During announcements after practice tonight a few people spoke about turning down the recent friction in the squad. As I’ve been feeding my First Life habit recently, I’m not really informed about this friction. Of course, that doesn’t stop me from having thoughts about it.
I think most Second Life Residents come to SL with good intentions. Certainly all cheerleaders do. We join to perform, to share, to care, to create community, to look our best, to dance spectacularly while wearing great uniforms.
But we also bring the baggage, the frustrations, and the insecurities of First Life with us. Whether you’re in the “SL = FL, there is no difference” camp, or in the “what happens in SL stays in SL” camp, either way, we can’t help but bring the stresses and burdens of FL into SL with us. Sometimes we misunderstand people. Sometimes our desire for excellence and belonging leads us to seek power and toes get squished.
When I’m feeling frustrated or lost, I talk to the most sublime cheerleader I know, CheerAdmin.
The early bird gets the worm.
— Aero
True, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
— CheerAdmin
If I’m feeling frustrated or urgent, CheerAdmin always encourages me to slow down. To be patient. To try to be more selfless. Does it really matter? Can’t you just let the river flow where it will?
Everyone’s favorite Vulcan can also be helpful sometimes,
I am a Vulcan, I have no ego to bruise.
— Mr. Spock
He’s wise, of course. The thing is, none of us are Vulcans. We do have egos and they bruise easily. If you read a newspaper you’ll know that there are plenty of First Life fleshvatars with thin skin who act out when their egos get bruised.
And we Second Life avatars are, on average, more introverted than those folks. Our skin can be pretty thin. It’s easy to make it about “me,” even if it isn’t. And, to be fair, SLCS has been around forever and is in some ways dominated by seniors. Whether the RoH is the benevolent invisible hand, or the Illuminati, might be up to your world view. But it’s fair to say that as new and mid-career cheerleaders, we’ve got plenty of opportunity to feel slighted and unwanted.
I don’t have a master solution for it all. But I do know that CheerAdmin and Mr. Spock are more wise than me. If I can follow, even a little, on the selfless paths they’ve walked, I believe I can experience less friction and more joy in being a part of SLCS.
Cheerleader, Roller Derby girl, Barista, and Host. I’ve seen so much love, beauty, and desire in SL. I’m touched by the tiny acts of kindness that surround us every day.
