Aquatom1968 in the Second Life

I’ve finally done it!

I’ve crossed over into a parallel dimension. I’ve become a virtual person. I’ve joined Second Life.

Lately, I’ve been hearing all sorts of hoopla about Second Life, so I thought I’d check it out. I visited the site, set up a free account, and got in. My first task was to dress myself. And a very snazzy job I have done it too… even if I say so myself! My trousers are neither too short nor too tight. They may be slightly short and slightly tight, but hey, who’s going to be looking? I think I look good there anyway. (And by ‘there’ I mean in the Second Life… before you think anything!)

Please don’t get me wrong. I am hopeless at any kind of computer game. I’m OK with computer chess and computer cards. I’m not bad with computer Tetris. And I was quite quick with the old ‘Snake’ game on the early models of Nokia mobile phones. AND I was pretty OK with SimCity. But that is where my computer game prowess ends.

I’m hopeless with the normal Sims game. I can get the people no problem, but I can’t manage to keep them. To be honest, they kind of annoyed me when I was playing them. Always wanting this or that, not doing what I wanted them to do, and being extremely clumsy. I mean, they are in a game. At least I can try to help people in real life, but these Sims are beyond help. Well, they were to me.

I had major problems with PacMan – I always got caught by one of the ghosts, and the incessant bleeping annoyed me – although it didn’t feel the same without the sound. Sonic the Hedgehog would never quite reach where I wanted him to either. I was always glad when these two games were over. Hardly a relaxing pastime!

So, against my better judgement, and giving in to my curious streak, I have embarked on the Second Life.

When I arrived there, I found myself in a kind of arrivals lounge. I could view all around me by using my keyboard, and I could look out from behind, in front of, or from the side of my virtual persona. I tend to stay behind though. It’s a bit freaky having to move backwards, and I haven’t tried the side view.

I walked around this strange new world, following arches and walkways, looking at various signs, and I stopped to admire a huge fish tank that is in there. Quite impressive, I must say.

All the time I am meandering around these unusual corridors, other ‘people’ are popping into the realm. Some of them actually came up to me and tried to start a conversation with me. Not being too technical about things, I didn’t know how to communicate back (although I’ll bet a pound to a penny that it is really easy, and the function is in my face!), but I do know how to clap and dance. So that’s what I did. I may try that when I’m in my regular haunt and someone comes over to speak to me… if I can’t hear them, I’ll just clap and dance. I wonder if they’ll run away like the folk in Second Life?

Another thing I have learned how to do is fly. I knew I would be able to do it one day, and now I can, in this virtual realm. I flew too high, which is never a good thing when inside, and I crashed into the glass ceiling. I looked quite funny, stunned but not falling. Eventually, I came back down to the ground, and also learned how to run. Walk, run and fly: three of the best ways to move about.

I arrived at a board, which reminded me of an advertising board in an airport, and it held a map of different areas in this world, whatever they are called. Somehow, I managed to teleport myself outside. When I last left, I was outside in this lovely garden somewhere, overlooking an ocean. There were little streams with bridges over them, buildings, parrots, and a table with a beach ball that I had to pick up and put on the table. I did this and won something, but haven’t the foggiest what it was. By one of the buildings, there was a party going on, and music was playing. Not being able to communicate with anyone yet, I decided to fly around the area and avoid chatting with any of the others at this time. I made sure that I landed on the roof of one of the buildings so I could see what was going on.

I may still be there now… I haven’t been back since logging off.

It is very addictive, I’ll admit. I haven’t really got the time to be spending as much time as I have there, but it provides a different way of escaping the ‘real’ world. Not that I really need to escape the real world for one thing, and I’m usually in some random surreal world most times anyway for another. Still, it’s fun.

I’m not saying join or anything, but if you do, look out for me. Aquatom1968. You’ll know it’s me as my name is constantly above my head. Come over to say “Hi” if you see me. I’ll probably clap and dance, but you’ll also be able to tell me how to speak back to you! I’m not there very often, or for that long of a time either, so you’ll be very lucky if you do see me.

When you see me, remember to take some of that luck and use it how you wish in your real world! Well, everything happens for a reason!