Just Another Day in SL...

Once again we had stripped ourselves of our educational garb for an afternoon in a more laidback atmosphere, Second Life. It had been a while since I’d ventured into this wild frontier and I was greeted with a software update that seemed to render my graphics card useless. Users were depicted via an endless stream of different images as opposed to the usual static skins. The lag was tremendous and morale was at an all time low.

After a lengthy discussion on the issue of race on the web, we all split into groups for field trips. By this time, my graphics card had regained its senses and people, landscapes and buildings were beginning to look as intended. Our first destination was simply titled Flag, Royier. The best way to describe this place would be to dub it Flag, Royier: The Home of All Things War. Everywhere you looked were vehicles and items related to war. There were helicopters, airplanes, boats, motorcycles, and cars. I was even asked if I wanted to buy a gun. The most interesting part of this whole place was an area designated for battle. As I walked through it, I didn’t see anyone battling, unfortunately, but it wasn’t hard to imagine it. Flag, Royier seemed to be, in the end, just Rambo’s wet dream.

After our trip to Flag, Royier, we headed for Bad Boys Urban City. I can’t say that there were too many defining characteristics of this site. It was composed of concrete and asphalt and seemed to be a gay night club. There was a very gritty, urban feel to the whole place. I have to admit that this was my first visit to any sort of place that was designated “gay” and I felt, surprisingly, nonplussed. The only sort of trouble I got myself into occurred when I clicked on a pose ball and found myself stuck in an unflattering position. There I was, laying flat on my back spread eagle in a video game and the only thought that came to my mind was “College is great.”

After getting over the embarrassment of the spectacle I caused, we all departed for the SoulPhoniks Mega Outlet, your only source for premium hip hop apparel. I have to admit that, although I understand going to this site for insight on race on the web, I really didn’t get much out of it. The walls were lined with pictures of different hip hop oriented outfits you could by. I came upon one advertisement for “The Bootyliciouz Club – SL’s Biggest Hip Hop and RnB Club” and I, as they say on the web, LOL’ed. After a short stay in SoulPhoniks, we left for Purchase Island.

As the day wound up, we paused for reflection on all of the sights we had traversed to. There had been many themes dealt with, the chief among them being race and sexuality on the web. I have to say that it was just a typical day in Second Life, but one must remember that such a day in Second Life is anything, but typical in real life. After spending a good deal of time in Second Life, I am continually amazed at the spaces, avatars, buildings, and items that I come across.