It's hard to believe that I've been involved with SL for two years already... and yet... only two years?
It's always been my personal opinion that time seems to go alot faster on the grid, so to speak. Within a week of me being in SL, I felt like I knew everyone pretty well. Within a month, I felt like a grizzled veteran.
After two years, I feel downright ancient.
It's kinda funny, my existence in SL. I've managed to become well known for two things, somewhat paradoxically: my vitriolic forum posts, and my (allegedly) excellent architectural acumen.
My forum posting history started innocently enough: wide eyed newbie, full of optimism at the world he just discovered, posting questions and participating in healthy discussion... but beneath the veneer of innocence lay a rather opinionated individual, ready to cut down the folks he sees as "wrong". My forum persona is boisterous, bold, argumentative, cutthroat, sarcastic, logical, and sometimes downright evil.
On the one hand, I know that my forum "personality", as it were, does not fully reflect the person that is me... indeed, anyone that's met me in-world could attest to that. On the other hand, the way I present myself on the forums is definitely a facet of who I am, even though I tend to only display it in that venue.
Over the past two years I have waded into countless threads, interjected my piece into many an unfolding drama, and single-handedly killed dozens of threads. I have dueled, parried, thrusted, and kicked my way around the forums for over 2000 posts. That's around 1000 posts a year... certainly, I would wager that I have waxed more prose on the SL forums than I have anywhere else in my life combined.
And then there's the "other" side of me; my in-world self. While no less opinionated, I'm less likely to go barging around meeting areas. I'm much more quiet, and even shy. I try to be nice to everyone I meet.
And then there's that whole "architect" thing. I'm not quite sure how, but I've managed to become one of the "top" builders in SL; if not for skill, then certainly for name recognition. It never ceases to amaze me how many "top builders in SL" lists I've managed to worm into. To think that I'm in the top tier of builders in SL in a growing community of 37,000 is mind-boggilng; and considering my "competition", I remain incredulous at the veracity of my building prowess.
And yet, even though I've been here two years, even though I'm a well known resident of SL, even though I'm usually greeted with hearty greetings and back-slapping jollies, I've always had the odd, nagging sensation that I "don't fit in".
It's not that I don't have friends... I've got quite the number, in fact. But no matter what, no matter when I stop by, I always feel like I'm "interrupting" something, like my sudden inclusion into the general area of conversation has disrupted the group's mojo. I've felt like this ever since I started; I'd hop down in the middle of a group of people, and it almost feels like the mood changes, for whateve reason.
Even with groups I "regularly" hang out with, I feel like the rarely-visiting uncle; nice enough, pleasant to be around, but never really part of "the family".
So, if you see me hop in, say a few words, and then hop out again, don't feel slighted. Just know that I've once again gotten the weird vibe of me interrupting something otherwise important, and hence I should get out of Dodge. Either that or I found an idea for a building.
And now I'd like to take the remaining monitor space by thanking various folks and groups that I've met and known over my two-years-and-running span, in a public and embarrassing fashion.
Beryl Greenacre: a great friend, one of the original "neighbors in slate" group that I stumbled upon; my first building client, and a faboo clothing designer to boot.
Ezhar Fairlight: It's his fault I build by the numbers. I met this dude in Slate; he was my neighbor in fact. He always seemed to be on, sometimes 17 hours a day... I learned that he was on extended vacation, and wanted to spend it in-world. Weirdo.
Anyways, were it not for his Pei-Mei style tutelage ("It's wrong! do it again! fix it! I see texture flash!" ), I wouldn't be half the builder that I am today.Kenzington Fairlight: Another Slate neighbor. Veritably unknown in-world, but definitely a world of cool and a force to be reckoned with. If it's not Kenz-approved, it's probably not fit for proper consumption.
Encouraged me to do tons of things... a great partner in crime.Launa Fauna: Possibly the nicest person on the grid, an absolute joy to converse with, a Skype Ninja, and an accomplished artist as well. Everyone should hang out with teh launas.
Mistress, Aimee, Torrid, Water, Si, and everyone else ever in the Midnight City crew: Thanks for putting up with my antics throughout time, definitely one of the coolest group of people in-world, if a bit hyperactive. Also, pound-for-pound, insanely creative and talented in all of their pursuits. Perhaps the gestation pool for the FIC, too, who knows.
Barnes, Ingrid, Marcos, and company: The "other" group I hang out with... slightly less batshit loony, but no less fun to hang around. Great drinking companions
Juro Kothari, Barnesworth Anubis, Maxx Monde, Traxx Hathor, Neil/Neph Protagonist, Ingrid Ingersoll, Marcos Fonzerelli and various other prim ninjas: The best architectural "competition" I could ever hope to go up against. Chock full of inspiration and talent, all of you!
So, yeah... thus ends my two year homage to myself. I'm not going anywhere, mind you, but I just felt that at 630+ days of being in-world, I need some sort of sappy, text-based announcement.
Here's to another two years!
Rawr.
LF
