Explainists

For a game, SL doesn't seem to offer much except a place to spend your money.

It feels like the entire game is nothing but a huge flea market/mall.

And worse, there is effectively no law except that of the property owner; having the ability to restrict access.

If land ownership were removed and there were no businesses, costumes were free,etc, what would there be?

I think there would be a lot of people milling wondering just what it is they are doing there.

I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with trying to make a buck. There just doesn't appear to be anything else about SL except the pursuit of money.

What would WoW be if you took away magic?

That's like saying "if they got rid of characters, classes, quests and equipment, what would be left of World of Warcraft?" I mean land ownership, creating things and (if you wish) selling them, and relationships are the basis for what SL is.



Creativity and relationships. You need to go to some sims that are not about making money at all, but are beautifully creative wonders really. And you need to meet some people and make friends.

Then you just haven't been looking at the right spots.



Dancing, meeting people from all over the world, talking to them, skydiving when you're afraid of heights in RL, motorcycle racing, wandering forests, roleplaying, making stuff you only ever dreamed of, seeing dragons, walking castles, riding horses, riding boats, balloon rides, fancy clothes...

And above all, creativity. Doing whatever you can come up with.

Just off the top of my hat, of course.

So it's not for everybody.. /me shrugs. Why are you still here, TC?

I have to admit that I have felt the same as the OP on occasion. A foolish sense of optimism keeps me coming back. I've yet to be vindicated in my optimism though. Maybe tomorrow.

Sounds like TC needs to learn to build and script!

/me agrees completely

For an artist or any creative person SL offers incredible joys. As an artist I can interact with my artwork, made out or inworld, in ways I had never dreamed of. I can experiment with things rapidly and interact with people from all around the world.

SL is not for everyone, I suppose, so if creating is not something you enjoy, and the other aspects (running a business, shopping, socialising, etc.) are not fun for you either then you might be one of those people. Be aware, however, that what you like and what I like may well be polar opposites, and I have as much right to my choices as you do to yours.

Anyone who like games and structured environments has a million things to choose from; if you are creative there's no substitute for SL.

Though Second Life is objectiveless residents find and pursue their own objectives.

Super Mario Brothers?

A lot less people on the forums calling for nerfs?

Hi TC, believe it or not, there are a few of us who are not here to make money.

For me, SL is:

The place I can do things I want to do in RL, but can't.
Like: live and breathe underwater, fly, teleport, see things from different angles and from far away without moving my body, own my home, change my decor and landscaping any time I want, change my appearance at will, be three different people with separate lives and personalities, and much much more.

A fun way to create art.
I am not a skilled artist by any means, but I still enjoy creating things and developing my own style. I have built a few things (which I give away for free), but my greatest interest is in SL photography. Through experimentation I am learning about lighting, composition, color, contrast, camera angle, focal length, atmospheric effects, and so on. I am also learning to work around SL disadvantages (like the way avs look a bit mangled in many poses) as well as make use of its unique features like moving the sun and being able to hide things you don't want in the shot. I focus on avatar photography with my two alts (a supermodel and a shapeshifter), while my main av (that would be me) concentrates on landscapes, sightseeing, and objects. I then post-process the snapshots with various types of graphics software, a skill that has proved useful in my RL job as well. You can take a look at my website (linked in my forum and inworld profiles) to see my pictures if you are interested... they certainly aren't great, but I really enjoy making them.

A bunch of fun games.
I play speedboats and bumper boats, skydiving, car racing, hanggliding. When I get a faster computer, I think my shapeshifter alt may develop a warrior character so I can take part in combat play. And when my forum friends talked me into it, I even had a fun time shaking my tushie around to the beat of cheezy 80's music!

--

That covers the bulk of my activities, none of which are income-generating. I do spend money because I have found many truly wonderful artists and creators here, and I want to reward them for their work adding beauty and interest to the SL world. But even if the whole economic aspect of SL were removed, I would still be here having the time of my life.

Wow... there's tons I do inna day dat have nuttin' to do with money. Mostly talk with friends & family or build stuff. Oh, an take piccies.

Mari

That's a great list of activities to enjoy in SL, Novis. I'll just add riding roller coasters (and other amusement park rides that I love RL but can't get out to as often as I like), socializing with long-time friends from IRC that has only been, until SL, a text-only environment, and meeting new friends, including a very special one. *smiles*

My *special* and I have been enjoying exploring a sim we found recently that is a "Myst-type" quest. It has been such fun adventuring together, being excited when we find clues and pieces to the puzzle, and just relaxing/having fun in the cool places we find.

Also enjoy entering contests: Dancing venues for best (whatever); trivia, etc.

My problem is I run out of time to do all the things I want do and I don't build, own land, or sell anything...or really shop all that much.

EDIT: Almost forgot to add one of my *very* favorite things: attending classes and educational opportunities in SL.

That's about 90% true at the moment. Second Life has the potential to be a great deal more, and there are people trying to turn it into a great deal more. I think that a lot of the debates that happen on this forums are not about whether Second Life has unrealized potential; the debates are around whether Second Life is on the path to realizing that potential, and how Second Life could get there. Some people look at Linden Labs with the furstration that Linden Labs has a great project on its hands but is botching it royally, while other people are cheering on Linden Labs to ultimately succeed.

One of the greatest things about SL, for me, is that if you feel as the OP does, you have the ability to change it. If SL does not offer you what you seek, then create it.

Why is this sandbox full of nothing but sand? What am I supposed to do with this shovel and pail?

Why is this canvas blank? It's like they expect me to put something on it. Why aren't these brushes and paints doing anything when I look at them expectantly?

What's this box of interlocking plastic bricks for? They aren't even pre-assembled into interesting things. Boring.

SL isn't a game. It's a toolbox for creativity, commerce, and social interaction. People who need to be told what to do and be provided with artificial goals are likely to find SL rather dull. Not to knock people who feel that way, but it's the wrong attitude to approach Second Life with. If you think SL needs something you can't find. Make it. That's the point.

Very well said

It's not a game for you Chip. However if someone wants to come here and treat it as a game, that's their call. If someone wants to play out a fantasy, fair play to them.

What about the folks that created every thing you see in-world? For those people alone, SL is much more than "just a place to spend money" and "a large flea-market."

As far as your other points...I think your list is creating an entirely new application completely different than SL...

What would a book be without letters?

For the record...I've never spent any money, I've only made money (I'm still on a basic account). I mean that as just a matter of fact...not tooting my own horn...just offering up the possibilities.

Don't forget that it's also a 3D chat room.

Oh, I agree, but I think a lot of people miss the entertainment potential of SL by expecting it to be something it's not, and as a result not allowing themselves to appreciate it for what it is. I've always thought that SL is a lot like a giant craft fair, and that's one of my favorite things about it, but it's so much more than that. If I go to a craft fair in real life and expect a hockey game to break out, I'm probably going to be disappointed. In SL, there's a good chance of that actually happening. It just requires people to take the initiative.

Going into my signature! Thank you.

yes & yes!!

..and shopping at the malls for others creations is great too!