years now and is fading into obscurity

Damn! ....and I thought I had it

My friends seem to span the range. The people I hang out with most frequently (Ingrid, Toasty, Barnesworth, SteveR) have been inworld only a relatively short time. However I do also associate with plenty of oldbies as well.

I'm pretty extroverted, so don't be afraid to say hi if you see me inworld. After all, how serious can a guy wearing bunny slippers and goggles be?

I totaly agree Chip, personally I think the only person allowed to label me is me otherwise its an attack against my charature.

What some people fail to realize is the fact that there is so much diversity across the board in sl how can one ever truly be "grouped" unless they are in a "Group" I know mindless banter on my behalf but seriously, when you look at the whole picture you have to laugh at the "Clique" assumptions people make about others.

I have a select group of friends/enemys...yes I put them together because those warrent my attention the most. Then there is the aquaintences of the same stature and then people I dont know which havent be catagorized as either of the above.

Funny thing is, considering my age alone I cannot distinctively say I associate with a crowd older than I because ain't many of us left. Each of us has a small group of friends we associate with on a daily bases but we are all still friends across the board. So to be honest the humor in the Feted Inner Core thing was just a point of jest and sarcastic humor in retort to Prokofys ramblings.

Personally I think SL is so unique and diversified that the supposed power class will never be able to exist. Primarly due to infighting amongst that crowd cause they all want to be on top. Me I dont mind top/bottom/sideways or what ever long as I get to have fun and create but thats just me.

Shadow..The Ancient

With me, maybe it's a RL generational thing. I just don't seem to enjoy "hanging" with people in SL. Chat still appears primitive and limiting to me. I much prefer e-mail and forum exchanges.

Maybe this is just because I had never used chat before SL. I'm 30-something in RL, 1.2-1.5 in SL.

noobs rock.

If you stick to one group, you will be denying yourself so much.

fen- (one of the most ancient)