All Fun and Games?

Clearly, for the use of English 103, Second Life provides educational experiences. Business people also use it for meetings of groups that could not otherwise assemble. However, Second life has many other users out there other than just college English class students or business leaders. However, what goes on outside the college course or business company? What provokes people to sign up for an account?

I find it hard to believe that an adolescent's mother or father looking for ways to encourage education outside of the classroom would turn to Second Life. Many adults would see it as just a game. Even after being educated about it, would they allow their kid to be exposed to the potential dangers? Would they want their kids interacting with strangers in order to gain the educational aspects of Second Life?

If it were determined parents don't support kids' use of the program, then who are all of the other users and what are they doing there? It might lead you to believe most people are there for just the gaming aspect, enjoying the ability to be someone in the virtual world that they could never be in the real world. If this is true, would one consider it a game? Not many people consider life experiences a "game". What makes virtual life experiences any different? Just because Second Life has a different means of communicating and expressing identity, does it make the interaction between people not real?

This could lead to the claim that a virtual world is what you make of it. How you interact with the environment determines what kind of experiences you will obtain. The mindset when entering the game determines how real the experiences you have will feel and how they will affect you. If you go in looking for an escape from the real world your experience would be much different than if you were attempting gain education to enhance your real life.

Writing With Sources

When reading a paper have you ever heard any mysterious voices? It may surprise you that you don't have to believe in ghosts to hear or use these voices in writing. "Mysterious voices" are Hjortshoj's terminology for quotes that have no introduction to whom the quote belongs. These quotes are used to support the claims of the author. After reading about "mysterious voices" I realize I wrote all of my English papers in high school without properly giving credit to the author's quote I used. I had no idea that this was the wrong way to do things. I always thought that interrupting my work with an introduction to a quote made the writing seem disconnected. I always wanted the piece to flow well, but now I've seen in examples of introducing authors, the pieces flow very well with introductions included. It even makes the text sound more intellectual and organized.

At Richmond I know I'm going to have to change my ways and get rid of these "mysterious voices". I see now the importance of introducing who says each quote so that the words of the quote and my own personal voice stay separate. Without introducing the author of a quote it becomes difficult to distinguishing which ideas belong to the different authors. Also, not having "mysterious voices" insures that the reader realizes the fact or quote you are giving them originates from some reliable source. Knowing this information benefits the reader since most people don't take the time while reading to look at the works cited page and acknowledge where the information comes from.

I have only had to write one paper so far with quotes this semester at Richmond. I did end up introducing the quotes because they were from different characters in Plato's Symposium. If I had used another outside source I most likely would have used my bad habit of "whispering voices". I'm glad that I know about these voices now so I can avoid them when I'm writing future papers that include outside sources because I really am afraid of ghosts.

Scavenger Hunt: Part 1

Initially I made a stop at Epiphany Island on my Scavenger Hunt. My first impression was that the island was very serene and quiet. It seemed like a good place to go if your avatar was having a rough week and wanted to relax. I was surprised at how realistic the church looked. The stain glass windows inside appeared colorful and bright as the light shown through them. I noticed the signs that said there was actually worship there at certain times. This is something that would be interesting to attend to see the differences between a Second Life church service and one in real life. It’s definitely a place I need to revisit. As you can see in the picture I was at the church in an off-hour and was able to stand on the pulpit. I thought this was neat because it made the church feel like it was mine because I was the only one there.

The next place I visited was the Sistine Chapel. My first impression was that it was hard to find. There weren’t even that many buildings on the island and even after taking the virtual tour I was still lost. Eventually I found it! It was definitely worth looking for. I flew up into the air to view the ceiling. The attention to detail of the different figures amazed me. You can see some of these pictures in the background of my photograph. One activity that I did was to look at the Rafael Tapestries. There are lots of them and they only stay up for thirty seconds so it was fun to click the button that shows them and run to one to view it. Running would never be allowed in the real Sistine Chapel! I learned about the beauty of art on my visit. It seems unbelievable that one man, Michelangelo, could paint such a detailed ceiling. Even a recreation of this masterpiece moves the viewer and evokes a great sense of appreciation.

Another place I traveled on my Scavenger Hunt was Virtual Harlem Books. My first impression of the place was that it was very dark and almost mystical looking. The streets were empty and just the city lights lit the way. I had a hard time deciding how I felt about the area because I didn’t have any idea of what it was supposed to look like in real life and I wanted to make sure I observed enough before I jumped to any conclusions about the area. I had heard of Harlem before but knew nothing about it. After wandering around awhile I finally figured out that there was a map type object you wear and can move to different areas of the city. Once I picked this up I realized I could spend all day exploring Harlem. I even went to a library that had an art exhibit. I learned a lot about Harlem from my trip because I had known close to nothing before. It was clear how much music was a part of the culture so I went into a building and played the piano so I could have that experience. Seeing the combination of music and art made me realize how unique Harlem's culture is and provoked me to want to learn more about the city's history.

My Avatar: Alyxx Alecto

I have to admit I like having an avatar more than I expected I would. The more I get used to the ways to move and do simple things, the more fun it becomes. It doesn’t seem weird to me that a virtual form of myself exists because I’ve played the computer game The Sims a lot before. I realize Second Life involves interacting with real people, unlike the Sims where you play with just yourself and the computer, but it still seems very similar. Creating the people in the Sims was one of my favorite parts that I also enjoy in Second Life while creating my avatar.

When I created my Avatar I had to change the clothes right away so I would look more unique. I choose to wear jeans and a t-shirt because if I could wear anything in real life, that’s what I would wear. I also had to change my hair. I’ve always wanted to have really blonde hair so I thought I’d live that dream vicariously through my avatar.

I discovered another way to live vicariously when I picked my name. I love names with the letter “x” in them (Alyxx). At first I was just going to spell it normally, but that name was taken. Now I’m glad that the name has a weird spelling so it’s not so ordinary. I’m hoping this and the other changes I've made will allow my Avatar to live a not so ordinary life in Second Life.

Writing Experience

When I was a high school student I was a full believer in what Hjortshoj calls the "footstool essay" (107). I could crank out a five paragraph essay in no time and was under the impression that it was good writing. I was taught to "say what you are going to say, say it, and say you've said it" (110) just as Hjortshoj describes in The Transition to College Writing. This was a simple way to write a well organized essay even though it had little depth. I even somehow managed to write my longer term papers in this same manner but with much longer paragraphs and still receive a respectable grade.

I realize now that this is not a way I can continue to write if I intend on receiving good grades at The University of Richmond. Professors might get a good chuckle out of my standard five paragraph essay, but the goal of my writing is not to evoke laughter. I am going to need to add much more flow to my writing to prevent it from being too rigid and awkward. I also now know that adding a metaphor to my writing can help. I have not yet actually had to write an essay yet, but when I do I'm hoping to keep my bad habits hidden to the best of my ability. As Hjortshoj says, I need to make my essays more like "furniture" instead of just "footstools" (112).