Comments on Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second LifeTypePad2017-11-22T06:30:08ZSLHamlethttps://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2017/11/leslie-jamison-second-life-article-atlantic-monthly-1/comments/atom.xml/Han Held commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01b7c937f72c970b2017-11-28T05:25:14Z2017-11-28T05:25:14ZHan Heldhttp://avatarfest.netExploring different roles, eras, genders or imaginary creatures (furries) isn't necessarily escapist. You said it yourself; it's exploratory. Escape would...<p>Exploring different roles, eras, genders or imaginary creatures (furries) isn't necessarily escapist. You said it yourself; it's exploratory. </p>
<p>Escape would be to do that exploration at the expense of real world needs and obligations. </p>
<p>People paint this exploration as escapism in order as a way to discredit it or make it seem like something one should be ashamed of. But as long as your bills are paid and maintaining a healthy relationship with your friends and family I think it's a mistake to buy into language that condemns what is actually a beneficial (mentally and emotionally recharching) activity. </p>Montecore Babcock commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01bb09daf7a0970d2017-11-27T23:08:46Z2017-11-27T23:08:46ZMontecore BabcockIn my opinion, yes there is an escapist nature of SL, and sets it apart from the RL. Living a...<p>In my opinion, yes there is an escapist nature of SL, and sets it apart from the RL. Living a certain sexual life or gender is one. Playing a wolf or furry is another. Flying, when you can't in RL. Safely exploring through role play. I've been in SL 10 years. There's parts of me that I live in both worlds, parts of me that can only be done in SL. Feelings are the one thing that can transcend both. </p>Wagner J Au commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01b8d2c22e7d970c2017-11-27T22:00:05Z2017-11-27T22:00:05ZWagner J Auhttp://nwn.blogs.com"You just showed much more of what she said? Why didn’t you give equal print to what he said ?"...<p>"You just showed much more of what she said? Why didn’t you give equal print to what he said ?"</p>
<p>Length more than anything else! But I encourage everyone to read all his comments which is why I linked to them up top.</p>Fred commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01bb09da3b8a970d2017-11-25T09:01:03Z2017-11-25T09:01:03ZFredinteresting read! There are so many angles and viewpoints, good stuff (and that includes the comments above too)<p>interesting read! There are so many angles and viewpoints, good stuff (and that includes the comments above too)</p>Iggy 1.0 commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01bb09da2cc7970d2017-11-25T01:20:10Z2017-11-25T01:20:10ZIggy 1.0Whatever one thinks of Leslie's perspective, I was still struck by the respect she gave to those she interviewed. Second,...<p>Whatever one thinks of Leslie's perspective, I was still struck by the respect she gave to those she interviewed. Second, she got Philip Rosedale where he is still stuck: thinking that the real world will become a quaint and outdated place (though in his interview for the article he did exempt family from that idea).</p>
<p>That notion of replacement is the most pernicious idea about VR and VWs, and to me the reason they will never gain mass adoption. That does not mean they cannot be amazing spaces for creativity, empowerment, and play. But they will never equal quotidian and messy physical reality, at least in my decades left on the planet. Good.</p>curious commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01b7c936be1d970b2017-11-23T15:34:57Z2017-11-23T15:34:57ZcuriousThe roles these people are playing are quite boring and tedious wouldn't you say Leslie?<p>The roles these people are playing are quite boring and tedious wouldn't you say Leslie?</p>Chic Aeon commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01bb09d9b4e6970d2017-11-23T03:16:48Z2017-11-23T03:16:48ZChic Aeonhttp://chicatphilsplace.blogspot.com/2017/04/spring-day.htmlWell if a bunch of Leslie's text was missing it is now there. I know not as just seeing this...<p>Well if a bunch of Leslie's text was missing it is now there. I know not as just seeing this in the evening. </p>
<p>I have to say that I didn't read her article. I have had lots of experience with magazines and writers of SL including someone from the New York Times that interviewed me OH so long ago. That article (and I was not a part of it since I didn't want to give my real life name and address) was so very off base and seemed written by a college kid on a summer job -- maybe that was true. </p>
<p>Then there was the graduate student that wanted me to make a film for her where someone in SL ran her fingers across a dusty desk and left a fingerprint track -- and didn't understand why we couldn't film sex on a moderate sim. The come in for a day and think they know the world. </p>
<p>The short story is that for the folks that have been here a decade or more (or even less) SL is just as much a part of the "real" world as doing your dishes and visiting with friends over coffee. Unfortunately reporters that are assigned articles on Second Life rarely (if ever) "get it". They may try and I give them credit for that. But -----</p>
<p>It should be noted that I wrote for national magazines in the past, so I can see this from both sides and I defended the title of the article (wrongly or not) as likely not being HER title at all. Editors do what they want with your text. It is a rare writer who has a contract that lets them have the final say. </p>irihapeti commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01bb09d9ac63970d2017-11-22T23:50:20Z2017-11-22T23:50:20Zirihapeti".. perhaps, I was representing an experience of SL more akin to the 200,000 people who show up each month...<p>".. perhaps, I was representing an experience of SL more akin to the 200,000 people who show up each month and leave, rather than those who stay .."</p>
<p>yeah this</p>
<p>this is a pretty important point. As a long time player I do find it odd sometimes when the long time are a bit dismissive of the stories of the leavers. Like somehow in leaving, the leavers have some personal failings or something</p>
<p>as Leslie also mentions the article is also highly subjective from a particular leaver's pov. Altogether I thought it was a good article. For sure there is quite a bit in the article that I don't see as relevant to my own understanding/experience of SL. But that's the point really. Its not my story that's being told here</p>
<p>subjectiveness is a good thing in storytelling. Context also</p>Gloria Wyatt Aquaglo commented on 'Leslie Jamison Responds to Virtual World Academic Tom Boellstorff's Criticisms of Her Atlantic Monthly Feature on Second Life'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01b7c9368f6c970b2017-11-22T22:00:54Z2017-11-22T22:00:54ZGloria Wyatt AquagloYou just showed much more of what she said? Why didn’t you give equal print to what he said ?<p>You just showed much more of what she said? Why didn’t you give equal print to what he said ? </p>