Eighth Exercise: Acquiring and Wearing Formal Attire
If you are a SL resident, you will easily notice how people put a
great amount of effort into dressing up their avatars (whether it’s formal or
not). Appearance is important in SL just like in the physical world. It is the
only way to make differentiate your avatar from the other avatars. In the
beginning, we all chose avatars from several of them that are provided from SL.
As you explore the inworld, you are more likely to have the desire to change
the appearance of your avatar. I think this is one of the more enjoyable
processes of being in SL. Whenever I visit clothing stores, I see at least ten
other avatars shopping too. The avatars could be your ideal self, anything you
wish to be, and creating them can bring so much joy because you are able to
witness how your avatar changes. You do not get as much control over your
weight, hair length, eye color, and skin color in real life as much as you
would like to, but with your avatar you get instant results and the
possibilities are limitless.
Many places require formal or semi-formal attire, however those
places do not specify how formal you need to be. There were a couple of times
when I felt awkward and embarrassed for not dressing formally. For example,
when I tried to attend a jazz-dancing event, the description says semi-formal,
but when I actually went to the place and looked at how people dress their
avatar, I felt uncomfortable. Most female avatars wore dresses like Queen
Elizabeth during 1500's and Ancient Egyptian looking dresses. Most male avatars
wore tuxedo.
1. Select and go to place to find the required apparel. - I went to
Free Dove to see if they have formal outfit. The place offers free clothes,
AOs, shoes, and skins so if you never heard this place yet, I would recommend
to everybody (especially newbies) to check it out! I already had my hair, AO,
and clothes ready so I just grabbed some heels.
2. SLURL for Free Dove (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gallii/116/49/33)
3. I listed other recommended clothing places in my previous report.
4. Most of the free stuff comes in boxes. I personally do not like
to change my appearance in places that are crowded with other avatars and other
free elements. Free Dove has boxes everywhere in the store and
4. After I purchased the outfits, I went back to LIS student union to
add all the elements. The elements were packaged in boxes, which I needed to
drag the box from my inventory to make a copy and add to my appearance. The
problem I had was that the area I was in did not let me open the box. I assume
that LIS wants to avoid rettering so I needed to teleport to somewhere else to
add the elements to appearance.
5. I have not changed my appearance for a while and I forgot the process
so I accidentally took off all of the elements I already had (AO, hair,
clothes, etc) and I had to search through my inventory to find what I was
wearing (because I just needed to wear heels to complete the formal
appearance). Finding the elements in my inventory was harder than adding all
the elements. I did a major cleaning of my inventory.
6. I did not know there is a way of saving your completed appearance! If
I knew this earlier I did not need to search my entire inventory to look for
the elements that I already had.
7. I already had hair, under ware, pants that I created, tops I bought,
shoes I got for free. I decided to add bald cap and women like figure AO. By
adding these two elements, my avatar became to look more human like. I am still
searching AO for face or facial expression. I was surprised to see how small
piece of elements are combined to create one piece of clothing or shoes. I did
not like the design of my heels and was able to remove them and made it simpler,
the way I like my outfits in real life to be. The users have so much control in
second life. The things you desire and challenge, which seems difficult to make
it happen in real life, you are able to try them without embarrassing your
self.
8. One of my ways of keeping the inventory neat is delete things that I
do not need immediately after receiving them. When I was a newbie I got excited
with receiving or collecting free gifts that many places offer and one day when
I looked through my inventory it was just becoming a mess. I depend on the
folder systems that keep my inventory. When I search for something I type in
the key words in the top of inventory so I can narrow down to what I am looking
for.
In Second Life, everything I do ties to what I desire and imagine in my
brain. Because I will not be able to express my emotions physically I sit in
front of the computer and input what I want to see and experience. And through
my avatar, I receive the information that I wish to envision. When I pet a dog
in real life, I receive an immediate response of him moving his tails that lets
me know that he is happy. But, in SL, I receive such emotions from my avatar.
So what I am trying to say here is that there are so many layers to accomplish
in order to feel something. These extra steps sometimes bring me stress, yet
when I accomplish something (e.g. dressing my avatar the way I pictured in my
head) brings twice more good feelings than I would feel in real life. I watch how my avatar responds to the
elements I add (e.g. I add hair to my avatar), then I see what I just added is
not fitting her. Such process is not stressful to her, but stressful to me. I
have to communicate with my avatar without having her telling me what is wrong verbally;
it is weird to think that I am controlling someone who lives in different
world.
A. Before you begin the tasks
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give myself 7.5 because changing the appearance of the avatar is
something I enjoy doing it. It motivates me to be better at it.
How
likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be useful in
your career?
I
give it 10 because organizing my inventory is like organizing your computer,
which is important to learn how to be neat. I learned the importance of
organizing your documents with using folders in ICS class, but I prefer
learning it through the SL way so that you can see the importance of it and
also it is more fun to learn it rather than class setting.
To
what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I
give it 8 because it requires a lot of trial and error. Many accidents and
unexpected results tend to happen from just choosing one command.
To
what extent are you feeing irritated doing this particular task?
I
give it 7 because it takes while to makes my avatar the way I want it to be.
B.
After working through tasks 1-3
How
likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I
give myself 9 because I know ways to narrow down what places have good clothing
(whether it is fee or free).
How
likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be useful in
your career?
I
give it 10 because searching for a particular information through search engine
is really important to our society. We are highly dependent on computer
technology and I think everything you do with computer will benefit you
somehow.
To
what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I
give it 1 because searching for places in SL is not a hard task to do.
To
what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I
give it 1 because when I am searching for information I am patient. I enjoy
getting familiar with the places that SL offers for residents.
SLURLs
that I liked are posted on my report from last semester.
c.
While I was working through tasks 4-5
How
likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I
give myself 10 because more enjoy dressing my avatar and see the
accomplishments such as my avatar becoming the way I desired.
How
likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be useful in
your career?
I
give it 7 because this type of task (putting small pieces to establish goal or
object) is required in most of the career I would see in real world.
To
what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I
give it 6 because when I mistakenly use command, it leads me to start over from
the beginning, which is really frustrating (but now I know how to save all the
elements so I will not be frustrated anymore).
To
what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I
give it 6 because I think it is a time consuming process.
I
just have not come to the point where I want to spend money to make my SL
experience different. Part of the reason is that I looked at the SL experience
more as schoolwork than recreational hobby. Also there are many things you can
get for free and by searching for them makes me explore and try to visit as
many places as possible to see the different options.
D.
While working through tasks 6-7
How
likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I
give it 8 because saving and checking to make sure my avatars appearance is
important just like how self presentation is important in our society so I will
become good at this to improve my self presentation in SL.
How
likely that the skills you are learning will be useful in your career?
I
give it 5 because same reason as above, but also I think it will help me to
become a more careful person.
To
what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I
give it 7 because I was satisfied with my avatar's appearance and it frustrated
me to add elements you are not necessarily able to see.
To
what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I
give it 3 because I came to feel that this is like a proof reading part of
writing an essay. It is important to check and make sure but it is the same
reason as above, some of the elements you do not see it all the time so it
could be quite frustrating
E.
After completing tasks 8-9
How
likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I
give myself a 9 because I realized that organizing my inventory is important
and by doing it, I improved and became good at it.
How
likely is it that skills you are learning in this task will be useful in your
career?
I
give it 10 because organizing skill is skill that most careers would expect you
to have.
To
what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I
give it 9 because when I first looked through my inventory, it was a huge mess.
To
what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I
give it 8 because looking at each item and deciding whether i should keep it or
not took some time.
Ninth Exercise:
Ninth Exercise: Reference Desk at InfoIsland International
1. This link will take you to where InfoIsland Archipelago Calendar is <http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/121/239>
InfoIsland Archipelago Public Events Calendar
Retrieving...
[5:30] :
Tue 2 June 15:00-16:30 Joust
practice, Renaissance Island Joust Arena
Wed 3 June 18:30-19:30 Hot
Topics -, Info Island - Auditorium
Thu 4 June 15:30-16:30 ALA's
Salon Huron Discussion, ALA Island
Fri 5 June 17:00-18:30 Smooth
Jazz Fridays at the Jazz Cat, Jazz Cat on Infotainment Island
Sun 7 June 13:00-15:00 Fiesta
Hispana! at the Jazz Cat, Jazz Cat, Info Island International (115, 31, 35)
Sun 7 June 15:00-16:30
Renaissance Island meeting, Reading Primley Commons, Renaissance Island
Sun 7 June 15:00-16:00 Weekly
Town Meet, Renaissance Island
Sun 7 June 16:00-17:00 William
Shakespeare Club, Illumination Island
Mon 8 June 17:00-18:30 Monday
Blues at the Jazz Cat, the Jazz Cat
http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=3bb3buph2sacrtvmici65p80tk%40group.calendar.google.com
I think these events information have helped me to write my
self-witnessing reports. Last semester, I had trouble noticing things because
it requires a different way of looking at things and different cognitions and
thought processes to realize what is making me feel different. I felt that the self-witnessing
report is difficult when I am in places by myself. When I observe myself
without other my avatars presence. The last self-witnessing report I did was
during the Librarian career festival and it was much easier to notice things. I
was able to compare myself to other avatars and had more chances to notice
things. Some events have required acts to be part of it (e.g. orientations,
listen to speakers, etc), which means I need to engage in that environment and
perform certain behavior to be apart of it.
7. I voted!
10. DEN is a place to meet friends, make new ones, relax, talk, and have
fun! I like it because as soon as I got there, someone said "hi" and
offered me help! I think it is a safe and friendly place.
11. Welcome to Info Island!
Info Island is a part of the Alliance Virtual Library, a project in
Second Life uniting librarians and library supporters from around the world in
creating information resources for you.
Info Island is filled with library collections. The teleport board next to this Welcome sign
can transport you around the island giving you an opportunity to visit our
collections which cover topics like sports, art, pets, human sexuality,
etc. There are also separate library
sites here as well as an art gallery.
IF YOU NEED HELP.... There is a reference desk area behind you. Here is a landmark to it. Just click on it to go there and keep the landmark
to use in the future. Volunteers staff the Reference Desk about 80 hours each
week.
Enjoy your visit to Info Island.
If you have questions about our collections please contact Rocky Vallejo
or Abbey Zenith. If you'd be interested
in volunteering for any of our library projects (You don't have to be a
librarian in RL) contact Marimar
Berchot.
A. Before you begin the tasks
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give myself 10 because I am a curious person and I just started to
have interests in libraries and how it works (both in SL and real world).
How likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be
useful in your career?
I give it 10 because I began to realize that if you know how to use
library, it will benefit you in many ways and also the library skills will be
useful in any career.
To what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 because Info Island and the Alliance Virtual Library is well
organized and constructed so if you look carefully (check each walls) then the
tasks should be easily completed.
To what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 and same explanation as above.
B. After working through tasks 1-6
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give myself 10 because the link provided in task 1 took me to a wrong
place, yet I still manage to get to the Alliance Virtual Library and be able to
find the calendar in less than 5 minutes. Once I found the Calendar I just
began to explore and I found everything else quickly.
How likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be
useful in your career?
I give it 7 because this is same process as finding places where you
need to go. Many people (especially the older generations) do not know how to
find places even though there are so many resources are available to help them.
Also be open minded and try touching things that you are interested in it is
important because every information in AVL is related to each other so even
though you are not touching the right wall or panels, there are high chances of
getting information in which could relate to what you are looking for.
To what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 because I do not get frustrated at all. This is like a basic
skill and searching for particular information or objects is something you have
to do on SL.
To what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 because it's the same reason as above.
C. While working through tasks 7-8
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give it 9 because knowing that you are in the right place, which means
all the tasks and information are available within the place. I know I will
eventually become good at it because I spend many time in the same place, which
means I will get familiar with things about that place.
How likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be
useful in your career?
I give it 7. For example, when you go to a job interview, you need to know
about the company. The types of goals and policies they require and look for in
an individual. It is easy to assume when you hear the word "library"
and only imagine books, references, and information. But place like AVL have so
much more to offer so by paying attention to smalls things that are related to
it is important and will benefit you in one way or another.
To what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 - not frustrated.
To what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 - not irritated.
D. While working through tasks 9-12
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give it 10 because finding places and getting sign is like a treasure
hunt. It is a fun process and eventually I became good at them.
How likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be
useful in your career?
I give it 9. It's the same reason
as section B.
To what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 - not frustrated.
To what extent are you feeling irritated?
I give it 1 - not irritated.
E. After completing task 13.
How likely is it that you will become good at this particular task?
I give it 10 because the first time I learned how to pick up free gifts
in AVL was last semester and I has been helping me to find things (AO, hair,
clothes, etc) for free and I am good at this particular task.
How likely is it that the skills you are learning in this task will be
useful in your career?
I give it 10. Receiving free gifts and seeing them in my inventory is
one of the many ways for a place or company to make us remember them and I
think it works out well. It does not have to be free gifts, but I would like to
pay more attention to how I can be memorable to the company when I go to the
job interview, etc.
To what extent are you feeling frustrated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 - not frustrated.
To what extent are you feeling irritated doing this particular task?
I give it 1 - not irritated.
Other Exercise
I got inspired by the video clips (by Chantal Harvey) and wanted to find
some of the art effect? (I am not sure how I call it). So, I found this place
call FESTIVA (http://slurl.com/secondlife/japan%20nagano/24/26/0) where you can
get free particles.
It is difficult see in the picture, but after buying it for free or
for a fee, all you have to do is go to your inventory and right-click the
folder and chose add to my outfit. After that you will see a particle coming
out from your body (my particle was a flower). I love it! It is very pretty.
The only way to stop this effect is go back to your inventory and right-click
the particle folder and chose take off items, it will stop.
This is a picture of the place, FESTIVA. You also get a chance to
role-play a disc jockey.
