Peer Edit

Alyson and I met with Dr. C after class last tuesday the 21st. After our talk with him we went to a few different places in SL and talked a little bit about what we have done so far with our papers. We continue to text on a daily basis about our paper and bibliography. She has been such a big help :] We are actually texting about the length of our paper as I am tying this, haha.

Research Paper Introduction

Second Life, as a visually rich environment full of a diverse range of people can give an opportunity for equally rich social interaction. Just like the physical world, only a different geography. Pixels are people too. Second Life is emerging as a powerful new medium for social interaction of all sorts. In what ways does social interaction within this virtual world differ from that in real life?

Peer Edit Partners

Alyson and I have met a few times and discussed our research papers and tried to help each other through the outline, we were unsure of how to do the outline so we just did the best we could. We met on the 12th inside of SL and discussed our topics and websites that we have found. On the 15th we met on SL again and did some research and went to a couple different places to talk to other avatars. We text almost daily as well to keep in contact and keep each other updated on our papers. It is a great help having Alyson to help me, and also remind me of things I forget! haha.

Research Paper on Outline

Topic: Social Interaction

Research Question: In what ways does social interaction in Second Life differ from that in real life?


Outline:

I. Introduction
a. Attention Grabber
b. Research Question

II. Body
a. Social interaction in Second Life can be affected by the appearance of their avatar.
i. In Second Life you have to opportunity to create your avatar as you wish.
ii. In real life people across may not interact because of physical appearance, as within Second Life this appearance can affect social interaction.
b. Most social interaction between avatars is thorough text chats.
i. When social interaction is not face-to-face, it can cause anxiety or stress on some individuals.
ii. Silent spaces in interaction are not as awkward for avatars.
c. Places where high levels of interaction occur (bars, beaches, clubs, etc.) are just a click away.
i. This is much easier than in real life, no transportation involved.
ii. Different places can be visited in one night.

III. Conclusion
a. Restate main ideas

Final Research Paper

For my final paper I have chosen the topic of Social Interaction.
- Does Second Life help for and shape our social interaction skills.

Peer Edit for Paper #2

Alyson and I have been meeting on SL to work on our papers together. We have been to numerous churches such as the ALM Cyberchurch and St Nicholas Church. Some of the different places we have went to have been pretty interesting and led us to some good information. The avatars on SL have been help for us as well, some are pretty easy to talk to and are willing to help you out. Alot of times Alyson and I just give each other helpful websites that we have discovered and also give each other advice on our paper. We keep in touch quite often and when we cannot get on SL due to class or work we text! lol.

Topic : Religion and Spirituality in Second Life


From Catholicism, Judaism, and even Buddhism, religious possibilities in Second Life are limitless.

Introduction Paragraph

In Second Life you can do anything you can do in real life, along with things you never would or could. The opportunites are endless and entertaiment is eveywhere around you. Use you imagination and let it take you anywhere you want to go. Movies, clubs, and concerts are just an appetizer of possibilities you could partake in, even within a virtual fantasy.

Exploration Blog :]

Upon arriving at Info Island, I noticed that two other classmates were there also. Immediately we got together and started our assignment. Alyson, Jared and I took a picture in front of the Info Island sign. It was a wide open are with alot to so, Alyson and I went on to the next location. We came to an area that was called the Alliance Virtual Library Foster Building. It was a place for general reference, digital collections, human sexuality, second life information and many other things. We met an Info Island greeter bot there and said hello. All around this location at Info Island were Christmas trees with decorations and pink bulbs, some snowmen and snow covered evergreen trees. This seemed a little werid to me because it was green everywhere else.


After the library we moved onto our next location, the Stonewall Learning Center. This is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender building. Here we took a picture infront of the informational sign. It was very bright and colorful, with a lot of signs and posters. There was an advertisement for "A Song for Bobby", a movie or book about a mother dealing with the suicide of her gay son. All around this location were purple weeping willow trees and a water fountain.


Next we went to Peace Park Heartsease Garden. This was a beautiful place filled with gorgeous flowers and butterflies flying all around. We took a picture in front of the Park sign. There were stepping stones as you walk in that each say some type of inspirational word such as hope, laugh and create. A chapel for Buddhism was there along with some other sort of chapel with beautiful stained glass windows. Two avatars were inside the park, one named Harlan Wemyss told us to "get lost" and the other said "looking good". When we tried to ask them why we should get lost they would not respond!
The final location we visited was the Online Census Records Union of Geneology Groups. It was a large building full of seating and computer for geneology and medical research. A large fireplace and big chairs made the atmosphere very cozy. We took a picture together out front of the building. There were advertisments and ads around the building for different search engines and facebook groups.


I had to find a librarian next, so Alyson approached this man inside of the Alliance Virtual Library and he took a picture with me. He gave us a link to teleport to a location to view events and activities. We teleported to this site, I found a couple events I was interested in. One was called Book Talk that will be on February 4, 2009 at 6:00 pm. Dewey The Small Town Library Cat who touched the world will be the special guest. The add said to expect cat avatars galore! Smooth Jazz Fridays at the Jazz Cat was the other event that I was interested in. It is every Friday from 5-6:30 pm.

I decided to teleport to the Chakryn Forest next, Alyson came with me. This forest was very dark and scary, I heard random heartbeats and birds screaching around me. Trees and boulders surrounded me in every direction. We came across a big waterfall and decided to take a picture, it was the only interesting we had seen at that point. By the waterfall was a frog tip jar that had money inside of it. After this we found some sort of white twirling ball in the sky with a statue floating below it, I have no idea what it was but it was interesting. While standing by this musicbox music started playing somewhere close. I never noticed any other avatars while I was at the Chakryn Forest.


Next we went to Pondex, which is some sort of sandbox for avatars to go build things with blocks and other objects. We were teleported onto a dock that had a boat at the end of it, we stook inside of this boat and took a picture. In the field we saw other avatars in a group doing some sort of activity. We approched them and asked them what they were doing. A couple of the avatars talked to us and explained that they were new to Second Life also. At this site, I had my first confrontation with another avatar! A lady said she that she "lost her dern skirt" over her microphone and we couldn't help but laugh at this. I offered friendship to one avatar we spoke to, his name was Branden Blaylock. The Pondex was a big open area with space to build and do activities.


The last place we teleported to was Themiskyra. This place was confusing to me, I had no idea what it was. I started in a house and somehow ended up underwater where I decided to take a picture with a mermaid and shark. It was beautiful at this underwater site, there were lights strung around, clams with pearls, and fish swimming all around me. I left this spot and walked across the beach back to the house I started at. Alyson was here and talking to another classmate, Kasey Mnemonic. We decided that we had done everything that we could do at this point and exchanged information before leaving Second Life.

Peer edit partner.

Tonight Alyson and I went to a night club called Millinium, it was quite funny. We didn't know how to dance, so the Host (Fury Falworth) told us to click on the red disco ball and pick and dance. We danced and listened to some good music. We went to another club, but there was no one there, but we were still dancing! So we went back to Millinium and figured out how to shut if off. When we went back they talked into stay a little while and dancing a 'couples dance'... yeah that was a little awkward! It was a lot of fun!

Topic and Thesis Statement

I have chosen the topic of Entertainment for my first paper. My thesis statement is: Movies, clubs, and concerts are just an appetizer of possibilities you could partake in, even within a virtual fantasy.

Personal Appearance Blog Post

When I created my avatar, I really had no idea where to begin. As I found different stores with free items of clothing, I just tried on multiple articles until I was satisfied with my look. This is fun for me because I love shopping and mixing up my wardrobe in real life also. My avatar doesn't resemble me, and wasn't meant to either. I do believe that I will change my appearance multiple times throughout the course. The style of clothing that I chose for my avatar is a style that I would choose for myself.