...I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph, so
mama don't take my Kodachrome away...
How does such a lighthearted classic pop song and an
up-the-butt bikini bottom shot wind up segueing into a long-winded tangential
commentary on Second Life such as the one below? Here's how.
It started out with a quick blurb about the differences
between what my avatar wears in Second Life and what I wear in the real world.
Looking for a title, "...greens of summer " seemed as good as any
Paul Simon lyrics. I googled the song to see if it had a deeper meaning and
found a Facebook post from 2012 which read:
The song “Kodachrome”, according to Paul Simon, is about the
distortion of reality.
...and this came out.
I can't think of a better way to describe the internet. It's
no secret it brings out the true nature of people by providing them a safe
place to anonymously express elements of their personalities they might not
express in the physical world. Sometimes the anonymity compounds all the
nastiest bits, turning them into trolls on message boards. In virtual worlds
however, there's the added piece of lifelike avatar representations. Then you
have Second Life where experiences are only limited by one's imagination and
there's no clear objective or road map, not to mention the time and effort it
takes to learn how to maneuver. I think it's that investment of time and effort
which could be the reason many people start to move past the desire to be
keyboard warriors and pseudo intellectuals. We're more interested in playing
out our real life fantasies on the screen. Well, most of us any way.
For better or worse, the majority of us are our true selves
in Second Life when it comes to how we show up emotionally and mentally. That's
reality. But we exist in our fantasy bodies, living in our fantasy houses. We
dance our asses off for hours and don't sweat. We command entire mountains to
rise up and move to our will. We fly, teleport, change our race, gender, and
species with a few clicks. It's a heightened sense of reality, but a reality
nonetheless thanks to the lifelike detail of the bodies, the landscape and
the environment as a whole. Because we're only experiencing Second Life on
a screen however, there's no confusion about the fact that we don't actually
look like Barbie dolls and movie stars. Knowing that, our real world physical
and material qualities aren't typically factored in to what people think of us.
That levels the playing field considerably.
Some choose to sink deep into the fantasy, attempting to use
it to drown out the pains of their reality, but many choose to use it as an
extension of their creative selves. Third party viewers provide tools which
enable us to become photographers and landscape architects. We design and
create goods, build businesses and generate virtual revenue. Some even get
married and have babies.
Real world limitations be damned.
In many ways, the loss of our physical selves and all the
complications which come with them seems to be the catalyst for courage to put
ourselves out there in ways we might not otherwise. Rejection is so much easier
when you don't have to struggle to hide unconscious body language which betrays
your disappointment. While that may seem like a minor thing, I'm convinced it's
a big part of our subconscious aversion toward taking risks when it comes to
expressing our creativity. I for one spent many years taking pictures and
writing stories, making every excuse imaginable to not share with anyone but my
closest friends when the real reason was my fear of rejection.
I've only been in Second Life for about a year. Since the bulk of it has been spent socializing, exploring, dancing, shopping and taking pictures, I can't speak for the so-called 'dark sexual underbelly' I read so much about on the rest of the internet in my first few weeks. I also know people have experienced profound betrayals, epic drama and that old familiar descent into keyboard warrior status. I know it's all there, it's just not my experience. If that were the case, I wouldn't have made it past the first month. To me, Second Life is many things but above all it's a most excellent creative outlet and I can't help but wonder what sort of real world effect it will one day have on my ability to put myself out there.
Oh right, and the picture...
Wearing:
[hair] Truth - Kasimire
[bikini] Rebel Hope - Brinkly
[tat] Carol G - Perfect Harmony
[body] Maitreya
[Skin] Essences - Lilo (July Powder pack)
[pose] addme no. 89-4
Other:
What Next - Sunflowers Bicycle Decor (July 21 FLF)
Pilot - Poolside - Flip Flops
Dust Bunny - My Summer Retreat - Shade Umbrella
Dust Bunny - My Summer Retreat - Beach Bag (cream)
Tartessos Arts - Holidays Beach Decor
Lisp - Bobble deck Chair (July 21 FLF)
Wearing:
[hair] Truth - Kasimire
[bikini] Rebel Hope - Brinkly
[tat] Carol G - Perfect Harmony
[body] Maitreya
[Skin] Essences - Lilo (July Powder pack)
[pose] addme no. 89-4
Other:
What Next - Sunflowers Bicycle Decor (July 21 FLF)
Pilot - Poolside - Flip Flops
Dust Bunny - My Summer Retreat - Shade Umbrella
Dust Bunny - My Summer Retreat - Beach Bag (cream)
Tartessos Arts - Holidays Beach Decor
Lisp - Bobble deck Chair (July 21 FLF)
