Tag: Second Life
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ChatGPT is my new social anxiety assistant
I have social anxiety. I dread interacting with strangers in unfamiliar settings, and yet I love travel, exploring new places, and getting to know interesting people. One coping mechanism I use is being prepared ahead of time: My anxiety doesn’t last, but anyone who shares this condition knows the stomach-clenching I go through as I…
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It’s VWBPE conference time again
The annual Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference is back for a 16th year, with events already underway and the bulk of the program next week, March 23rd through 25th. The official program has a variety of discussions, lectures, and activities, and there are always interesting exhibits to visit. As an anthropologist by training,…
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My avatar, myself
My rez day as Kay Jiersen is this week, and combined with visiting a thought-provoking exhibition at GBTH, I have embodiment on my mind. I’ve written about this in the past, but years have gone by and it’s worth considering again. To age or not to age Since Kay was born, my physical self has…
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The virtual movers didn’t break anything
Last year I moved from the US Midwest to New England. The process took months and involved dozens of people. This week I moved from the Fruit Islands in Second Life back to my parcel on the Heterocera Atoll mainland. I did it alone and it took minutes only because I dawdled. I couldn’t help…
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Socials for the somewhat asocial Gen-Xer
In an era when many people could use less screen time, I’m challenging myself to utilize more social media. Let’s see if I last a month. I found myself in a social media void as I began to relaunch this blog. At my core, I am not the target demographic for most of today’s options.…
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Sunday at the ballet
The Royal Opera & Ballet Garnier doesn’t always give much notice before their performances, but I was lucky the invitation to “Somewhere – a drawn story” arrived with plenty of time to attend. I’ve been to many events at this venue and they’re usually excellent. This show, from Ina Carpaccio and the talented artists of…
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Where are the SL men?
A Study of Gender Presentation in Resident Profiles in Second Life Public Spaces When I returned to SL a couple months ago, I noticed that there seemed to be a lower percentage of apparently male avatars than I remembered from 2010-2015. I wondered if my chosen destinations were female-leaning, so I began jumping to areas…
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AFK sex, the popularity paradox, and male avatars
Going back into Second Life after three years has given me a lot to think about. I wander looking for interesting things and people, then spend equally as much time pondering what I’ve found. I’ve started several posts but, being a methodical person, I keep stopping and asking myself more questions. Could this be the…
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Looking for an engaging activity in SL
Every now and then, someone pops onto the Second Life subReddit and exclaims, “I’m new and I have no idea what to do in SL!” Have comfort, my friend. I’ve had an avatar for over 13 years and I have no idea either. Sometimes I just play mah jongg solitaire in my virtual living room.…
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An hour in Sansar
When I read about a historic roleplaying sim moving from Second Life to Sansar, my reaction was surprise that it was still a thing. I know, I know; while I was away from SL, I didn’t frequent the virtual world blogs either. I had an hour and a decent desktop computer, so I took a…