Pseudonymity was not invented with second life. Nor even with Web and Internet. We all know that there was Norma Jeane Mortenson behind Marylyn Monroe and Samuel Clemens behind Mark Twain. It's not a practice reserved for the immortals. Most of us have a different name used by family or close friends. It's the same person, but personalities differ. We're simply not the same for different people and environments. Read more »

Long ago, I tried to understand the tricky craft of setting prices in second life. I quit even before I started. It is a weird game. Market is too big, with too many players, with too many motives for what they do. But it was easy for me to quit. I don't make my second living by my vendors. But for somebody that actually has a shop in second life, setting prices is a huge puzzle. Read more »

I thought I've finished with all the censorship, restrictions and nipples. Honestly, I am sick of thinking and writing about it all. But, I have to do this one. Because, every time we speak about those, Lindens come out as bad guys. Which is not fair. I guess that, at least some times, they sit and cannot believe how open-minded they are. Read more »

No, it isn't. I know that so many residents feels so hyped with it to declare the Second Life™ the next big thing and the next step that will replace the web as we know it. I can agree that virtual environments are possibly the next big thing. There is a lot to be discovered about them. There is a lot for us to learn, lot of things to do. Second life does change our feel of the Internet and communication. But it is not going to become a replacement.

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I always thought it's not necessary to go in details and explain what avatar is, what is the origin and the meaning of the word. People are using avatars not only in virtual worlds, they were introduced in web forums more than a decade ago. But, during Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing about virtual worlds, one of the representatives said:

It [avatar] is either a Hindy or Buddhist name for God, I don't know if you knew that, which always gives me some concern about virtual realities and how they are nice but they do portray things that aren't real and I don't think anybody percieve us as God.

Well, it might be better to sort some things out now. Read more »