The meaning of (Second) life:
This post previously appeared on Moonletters.com
I recently had a bit of time away from SL, ok so it was only 4 whole days, but in SL terms that’s like, forever! I got to thinking about WHY I was in this addictive and wondrous existence; I know a few people who have gone on a real life vacation and despite returning they have failed to log in to the grid, did I intend to do the same? No! I love SL and joined because I wanted more than the limited chat room experience and I’d heard and seen some pretty cool things about it.
But what keeps each of us here, returning again and again to a world where we can be anything and anyone we want?
For me, it’s about three things: Friends, Work and Music: 
I am fortunate, I have a lot of lovely friends, including a few who have made it thro’ to my real-life ‘List’, these people keep me coming back and are as important as those I see in the flesh.
There is of course a certain lady that I can’t get enough of, who makes my in-world experience so much brighter – yes Miss Paypabak Writer, I’m talking about you!!!
I met Pay thro’ Moonletters while partying at AAi (An alternative indie club – see my write-up); working for the website and the club respectively, is a lot fun but something I take very seriously, I can easily spend hours trailing the plains sussing places out or discussing club issues – a labour of love I guess you could call it.
Talking of clubs, it’s also the music that brings me back, my taste is exponential – the amount of DJ’s and clubs that play all genres is one of the beauties of Second Life.
(That’s me below, contemplating, aww my old haircut!)
I asked some friends what brought them to SL and what they like the most about it:
Cisa Batista:
To be honest I refused this experience for a long time. Last November internet arrived at my home finally so I decided to join and see why a lot of people were talking about it. And here I am, glad ‘cause I’ve joined it!
What do you like most about it?
Hanging out with my friends, DJing (At AAi and Ooh La La), listening to music and shopping.
Liela Core:
Why did you join SL?
Just a friend talked to me about it and as I’m curious I wanted to test it.
What do you like most about it?
Exploring, shopping, sharing my time with my partner, DJing to some clubs (I have heard Liela play at AAi – her sets are always rockin’!)
Cosmic Beres:
I joined SL after playing another game called Guild Wars, most of the people I played with in GW were here already, it took some adjusting as it’s not really a game in SL unlike GW, after about 8 months I drifted away from SL. 3 months later I started getting back in to it, whilst I could be good at building (I programme for cnc machines at work) and possibly some basic scripting I decided DJ’ing (At the Pig and Whistle) might be more fun in the short term at least so that is what I attempt now.
What do I like most about it, well the usual I guess, it’s fun to come in here listen to a DJ and join in the chat have a laugh take the pee and as long as no one gets offended it’s all good, disruptive or offensive behaviour annoys me most, fortunately haven’t seen much of it so SL seems to police itself fairly well, then again I may just not go to the right places:)
Maybe I look too deeply into things, but whatever our reasons behind signing up, SL can be a great escape from the pressures or monotony of real life, it’s what you make it and if we’re fortunate the two can merge to create something quite unique.
