Online Journey: Homecoming in Our Virtual World Second Life
SciFri's Journey in Second Life: A Decade of Virtual Exploration
In the late 2000s, Second Life, an online virtual world, was a pop culture phenomenon, attracting over a million users at its peak. One of these users was SciFri, a website, which created a community within Second Life in 2007 and livestreamed their show every Friday.
The SciFri community was made up of individuals who found Second Life's unlimited creativity and freedom of expression appealing. Linden Lab, the creators of Second Life, provided little pre-made content, allowing members to shape their own virtual world. Matt Burr, an original and current SciFri Second Life member, explains this unique aspect, stating, "Second Life offers a whole new world, the ability to buy real estate, put down roots, and have a spot where people could gather and listen to SciFri."
CB Axel, another original and current member of SciFri's Second Life community, joined the virtual world with a female avatar provided by Linden Lab. CB Axel's Second Life nickname originated from a high school classmate who mistook her name for Connie Boyle. Axel chose the surname Axel due to it being at the top of the alphabet.
Ira Flatow, the host of SciFri, also joined Second Life and struggled to create an avatar that looked like him. He eventually settled for an avatar with the website logo on a white t-shirt. Other members, such as Lynn Cullens and Violet Azemus, experimented with various avatar appearances, from idealized versions of themselves to unusual looks like a realistic rabbit avatar.
Cullens, who chose the last name Loon due to finding the idea of being in a virtual world loony, began to resemble her avatar more closely over time. She also enjoyed experimenting with different styles, including combat boots, short skirts, and crazy hairdos. Azemus, on the other hand, enjoyed the flexibility of Second Life, often switching between an idealized version of herself and various experimental looks.
After a couple of years, the SciFri staff left Second Life, and the space was dismantled. However, some members of the original community have continued to meet up virtually every week. Producer Dee Peterschmidt is currently interviewing members of the original SciFri Second Life community to learn about their experiences, the online community, and what they've learned while spending over a decade in Second Life.
Matt Burr believes that Second Life was foretelling of the internet to come, offering a whole new world, the ability to buy real estate, put down roots, and have a spot where people could gather and listen to SciFri. Ira Flatow shares this sentiment, stating that Second Life was a unique and groundbreaking experience that allowed them to connect with their audience in a new and innovative way.
As Second Life continues to evolve, the stories of its early adopters, like the SciFri community, serve as a testament to the power of virtual worlds to bring people together and foster creativity and innovation.
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