Second Life - OK, what am I missing? (Page 3)

Honestly, it wasn't the fact that you mentioned people are lonely.

It was the implication of only lonely people seek solace in online communities, and the laughing at a site that makes fun of users of a specific online community, while posting those parts that you found particularly humorous.

Does that clear up the confusion some? 

I dunno Chris, but when a local writer friend of mine said that she was writing a book on "How to be Real Estate Tycoon in Second Life" I had to ask many questions like yours...what are they actually selling?...why do people buy it?...how do they use it?...and ultimately, what's the point? 

She could only answer the first three questions. 

The whole virtual community thing was lost on me, but I guess I could try to make a BT analogy that others here might understand: 

Imagine we paid Rob and all the developers here to build new tools for our forums and blogs, more graphics to show who we are and what we like to do.  More money bought bigger avatars, better photo resolution, or simply cooler training blog settings.  There'd be no membership settings per se, but you could BLING UP your blog till your hearts content, maybe see others copy you or want to get a blog next to yours or linked to yours.  You'd build up your own little BT haven.  You'd like it and think it worth the $.   Maybe you'd spend more hours and days here?  Maybe you wouldn't...

Seems an odd kind of investment but time spent on any hobby looks that way to others who don't share the hobby.  

I was going to say the exact same thing...thank you for saving me the time.

I'm not at all confused. I'm quite clear. I used the word "lonely" and then a post following used the word "loser." Then someone associated being well adjusted with an absence of loneliness. There's nothing confusing there. Other people view loneliness negatively. That's pretty clear.

I have a POV. You don't have to like it. And I don't have to be politically correct and say "Oh yeah, spending hours and hours online having simulated sex with someone pretending to be a prostitutue is groovy." Nor do I need to explain why I found a parody site funny.

And why do you care what I think? I certainly don't get my panties in a bunch over what you think about my POV - but then I don't attach the same emotions to online discussions that some of you do.

I'll *snerk* too.

Judging? what judging?  Unless I count the 10 on that one.

AHA!!  Thank you Sunny, now I understand, having been to spokes' blog and all

I thought it would be helpful to explain mine (and some others') point of view, and understanding of the the progression of the conversation.

You don't have to like my view, either.  You don't even have to acknowledge it.

Anytime a negative comment is made about someones life (or an aspect of their life) it is bound to rile some feathers.  I, can say for myself, I took it as a personal attack.  It wasn't the lonley comments, but the implied negative comments.  The subsequent posts where to try to share my point of view, to show that people who connect on line are not lonley (no negative connotation associated) or in any way "sad".  And that healthy relationships can be made on line.  But I see now, that its useless for me to continue along these lines of debate.  So I am going to bow out of the conversation now. 

Chris, I agree...Sunny explained it very well...Thank you.

I guess I still can't make that philosophical leap.  But I am glad that others can and enjoy it.  $$ makes the world go round

hmmm, just thinking out loud, but I wonder if there are any lawyers in SL?  Maybe I can hang a shingle up there and sell some virtual advice?

It seems to me that you are intentionally personalizing this topic. That is your choice but by doing so you are making very wrong assumptions. My words are not about YOUR life.

If someone were to say "Swimmers make the weakest triathletes" (I'm a swimmer by the way), I wouldn't be offended. I wouldn't take it as a personal attack - it's just that person's opinion and it has no bearing on me or my LIFE.  I wouldn't attach emotion to that person's POV. I don't think it's constructive or balanced for me to do so.  But that seems to be what you are doing here - not just attaching an emotion to my POV, but it seems like you are attaching or presuming a motive/intent/feeling to me. And that's not right or fair or my responsibility.

I hope I didn't misconstrue or misunderstand what your saying; that's not my intention. There are others in the thread who have no interest in actually understanding - they're just little potshotters - but it seems to me that you are actually trying to be understood and willing to try to understand and it is with this assumption that I am replying to you.

Oh, and I do have my views on making connections online and how relationships are best developed - but I don't want to go off on another tangent and that is for another day or perhaps PM.

Y'all are acting like this here internets thing is gonna catch on or something....you know sorta like the CB radio 

Ummmm no, I really wouldn't care what anyone had to say about swimmers. That's not about me - that's about them.

I like to engage in discussions about ideas - I like to deconstruct ideas. That's how I validate them for myself. So, if someone were to present a logical argument where they could demonstrate that swimming isn't a valid sport, I'd consider the merits. In fact, someone once posted a link to an external blog where the guy was mocking triathlons/triathletes. He said it wasn't a sport - it was a stunt. It was a hilarious article, very humorous, and he made some valid points. It didn't affect my sense of self, though. Maybe that's the key for me - I have a strong sense of self so the opinions of others don't threaten me (no inferences there - it's just how I tick).

So, I don't know that we've resolved anything other than I'm asking you not to assume I am attacking you just because I have an opinion you don't like. My opinion is not about you, personally, even though you FEEL that it is.

Oh, and if you want to discuss further, may I suggest PM? I think the thread has passed the 'tedious' mark.