Since many people find it difficult to get other people's help in SL, I think I was lucky to meet a warmhearted couple who voluntarily came to help me by accident. When I was "flying" in New York City, I saw a man and a woman standing in a room; out of curiosity, I descended beside them to see what they were doing. Suddenly, they started to talk to me. I told them I was new in SL, and they said I need a better avatar first (their avatars are really cool!). Actually I didn't really know how to change it, so they invited me to their "home" so that they could help me finish it. Their home is a beautiful island. The man, whose name is Nerion in SL, is a French in RL; and his love (he calls her "my love"), mellie, is an American native. They bought the island in SL, and Nerion created all the things on it, naming it "Eagles island" because mellie loves eagles. Then we started to work on my avatar. I was awkward in using SL and was afraid that they would be angry at me, but they didn't; on the contrary, they patiently taught me in detail step by step. They suggested me to make my avatar taller and try different skin colors; Nerion even gave me several skin colors to choose from! Later they guided me to look around their island and their two-floored house. In their house, they started to teach me how to use gestures. mellie gave me a lot of gestures, and Nerion somehow made me dance, we three danced together for a long while! They asked me why I used SL, I said it was for a course, and they encouraged me to "learn as much as I can in SL" because Nerion himself also used SL to practice his English. Before I left, I thanked sincerely for their help. mellie and I had a big-hug-goodbye, and they gave me L$100 as "welcome gift", saying that I could visit them anytime. Out of curiousity, I politely asked them why they treated me so kind. They told me that they like to help new people in SL, because everyone starts as beginers; what's more, it always makes them happy when they can help those who need help. They have a value, both in RL and SL: "Making people happy is also making them happy." Here they suddenly became a bit serious. They said the problem many people have on SL is that they think they can hide behind the computers and act like a person totally different from their RL, usually just think about themselves and don't care about others, so it's very hard to trust and give real friendships in SL. That's also the reason why people have difficulties finding help in SL. I was really touched by the couple's value; it made me not only appreciate their kindly help, but even start to respect their characters. I think I was lucky to meet them, and I'm sure I will cherish our "virtual-but-real" friendship.
[20:06]Aleli Damiano: I will wait for u there girls.. c u
[20:07]Meredith Rhosar: wow so fast!!!
[20:07]Aleli Damiano: train is coming...
[20:08]Meredith Rhosar: so Monica you can go on or lead us to some places you'd like to:)
[20:09]Aleli Damiano: I wanted to write about this place because according to some small research I have this is one of the best reproductions in SL
[20:12]Aleli Damiano: I went to Dam Square and there is the Madame Tussauds wax museum...
[20:12]Aleli Damiano: though is still in construction there are some figures there already...
[20:12]Judy Meiler: Yeah, I had been to Amsterdam before, there is really like the city in real life.
[20:12]Meredith Rhosar: but I suggest that you can choose some speicific places to introduce
[20:13]Meredith Rhosar: Madame Tussauds is a good example!!!
[20:13]Judy Meiler: In fact, I want to know more about the red district.
[20:13]Meredith Rhosar: cool!!!
[20:13]Aleli Damiano: actually I havent finished my story as I told teacher I want to write more about the red district
[20:14]Meredith Rhosar: haha also in a rush right? XD
[20:14]Aleli Damiano: but yesterday I could not acess to that place...I need to do some changes on my profile or fill some data in order to get there...
[20:14]Judy Meiler: So, can you do that?
[20:15]Aleli Damiano: not really, I mean I spend a whole evening trying to figure out the best way to present my story...as u may noticed I have changed everything
[20:15]Aleli Damiano: from my first presentation I mean...
[20:15]Meredith Rhosar: yes
[20:15]Judy Meiler: Yeah!
[20:16]Meredith Rhosar: and I like the arrangement of pictures and article
[20:16]Meredith Rhosar: comfortable
[20:16]Aleli Damiano: I wanna describe the place but also make it attractive for people to visit here....
[20:16]Meredith Rhosar: I think your pictures are successful!
[20:16]Aleli Damiano: thanks :)
[20:17]Judy Meiler: The pictures are really beautiful.
[20:17]Aleli Damiano: thanks, appreciate it...
[20:18]Aleli Damiano: u see how all those ads are actually not disturbing the old style of the place...?
[20:19]Meredith Rhosar: they're not big
[20:19]Aleli Damiano: yeah...
[20:19]Judy Meiler: Yes, I think it’s a place full of culture. Even though there is famous for sex business, but it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable and dirty.
[20:21]Aleli Damiano: that yes...that's right...and I have saw some sex workers...and did not feel unconfortable either...
[20:21]Aleli Damiano: I mean they are also part of the city's essence...
[20:22]Meredith Rhosar: uh Monica...may I ask why you mention red district?
[20:22]Meredith Rhosar: is that a feature of the city?
[20:22]Judy Meiler: Yeah, it has already become a famous sex culture now. Ha! Ha!
[20:23]Aleli Damiano: because when people talks about Amsterdam first thing that pop up is sex bussiness
[20:23]Meredith Rhosar: really?!
[20:23]Aleli Damiano: so I wanted to say that in SL that's also an important feature, cuz cant be very realistic if we skip that part...
[20:24]Judy Meiler: Yeah, that's true!
[20:24]Meredith Rhosar: haha sorry because I didn't know it...:S
[20:24]Aleli Damiano: no problem...
[20:24]Aleli Damiano: :)
[20:24]Meredith Rhosar: you don't need to skip
[20:25]Judy Meiler: Yeah, you have to write about that.
[20:25]Aleli Damiano: I mean if people skip the sex part when they built the city in SL it would not feel so real
[20:25]Meredith Rhosar: oh I see
[20:26]Meredith Rhosar: so you're going to write more?
[20:26]Judy Meiler: Yeah, because it has already become a really important feature of Amsterdam.
[20:26]Meredith Rhosar: haha I mean the article
[20:26]Meredith Rhosar: revise
[20:26]Aleli Damiano: yes...I need to get into the REd district first to collect information in order to enlarge my story...
[20:27]Judy Meiler: Yeah, looking forward to it! Ha! Ha!
[20:27]Aleli Damiano: no problem...I'll keep working :)
[20:28]Judy Meiler: Great!
[20:28]Aleli Damiano: thank you guys for urcomments...appreciate them...
The summary of the reader's and the editor's suggested revisions
At first I suggest Monica to choose some specific places to introduce, like Madame Tussauds she mentions; and Judy wants to know more about the red district.
Monica explains that she hasn't finished her story yet because some technical problems with SL make her unable to get into the red district again to collect more information. After she solves those problems, she'll sure to write more about the red district.
The brief comment on the entire article with respect to organization, length, logic, and style
We can see that Monica has changed almost everything from her first draft; and we all like her arrangement of pictures and article. She's really a good photo-taker!
At first I don't know that sex culture is an important feature of Amsterdame and wonder why Monica mentions the red district in her story. After they explain to me, I finally know that sex culture has already merged into the city and almost become part of the city's essence: even though Amsterdame is famous for sex businesses, it somehow doesn't make people feel uncomfortable.
Now we all agree that Monica shouldn't skip the sex part, and even should write more about it. We're all looking forward to her final revision!
I just found an interesting feature of SL, which is that you can easily meet foreigners and freely chat with them to build up friendship in it. When I was "flying" in New York City, I saw a man and a woman standing in a room; out of curiosity, I descended beside them, and they started to talk to me. I told them I was new in SL, they said I need a better avatar (their avatars are really cool!). Actually I didn't really know how to change it, so they invited me to their "home" so that they could help me finish it. Their home is a beautiful island. The man, whose name is Nerion in SL, is a French in RL; and his love (he calls her "my love"), mellie, is an American native. They bought the island in SL, and Nerion created all the things on it, naming it "Eagles island" because mellie loves eagles. Then we started to work on my avatar. I was awkward in using SL and was afraid that they would be angry at me, but they didn't; on the contrary, they patiently taught me in detail step by step, saying that they like to help new people in SL. They suggested me to make my avatar taller and try different skin colors; Nerion even gave me several skin colors to choose from! Later they guided me to look around their island and their two-floored house. In their house, they started to teach me how to use gestures. mellie gave me a lot of gestures, and Nerion somehow made me dance, we three danced together for a long while! They asked me why I used SL, I said it was for a course, and they encouraged me to "learn as much as I can in SL" because Nerion himself also used SL to practice his English. Before I left, I thanked sincerely for their help. mellie and I had a big-hug-goodbye, and they gave me L$100 as "welcome gift", saying that I could visit them anytime. Well, I'm sure I will visit them again, and I hope when we meet next time, I will be more skilled in using SL and also have a cool avatar!
Since many people find it difficult to get other people's help in SL, I think I was lucky to meet a warmhearted couple who voluntarily came to help me by accident.
