OMG! Did you hear..."

Two of my friends are fighting. They are not speaking. I like them both and I feel stuck in the middle.

Sounds like I am in high school again, doesn't it? I feel that a lot when I am in Second Life. Maybe it is because we are all playing make believe. Maybe it's because we sometimes say and do things without thinking about the consequences, i.e. acting like immature children.

I don't want to act like a child. I want to treat others with the same respect I try to show others in real life. I try not to say things that are hurtful to my friends. Occasionally I still screw up. I have seen people in SL show great compassion and understanding of other points of view and lifestyles. Furries are nice people. So are dragons. In the welcome areas you see mech warriors chatting with elves. Nekos talking to vampires.

I have also seen the same bigotry and prejudice that haunts my country and other countries around the world. In Second Life sexual orientation, race, religion, age, and lifestyle choices are all targets for intolerance. At one time I thought that the people who are intelligent enough to navigate around a virtual world on a computer would also be smart enough to avoid the prejudices that have held the human race down so long. But I was wrong. Digital literacy does not equate to tolerance of other people's lifestyles and belief.

I started this particular post with the idea of talking about reliving my own melancholy of youth. In my attempt to make friends here in Second Life I have experienced those fears of being accepted, wanting to sit at the cool kid's table, but being stuck at the geek table instead. For most of my 60 years I've wanted to be popular and not feel like I am different. But I am. Now I realize we are all different. We all have our insecurities. Some of us are better at hiding them. Still we all need friends. I have a few good friends in Real Life. I have a few more in Second Life. I wish I could keep them from hurting themselves and each other. I love them both.