Smarterware

My First Time in Second Life

Had my very first adventure in Second Life this past weekend, the uber-popular 3D online virtual world that's been around since 2003. It's ridiculous that I waited this long to give it a try; like many dumb people who make uninformed assumptions, I'd always written off virtual worlds as child's play or total time-wasters--without ever trying them. (Cue the hackneyed "I've got my hands full in my first life.") But the few hours I spent in-world this weekend really changed my impressions of the place and its utility.

I downloaded the Second Life software, registered my new avatar and got in-world on my own Saturday morning. I'm an RTFM type o' girl, so using SL's newbie tips and instructions, I figured out how to walk and look around, check my inventory, interact with objects, and soon fly around. (FLY! Yes, you can fly in Second Life! Just like in your dreams!) Of course, within the first ten minutes I got stuck in mid-air, and was too embarrassed to ask anyone in-world for help. A desperate tweet got me the info I needed (hit Page-Down!), and I was back on the, er, virtual ground again.

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