HOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS (Updated)

It had been built to promote the television network owned by General Electric, but last night when I went to take a screenshot of their New York City ice rink and their lit-up Christmas tree, he was already there, silently using NBC's site in Second Life for a purpose of his own.  I said hello several times, but the thin frail kid said nothing-- though if you clicked on his cardboard box, an automated message told you he was collecting Linden Dollar donations for a Spanish NGO to help the real world's poor.   (And if you're going to do that in an online world, why not do so in a virtual recreation of the world's richest city?)

Since I hadn't heard of the non-profit and he didn't respond at the time, I couldn't confirm right then that he was a genuine emissary of the group.  (But in retrospect, that appears to be the case.)  And eventually, my attention wandered over to a man with a pompadour and limited English skills at the edge of the skating rink, who had needs of his own.

I said hello and asked AcereroBen Rothlisberger what was up.

"Nothing," he declared.  "I cant' speak english."  I knew enough Spanish to get that he was from Mexico, but confusion set in after a few lines of chat.  So I brought out Yossarian Seattle's translator device, and gave it to him.   After a few false starts, he was able to get the device working, and something halfway comprehensible started coming across my screen:

AcereroBen Rothlisberger: ok ya me entiendes?
Translator v1.6: ok already you understand to me?

"Yes!" I wrote back. "Now I read it in English!"

AcereroBen Rothlisberger: Muy bien muchas gracias
Translator v1.6: Very well thank you very much

"I hope it helps you in Second Life."

AcereroBen Rothlisberger: me ayudaste muchisimo
Translator v1.6: you helped me very many

So from there, we were able to talk about many things, such as Oaxaca and the state's current civil unrest, and whether I should visit.

AcereroBen Rothlisberger: si, no te preocupes eso se solucionara
Translator v1.6: if, you do not worry that it solved

I told him I hoped so, and offered him friendship as I got ready to go.

AcereroBen Rothlisberger: muchas gracias por todo. cuidate y recibe un abrazo de Mexico
Translator v1.6: thank you very much by everything.  cuidate and receives a hug of Mexico

I offered him a hug from the USA, and that's right about when I took leave of my new acquaintance from Mexico, standing there next to the avatar of an unspeaking homeless child from a Spanish charity on the digital Manhattan sidewalk paid for by the National Broadcasting Corporation.

Update, 12/5, 12:05pm: Rik Riel and a gentleman purporting to represent the Spanish advertising agency that introduced the homeless child into Second Life sends along a link to this YouTube video:

Update, 12/5, 1:20PM:  I just contacted representatives with NBCi, sponsors of the Second Life site, asking them about the homeless avatar begging on their virtual property.  Will post any reponse they send here.

Comments

[reuben steiger]

Sounds a lot like the real NYC.

[rikomatic]

No, if it was the real NYC, Ham would have ignored the homeless guy (who would have been arrested for sitting there in the first place) and cursed out the clueless tourist for blocking his way.

[Terry Cloth]

I didn't realize there were so many Pittsburgh Steeler fans in Latin America!

[rikomatic]

Oh and here's a video the Mensajeros produced about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOz2x9cYUhQ

Did you hear back from the NBCi at all? It's awesome that you went further and made a contact with NBCi. Please share what happened afterwards.

[Hamlet Au]

NBCi never replied. :(

[jes]

it would have made NBCi so cool if it took the effort to engage on that topic. thanks for your reply.

[fitted leather jacket]

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