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Episode Transcript

Things to Do in Second Life With Your Clothes On
Episode 3: January 28, 2007

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Will Ross here.

Welcome to The Traveling Avatar’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Better Second Life. On this show we discuss tips and tricks for the game Second Life, created by Linden Labs. Today’s topic is keeping it clean: things to do in Second Life with your clothes on.

The Internet has brought people together across the globe, helped researchers collaborate to break ground in every scientific discipline, and given me a way to order a pizza without having to talk to a human being. Huzzah for science!

But as a society, lets be honest, that’s not ALL we’ve been using the Internet for. Now, I’m as guilty as the next guy of using the Internet for... nonscientific pursuits. (Much MUCH more guilty, This one time, Will downloaded a movie where...) All right! My point is that the more open ended a technology is, the sooner we as a society tend to make it show us naked ladies. So to go against the grain a little, this episode is all about things to do in Second Life with your clothes on! Second Life URLs will be provided on the website at www.QDnow.com.

If you’re into podcasting, and since you’re listening to one right now I can’t imagine that you’re not, then you’ve got to check out Podcast Island. Created by Gary “P-Dilly” Leland as the first dedicated podcasting community in Second Life, it’s packed with things to do alone, on a date, or with a group. And while they have great podcasting related events like live question and answer sessions with podiobook authors like JC Hutchins and Scott Sigler, and podcaster meetups every Tuedsay at the “Death before Decaf” coffee house, it’s not all microphones and iPods on Podcast Island. Wednesdays they have live DJs at “The Keeme’s” Zoo nightclub, and the island is packed with fun free things to do like go karts, a glass maze, jet skis, and even skydiving. Search for “Podcast Island” or jump on the QDnow website to grab the Second Life URL. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Podcast%20Island/122/51/26 [NOTE: You must have Second Life installed on your computer for this URL to work.]

Now, if you're looking for something a little more competitive, with the added bonus of taking my money? How about playing in some Texas Hold 'em poker tournaments? The Summit Poker room isn’t the biggest poker room in Second Life, but that’s one of the reasons I play there. The play is solid, there’s always a dealer around for crowd control, and even in the high-stakes games you’re only spending about five dollars to buy in. They run games from free-roll tournaments all the way up to the rare 10,000 Linden super-high stakes games, so there’s a level of play for the super rich and the cash-flow challenged alike. Just stop by and ask a dealer for a group invite, and they’ll let you know whenever a tournament is seating. Search for Summit Poker or grab the Second Life URL on the website.http://slurl.com/secondlife/Arrowtown/199/172/701

The term to know for today is “chat spamming.” Chat spamming is posting pointless or repeated comments in the general chat channel, and it’s really, really annoying. Trust me, there are very few things that need to be said four times in a row. If it doesn’t involve the phases “imminent meteor strike,” “Ebola breakout,” or “sending Will a free pizza,” once will be more than sufficient.

Today’s etiquette tip involves private property. Most people who play Second Life for a reasonable period of time will buy some land and build a home, if for no other reason then to have a safe place to change clothes. Consider these areas private unless you’ve been invited in. Wandering uninvited into someone’s home is likely to get ejected and banned, unless it’s my home. I’ll just freeze you, and then decorate you like a Christmas tree.

That’s it for this episode! Send your feedback or question to secondlife@quickanddirtytips.com; the comment line is 206-888-6975; that’s 206-888-MYSL. The Traveling Avatar’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a Better Second Life is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips network, so be sure to check out other great shows like Grammar Girl, Mr. Manners, and Money Girl at QuickAndDirtyTips.com.

Until next time, remember, just because you CAN make your avatar a dwarf in a pinstripe suit with a scythe…does that really mean you should?

The Traveling Avatar theme song is B-Roll by Kevin MacLeod.

Comments (13) for Things to Do in Second Life With Your Clothes On | Subscribe to Comment

not important Says:
4/2/2008 1:49:17 PM

i don't get what second life is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think it is a bunch of bull****

Portrait artist Says:
8/6/2007 9:07:54 AM

I really don’t get what Second Life is all about. Your description is more like an unordered list of its features. Is there any page or web site where I can all about it?

Clothing Says:
7/3/2007 9:02:45 AM

This is the first time I've ever heard of Second Life and I have to say that it really feels like one of those movie concepts, where the world is living in cyberspace. I'm still a little scared to try it out, the idea seems so weird to me. I mean, I'd rather climb a real mountain than a fake one... I don't know. I'm not saying it's wrong to be involved with it, only that I am sure there are those people out there who are nothing but addicted and maybe wasting their lives away?

I suppose you find people like that everywhere. Even facebook is addictive, but slightly more real... I don't know. Interesting, to say the least.

agencja eventowa Says:
6/19/2007 9:18:31 PM

Hello
Very interesting post. I'm going to visit your blog more often

Regards,
Tommy

Asorel Todriya Says:
3/29/2007 12:30:06 AM

Nice! I've been playing at Summit for a while, it's great. I'll definitely check out your podcast. See you around!

Will Ross Says:
2/7/2007 9:45:14 AM

HA! The old Box on the head. I recently had to write a short explanation on second life for some marketing relating to the podcast and explaining exactly what it is was probably the toughest part of the whole thing! I'll check out that blog, I've been considering setting up a sort of list of Second Life blogs and podcasts to add to the site.

Gator Brown Says:
2/6/2007 4:03:19 PM

On the subject of places to go - check out Natalia's Second Life Diary Blog at http://slnatalia.blogspot.com/ she is a very good clothes designer but everyday she goes to a new place (look on the right side of the blog). On the topic of what is the purpose or goal in SL. I tell newbies there is 3 levels all new AVs go through when they come to SL. 1)Appearance - basic customizing your AVs looks, 2). Buy and figuring out how to where clothes (stop wearing a box on your head). 3). Skins, Shapes and advance AV customizing (so you want to get a date looking like the undead?) From there it's off in a thousand directions. Thanks Will - Great Podcast. I'm making a notecard inworld with instructions for newbies and will have you as a good source of info.

Will Ross Says:
2/2/2007 3:50:07 AM

If you own the parcel of land someones on, in the (second?)radial menu you can chose eject or Freeze. If you chose freeze, they cant move :) Then you can put all kinds of stuff on them.

Mcguire Says:
2/2/2007 1:20:32 AM

Hi Will,

Nice podcast! :p
If you can really freeze 'em "and then decorate [them] like a Christmas tree[?]" please tell me how! It would be the best counter-griefer measure ever.

Will Ross Says:
2/1/2007 6:57:42 PM

Gator,

Thanks! I'm trying to keep it varied, between the etiquette, glossary and the tip. My goal is to make sure everyone gets something out of every episode. I plan to spotlight locations every month or so.

I'd like to note, however that QDNow has not NOR will ever be paid for a location spotlight. Those are PERSONAL endorsements. You'll actually see me at both those places (Though I think they just moved Summit Poker, I'll have to get a new SLurl.)

That's a good question and I'll see if I can figure out a good way to turn that into an episode. Honestly though, I'm not sure I have a good answer. Some people use it as a business, some people use it as a chatroom, some folks fight pirates, samurai and armies, and some use it to fill some hole in their life. Hrmmmm.

-TA

Gator Brown Says:
1/31/2007 8:01:30 PM

Will, Love your podcast. Like the bloppers at the end, nice touch. Like how you are mixing things up this time such as Place to check out, etiquette tips, etc. Future topic suggestion: I get the question from newbies at least once a week "What is the goal - What are the levels or what is the purpose?"

Will Ross Says:
1/30/2007 3:56:20 AM

Gabi,

I've found that 9 times out of 10, good behavior is infectious. There is no better way to teach than to teach by example. Most newbies are a little overwhelmed and nervous, so I've found the statement "Hey, you might want to avoid such and such, but don't worry, EVERYONE does that when they are new!"

One of the reasons I started this show is because I wanted to help people to adjust to their surroundings, without making them feel like they arn't one of "cool kids." If you meet someone who's having issues, feel free to give them the link. I'll set them straight for ya!

-TA

Gabrielle Riel Says:
1/30/2007 1:33:08 AM

Hey Will -
I just found your show on iTunes - love it!!! Great information delivered in a fun, fun way. Now, if there were only a way for me to inject this information into every newbie I meet...

Cheers!
Gabi