Noob reporter hatin’ on Second Life because we get laid
Posted by myg
Did any of you read that New World Notes article Forbes Flunks School of Second Life? JW Hamlet Au tore apart a crappy article by Allison Fass over at Forbes, pretty much summed up with this quote:
It turns out that avatars seem more interested in having sex and hatching pranks than spending time warming up to real-world brands. “There is nothing to do in Second Life except, pardon my bluntness, try to get laid,” blogged David Charbuck, Web-marketing vice president for computer maker Lenovo.
You know, it’s always the noobs who don’t know what else to do but walk around with their genitals talking in virtual public.
Too bad there’s no picture of Allison Fass’ avatar, but if there were, I’m sure she’d look a hell of a lot like Ruth (and by the way, that’s just a random Ruth shot, not Fass’s avatar…not that I know of anyway…). There were so many inaccuracies in the woman’s report, as NWN well documented, it’s clear the woman knew not of what she bashed.
And it would appear that corporate hacks desperate to make inroads to Second Life are similarly in the dark. Like we all were when we first got here.
There are legitimate criticisms that Charbuck makes in this original article about Second Life as a game or a marketing platform. I similarly agree that as a game or as a marketing vehicle, Second Life falls short in many ways.
But hey, asshats, that’s because Second Life isn’t a game, and it isn’t a marketing vehicle. It’s an environment with its own culture and its own social norms. It’s a virtual location where many creative people hang out and contribute.
I understand that the impatient, the harried, the green will not be able to comprehend what makes us so invested in Second Life. It takes time to understand this place. But you should at least try to understand it before you go on and dismiss it and its user base.
And if you want to understand the culture here, you need to connect with people who know the territory–not other noobs at the Bondage Ranch or wherever the hell these folks do their “research.” The best way to learn about Second Life, and the way most people get hooked on it, is by connecting with veteran residents who can teach you what’s cool about it.
In other words, like anything in life, it’s all about the relationship. But here we don’t relate to some corporate brand. We relate to each other.
So to all curious newcomers (you too, Allison), come on out of the free sex areas for awhile and start talking to some avatars who look like they’ve been here for awhile (if you have any graphics capability at all, it’s obvious who they are). Then try reading the numerous blogs where there are communities of Second Life residents discussing this environment. (Start with Second Life Insider or my blogroll.) This way you can actually learn what the world is really about before you trash it so.
And one last thing. I’m going tell you all, nobody “tries” to get laid in Second Life. We just do it. For god’s sake, virtual sex is one of the easiest things to get in Second Life if you have any social skills at all. So heed my advice. If you are still “trying” as David says above, then try appearance mode awhile before hitting those free sex zones again…
And PS: Given the choice, I’d much rather get laid or hatch pranks than buy Coca Cola products, in real or second life…is this a no brainer to anyone else here?
I (almost) totally agree on what you’re writing here. Yet I tend to say: this blogpost’s title sums it all up!
theres a lot more stuff to do in second life then try to get laid, i dare this person to come in second life and do a machinima to the extend i am working on right now, where i make my own set, my own poseballs and animations,choosing the right clothes for each scene, find the right music and do the editing of the video. we’ll see if theres nothing to do.
and thats between hanging out with friends, going to see live shows to decompress and keep up with all the changes going on around me and in second life.
hell sometimes i wish i actually had more time to get laid.
Did I come here to ‘warm-up’ to major brands? Yeah, right!
just say no allison!
i wasn’t able to read her article (members only) but from the other stuff she writes she seems like the normal classically trained journalist bent on sensationalizing and shocking the few people who pay attention to her.
If I want to cuddle up to some brand I will go buy some of it, or go to their website, not Log into SL where I can not taste, touch, or smell it. Come on you marketing nerds, use your heads for something…..
All I can say is that I totally agree with that, especially with the PS. Coke is bad for your teeth and your health, sex burns calories (I’m sure even virtual sex helps with that).
Wait, I’m supposed to pay attention to corporate entities in SL? I’m busy trying to avoid them in RL!
*shakes her head*
what a bitch! i’ve tried to look up the Fass’s Bio and/ or Pics to no availablity.
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anyhoo, whats getting laid in sl? i’m almost 1 yr old and tasted the skittle two times only…first time i was 270 days old.
Gala, you focus on clothes to much. The fact is, for getting laid, you don’t need/want those.
vint me??? nooo, what makes you think that? i am no fashion queen i swear.
Sorry, because of the late hour I confused you with Lisa and the zhao. action: blushes
haha its all good, vint ( hugz )
lol!