New Citizens Incorporated

I decided to start out on the easy level, as I am not a gamer and not so good with the controls and all that. I visited New Citizens Incorporated, an area that features helpful stick figures walking around to teach you things. As soon as I arrived, I clicked on some of the profiles of the 18 avatars currently there. None were really "new" members, all having been on SL for at least 3 years, so it seemed the area was more of a social gathering spot to chat.

I introduced myself as a student conducting research, which was not thought very highly of. One user said they get lots of student projects on Second Life and most were poorly designed. This avatar, who was female-bodied, said the only way to get a good perspective was to get really involved, rather than just be an observer. I wonder if she had heard of Tom Boellstorff's work.

I didn't stick around too long because I had already spent a hugely long time trying to find an interesting destination only to find nearly every supposed "hot spot" empty or nearly empty. Quite frankly I was getting a little sick of all this computer-mediated interaction and wanted to get up and find some real human ones. One interesting incident did occur. I stumbled  (and by I, I mean my avatar) carelessly into another user. I think having spent my first experience on SL with this class, all of us being inexperienced, I had yet to internalize any social etiquette about the bodied avatar. I was used to no one caring if there avatars touched, in contrast to real life where I am very touching-averse. This user politely said, "Excuse me, Miss", even though I ran into him, echoing the etiquette of the real world within this virtual one. I wonder if the average user would be so forgiving in a space not meant for new members. I apologized back, and after saying my goodbyes, left the space for a random location where the first dialogue that appeared to me was, "I will nibble your toes off". With that, I decided that I had had enough Second Life for the day, and possibly quite awhile, and logged off.

This is me, in the frilly dress, at New Citizens Incorporated. The blonde avatar in the black skirt is the one who talked to me about student research.

Me again in the frilly dress, different angle.