Second Life can be a peaceful and informative place.

After I downloaded the software, I looked up my location with information I received from my welcome e-mail. I visited http://secondlife.com/showcase/ to begin. I wasn’t sure how Second Life would run for me because my laptop’s processor was labeled as slow. Things did not seem too bad though.


My first experience was the soft and peaceful sound of bells; perhaps they were wind chimes. Either way, it was a lovely sound. I visited the American Cancer Society’s island in Nonprofit Commons. I had to do a search to find it because it wasn’t on the pick list. I entered the American Cancer Society’s Island on a pathway which was lined with brightly lit lanterns. I had read a while back about lanterns that could be lit by participants in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” which is Second Life’s version (four years running) of the real life Relay for Life that began in 1985 to provide awareness and raise money for the cause.


The island was so quiet and peaceful. I began to walk around. My movements were not smooth and I didn’t feel like I was walking normally but moving about erratically as if I was being chased. This made me feel a bit foolish. My strange movement did not worry me though, I didn’t see anyone around. As a matter of fact, I didn’t see ANYONE around for a long time.


At first, I walked along a walkway and passed several empty stages and what appeared to be meeting rooms. There was a certain tropical feel to the island. There was a lot of water, a great deal of green and everything appeared to be open to the elements. This only added to the peacefulness and serenity of the island. I came upon a sign for the Relay for Life looking for volunteers. I was “offered” some gifts but couldn’t figure out how to grab or take them. (I will have to go back.)


I walked some more and came upon a Book of Hope. I was unable to read thorough it though, only the cover. As a matter of fact, all the signs and pictures I saw were blurry until I actually clicked on some of them. Wait! There is someone coming…but she passed me right by. She did not slow down long enough for me to catch her name or try and interact. How strange, only two of us on the island, I thought she would say hello.


I came upon an elevator which told me I was on the 5th floor; I used the elevator to go to the 4th floor which featured breast cancer information. There was a larger than life-size book with facts about breast cancer; it was supported by graphs. I was able to walk around the front of the book to see that facts were from the previous year. There were a few offices with brightly colored furnishings but nobody was in them. As I returned to the elevator, I was able to pick up an information pamphlet.


I would say that my first time experience in Second Life was nice. I admit that I was nervous that I might encounter a flood of avatars and feel overwhelmed, but I only saw one and she did not talk to me. I was able to move about without incident and collect my information. I came upon one location where ACS would e-mail additional information to me. The island was full of places where you could get information about cancer and also, places where you could donate.


It was a peaceful place, almost eerie. Whenever I was near water, I could hear the sound of a running brook. If nothing else, the island was calming. I wondered if it was a bustling place when the Relay for Life was in full swing. As I moved to depart I passed my free gift again. I was still unable to get it BUT, I was able to shrug and say, “I dunno.” I was only able to walk a little further before Second Life crashed. Even that, was quiet.


The island was interesting enough for me to want to go back. I still have some things to learn like how to walk without bumping into walls or walking off pathways (and what is this jumping thing?) Perhaps I will learn to like it. I would say that Second Life was at the very least, compelling. The ACS's island was a nice place to start. I think it is also a good place to get information.