1 Not so SURL-iously

OK, not a huge fan of Second Life. Full stop.

I was reminded of this while attending a Second Life Educators (SLED) meet-and-greet this evening. It wasn't much of an event. While the four other attendees promised that they typically dance, chat, and drink, and drink (yep, I said "and drink" twice because they said "and drink" twice. Apparently virtual drinking is a big deal. Seriously?) there wasn't much going on last night.

OK, clearly I went to the wrong event (for me). I figured it would be a good way to get my feet wet. But perhaps I should have attended one of the science-oriented, or research-oriented functions. I'm an all-business kind of girl in SL. I want a lecture, or presentation, or conference. Something focused. No dancing or drinking. More chatting and sharing ideas.

So there it is. My big gripe. And part of the problem was I picked the wrong event--a social event.

I am no stranger to SL. The few events I have attended in the past have largely been on my home University's Catamount Island. I have helped Neil (who largely built the Island) to demonstrate basic functionality and telecommuting. I have watched instructors teach, and have toured classrooms and educational facilities on Catamount Island.

But I am really not a huge fan. When I arrived at the SLED meet and greet, the vibe was akin to a pack of dogs pissing on posts and sniffing each others assholes. The group of four ladies clearly knew each other and had a code (or shorthand if you will) for their largely text-based conversation. Lots of "slash glare" comments were exchanged between these ladies. I don't know what that means. I assumed it meant, "hey noob, we are a part of a clique--lol."

I introduced myself, and after the requisite "hellos" and "welcomes," it was pointed out that I'm "two years old, and no profile information." Then, one SLED lady started making weird, sort of provokative gestures. Another started dancing and then flying around the room like she was Trinity from the freaking Matrix. It was bizarre--not in a good and wholesome way. So do people do that in their business meetings, or is that behavior simply a function of the more casual atmosphere of the meet-and-greet. What ever it is, it made my feel itchy inside. Perhaps if the conversation weren;t so inane... 

So there it is. I am part of this problem. In the two years I have been a sometimes SL citizen, I have not bothered to change my clothes, update my profile information, or leave Catamount Island if I can help it. It just doesn't capture my imagination.

That doesn't mean that SL os not a game changer for education. It simply means it is not a game-changer for my digital life. I will likely go back to skulking about Catamount Island on occasion, leaving the SLED meet-and-greeters to their dancing, chatting, and drinking, and drinking.