tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post4461588737394099414..comments2024-03-27T02:13:58.088-07:00Comments on Integral Options Cafe: Buddhist Geeks - Episode 155: The Dharma of Second Lifewilliam harrymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-73225516915693200772010-04-01T08:42:24.489-07:002010-04-01T08:42:24.489-07:00I think so long as people are looking at Second Li...I think so long as people are looking at Second Life as a "game" it will continue to be somewhat off-putting. For educational and religious organizations though (such as our own Five Mountain), what we're finding is that it's not so much a game, as it is a platform - if that makes any sense.<br /><br />It's a platform for communication at a distance, and it allows not only for a significantly more personal connection than typical web forum or chat, but adds a visual component to the voice-based interaction. For example, if I'm teaching a class on the Lotus Sutra and I want to discuss the magnificent tower that "rises up from the ground" - sure, I *could* describe it... or, I could simply create it.<br /><br />Want to teach a class on the life of the Buddha? Why not have that class "visit" the locations of various significant events?<br /><br />Yes, it *can* be a game, and it is for many - but for us, and other non-profit, or religious, or educational institutions around the world, Second Life has become an amazing platform for broad communication that can't really be matched by anything else.<br /><br />You should give it a try! :-)<br /><br />Rev. Jiun Foster, SDPSJiun Fosterhttp://five-mountain.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-15199408622663381262010-01-21T06:43:00.665-07:002010-01-21T06:43:00.665-07:00I haven't gone "in world" for any le...I haven't gone "in world" for any length of time in quite a while, well over a year, but I started playing around with Second Life way back when because there was a budding integral community there and it was the closest thing I could find to "face-to-face" interaction with other integral practitioners. It's no replacement for "meatspace", but it does have a different quality than text chat, or even voice chat, and other forms of social networking, so it's something to experience at least once. I think it will need to make more technological progress (towards more realism, such as better reproduction/imitation of body language by the avatars) before I do much with it again, though.<br /><br />Just downloaded the podcast and will give it a listen later. Thanks, Bill!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10247442591196124669noreply@blogger.com