How real is SL?

One of my SL friends says: Everyone has 3 lifes: public, private, and secret. A lot of profiles insist on a strict separation between RL and SL, probably because many of us lead a secret life in SL and run here, for example, a relationship in addition to our RL one *blushing*.   It would be practicle if you could say SL was not  reality. Unfortunately,  science proves otherwise. The brain creates its own reality as well in RL and it also can be demonstrated that the brain does not distinguish between RL and experiences in the virtual world. Even though we know that it is virtual, the physical and especially emotional feeling are the same when we see something inworld. Anyone who has received  a massage in SL knows what I'm talking about. On Youtube you get a 40-minute science documentary in four parts on this topic: (sadly only in German).



 Here is one part of it, the "Rubber Hand" demonstrated in english:

That the brain actually creates the world around us can be explained well to the physical structure of matter. We all know that everything around us consists ​​of vibrating atomic particles. The solid matter is so small that the whole human race would fit inside a pea. So we could easily go through walls, but our brain relies so much on the perception that it is not possible. Thus enlightenment for me is the ability to see things as they really are and this unfortunately leads to the conclusion that the evil world around us is changing only if we change ourselves ;)  So many avatars are trying to escape the problems in RL and then have exactly the same cup of tea in SL. Whether we move in real life, dream or act in SL: Everything is a product of our brain and is real no matter what world we are in. This provides opportunities and danger. But we can say that the creation of the Internet and virtual worlds is a quantum leap of humankind. If at the end everything is one, the next step is logically that the real and virtual worlds mingle more and more. And exactly that happens as you have seen in my previous posts.

Back to the Childhood: FORGOTTEN TOYS

Through the conversation with Ruth, I understood that SL certainly helps to think about their own roles in life and to expand scope first SL then RL. Our behaviour bases often in expierences as a child. So it is not only fun, it is also good to go back sometimes to our childhood. And it is so much fun at the new work of Romy Nayar at MetaLes. Don't be cheated by the seemingly quite empty sim. All here is interactive and offers 1 or 2 hours of playful fun. Join the group at the landing point and take you free avatar and bike and explore the space underneath a childs bed. You can even climb up. Open until september 7. You will love it!

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/MetaLES/205/208/21

BDSM and more!?! : GOLGOTHICA, RUTH VERNE and ANTROZOUS FROSTWYCH

I landed on the super nice RP Sim. Take a visitors hud in the game room on the deck of the landing ship. Then you can climb into the dinghy. I was really thrilled. The sim is really done well. But some details and the conversation with a resident distraught me. There will be not only captures and hard BDSM RP, but the victims are obviously eaten. I've already done a lot of  naughty things in SL but this is for me far beyond all limits of tolerance.

Taxi to Golgothica:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Golgothica/67/20/604

I wonder what such RP does with the players. I recently met the alt of a RL therapist who also works in SL: Ruth Verne. Now I needed her and it was really pleasant to meet her. I felt her interest in people and the joy of work. She helps in SL especially in crises which have to do with SL. Everyone knows that it is hardly possible to talk about them in RL. We also talked about the intensity of relationships in SL, which depends on the ability to emote.

Like everything in life, the experience of RP can have good or adverse effects. RL, Ruth works with abused children and told that offenders first consume child pornography on the net. Thus they give the illusion of normality before they commit a crime. I realized that any  RP can be really dangerous when it is played by people at risk. Ruth said that RP can be healing with therapeutic monitoring. Sometimes she even sends RL clients to SL to practice certain behaviors in the protected environment of SL. And how this approach can be positive, she proves herself with her alt Antrozous Frostwych, an artist. After she worked a while only in SL, she will have her first two exhibitions in RL.

I met her first through her photo series Metamorphosis, in which she transforms in permanent change into her 6 avatars. The avatars are six archetypes of C.G. Jung. The transformation shows that we are constantly in flux and even play different roles in life.

Taxi to Frostwich Gallery:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jupiter/163/206/73

SL mirrors RL: Zwinger Dresden

'Der Zwinger' is one of the most important Baroque buildings in Germany. The replica in SL is of breathtaking beauty and detail. For four years the sim has good visitor numbers. The special feature of the sim is the art collection of old masters in the building. This collection is one of the most renowned of the world and the first and only one that has found its way into SL. If you click on the pictures you get a notecard with all important information about the image. The most famous painting is the "Sistine Madonna" by Raphael. I love the Canaletto collection. One suspects what's a tremendous work behind the project. And above all it is without any costs for the city of Dresden, it is sponsored by the Second Interest AG. Nevertheless, the sim shall be closed and replaced by panoramic views on the museum site. This is an unnecessary and painful loss for SL and we should not simply accept.

 We should do something about it! Go there, generate traffic and use the guest book.

Taxi:   sadly gone

SL mirrors RL: MALMAISON CANNES

Moya Janus (Moya Patrick in RL) obviously has no problems with beeing exposed. The French artist created on over  4 Sims a humurous, colorful cartoon world in his inimitable style. It is a lot of fun to walk around or use the offered cars or tour bikes. But wherever you move, almost everything is Moya personality cult. The summit is in every respect the Moya tower. But on top of the tower Moya gets its receipt. The inhabitants of his Sims demonstrate against the dictatorship of the artist and burn a statue of his colorful avatar!  :D

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Moya/100/74/22

At the foot of the tower you see a metal gate. Passing it you see a reproduction of his RL atelier. And do not get lost searching it in RL is in the atrium is a Google Earth view of this house in Nice. ^^

Moya exhibits currently in the Malmaison Cannes. The building is copied in SL and is part of the installation in Cannes. Visitors can see it on a screen and walk in SL with an avatar through the house. If you go there you become part of the exhibition in Cannes. But the visitors are also watched by you on a big screen and can voice chat with you. My viewer hates me and I could not see the livestream in SL but it is also on the net: http://www.moyapatrick.com/malmaison.htm. Moya is around almost every day as avatar or RL and I've already spoken with his avatar as well as with him RL in his exhibition in Cannes. The funny bus in front of the building and the little island can also be found currently in Cannes RL. The exhibition in Cannes runs until 2. October, Malmaison SL will stay.



Malmaison Cannes RL / SL



My SL hates me - Here should be seen the Livestream from Cannes

Moya in Cannes, talking to me in SL

Moya in SL





Taxi to Malmaison: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Moya%20Museum/198/111/25

The blurred boundaries between RL and SL: COMPOSITION IN REALITIES

Glyph Graves has incorporated RL in several works. At the landing point  the currently measured Antarctic wind flows. Down on the sim are more exciting works. The lake shows both water movement and temperature taken at the same time at Lake Mendota in Wisconsin. The beautiful sculpture 'Enfolded' is constantly changing due to the influence of the solar wind. The data is received in real time from a satellite.

I was most impressed by 'Faceted Existence'. Using a Kinect device he transfers to SL  real-time data on 2.500 beads, reshaping the face. Thus we see how he is sitting at the computer. He jokingly said at the presentation: "I feel so exposed." Of course you cannot recognize him, but one can imagine that in future we will moving with with our rl shapes in the metaverse. It's time to say goodbye to silicone breasts and six-packs of avatars. :)

If you do not meet Glyph here is a short Video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebrokendollhouse/6018219182/


Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Art%20Screamer/164/66/223

RL influence on the SL installation: ALEA FUKUSHIMA

Deeply moved by the terrible events in Japan,  Artée (Artistide Despres) had a dream: Music could neutralize the harmful nuclear radiation. Derived from this dream the beautiful installation is created. On the wall you see the current in Fukushima measured radiation intensity, which determines the movement of the white balls. When there please siit on the chairs. It reveals  to you --  in the truest sense -- a new perspective on the world. Alea Fukushima will be open until  20 August.

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Erato%20of%20Caerleon/80/234/22

Exhibition RL und SL: CYLAND

In November last year there was a cyber festival in St. Petersburg. At the same time opened the parallel exhibition in Second Life that offered a great selection of artists and works in SL. Until the end of September it can still be seen in SL and you should not miss it if you didn't make it yet. Even though I recommend everything I want to point out particularly the installation "Primscape Dream" by Sledge Roffo. He writes: "Our culture demands new and exciting entertainment, and that goes for art too." You will become  immersed in that work of art, which is affected by the movement of visitors. Fascinating interactive!

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chronocules/209/161/1953

And here the TP to other works:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chronocules/206/193/2001

Nanotechnology in Colours: NaNoBoSc

Why must there always be bleak future? I will end this trip through time with the colorful NaNoBoSqUe Sim which obviously provides information about nanotechnology. But neither Phoenix nor Firestorm play the streams. Maybe even better because the information on the owner group is in Spanish and I would not understand anyway. Do we have a new world language and I did not notice? Does not matter - the sim is wonderfully designed and great fun especially the way through the transparent tube is an experience. And when future is so colorful with nanotechnology, I vote for it ^^

Sadly gone. Here is a machinima:

                              

 

Art in the Metaverse: SynchroniCity Web

I already wrote about SynchroniCity and presented Uranometria. End of July opended more installations. At the landing point you can get a notecard which leads you to other places. Some steps further you get by click a huge bubble. Jump in and enjoy a 5 min. flight. That is an really amazing experience!

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ecologia%20Island/88/190/1656

Uninhabitable Earth: Insilico

We live in the year 2480, the Earth has become uninhabitable and people live to escape the air pollution in cities floating on top of the atmosphere. The society is dominated by corporations. Insilico is the largest city. And also one of the largest communities in SL RP. She has almost 4,000 members. The 5 sims reveals an incredibly beautiful, dark world. This is one of my favorite places in SL! There is a transit system that leads you to all interesting places. If you click on it, you must choose a region and then TP to all interesting points are copied in the chat. You only have to click. Look at the beautiful city, the broken earth and the mars. It's so beautiful!

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/INSILICO/184/165/3602

Apocalypse: Thinis

It must be the outcome of the optimistic nature of man, that since antiquity people have foreseen a near demise of civilization. So naturally most of the Sims which act in the future - based on various novels - are post-apocalyptic visions. A good example is Thinis. The visitor's outfit at the landing site looks cool, but also dirty and broken and out, just like the 3 sims . Why concedes to no one here? But practically gifted people seem to have become extinct. The RP community is divided into gangs. The gangs seem to consist from drinkers, philosophers, religious fanatics to complete mad ;) Well, they probably have another hobby, it is an adult Sim ^^

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Thinis/177/13/889

1986: Chernobyl

By the disaster in Fukushima, we were reminded not only of being helpless facing the forces of nature, but also that we cannot control dangerous techniques. That brought me bad memories of Chernobyl. I was a young mother. The fear for the children and the helpless rage that our leaders had downplayed the true extent of the catastrophe. For far too long we have let our children play outside as all of Western Europe already was in a radioactive cloud.
 Anyway, I had to smile when I landed at the Chernobyl Combat Sim. There are no nuclear power plants. But it is a true symphony in gray-brown tones of real existing socialism, as I have admired in the months and years following the turn on business trips and are nowadays not much longer seen. Too bad that the homes in the prefab buildings are not set. I would like to enjoy once again the beautiful tapestries and carpets of that era;) Also the swimming hall is really inviting. And the port is an American warship O_O

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gungnir/100/65/22

The Roaring Twenties: Berlin1920

Berlin1920 is  a very special place in Second Life. Berlin was the same as now in the twenties, an exciting world cultural center. But there were huge differences between rich and poor. But overall, there was a strong economic boom by borrowing from U.S. banks which were found in 1929 an abrupt end by the world economic crisis. That was one of the main reasons for the rise of the Nazis. Should you see any parallels to the present, that's for sure a chance;)

An exciting time that offers much food for RP. But here it is not played, here it is lived. Jo Yardley, a Dutch woman, lives RL in clothing and objects of the times. Without the slightest compromise, she has created a Berlin that down to the smallest detail is true to the original. It is also uncompromising to visitors that do not look fit. They find themselves very quickly back home. In the landing area there are freebie clothes and hair. And also the height of the avatar should be changed to normal size. Otherwise it is too big in the rooms. But the sim offers you an authentic Berlin where residents really live in. The apartments are all occupied. Every night at 2 PM SLT is Happy Hour at "Der Keller", where people meet to chat and dance. Visitors are always welcome and will be included. It is spoken in English with German interjections. And there is another almost daily events can be found here, for more information please visit: http://www.1920sberlin.com/
And here is a nice movie: http://www.youtube.com/user/1920sberlinproject#p/c/9A5E9BD9C244A363/0/wTNenTOQ54U
Too bad that Berlin is known by that few Germans. I hope I could make you curious:) It's worth it!

Jo Yardley

Taxi: http://slurl.com/secondlife//236/233/751

Art Nouveau: Paris 1900

Ok, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower are not next to each other in RL, but the Sims are worth seeing. The Eiffel tower you can climb and fly down from above. That should not be tried in RL ^^ I also like Notre Dame and many great Art Nouveau buildings. I found also a Moulin Rouge, but I did not understand whether, how and when there are events. But you can rezz an oldtimer by clicking on the sign and drive around. After all, there are 4 sims to explore.

Taxi:   http://slurl.com/secondlife/Paris%20Eiffel/32/109/22


And when you are in Paris, don't miss the the new exhibition of Betty Tureaud: North Pole

Taxi: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Paris%20Couture/130/26/22

Baroque: Versailles

Nearly 2 Sims fills a replica of  chateau Versailles. You can get lost in there terribly. This castle is filled with life by a very active RP group. All participants play real historical figures at the court of Louis XV- This king is known also due to his famous concubines Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. There are receptions, balls etc . You can imagine, what can there be for court intrigues^^ I've attached a landing point at which it bursts probably not in such events. I have not found any Sim Rules, but it felt stupid when I landed normally dressed in a royal picnic. There was also an exciting experience to walk around in a courtly baroque dress. I felt unable to move as a decorated cream cake.

Taxi: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chateau%20de%20Versailles2/146/128/30