If you found this blog by regular search, and you've never heard of Second Life, then you might be confused. Let me explain!
Second Life is an online community where you can be anything or anyone you want to be and do anything you want to do and meet people from all over the world. The community is based on creating an avatar where you can look like yourself or you can look like what you've always wanted to be. You can change this avatar's look at any time or never change. It's up to you!
I am woman in my 30's, but I have chosen to create an avatar who looks and acts like a 7-year old girl. It's weird, huh? Why would someone want to do this?
Well, there's lots of reasons, but I'm only going to talk about why *I* have chosen to be a kid. I was one of those kids who grew up and matured faster than most my age. It wasn't due to bad things, just circumstances in my life. I was an only child for the first 7 years of my life, so I was almost always around adults because I went almost everywhere with my parents. Once my brother came along, I sorta fell into place as being a "second mother" to him, especially when I got to be about 12 and was able to stay at home without adults.I don't harbor any resentment that any of this happened, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, but I do feel that I sort of missed out on a childhood, so I try to recapture that in Second Life now.
Also, it's fun to go back to being a kid and to have that innocence again...or at least try. With all the responsibilities that we have as adults, it's nice to let go of some of that and just have fun. Sometimes I think I've forgotten how to have fun, and it's an effort for me to step out of that and just let loose. That's a bit hard for me to admit, to be honest.
I thoroughly enjoy role playing family life in Second Life. I love having parents and siblings who are there to hang out with me, go exploring together, have dinner at home, go out for ice cream, and tuck me in. Admittedly, it's not easy to find a family who matches those expectations, especially when more people are involved. However, it's so worth it when you do find those special people. I have trust issues when it comes to getting close to someone because I've been hurt by people (who hasn't?), so I don't give my love away easily. But sometimes you just know when it fits, and that high wall that is built comes down a little bit at a time. I'll say it again, it's truly worth it when you let someone into your heart, and they don't trash it.
I also enjoy role playing school and other kid activities. I attended school early on in my Second Life experience back in 2006 and had a blast! I was a good student in my real life and enjoyed school, so enjoying it in Second Life isn't very surprising, I suppose. I did learn that attending school too much in Second Life does get old fast, and most of the schools now have taken notice of this and offer classes just 2 days a week for an hour or so. Since (hopefully) most of the 'kids' in Second Life are adults who have jobs or other adult responsibilities, we don't want to spend hours and hours in school each week, but it is fun to go for a few hours a week as part of that role play as a child, and it's a bonus to meet other 'kids' to socialize with outside of school.
Other activities I've enjoyed is scouting in Second Life. Several years ago I was involved in Kid Scouts where we role played earning badges, going camping, doing crafts and talent shows. This was a huge highlight in my Second Life experience. I've recently found another scouting troop that I hope to become involved in, and I'm truly looking forward to reliving that experience again. I was only shortly involved in Girl Scouts in my real life, because I went to a small school where scouts was just getting started and had problems finding parents who wanted to help get it started. Plus, OMG Cookies! ;)
I do want to address that I do NOT role play a kid in Second Life for any adult reasons or have sexual relationships. I know that's an assumption that many people have, and I (unfortunately) know that there are people in Second Life who are there for that reason. I am 100% G-rated in Second Life, and it makes me uncomfortable to think that others might think otherwise of me. It's not creepy to role play a kid if you're truly just there to "be a kid" again. Most of the kids you see on Second Life are really there only for that reason, so don't be hatin'! ;)
And yes, I have experiences Second Life as an adult avatar, as well. That can be fun, too, but Second Life is good for the inner child inside of me more so than being an adult.
If you read this far, then YAY! I commend you! I get a little long winded sometimes, but writing is where I let out my thoughts and feelings. I think it's important for people to see that people who role play kids in Second Life are normal people with very creative imaginations. Besides, who wouldn't want to be a kid again?
Thank you for your time and attention!
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