You know which cloud I am talking about? The one that shows up before your avatar has rezzed. The glowing mass that floats and soon enough (providing that asset servers haven't gone to hell again) will get its shape and textures and become a nice looking avatar.

But before that, it can be anything. It can turn out to be anything at all. Millions of possibilities that glow right in front of your eyes. Why am I telling you this? (more…)

We were talking yesterday about reasons for pseudonymity that are fun, that are connected to exploring and re-creating yourself, living like a celebrity and having a fully developed nickname. But, there is another kind. One that is connected to contemporary society and the Internet. One that we don't like that much.

(more…)

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. (more…)

Two of them, on different continents, on the same sim, in poseballs and IM windows… So anonymous to each other, yet being so close and sharing so much. Because sex, even in this funny and weird form called cybersex, is very close and very personal thing two people can do. Let's suppose that this is not their first and surely not the last night. And let's suppose that they are not really interested in their human's data. It is just two of them, avatars.

(more…)

You know the story. You come to the second life, make some kind of avatar, make your first steps in the new world. And, with a bit of luck, you sense all the dangers of being present in the on-line world. Mama, not to mention all the internet advisors, told you how dangerous it can be talking to strangers. And those avatars around you, they are strangers par excellence. Not just ordinary strangers on the streets, in the bars. These are even more strange. And maybe, even more dangerous. (more…)