Anyone who had been in Second Life* for any length of time won't be surprised by the title of this blog. Most, in fact, will laugh since Second Life (SL) is nothing if not an immensely complex and ever changing stage for dramatic interactions --- many of which rival the very best soap operas in terms of plot, characterization, and themes. What you may not hear - though I suspect that most would agree - is that Second Life is real. By real, I mean that the lives unfolding within its boundaries are as vibrant and meaningful - and by extension as worthwhile - as those in what we call the "Real World."
Don't believe me? Still of the opinion that Second Life is a game? Don an avatar, come inworld, and send me (Jenaia Morane) an Instant Message (IM). We'll meet, introduce ourselves, and have a look around my school. While we chat about our lives, we'll do a little shopping, visit a dance club or two, and take a stroll through one of SL's magnificent gardens. If you're in the mood for a little culture, we can visit the Louvre, drop in on a university class, or take in a live concert.
Oh, and while we're at it, I'll introduce you to some of my friends: the writer and actor who produces Shakespearean plays in SL; the founder of an organization that helps the disabled get into and function in SL; the world-renowned musician who gives live concerts in SL; and the psychologist who counsels and often saves the lives of the depressed and/or suicidal in SL.
Better yet, because I know your time is valuable and you don't have a lot of it to spend on a virtual "game," subscribe to this blog and follow me into my second life. I'll not only share my ongoing lessons as I learn to conduct myself in a manner befitting a mature SL citizen, but offer my thoughts on what SL has to offer and teach us in the larger scheme of things. Because, you see, after only two months as Jenaia Morane, I'm convinced I'm here not only to learn, but to make a meaningful contribution to the world at large as well. So as James Thurber might have put it, this is my SL world and welcome to it. I look forward to sharing it with you.
* Second Life is an Internet-based virtual world launched in 2003, developed by Linden Research, Inc. (commonly referred to as Linden Lab).
