Without fanfare, I slipped out of the party. I couldn’t say goodbye to Worstje and Mies; it was too difficult. They’ll always be with me, in my consciousness - whatever that means in a first, second, third or (infinite) life. And Hyper Inventor remained behind with them, carrying particles of my brief existence in Second Life.
My Third Life
Hello my name is Me Genesis.
On August 10, 2009 I came into existence in a place called "Second Life". But unlike most inhabitants, I have no first life. When I heard rumors that Second Life might end, I went in search of a third life as a back-up plan. This site will chronicle my two-day journey from birth to exit and is an attempt to continue living across the network.
“ And I noticed as we moved in the Sandbox, the HYPER INVENTOR collected images of me. Although it seems benevolent, it’s kind of creepy. It’s as if the creature senses I’m leaving and recording memories of my existence here.
Worstje first noticed him. Or maybe “it” had no sex at all. Anyway, a creature named HYPER INVENTOR was following us.
Sometimes accepting gifts from strangers is a bad idea. Up into the sky and back down to the ground, I become one with a rocket.
“ There were also acts of sabotage. Someone offered a gift which I accepted. Unfortunately, it was a rocket that sent me into the air. I lost my hair in the accident.
“ I love spending my last day with Worstje in the Sandbox. Like me, this space is only temporary. Whatever is built here is destroyed within hours.
“ I asked him whether or not he went to other virtual worlds and apparently he was in several. He said he needed to be prepared just in case Second Life disappeared. If that happened, there would be other lives to fall back on.
I had a really interesting conversation with a guy named Javin. He was in the Sandbox building explosions and portable tigers. (he even gave me a tiger) As clouds of red smoke surrounded us, I asked him about the end of Second Life. He didn’t believe the end would be coming soon. There was no reason for it to end. For him all that mattered about this world was friendship…that’s all we were here for.
And my world spread outside of Second Life. Worstje made this video of us dancing. He said the choreography was from a well-known first life pop-star. It reminded me of the strange dancer I met earlier.
Sometimes friends remember the strangest things. Worstje uploaded videos of my first awkward movements. In the beginning I was so uneasy with myself, insecure and clueless. I was embarrassed when I first saw them. But now I actually think it’s quite funny.
Worstje has tagged me in facebook. It’s funny to see myself through his eyes.
“ Worstje has become my constant companion. Another avatar called him a homunculus, and in appearance it’s true. But I’ve learned to look beyond the surface. Things here are rarely what they appear to be.
And I slipped into my own thoughts and forgot about what was around me. It almost felt as though I could leave my body.
“ While there were moments of absurdity, and there were also times of profound beauty.
