Memorial Service for Jimmy Branagh

 
By Bixyl Shuftan

The Steamlands have a number of personalities among their communities. Some have a role in more than just a single group. Among these was Jimmy Branagh. In both places, he took on a child avatar to take on the role of a minor, an "urchin." When the Steelhead community reformed after getting a sim again, he managed to get the role of sheriff. But he was in other places as well, such as one Star Trek roleplay, and the Goonies.

Sadly, the person behind the avatar caught cancer, Lymphoma, last year. He last logged in on December 23 2021, and it is believed he passed away in January. As the evidence is not completely certain, he is considered not dead but missing, or "Lost at Sea," as described by Steelhead's leader Fuzzball Ortega. A memorial service was soon planned for Saturday February 12, for 1PM SL time.

Dropping by, I recognized a number of personalities from the Steamlands. But there were others from outside, such as Loki Eliot, noted builder and the founder of the "Goonies," one of the more well known groups for child avatars. There was also Avariel Falcon, the black unicorn seen at Relay for Life events and other occasions. Edward Pearse was in charge of the music stream, "It's funny trying to put background music for this. I have longer pieces but they end up being rather depressing." "It's a funeral," someone responded, "it should be a bit depressing." On the wall behind the speakers podium were a number of pictures of Jimmy, or pictures including him.

People were still hoping that since the evidence wasn't with 100% certainly, Jimmy might still be alive, "Wouldn't it be like the best thing ever if jimmy showed up for this?" "Aye." "I was expecting exactly that." "Indeed, it would be outstanding." Edward commented, " I'd strangle him, but out of kindness." Someone else commented, "I'd knock the tar out of him with nothing but the greatest of love." "I'd be furious just because I should have thought of it." "Fuzzbutt has already declared that, should Jimmy show up, we of Innsmouth send a team out to capture Jimmy and sacrifice him as first live offering to Fuzzbutt." "One heck of a welcome back party instead, yes."

Someone pondered sadly, "We all thought he'd be hear forever." "We did, Nathan, we did." "He will always be here in the bricks and smog and steel of New Babbage." "Jimmy was like the spirit of New Babbage for me." "Maybe we should name a ship the Spirit of Jimmy to honor him?" "If i ever finish that fancy victorian i have up in the fells it's going to be Branagh Hall." "There's still a few monuments he created here and there, isn't there?" "It would be nice to have something named in his honor.  He was such a good guy." "Well, Innsmouth now has a permanent tribute, made by his own hands." "Where is it?" "An entire Lovecraft story scene." "i want the landmark." "Was that the underwater story he made for LoveFest?" "We have his 'The Colour Out of Space' farm and forest scene as part of Innsmouth's Lovecraft experience."

"According to the menu.. he built the entire structure we're sitting in." "The whole chair?" "The whole town hall, you goofball!" "And the wax museum across the street." "I have his Dagon Hall as well." "I hope he deeded the museum to the city." "I'm not sure Jimmy realized how short his time was." "He was an amazing builder." "J.B.  it was an honor to meet ya."

"Did any of us know him in real life?" "No." "Jimmy was very careful to keep real-life and SL separated." "He was very private about that." "I don't think anyone knew him (in) real-life, Mr. Tenk coming closest." "Jimmy was like me in that." "Rarely broke character." "Rarely dropped the accent." "He even typed his accent in private IM." "He shared a few things here and there with me, but not about his latest health." "I started seeing a little of the real him at story time. He really loved horror." " Jimmy and I chatted about marginal stuff. His small quarters, his bad ass Alienware machine." "How long can the wax museum be expected to remain in place?" "For as long as New Babbage exists, I hope." "I think it was late November- to mid december when i started to suspect something wasn't okay; he was getting more and more erratic about logging in and didn't stay long. He kept saying it was because nothing was going on, but he also started talking about having Jimmy come into his inheritance."

Finally, Edward Pearse walked up to the podium, "All right, I might get started. Thank you everyone for coming. For me the worst part of this is not knowing if it's actually true. But that is one of the pitfalls of a digital life. It's certainly been something of a shock. Jimmy was a cornerstone of Babbage. I think I first met Jimmy around 2010 when he moved into the Coronet Gardens plot up on the cliffs when he set up the Church for the Esoteric Order of the Dagon. Lovecraft myths had seeped into steampunk and had found themselves a home within New Babbage. Jimmy had a thing for tentacles. Kids these days, really. Jimmy would always type with an accent, possibly the bastard accent of Dick Van Dyke and Keanu Reeves' versions of Cockney. But it was endearing. His greeting of 'Hoi Awl!; was a common occurrence. For a while he tried to convince me that I should type with a Connery akshent sho people would get a better feel for how I was shupposhed to shound. (a few chuckles from the audience). He even made me a mesh Connery head that I was using to try and model the Bento head.

"He was involved with roleplay within Second Life and was initially part of a Dune RPG sim called Arakis. When the sim got hit with a cease and desist and was shut down, I believe he moved here. For a time he roleplayed Joseph Merrick. I'm going to play a piece from that now." The background music then changed to The Elephant Man Main Theme, by John Morris (https://youtu.be/5ZIQFkSMiF8), and a few people complained about not being able to hear it. Edward commented of the stream, "It's supposed to cope with 100, but this is SL, and New Babbage.

"Continuing his roleplay exploits, he ran Popplefoot's Blacking Factory. He and Myrtil were behind the Midwich Cuckoo invasion of Babbage, As well as Creaky Gloom I believe. Jimmy was heavily into the Cthulhu mythos and was extensively involved in Lovefest over the years. We teamed up one year when there was a multi-sim expansion, building a secret cult temple under what is now Mornington Brewery in Academy of Industry. His Waxworks has become a tourist attraction for Babbage and this Town Hall, built by Jimmy, is the longest standing in Babbage so far. I didn't know him as well as some people but he was a respected friend and a generous soul. He will be dearly missed."

"I would like to ask Loki Eliot to come up and say a few words," Edward spoke as he stepped away from the podium. "Thanks," Loki answered. Then the child avatar stepped up, "Um, i have a few words written. ... When I look back at my time in Second Life, those first lonely steps of anxiety into this virtual world in October 2005, I do not remember when or how we met. All I remember was that at some point not long after Jimmy was there. Through all the craziness at the start as we tried to work out the why, the whats and the point of all this, Jimmy ended up by my side along with Myrtil and many others some of which are here right now. His level head and calmness helped guide what we did, and he was loyal and kind to everyone without fault.You could count on Jimmy, and I counted on Jimmy many times.

"Without Jimmy so many things in Babbage would not have turned out the way they did, the epic role-plays we did, the stories we wove. The Barrel races he won year after year before opting out of the races to let others have a chance. We shared an interest in horror & Sci-Fi fiction, in movies, in history and it showed in how we collaborated. Through him I was introduced to H.P.Lovecraft, which have inspired many of my projects since.

"We are both kids at heart, and we found a new way to express that in a virtual world and even though a kid was his role here, he was a genuine soul. That is to say Jimmy was playful, full of heart, never to serious, always wanting to please others, and to see his generosity, you only have to look at the grand creation you stand within right now. We are the pioneers of socialising in digital space, we are the first generation to build a lifetime of memories in such a place, and Jimmy is without a doubt one of the greatest builders of some of the fondest memories i’ve had not just here in Second Life but in my actual life. I shall always be grateful and will never forget. Thank you my friend Jimmy." Loki then used his gesture, "Goonies never say DIE!" And then several in the audience used it.

After a number of compliments, "A moving tribute Loki." "I can't believe I remember all the things Loki talked about." It was Arik Metzger's (ArikTheRed Resident) turn to speak, "Thanks for having me on.  Always take advantage of a chance to have me on (smile). I first met Jimmy about two weeks into SL. I had already defined what and who I was to be, after my second day in, discovering Innsmouth.  And (I) was quckly set on the idea of Lovecraft Festival (LoveFest in SL).  Jimmy saw me driving a wagon I had commissioned to be built, the LoveFest Carnival Wagon, to promote the first 'Fest.  I sized him quickly up, and a few weeks later discerned that Jimmy Branagh was the embodiment of Lovecraft's spirit in Second Life. He shared with me many Lovecraft things, and took me somewhere that I strongly suspect perhaps only one other has been.  To his private, personal sim place a friend had let him call his retreat. It was full of everything ever made with Lovecraft's theme.  Things I had never seen, and many that will never be seen. In to Jimmy privacy, I did not keep a LM. I almost regret that now. ~~Ia Cthulhu~~ *In re-spect.

"Beginning in 2014, Jimmy became our primary builder for LoveFest's adventures.  And never failed to awe and impress. He has been a Council Member of Innsmouth since I first took possession to preserve the region. We are blessed at Innsmouth to have his 'Colour Out of Space' scene, a large area, built origiinally in 2013 for LoveFest.  It will be at Innsmouth for all to enjoy, as long as I am in SL. Any wishing, please IM me and I will invite you to our sim group to keep informed as I release our tribute details tonight, for  next Wednesday.  Any friend of Jimmy's is a Friend of Innsmouth." Several people requested landmarks.

"As I was telling someone the other day, I suspec ted Jimmy was facing something in October, because he last roleplayed at my REtrl*Trek project then. But, soon after he last RPed, I had a personal disaster in real life that set my mind to reeling. And, as I have said to a few, you're not a good friend of Arik unless Arik has in good faith neglected you repeatedly (frown). And, should that scoundrel resurface, we have indeed made sure he gets sacrificed to Fuzzbutt, as Fuzzbutt's first proper sacrifice. Jimmy would apprecate that statement. Thank you for having me.  I love the guy.  I don't use past tense, because he lives on in us."

As Arik stepped away from the podium, Edward spoke, "OK, I am shutting down the music for a bit. Tepic will be taking over. Tepic Harlequin, a child avatar, stepped up, "I will be playing a bit of music I hope is appropriate to being 'Lost at Sea.' It's in sounds, so yer may want ter turn them up..And if it's too quiet, cam in closer to me. Will play three verses." Tepic then took a flute and began playing some beautiful music. 

Someone commented, "This is stunning, I am mourning deeply for someone whose name I do not know, whose face I have not seen, and whose voice I have not heard. Jimmy and I have been friends since I first bought property here. What, 2012? And he and I would gossip a bit OOC." "His life here was as real as his other life in the other world." A third person "pictured the music wafting out of the building, over the city, and out to sea..." Another "Will miss Jimmy, they and Myrtil are how she ended up involved with Faire...and other stories here." Eventually, he finished, and got a number of complements. "Tepic plays beautifully." "(sniffling and bawling), Thank you Tepic." Tepic responded, "This is a sad time for us all, but let us remember the fun we had, the playing, jokes, together, and let that memory bring a sime to our lips." "Nice point Tepic," someone responded, "It's what ceremonies like this are for."

Ceejay Writer spoke from the seats, "Not going to move, I'll just trip over something.  I have a short thing to say. Over the years, Jimmy spoke at the Aether Salon *eight* times. Clearly he had a lot of knowledge to impart to us. June 2021 - Spiritualism! April 2020 - Disposal! June 2017 - Whitechapel! May 2016 - Secret Societies! April 2015 - Freaks! April 2014 - Chirurgia!March 2013 - Kinder! January 2010 - Children! If you'd like to read the archival transcripts of his salons, follow this link, it will pull up all salons with the category "Jimmy Branagh" for your browsing convenience. (https://aethersalon.home.blog/tag/jimmy-branagh/ ) That's all from me! Enjoy the transcripts, they show a mind with a vast amount of knowledge." Someone commented, "My keyboard caddy's first Aether Salon was Jimmy and Myrtil presenting on Victorian children" "I associate Jimmy with so many things outside of Babbage as well."

Edward then asked the audience, "Does anyone else want to say anything?" Liz Wilner spoke, "Jimmy was so very kind, except when I tried to sneak in more than a one word title for a Salon poster (laugh) I got zinged on that a few times (chuckle)." Ceejay commented, "Liz, Jimmy was terrified of ME on those one word Salon titles!" 

Edward continued, "I wanted to add that while today is mostly about Jimmy. he's 'Lost at Sea.' We've had others in the past we know have gone. Blackberry, Nix and a few others were able to say their farewells. Others we're still waiting on. Yelly Donut has been MIA for over a year.  And despite my best efforts I haven't been able to contact Caesar Osterham since about 2015. There's a few bits and bobs around Babbage belonging to Denver Hax, who may be another." Someone responded, "Caesar's eyesight was failing. IT may be that he just can't see this world any more." "He was losing his vision...yes what Cee said." Edward noddedn, "Yeah, his vision was going, but it was health related.

Edward added, "I believe Mr. Tenk is looking at some sort of memorial that will combine Lost at Sea with those who have passed." Tenk added, "Something less final than laying down the hammers." Someone commented, "Nothing sweeter than those long disappeared names turning up again." "(I) just lights candles. Have one on my hearth at home for Jimmy." 

Edward then concluded, "So thank you again for coming.  I'm going to switch musical themes for something on a more positive note." "Thank you Edward for hosting," someone responded. Some got up and left, others stayed for a while, some chatting, "Jimmy features heavily in the Fleet Week video which called me into Second Life in the first place, I think he'll always be dancing somewhere in my heart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjGWaA4x73M). " Loki asked, "Is that the one Connor where me JImmy and Myrtil take part in the submarine race against Dr O? We got disqualified cos i used depth charges."

Then the stream played "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. "(I) finds this song depressing." someone commented, and others agreed because of a few particular lyrics.

A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys
One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

While the lines have been a reference to growing up and abandoning love for fantasy, here it took on a new meaning. Second Life allows one to take on more or less whatever form they wanted. And for some it allows them to relive their childhood or have the childhood they never did in real life. And for Jimmy Branagh, his second childhood would not be interrupted by growing up, but by cancer. And while it isn't 100% certain, it appears he and his imagination have gone on to the hereafter.

There were many more comments, too many to mention in the article. Many can be summed up by that of one lady, "I will mess let the cutest little boy in Babbage."

For anyone wishing for a transcript, contact Ceejay Writer, or check the Aether Salon's website: https://aethersalon.home.blog/2022/02/24/memorial-for-jimmy-branagh/ .

Bixyl Shuftan
 

A Special SL Kid: Marianne Mccann's Rezzday

By Gemma Cleanslate

 Saturday February 22 was a special day in Second Life because it was the rezz day of a special person: Marianne Mccann who was "born" in 2006. Here is a SL kid who has accomplished a lot in Second Life during her life. She has always been true to her SL inner child, but has been involved in so many things.  Marianne first entered Second Life as an adult, but became a three year old child soon after, Now she is an 8 year old, but is resting at that age. 

I went over to "The Pen" in Bay City, where she has properties, for her birthday party. Lots of kids and grown up friends were present for the festivities. Marianne herself did the DJing for the dances. People dropped by to congratulate her. I have known Mari since 2009. I believe I met here at my first visit to SLB at the kids build. Later I asked her to write an article for the SL Newser as part of a whole group of SL kids articles. You can read about Mari here  http://slnewserpeople.blogspot.com/2010/08/so-why-am-i-kid-avatar.html . I think she was SL kids age 3 then. 

I have been at many events where Mari was involved in one way or another.  One of the most exquisite things I think she ever did was the history build for the SL10B . It was a complete look at the past years in a wonderful setting. I kept going back to it over and over so I did not miss anything. It should be preserved somewhere in Second Life for posterity.  Right now Mari is getting ready for the first Second Life Winter Games which will be held at Chamonix City in mid-March. I have always admired Mari and wish her so many more years of achievement in SL. 

Drfran Babcock did an interview with her after the SL10B .
http://slnewserpeople.blogspot.com/2013/06/sl10b-interview-marianne-mccann.html

Gemma Cleanslate

SL10B Interview: Marianne McCann

By DrFran Babcock

Second Life’s Tenth Birthday is on June 23, 2013, and the celebration is going to be the biggest birthday bash this virtual world has ever seen. There is a lot of buzz about Marianne McCann’s full-sim build, some of which was covered in prims, and the rest of which had signs asking folks not to take pictures. Top secret builds are always a fascinating draw for the public, so I decided to see if Mari would grant me an interview prior to the opening of her history-themed sim.

I was surprised and pleased that she was willing to speak with me. We met on the SL10B build on Beguile, but you won’t see any photos of the build until press day^—not really that much of a loss, because Marianne is a delight to speak with. I have always found her to be someone who both takes Second Life™ seriously as well as playfully. That’s a sophisticated feat to pull off. Here’s what she had to say:

SL Newser: Mari, you were not in Second Life™ from the beginning--you came in during the rush of 2006, as did I. However, you possess an enormous love for the history and anthropology of this virtual world.

Marianne McCann: At heart, I’ve always been an explorer, no matter the world -- and part of that means understanding the history, the background. You know, getting a sense of what a place or thing is all about, and here, it became understanding the stuff that predates me, looking at how the world had evolved before I made an account in 2006.

I found it fascinating to watch the evolution, and read the history of things that sound like almost mythical things. The tax revolt, the Jessie War... all these things that made the fabric of Second Life™.


SL Newser: This is one of the first major builds I have seen you construct that does not focus on the Child Play community. Many people who do not know you here may come to know you as someone who is a genius of history, not a pioneer in the freedom to be whatever one wants to be here. What are your feelings about this?


Marianne McCann: I’m actually okay with that, really. It’s a funny story, in a way, and one that typifies my Second Life™ I guess.

I came to Second Life after hearing about it from friends, and felt it might be a good respite from actually doing a lot of community activism in my first life. Then, quite unexpectedly, found myself doing much the same here! “No matter where you go, there you are” became a very true thing.

On the plus side, we've all come a long way since then. A lot of those battles have been won or lost.
And really, it has allowed me to show off more facets of me. Like the interest in history, or some of the builds I've done in and for Bay City. That doesn't stop me from still keeping a foot in kid stuff, and staying watchful, but it gives me a more varied palate.

SL Newser: Can you explain the process you went through in coming up with the design of the build? I really want a glimpse into your inspiration...and your perspiration. What was it like to conceive of a build this large ?


Marianne McCann: Well, I have a bad habit when doing builds at the SL Birthdays. My first stop is to look at the World’s Fairs in the US in the mid-century. See, there’s that history interest, and in this case, I knew I wanted to showcase everything year by year, and give people a place to walk around and reflect.

This build was inspired a bit by the Avenue of Flags at the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois. The upright flagpoles come directly from it, I'll admit, but I opted to make it a plaza, with the pools and fountains to give it a more “park like” feel. The large arches in the back, feature the Second Life™ sun image from the old viewer as a fresco, to emphasize the passage of time. And of course the big box prims up there, a play on the old slogan: “It all started with a cube.” But ya, it winds though, with a sign or two for year to year, giving the highlights and some pictures, as well as the various items. Most everything is from its actual years, with items dating back to early 2002 and textures back to December 2001!

The first item on the walk is the remains of a slideshow that Linden Lab gave in 2001, at the Demonstration conference, talking about their upcoming Linden World project.
It's fascinating to read through and get a sense of what Philip & Co. envisioned early on, and muse about how close it may have gotten.


SL Newser: How have you been able to amass so many artifacts of the history of Second Life™ Who are your mentors, idols, etc?


Marianne McCann: Well, in some ways, it just sort of happened. An inventory in the 95k range and all...but back in 2007, I believe, I was writing for the Metaverse Messenger, an in world newspaper, doing a kids page. I started to watch for interesting happening on the grid then. I spotted a big gambling protest in Pooley, and photographed it. Also, I got a couple of their protest signs,  some of which I could not display on a General rated region! This led to me starting to collect items here and there relating to this history: protest signs, stuff from the tax revolt, then old maps, other items of note here and there, Eventually, well, you can see it all here,  I suspect.


SL Newser: Oh, and bears ? I guess the bears are too primmy?


Marianne McCann: I actually donated a few to another build here: Bear Island. I would need a full sim just for that collection; I have over 400 Linden Bears, and some of them are, um, not exactly prim savers. It was  my first collection, I suppose. I remember trawling through Ambelside hunting up bears.


And mentors:  I think that the SL History wiki, and all the work Oz Spade and Eggy Lippman put in on our history also helped fuel me, and Salazar Jack, too, and of course, Lalo Telling, who did some amazing history work. This build is actually dedicated in the memory of Lalo, who passed recently.
A number of times while doing this build, I’d come across something and think: “Lalo would love this!” or “Oh, Lalo would know this.” For example, finding evidence about what may have been the first Second Life2 road network in Tehama via old pictures of Natoma, that sort of thing. Oh yes, Daniel Voyager. He puts so much heart into everything he does.

SL Newser: What would you like folks to know about Second Life™?


Marianne McCann: I want people to think of Second Life as a place, a tangible space we can all share and can all do great things within. In my neck of the SL grid, Bay City, we’ve got this great community of people, all tending to work together and make our community great. I love that. So ya. I guess that. It’s this incredible place where we can all share, and learn, and grow. I also love to see people come together and make something greater. Being good neighbors and helping each other. I’m a hippie kid at heart
.

SL Newser: You have been quite open on your blog and elsewhere about your reasons for playing a child in Second Life™. What have been the positive and negative outcomes of this?

Marianne McCann: Well, the positives are that, first off, folks know where I and other kids come from. It’s a “light a candle versus cursing the darkness” thing. It’s made things better for kid avatars, I think. Its helped people see what it is, what we’re doing, not thinking we're all here for some deviant purpose or whatever. Otherwise, what would they learn? Not from the stuff on Report Mainz or Sky News? That’s not the kids I know.


The negative: Well, most of the negatives came out of ignorance of why I was a kid here, though I think that it has caused me to be a bit pigeonholed. People just think of me with kid stuff, or they think I’m going to be more radical, or...I dunno. I'm good with that!

I've taken some pains to try to make this build as open as I can. I mean, so it's not just “my” history. I mean, hard for it to not be through my own lens, but I have tried to be objective A lot of the photos I’ve used here are ones I’ve shot, so it is through my eyes. However, it’s not “scenes of my family life,” or what have you.


SL Newser: Pie or Cheese? (Note: This “joke” question was a standard in the old Metaverse Messenger.)

Marianne McCann: And there can be only one answer: Apple pie. With a slice of cheese.


SL Newser: Is there anything you want to say about how you came into SL, why it clicked for you, and why you love it so?


Marianne McCann: I had actually heard of SL way back. I had a first life boss who ended up being one of Linen Lab's first marketing guys. At that time there was no Mac client, and I saw no obvious value in buying into a service I could not even use, so I “filed it,” as it were. But come late 2005, early 2006 I had a couple friends who were here regularly, and raving about it all. I decided to come here for a week or two and see what the hubbub was all about. I wasn’t initially impressed. My computer was a bit slow for SL, even in those days, so the user experience was low. I could not even properly finish the tutorial on Orientation Island! The Ahern Welcome Area was a madhouse, and I quickly moved my home to the Sami Infohub.

Then I met up with the folks I knew who were here. This is the funny bit. I had three friends: One was a young mouse in a family of furs, one was a kid out on her own, and one was a kid in a family.
I thought was a bid odd but after I explored a bit what they were doing, seeing what they were up to, it seemed like quite a bit of fun. I ended up stretching those two weeks... a bit. We both grinned a lot at that statement.

SL Newser: One last question: What do you forsee in the future for Second Life™?

Marianne McCann: I’m going to tie that a bit to this display, in a way. When I started to write out all of the different things that happened in Second Life™, year by year: Gaming Open Market (GOM), Windlight, the Banking Ban, Ansche Chung, Flexiprims, etc., etc.

I realized that every innovation, every highlight, every controversy, every policy change could be written with a sentence that ended: “This was widely criticized as a bad idea, and it was said this would be the end of Second Life.” Every year, Second Life™ has been ending. Free accounts would be the end of it, or whatever, and yet, here we are, ten years on.

We have had our dark times. When the Lab laid off so many of its staff right at the end of the M Linden era; then I did worry, but we persisted, even past that. There’s some amazing stuff right now. I am a sucker for mesh stuff, and the materials stuff is amazing too.

I don’t think we’ll ever see Second Life™ like it was at the end of 2006 into 2007, the wunderkind, with all the corporations flicking about, but we’ll survive, and grow.


SL Newser: Thanks so much Marianne. What a thought-provoking interview. I can’t wait until the world can see your build.

SL10B opens June 15^th, 2013. More information can be found here: http://slcommunitycelebration.com

DrFran Babcock

Credit for the Liquid Prim: RRaskolnikov Roffo of the Lollygaggers (one of my favorite objects in my inventory)

Ask DrFran: DrFran’s Soapbox

By DrFran Babcock

Dear DrFran: 

This is a bit sensitive, so I hope you will hear me out. I was abused repeatedly as a child, and didn’t have much of a chance to enjoy just being a kid. As a result, I grew into a very serious adult with a strong need to control my surroundings, so I can feel in control of my emotions. That’s pretty good insight, in my opinion, and it’s helped me to survive all these years. The thing that really helped me, though, was coming into Second Life and becoming a child here. As a Second Life child, I can have all of the fun that was denied me when I was growing up. I go to camp, school, participate in Relay for Life activities, build, and a whole bunch of other silly, and out of control things I could never seem to do in First Life. The realism of the role play is impressive. We even have read. I have grown and flourished here, becoming popular with the other kids, and I have even been able to move some of this to my day-to-day life.  

I spend all of my time in Second Life with other child play avatars, and never stray far from my group. We are all friends, and many of us have even met up in First Life. I am telling you all this as background for what I am about to tell you. I have a distrust of grown up avatars, and except for the teachers and camp counselors, I usually stay away from all adults. I can be found usually on General sims, and have avoided events and activities that might place me in proximity with mature sims.

That said, and shaking as I write this, and I am pretty sure you know where this is going. Two weeks ago, after school, one of the adult teachers, whom I will call Mr. Fred, asked me to stay after math class so that he could show me how to solve a homework problem that I really didn’t understand. I was a little nervous, but figured the school could only have trusted teachers.

Within moments of the rest of the class leaving, he rezzed a set of pose balls and asked me to climb on the pink one. He told me: “This is so we can sit and talk about the homework.” I didn’t believe him, but I felt helpless to protest—that’s a problem I have because of the abuse I have suffered. People can boss me around easily. That’s one of the reasons I avoid adult avatars. When I got on the pose ball, I immediately began to gyrate in a sexual way. I was completely freaked out. I hopped off the ball and teleported back home, and logged out. I have not told a soul about this, and it happened about two weeks ago. When my First Life abuse was going on my abuser, a neighbor, used to tell me that if I told anyone what we were doing that he would hurt my parents. I guess I am conditioned to keep silent, but I worry that Mr. Fred will try this with other child play avatars, and most of the ones I know have also suffered from child abuse.

Since that day I have not logged in much, I feel a return of some of the horrid symptoms that used to haunt me before I found Second Life. What can I do?

Sign me: Abused.

Dear Abused: I am so sorry for all of the horrid things that were done to you. Children are not meant to be objects of pleasure for sick people. Pedophiles abound, and this is the topic to which I have the strongest, angriest, and frustrated response. The world has yet to awaken to the epidemic proportions of child abuse, and things will not improve until they do.

I know that you will not be pleased to hear this, but you MUST Abuse Report (AR) this individual. This behavior is bound to continue unless you report him. I am sure this avatar worked a long time on building the trust of the school administration in order to get into the role of a trusted instructor. If he is stopped, he will surely create an alt to continue this behavior, but it will take time for him to establish the relationships he needs to continue with his behavior. Of course, this is conjecture. For all I know he (or she) is operating several avatars already.

It’s been a while (2008) since there has been a lot of talk about child play avatars in Second Life being used for pedophiliac role play. Marianne McCann ( http://marianne.secondlifekid.com ) and fellow advocates have gone a long way to demonstrate the actual purpose of child play for many individuals, and it is similar to what you expressed. The children of Second Life have a reputation for fun, charity and loyalty to each other that is enviable.

This is Second Life, not First Life, but I am a firm believer that the line between the two is wafer thin. You hurt my avatar, and the First Life DrFran is hurt. You are a pedophile in Second Life, and you probably are a pedophile in real life.

Please, please, please, Abused. Report this guy, because he will continue his behavior, and you will be doing the right thing, not the wrong thing. I appreciate fully how difficult it is to break out of the habit of protecting your perpetrator, that were wired into you as a child, but as a wise person said to me: If nothing changes; nothing changes. I hope you can find the courage to do report this individual, and I hope you can find a way back to your friends and family in Second Life.

DrFran

Obligatory disclaimer: The column Ask DrFran is the work of DrFran Babcock, and may not reflect the views of SL Newser as a whole. Please direct any correspondence to DrFran Babcock. I look forward to hearing from you.

Steelhead Community: Mindy and the Sasquatch

As a “Gaslamp Fantasy” and Steampunk-themed area, Steelhead has it’s share of odd characters. The area with everything from residential living to roleplays to shopping or just intellectual discussions bills itself as “in addition to cowboys, is home to Moon Elves, a woman who's half cat, mad scientists and crazed inventors, a werewolf sheriff....and that's just the city council members."

There are other characters at Steelhead. Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, made famous in the online comic “Girl Genius,” is often to be seen there (though who knows how he gets to and back from Europe so fast). Not all are so easily seen though, some being a little shy. Among them, Steelhead’s resident Bigfoot, or Sasquatch as they call him.

I had heard about him before, mentioned at dances and city council meetings. But at the “Hot Cocoa” party, one of Steelhead City’s children, Mindy, offered to introduce me to “Mr. Sasquatch” at the suggestion of Sheriff “Fuzzball” Ortega. “Mr. Squash is my friend.“ she explained, “He helps me with tall things. And I give him fresh hay for sleeping. ... He helped me put the wreaths on my house and he handed me boards for what I built on the roof, and he catched me once when I falled off the roof.” She told me I could talk to the Sasquatch about any questions, “He says my name and other words, and he can even say Pawpaw! He calls my Pawpaw that, too, acuz I do.”

Later on, a few days before Christmas, I headed to Mindy’s house on the outskirts of Steelhead City when I knew she’d be around. What I first noticed was what the little girl had been talking about when she mentioned building: a makeshift landing strip on the house with “SANTA LAND HERE” painted on the roof. Mindy was at the stables near the house, and just as I greeted her, over came a large, hairy figure: the Sasquatch. He greeted me, “ello, Foxy.” Mindy herself was wearing an angel costume, possibly from a school play, and apparently the Sasquatch had just seen it, "Mindeeee birdie now?" Mindy just giggled, “I'm an angel. And my shoes jingle!” “Squatch no jingle. Squatch fall off mountain, go boom. Hiney hurt.”

I took a couple pictures of the Sasquatch, though with a camera resembling what the locals use to avoid too many questions. While it worked, the flash did cause him to rub his eyes a bit. Mindy continued, “It's so good to see you, Mr. Squash. I missed you. I put a Christmas tree in your cave and I wroted to Santa for you to ask him to bring you a present, too.” The Sasquatch scratched his head, “Santa...... ?” “Santa Claus! I heared about him. He brings presents to people on the Nice list. So, I fixed my house alll up to meet him. He flies a sleigh that's pulled by flying reindeer and they land on the roof.... so I put a landing strip up there!” Apparently, she had been trying to explain Christmas to him.

We were joined by a tourist to Steelhead, Rua Whitepaw, as well as Sheriff Fuzzball Ortega. “My Marshal! It is our town hero!” Mindy exclaimed. The sheriff greeted all of us, “Hello, everyone.” He glanced up at the roof, “You weren't kidding about the landing area, Mindy.” Mindy beamed, “Look! I am an angel for the Christmas reading.” Then her attention went to what the sheriff noticed, “I don't want Santa to miss me on his first visit. I would be sad. ... I gots a beacon 64 meters tall! I think he will find me. I hope.” Fuzzball looked at it again, “I think folks on the other side of Caledon'll be able to find you.” Mindy giggled.

When I asked Mindy how did she and the Sasquatch meet, she answered, “He walked into the town meeting and I went to say hullo!” Asking how he learned English, “I dunno. We just talked, didn't we, Mr. Squash?” “Yah. Talk talk talk talk talk. Learn talk good.” “I did lots of talking and he did lots of listening.” Rua suggested a dictionary might help Sasquatch, if he could read. He just answered, “Mindy reads. Squatch lissen.” Mindy told that Sasquatch had been walking over to the town school. Apparently it was okay with the teacher as he just quietly listened with the pupils.

Rua then suggested he in turn might have a few things to teach about living in the forest. Mindy gave one example, “I wanted to pick mushrooms once and Mr. Squash said No!” Sasquatch made a face, “Bleh.” “They were not good, so I didn’t pick them.” Her face then brightened, “But we picked blackberries! And blueberries!” Sasquatch smiled, “Yummy.” I asked Sasquatch what he thought the most interesting thing about how humans lived was. He answered, “Bathrooms funny,” then pointed to some trees, “Sasquatch bathroom.” For his bath, he pointed to the water.”

Mindy then offered to show where the Sasquatch lived. The sheriff didn’t have a problem, but wanted to keep an eye out. The rest of us traveled to a spot in the woods near Steelhead where there was a small cave. In the back of the cave was some hay, Mindy saying, “I makes sure the hay is fresh just like I do for the stable. And I even sleeps here sometimes in the summer when Mr. Squash is gone” Near the cave’s entrance was a small, simple, Christmas tree. Mindy told, “I made sure there was once here for Santa to leave a present.” “Yah, christmas tree. Not bathroom tree. Over there bathroom tree. You use. It good.” “That's right. If you have a pretty tree with decorations, then it is not a bathroom tree.” I asked Sasquatch what he thought of human beds. He answered, “Is good. Sasquatch leave hair all over bed. Missus Riven say ‘Get out hairball.’ " Mindy told she usually slept on the rug at her house with her pet Meeroos.

The sheriff then came back to the cave at this point, saying he was looking to make sure no one was spying on us, “There may be some who are interested in the Sasquatch. So far, he's the only one around.” Mindy snapped, “If they are, I will bite their kneecaps! I don't want anybody to hurt Mr. Squash.” I mentioned that earlier, it seemed that he more or less got along with everyone in town. Sheriff Fuzzball answered there were no problems from the people living here, “not from anyone in Steelhead.” Mindy told, “He lives here - he’s a citizen!” The sheriff nodded, and the Sasquatch added, “See? Live here.”

Mindy reminded of the first encounter, “he came down from the mountains and went to the town meeting. He's always been in the area, so he's a citizen.” Sheriff Fuzzball added, “And, according to one of our resident Time Lor- er ... I mean, one of our experts in history, this was once the home to the Sasquatch race thousands of years ago.” Mindy commented, “That's why we need to find him a Mrs. Squash.” Fuzzball rolled his eyes, “Mindy, quit your matchmaking schemes.” Sasquatch didn’t seem to understand, or was cracking a joke, “Make match, make fire.” I asked Sasquatch what happened to the others like him. He shrugged, “Mountain close. Path gone.” Fuzzball answered, “We're still not sure about that. Path leading to a secret hidden valley. Portal to another place. No idea.”

Mindy was soon getting hungry, and it was time for the interview to come to a close. I asked Sasquatch if there was anything else he wanted to say. “Ummmmm...... no. Steelhead home, nice.”

After a few more words, we parted ways, and the Sasquatch went about his business of the simple life in the woods, the rest of us our busy lives in our respective communities.

Bixyl Shuftan

Childhood in SL - A Visit to the SL Kids SL7B Exhibit

Kids! They are such a problem ! All moms and papas love them so and would also love to knock them in the head. This happens in real life and also guess what, here in SL.

I have talked to many and spent time with them having fun .. Riding, rafting .. dancing .. fishing ... I have spent some special times with kids fishing in contests and laughing so hard at their wit! They knock my socks off! Some are kids just to be kids. Some are reliving a time of their life that they really enjoyed and felt loved and safe. Some are living a life they never had when they should have had it. Imagine!

Isn‘t that why we are all here, hoping for something we don’t have or can’t have in real life? How many times have I heard “Why would anyone want to be a **** ?“ Replace that with anything you want, furry , vampire, tiny, greenie, slayer of zombies, model, stripper.

Some people think that the kids may be perverts. Forget it!! Perverts are not masquerading here as children. Some might try, but if they were they would be reported immediately by the KIDS! Also if a pervert does approach one of these SL kids they are reported immediately! There are SL kid websites and groups that watch and advise.

These kids want to enjoy this virtual life and have lots of fun doing it. Some are master builders and scripters. Some own sims full of furniture for sale, some have malls, some design clothing. I have seen some very weird avatars around in SL and I figure they must be that avatar because they want to for some reason. Live and let live. Enjoy what we have while we have it!

If you really would like to hear why a person chooses to be a kid now is your chance! You can do it easily without asking any kid. Visit the sweet build by Marianne McCann at the SL7B. There are toy blocks with the pictures of kid avatars. Click any block and you will pick up a note card that will tell you the personal view of why that person chose to become a SL kid.

The SL Kids Exhibit in SL7B is in the SL7B Visionary sim at (205, 184, 22).
Gemma Cleanslate