I may have mentioned in one of my previous posts that I am not a “gamer” by any means. I used to watch my husband play Call of Duty on our Xbox 360 – until I got bored with translating the German shouts for him. I’ve also been known to ask questions nonstop while observing my son play Minecraft – I mean really, what is the point of that game?
That doesn’t mean I’ve never played games. Farmville (I think that’s what it was called?) on Facebook, Candy Crush, Words With Friends, and – currently – Merge Dragons. I don’t want to offend anyone when I say that I considered these “mindless games” and I played them when I needed to escape from what I call my “work brain”… in other words when I needed to give my brain an intellectual/academic break. I also don’t play them for very long. I typically “keep” a game for about a month or two, then uninstall it from my phone. The only game I continue to turn back to is Trivia Crack – which is famous for making me feel uneducated… Just sayin’.
(Wikipedia)
So, it is with no surprise that after downloading Second Life onto my computer, creating an account, “training,” and exploring for about 10 minutes, I was done. Not impressed. I uninstalled the game the very next day.
I felt disconnected – which, I guess is the point – to feel like you can be anyone in that game. By the way, have you noticed that the avatars all have the same body shape? Barbie doll women: “36-24-36, oh what a winning hand,” as The Commodores would say. And all of the men are shaped like Ken dolls… maybe that’s why I felt disconnected. I know I’m not a 36-24-36 and I am perfectly okay with that. My husband is not shaped like a Ken doll and he’s perfectly okay with that. Most importantly, we are perfectly okay with each other.
Borrowed from “A Kat and A Mouse” blog, edited. The arrow points to the avatar closest to what I could find that represented me… But she’s still not me…
When I read Au’s blog post about Wilde Cunningham and their experiences in Second Life, I was inspired… (Which is why I had installed the game to begin with.) While I don’t work in the health care or assisted living field, my mom and my son do, respectively. I work with the public at the library and have had groups visit from assisted living facilities, so I have minimal experience with them.
I feel the need to commend Ms. Sandgrain for introducing the group to Second Life which helps to give them (collectively as a group) some autonomy over their experiences. Guiding the Wilde group through an alternate universe that allows them “physical” mobility and the ability to make choices is an opportunity for them to cherish.
In using SL, the group of nine becomes one “subject,” as Nguyen likes to call people. However, I would ask the group of nine in becoming a subject of SL, do they understand the laws of SL? Knowing that all but one member of the Wilde group are wheelchair-bound, it is assumed that many of their choices in life are made for them. This correlates with what Nguyen says about subjects being constituted by others. When the group is in-world, those real-world constraints don’t’ follow them; they have more freedom.
I had to chuckle when the group complained about “flying” in SL, that it was like watching TV, instead of flying. During the ten minutes that I explored SL, I’m surprised an administrator didn’t ask me if I was playing while drunk, my walking was so uncoordinated. (Of course, that was an early Saturday morning before I’d had my coffee…) Looking at the photos on Au’s blog of the avatars “flying” reminded me of an alternate universe YouTube video composed by Eric Whitacre. It is quite beautiful.
My favorite quote from the beginning of Au’s time with Wilde is when they explained their avatar’s skin color: “We decided on how Wilde would look first by starting with skin colors. We have both black and white in our real-life group and didn’t want to have those because neither is better than the other. So we picked orange.” Such a simple explanation, yet so deeply profound.
Neither is better than the other.
If a group of people with physical disabilities can figure this out and more importantly, understand it, why can’t the rest of us? I’d like to think that I’m not prejudiced against others. I was raised in a biracial and cross-cultural household; my parents raised me to be kind to others, regardless of their skin color or cultural or even religious backgrounds (even though I wasn’t raised in a church setting).
I know I’m not perfect; I will try to do better… when I’m not isolated in my flippin’ house anymore, that is…
May 15, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Second Life is nothing much when you begin it, with the standard avatar kit and they stick you in a welcome area (if that hasn’t changed since I use to do it). And yes, the standard avatars are not very interesting. Second Life is only interesting after you look for new skins, new clothes, and visit other users’ “sims” which can range from modest and small to entire islands. One of my favorite sims was the 1920s Berlin build, which recreated the Weinmar Republic and was a role-playing environment. It was built and managed by a Dutch or German woman who dressed and tried to live that way in real life, too! Some of the players there had a book club that met to discuss books once per week, and I made Facebook friends with a few of them in real life. They were smart, well-read people–librarians mainly.
You can also hear performances in Second Life–real singers, musicians, etc. who give live shows. There are virtual campuses for quite a few universities and colleges, and some of these schools use the campuses to accompany their real distance learning programs. Also keep in mind that everything in the world of SL was created or built by users, another cool aspect.
It reached its prime around 2008 or so and no longer has the “hot” quality, but it is still much more interesting than the first hour in there would seem.
May 25, 2023 at 4:25 am
Module 3 Bodies, Interrupted explores the intricate relationship between performers and their audience in the virtual realm, delving into the challenges and opportunities that arise when the physical presence is disrupted. To uncover the secrets behind this transformative journey, visit https://magicalkatrina.com/magiciansblog/from-peru-to-paris-creative-hacks-for-doing-your-virtual-magic-show-on-the-road-for-virtual-magicians, where the wonders of virtual magic come alive. As magicians venture beyond traditional stages, an online landscape beckons, offering a new canvas for their craft.
July 3, 2023 at 10:16 am
Module 3 Bodies, Interrupted explores the complexities of physical existence and its vulnerabilities. Through thought-provoking discussions, engaging activities, and reflective exercises, participants delve into the profound connection between body and identity. In this journey of self-discovery, there are no wordle answers, only personal growth. From examining societal pressures on appearance to understanding the impacts of disability, this module challenges preconceived notions and encourages empathy.