What's the point in all this?

[jarlah]

What's the point of playing SL if you have never done IRC or chatted with other people in public places? If you are a person that actually does not like to hang around big crowds and doesn't like to chat away about indecent topics? This is a picture of a personality that I would guess would not last very long in SL. Count me in.

But why should I quit? Its a 3D internet, nothing else. I picture to myself a 3D version of my favorite web browser where I walk along from BBC and then stroll pass Google before I end up in a crazy place and figure out that the best thing is to leave at once. This is how I use SL today. Teleport, look and leave. Nice thing this Linden Home.

Groups, what can they possible give me. I entered a Java User Group, but whats the point of doing this in SL when there is perfectly good resources for this in real life. Education in SL? I partially agree. It has some advantages. But I would rather take a degree or course in a real school.

Programming and development, and construction. Yes. And no. Yes to to fact that I can express my programming intellect in SL scripts. No to the fact that these scripts does not contribute to any other than Linden labs and the users of Second Life. I am an expert Java/C#/JavaScript/Scala/Groovy +++ developer. A pragmatic programmer that takes pride in my work. Its difficult expressing such a skill in SL without feeling the utter uselessness creep into my soul.

Places. Yes and hmmm. Fine looking places. I enjoyed the Eiffel tower in paris. If my computer was quicker it would compute more textures and it would look nicer. But I lack something. Meaning? Yes. If I wanted to visit the Eiffel tower in paris in RL it would cost me big bucks. But it would change my life. In SL it didn't change anything. It was just a tower. Not boring but its not the real thing. I flew up and took a good lock at it.

The real thing is friends. And how you meet them. How you express feelings and joy about your thoughts and ideas. I would forget about those people that has no better things to do than trying to flame RL identities. I take pride in my profession, therefore I have this in my RL bio. And I would gladly share non personal things from my RL. I doesn't care. I do not role play in SL. I do not seek to hide my RL identity. Actually I am talking about my real life personality. My real life identity will always be hidden.

My conclusion is that Second Life is to me a place where I can meet new and existing people and express my personality in a different way than I would have done in a similar social happening in RL. I can look different, walk different, say different things, do different things. But in the end I will be me and no one else. It is difficult to play two personalities. My SL avatar reflects my RL personality. This cannot cannot be underestimated.

My morallity points me away from cam girls and people that is looking for sex. I find it disgusting and childish. And I am not old at all. Its just that it shouldn't have to be like this. So what if it drives SL. I don't give a dang about it. If Linden labs banned it the world would cripple for a period, but would renew as a place where people create funmy and interesting places.

So, please. What is the point? I may have answered myself. But please enlighten me. What drives you to log in to Second Life? What drives you to use hours on this online meeting place?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Marigold Devin]

Maybe you have answered your own question. Nice first post, and welcome to the Second Life forums, jarlah.

One could argue what is the point to anything. What is the point of climbing Mount Everest. We all know it's there, and it has been climbed numerous times. And what is the point to going shopping for shoes when we already have 20 pairs of perfectly good shoes in our wardrobe.

Second Life for me is an easier way of getting that fix, if I get the urge to shop for shoes or climb mount everest. If I'm feeling in a sociable mood (which I admit is rarely), I can easily find a place to socialise. If I feel like pursuing solitary hobbies such as building or taking photos, I can do this more easily in SL than I can in RL, especially at midnight when everything is closed in my RL and not worthy of photographing.

Also, for me, Second Life is a way of keeping my grey matter working, while still being on call for my brother, who is disabled, and who I care for on a full-time basis.

Plus, Second Life fits in so nicely around all the other things I want or need to do, the RL chores, the writing of a future best selling novel (I'm joking about the latter, but if I was, SL would fit neatly around it.)

And Second Life is an absolute treasure trove of joy for people who like to people watch, as I do sometimes. Or stalkers. I can't stalk in RL, I can mock-stalk in SL. But Shhhhhh don't tell the SL police or they'll put an SL restraining order on me.

[Charolotte Caxton]

One, I don't use it nor see it as an online meeting place. I find SL to be a fantastic world of dreams and creativity and one that I enjoy exploring and seeing. I don't know about all the cam girls and what not, the things I encounter are usually the things I search for. What I search for is art, beauty, fun and so on. Meeting other persons is nice and can be fun, but SL to me is not a giant place to just go and meet people. I log in to go have fun and see. I love the colors, the fashion, and the sheer brilliance of uninhibited creativity. I like getting to walk around as a little cartoon person and get to pretend like this is reality, because while I am here, in this virtual space, it is.  

edited for spelling

[Shockwave Yareach]

The point is to have a good time.  To make friends if you want, or hide on your private parcel and decorate the house if you don't.  To build stuff if you feel like it.  Even sell stuff you make if you can get good enough at it.

You could just as easily ask what the point of the internet itself is.

Me, I build in SL - my own crazy stuff that I share with friends.  I also socialize with folks in SL as it allows me to go all over the metaverse while still sitting at my desk.  It takes limitations of time and space and tosses them in the trash - they don't matter in SL. 

You can make friends by joining a group that's active in what you are into.  A builders group perhaps.  Or rent some parcels and hang out with the rest of the rental group at dances or what not.  There are parties, dances, live music, tail sales, new release parties, and charity functions all over the place.  It's not hard to meet people.  Finding that magic connection though, that's a very individual thing. 

[Wildcat Furse]

While I am cruising atm in RL, visiting fantastic new RL locations, I cannot wait to log back into second life, it is such a fantastic world, a world that is colorful and full with amazing and creative people from all around the world, I miss all my sl friends atm.. Second life is fascinating me since the first day I logged in here, and that is years ago even before Wildcat was born. I just love love love love love this world and all the people that make second life so great......... *meows*

[Knowl Paine]

Building drives me, I've made some of the most amazing things. Responses and feedback from friends and Residents I've met encourages me to continue developing my skills. I have also seen other Residents motivated and possibly influence by objects I've created. It's a good feeling.

I don't inquire about identities outside of SL because I have my own responsibilities.

Yes, LL is a benefactor of creation and so are the Residents.

SL is a place for Creation.

From what you list as skills, I think you could create happiness.

I think part of the purpose is to offer a virtual freedom. Finding purpose on your own. Nothing random, you have a skill, prove it by showing it.

 

 

[Jo Yardley]

Building and time travel are why I am here.

Being able to virtually visit the past.

Something rather tricky in RL.

I don't care for (modern) music, dancing, shopping, chatting, hanky panky, etc.

It is nice that I meet some great people who share my interest, it is great to make friends and be part of a virtual community.

But that is not why I came here, it is a by-product.

[Ishtara Rothschild]

---

jarlah wrote:

My morallity points me away from cam girls and people that is looking for sex. I find it disgusting and childish.

And I am not old at all.

Its just that it shouldn't have to be like this. So what if it drives SL. I don't give a dang about it. If Linden labs banned it the world would cripple for a period, but would renew as a place where people create funmy and interesting places. 

---

It shows.

Why shouldn't SL be the way that other people enjoy it? You're not the only person here. Stick to whatever you feel comfortable with and don't judge others.

[Peewee Musytari]

SL can be more like RL than people realise, there is no rule saying that you have to be a different person in you`re 2nd life than you are in your 1st life, but it would take me a lot longer to build stuff in RL and I wouldn`t be able to fly so I like SL

[Lyra Blackthorne]

I think the point is that SL is a unique experience for everyone and a big enough world for you to do what you like and for others to do the same.

What is childish for you is exciting for another.  My SL is just running a shop; I don't "play" or socialize at all unless it has to do with my business, for some that would be boring but not to me.  Everyone of us gets to choose for ourselves and need to allow others to do the same.  The world is full of diversity and that makes it a rich and wonderful place...even those places and people that do not fit in with my own personal values.. 

Take what you like, and leave the rest : )

[jarlah]

 

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Ishtara Rothschild wrote:

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jarlah wrote:

My morallity points me away from cam girls and people that is looking for sex. I find it disgusting and childish.

And I am not old at all.

Its just that it shouldn't have to be like this. So what if it drives SL. I don't give a dang about it. If Linden labs banned it the world would cripple for a period, but would renew as a place where people create funmy and interesting places. 

---

It shows.

Why shouldn't SL be the way that other people enjoy it? You're not the only person here. Stick to whatever you feel comfortable with and don't judge others.

---

It's ok I should be more tolerant. And actually I am no saint. And i can easily steer away from the people I dont like on SL. No problem. If a zone is too crowded with people I dont like I just go home or find another place. About my age I am physically middle aged hope that counts in lol

 

[Canoro Philipp]

there are many reasons to enjoy SL, more than you and I could ever imagine.

I think what you want to know is some form that You can enjoy Second Life by catching suggestions in our answers. Second Life is a very flexible platform that offers opportunities to socialize, roleplay, and whatever else you want to do, so, the point of Second Life it's pretty much in your individual taste.

[jarlah]

 

---

Canoro Philipp wrote:

there are many reasons to enjoy SL, more than you and I could ever imagine.

I think what you want to know is some form that You can enjoy Second Life by catching suggestions in our answers. Second Life is a very flexible platform that offers opportunities to socialize, roleplay, and whatever else you want to do, so, the point of Second Life it's pretty much in your individual taste.

---

 

Absolutely. I am trying to find out what I should do with my avatar. And I have got some answers. One of them is that I am going to show off building some boxes or maybe even multi prim objects with scripts. I am a very simpel person, with simpel tastes. Seing things work is quite a joy

So thanks for all the answers until now. I think I will start building or something. Constructing a waiter or whatever It will be cool in the end

C u all in game propably or maybe not. Who knows. The world is quite big

[Willow Danube]

in Real Life, I'm a virgin tucked away high up in a tower somewhere guarded by secret police and 10 thousand folds of strong armies - on foot and on horses. My father is the overlord of a region in Ithilien, Middle Earth (I can tell you exactly where it is but it's against the forum TOS) and he is planning to marry me off to a prince for the price of 3 calves made of gold and 512kgs of Ganjas. It can be pretty boring living alone in a tower... my father's slaves would send me books, a harp for me to play and occasionally his men's socks for me to repair but its not enough... I mean, In due time, I would be marrying this Prince and I'm sure he is a very experienced man and I'm afraid I won't be able to please him much.

That is why I come to SL... to explore and to learn the art of pleasing... and to build a house near a waterfront so I can sail as much as possible because I have never touched or smell the ocean since I was a wee bonnie lass. In RL, my feet are not to touch the dirt and I've been carried around in a high pedestal or in decorative coach made with cashmere and silk. In SL, I'm driving off the Linden roads with my old truck I got from Marketplace and i'm driving stick! Such liberating moment!

[Darrius Gothly]

(psssst ... email me your location.

 

 

 

I have some socks need mending) *wink*

[Void Singer]

to answer the titular question.... the point is whatever you make it... I'm not especially social either  though I have made friends over time... I spend most of my time scripting, exploring and building

[Willow Danube]

Oh, hush Darrius... Get yer own wee bonnie lass to fix yer holes. :smileyindifferent:

[Hitomi Tiponi]

Creativity.

Nothing encourages creativity like the chance to fall flat on one's face.  ~James D. Finley

[Bree Giffen]

I really enjoy the shopping! I really do! There's so many different clothes to buy. Sometimes I feel paralysed by the choices. I like to sail sometimes. As an artist I can draw anything I can imagine but in SL I can build it, then I can get in it, or I can wear it, or show it to a person from Finland, or sell it for money. I like to chat. The presence you get with avatars easily surpasses online chats. I've done those chat rooms before, you can't beat SL for finding yourself with an uncomfortable group of strangers while sitting in the comfort of home. It's entertainment, it's a diversion. It's a hundred small enjoyable events. It's a game.

[Marigold Devin]

 

You reminded me of how much I've loved the collaborations in the past. How marvellous it is to be part of a joint building project. A friend I used to share half a sim with used to say "I've built (castle/underground area/sky platform with snow theme/giant fish tank), now it's ready for you to decorate", and I'd go in and decorate, him in Germany, me in UK.  It was great to log in and see what he'd done, and then create surprises for him when he logged back in.

The sailing in SL is fab, as a passenger, but you'd never get me on a boat in RL. Same with parachute jumping, which I love in SL, it still makes my tummy flipover when I fall off a high building (I love when I get that amount of immersion).

And where else can you be in a bar/club, yet be in your pyjamas at the same time?

It really is an amazing game.

[Perrie Juran]

I am a live music enthusiast in SL.  I get to here performers and music that I otherwise might never hear.  And being able to interact, talk with the performers is a fabulous plus.

There is also the social aspect, interacting with other people I meet In World.

Then there is pixel bumping too.  It can be lots of fun at times.

[Carbine]

This site got me thinking that RL is just like SL but in RL we aren't aware that we are playing a "game"

[SirCharlesMormont]

I would argue that the point can be anything. As others have said, creativity is key.

 

Personally, I enjoy role playing. In real life, I am neither a knight nor a princess nor a demon nor any of the other characters I can play in SL. I can write those characters in the form of fiction (and I do), but I enjoy the element of surprise inherent in waiting for and reacting to others' posts. I also enjoy building. I used to own a clothing shop on an alt account. Finally, I enjoy seeing all of the things that other users have created. Sometimes, I even buy them. Second Life is an open ended experience. You can be, do, see, or create anything you can imagine. Ultimately, then, creativity is the point.

[Kenbro Utu]

Timing isn't one of your strong suits.  This post is almost 3 years old, the OP is not even around anymore.  Nice necro.

 

eta: removed a pesky "e"