Despite puppets telling us that the internet is for porn and despite my recent blogs, I can state with utter conviction that there IS more to do in SL than sex.
The other day a friend and I went to see Glyph Graves’ exhibit at the Crossworlds Gallery. (Thanks Chestnut for your writeup on this in your blog!) Z and I had a great time. Not only did we spend time viewing Graves’ work, but we went to other floors in the multi-level gallery and viewed work by other artists. I had to run off to another engagement but left Z repeating “I have to have that, Oh – I really like THAT”. LOL. So, tah, dearies! A bit of culture! So SL is for ART!
Later that day I logged in to say hi and A was just about to head off sky-diving.
Some FL info here. I have a very very strong fear of falling. I had a little mishap as a toddler and although I’ve managed to shake the recurrent nightmares of the ground disappearing beneath my feet and me falling and falling and falling, I still really do not like the sensation. I don’t like roller coasters – if forced onto one I close my eyes and do math problems in my head the whole ride!!! I don’t like high, arching bridges where you can’t see the other side of the bridge til you are at the very top. I don’t like jumping off the 5 meter board into the pool – I had waaaaaay too much time to know that I was falling. You get my point. I do NOT like falling.So when A said “Ahuva, come sky-diving with me!” I immediately said “No!”
Now I have flown in SL. That doesn’t bother me. I rode in a sky chair and other sky vehicles in SL, no problem. (I can do that in RL, too.) But deliberately choose to fall? I don’t think so!! But then I said – it’s SL. I can’t get hurt. So I said “What the heck, okay, I’ll come.” And immediately felt my stomach turn over. We went to the airport, got a parachute and went out on the platform. A went over all the rules carefully. He explained that my chute would open almost immediately as it was programmed to open at 100m and we were only at 111m. And then he jumped. I walked to the edge and looked down. Yep – definitely DOWN. I backed up, readied my camera, took a breath and ran off the edge. I had a sharp pain in my chest, my stomach rolled over and for one brief moment I could not breath. And then my chute deployed and i was floating, not falling. And the world steadied and I took pictures and all too soon – I landed. And I realized that I felt great, that it had been fun, that floating was wonderful (flying is floating, not falling!) and that I wanted to do it again! So A and I jumped a few more times, from a higher height. It was fun and enjoyable. And I thought – I could practice running off this platform. Maybe if I practice running off platforms in SL, I will be able to go off the 5m diving board again. Maybe SL could be used for people with phobias and fears and other behavioral problems. So SL is for THERAPY!
Great post! Your photos also illustrate that SL is about Friendship! so hugs to you my friend!
Woot! What fun. I love the fear-of-falling story. All sorts of interesting potential for growth and healing and experimenting and all…
Great post! I’m glad you liked skydiving Ahuva. A very dear friend introduced me to it ages ago and I love it.
Hmm, I should set up the dive chair on Angel Square…..
Congratulations, that’s a tough fear to overcome! Sounds like you’re ready for it in RL . . . http://www.uspa.org/BecomeaSkydiver/tabid/54/Default.aspx 😉
The mind is something we take for granted. We never think about what it gives to us. All we know is that, it just does. Being a resident in SL for some time, I have wondered how much of a difference between Real Life experiences and Second Life experiences the mind really can seperate?
I mean, in our minds do we not get the same feeling from sky diving, beautiful art, or even sex? Yes, the physical sensation is removed. But close your eyes (most do when skydiving anyway) and absorb what your mind is releasing. The feelings are very similar.
It scares me to think of the future. I mean, will this replace the everyday things we take for granted? Smelling a flower, petting your dog, or being intimate with a person you love. You just never know! This is the first generation to actually delve into the unknown virtual world and reside there. I guess only time will tell!
In the words of Aldous Huxley,”It’s a Brave new world” and we are living in it~