Please, Stop and Think

Please, hug your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother, your dog, your cat, whatever.

Please, be grateful for the people in your life who love you and that you love.

This last month I’ve been going through some hard things in life, whether sl or rl and when I look at the feeds lately all I can think is – is this all that we care about? This? (And no, I’m not belittling fashion blogging, that’s not the target of this.)

Many of my nearest and dearest sl and rl friends are going through hard things too and I’m too far away often to do more than to pray and cry and think and worry for them as well as myself.

No, I don’t think of SL(tm) as just a game, far from it and it makes me sad that some people do think of it that way. Yes, I’m well aware many people need to make some real money out of their creations in SL (I’d like to make some too some day.) Yet, this sniping back and forth and constant drama and put downs and criticism and on and on and on, is that really who we are as people? Is this really what reflects us? Is that really what we want people to look back on when they think of Second Life?

It’s bad enough that Second Life residents are mainly thought of as sex obsessed perverts by mainstream media because most people in the mainstream don’t seem to bother to look deeper than something sensational. It’s bad enough that many of us with the mind set that can understand and enjoy Second Life for the benefits and pleasures it can bring in terms of conversation, creativity, beauty, and so on feel as though we don’t fit into the world many times or can’t explain what makes it enjoyable or unique to those in our real world lives. Do we really have to snipe at and tear down and piss on each other as well? Do we really have to criticize others in order to feel better about ourselves? Do we really have to take the tone of superiority under the guise of “teaching” someone else?

All I know is that I am deeply sad today and that perhaps I am as guilty of all these things as anyone else. That’s why I say we and not you and not they. All I know is that I have loved Second Life for a long time and now I barely want to log in any more, or read the feeds or plurk, because it seems as if I’m hit with more drama and meanness and cruelty all the time from somebody or other. Even if it’s not happening to me, it’s happening to someone I know and care about. So, please, stop and think and appreciate loved ones both in sl and in rl. Please, stop and think about who we are behind our monitors and our avatars and when we turn the computer off and walk away.

Photo is edited. Picture in no way does the creations of these artists and all the many others justice. Wearing some of my favorite things.

Outfit: the Laughing Academy by Tabitha Ninetails, Ceri includes lovely hat and adorable shoes.
Necklace, the Laughing Academy by Tabitha Ninetails, Maire
Earrings – Miriel, Countess earrings in gold
Hair – Euphoria in Chestnut, Zero Style
Skin – Belle, Candy Kisses Sunkissed by Belleza