Luna Bliss

I find it interesting that you distinguish between an alt "that has a life inworld" and that they consider "to be a facet of themselves" verses alts used in different ways. I don't think using an alt for practical purposes - such as a model, a tester, a bank, a way to avoid being bothered - is being fake. (I suspect you don't either.) I think it's only being fake when one purposely tries to deceive others, such as trying to be "friends" with someone who has unfriended another account or as a forum sock puppet who likes and responds to the posts of their main account. I don't think it's being fake to have multiple accounts - perhaps as roleplay characters, to express different moods or artistic expressions, or to use different aspects of SL. I think it's only being fake when deception is the purpose of the alt. I'm thinking of 'fake' as not inhabiting one's avatar to a degree of depth -- not coming "from the heart". Just staying on the surface is what feels 'fake' for me, as opposed to considering fake as 'the intent to deceive'. Regarding someone who deceives with an alt (thinking of a friend being stalked by an alt, and at times I am also stalked via being this person's friend and so targeted), this alt who stalks is very much connecting to the core of themselves in a deeper way (they have a need to bother another or 'get even' in their mind). Likewise with a sock puppet, though deceiving others using an alt they appear to be overwhelmed and have a need to give the support to themselves they're unable to give with their main account. So again, their deceptive account does not seem 'fake'. Of course we can't, as outsiders, determine when someone is inhabiting themselves or alts in a more superficial manner and not "coming from the heart", and there's no easily determined line to measure such a thing anyway. And the case could even be made that relating to the world superficially is also genuine as not all encounters with the world are, or need to be, deeper ones. But for me, 'fake' means skimming the surface, as one is not participating in the reality of a complex/depth world. Reality is complex, and so not relating to reality with a degree of complexity seems 'fake' to me.

Hmmm...maybe some people become something 'fake' when they develop an alt. But most I've known who develop an alt that has a life inworld considers that alt to be a facet of themselves, and so not fake. "I am large, I contain multitudes." -- Walt Whitman

Thanks. I'm usually on a desktop but my laptop is a good one and I've used it as a backup...often I open it on the sides...

Keeping you in my prayers, Vryl.

Pet Peeve: I've discovered here are a limited amount of laugh emoji's online -- we just gotta have more! Get to work graphics people!

Still enjoying Fantasy Fairre today...

Oh yes...I re-discovered the music in the Kirtan rituals in SL that are central to the Bhakti Yoga I loved when living in an Ashram.

It's a common word in Psychology when describing the way in which children are approached for abuse.

As educated adults it is our responsibility to try to be understood and to try to understand others. This is why using words that are likely to be understood to mean what we think they mean is important. Doing something that makes one feel good is not the same as doing something that improves one's resilency. For instance, people who experience PTSD might use desensitization techniques in SL that don't make them feel good, but do help to lower their negative reactions. Forcing oneself to keep talking with and listening to someone who is irritating, might help one to understand them even if it also increases one's own stress level temporarily. Do what feels good is an expression. Much the same as the expression "follow your bliss". It's not about the dopamine you mentioned earlier. It's not a literal thing like you're trying to make it. In other words, you're being pedantic. With your example (listening to someone who was irritating in order to understand them better) this would actually make me feel good and I'd be following my bliss if it truly brought understanding and helped the person. Any time we choose not to be stuck in negative patterns, and move on to something healthy we do feel good. We may not be floating in bliss filled with dopamine, but we do feel better because we've resolved our problem in the best way we could. This increases our resilience. Do what makes you feel good! Follow your bliss! I trust you'll move in the right direction is always behind these phrasings when people say them to me. They naturally don't think I"m going to gorge on 10 pizzas or drink myself into oblivion.

You're very welcome, Love. I was glad to see your extreme interest brought you to the event and you enjoyed. Hope to see you at more of my events.

No wayyyy! My back is saved when I garden in Second Life!!

Today is Earth Day, and the celebration is happening in a few hours. https://www.earthday.org/

Hope to see you there, Love. You seem quite interested! And animals roam in the Totem area so you'd really feel at home as a Neko Lion.

I don't believe so. The explanation she gave me made sense, but the initial post was really vague regarding intent, and frankly her (somewhat acerbic) response to me was the first time I saw a clear answer. I think a lot of us use SL as a tool to cope with situations: it's a creative outlet, it can be meditative, and it can serve as a means of distraction/ redirection, among many other options. It's nothing we can't ultimately do RL, but sometimes SL brings more distant options closer. Yes, I was acerbic and do apologize for that as I feel you were sincere, unlike many others who participated in this thread. At the time I couldn't take one more "confused" person. For me, the question was very clear -- did you find ways SL could also help you in some way with stress you might encounter here? When I saw many posting expressed they didn't even experience stress here, and even found the thought absurd (which felt quite disingenuous as for over 10 years I've heard the same people complain about the many difficulties encountered within SL), I amended the question anyway to include stresses we might encounter outside of SL too and subsequently use SL as a tool to feel better (develop resiliency). I imagine it was difficult for you to understand I'd even amended it amidst the chaos. The term "resiliency' proved too difficult for some to comprehend as well, so I attempted to remedy that by asking what within SL helped anyone 'feel good'. Well then that cascaded into insanity.

LANDSCAPING WITH LUNA EARTH DAY CELEBRATION -- Today (Monday), 12pm I hope you can join us Monday (Earth Day) @ Noon where we will have our 2nd Landscaping With Luna meeting. We were dancing and experiencing the Ocean conference @ the 1st meeting with little time to introduce ourselves and chat. So Monday @ noon we can introduce ourselves after honoring Mother Earth for half an hour with moving meditation and song. Then we can discuss our landscaping projects if you currently have one or have a plan in mind. We've been focusing on garden entrances on Discord. I'd also like to hear what you want to focus on in the group so we can plan for future meetings. Join the Discord channel if you're not there already in order to view what's been happening so far. I have some designing tips posted and you can ask particular questions about your project so we can all chime in and offer advice. Feel free to attend the first half hour, the celebration, and then leave if not interested in creating nature art. HAPPY EARTH DAY! Monday, April 22, Noon http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Satori/105/89/48 Most of the discussion happens on Discord, but there's also an inworld group for announcements: Inworld Group: Landscaping With Luna ***Paste the following in local chat inworld to join group: secondlife:///app/group/b2042ca9-9b1d-ff97-f2b0-a27fecae87b3/about DISCORD: https://discord.gg/J344jBjt

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/taking_care

Wow, and I thought you kinda sorta liked me 😂 I'm just teasing you!

I know....this huge pink box comes up surrounding your post...first one made me think my graphics card was on it's way out or that I'd committed the unpardonable sin...

I want the name BilliJo banned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Full Moon Dance !