Real kindness in virtual hug

Often, I found myself explaining not just how to fly or build a house, but also listening to Isabella's personal problems - from frustrations with a real-life job to troubles with her virtual lover

Kindness abounds in Second Life, an online world. By world, I mean just that: a place with earth and sky, rivers and trees, sun and moon. All on a monitor.

The real world has negative views on this virtual world (Second Life). It's common to emphasise the sensational in Second Life: men participating as women; women participating as men; and both participating as themselves. Sure, they are fascinating, but they paint a misleading picture of Second Life's culture, which is lived out in the ordinary things.

Sample this.
Once, I took up my friend Martha's invitation to see her new virtual home. I teleported to her kitchen. (Teleporting is to move immediately from one place to another.) Martha was hanging out with Delina. We moved to the living room, and watched palm trees sway outside the window.

Minutes later, an unknown person, Isabella, teleported into the room.

Me: Hello, Isabella!
Martha: Hi, Isabella. Can I help you?
Isabella: Hi, I am new. Just arrived.
Martha: Ah, new.
Isabella: Is it possible to change my clothes now?
Me: Yes, click on 'edit my outfit'.
Isabella: Thank you.

When Isabella had dropped into our room, we were talking. She must have seen three dots on her virtual map, indicating that three persons were in here, and she came in to investigate. She looked lost. She could have been preying on us. So, we gave a cautious click on her avatar and read her profile. (An avatar is a three-dimensional version of yourself in the virtual world.) The profile said she had been created that very day. Isabella was new indeed. Martha sensed her nervousness and asked her to sit.

After a silent gap, Isabella asked how to change clothes. Martha gave her some and explained how to wear them. Such help and support are common in Second Life. Isabella changed into faded jeans and tank top. And the conversation turned to economics. She was eager to earn virtual money. I told her to create and sell things in Second Life. Martha suggested jobs, including that of a virtual disc jockey. Isabella thanked us and teleported away. "Aww," Delina said, "She looked just like I did once," referring to Isabella's simple avatar. "We're all born like that in this world," Martha added, watching the virtual sun go down.

This happy scene could have gone bad. Isabella could have used her anonymous identity to curse us, kill us, cane us. Or, we could have taken out our frustrations on her.

But kindness prevailed, and followed.

From then on, we were quick to invite Isabella to events and to make her feel comfortable.

Often, I found myself explaining not just how to fly or build a house, but also listening to Isabella's personal problems - from frustrations with a real-life job to troubles with her virtual lover. Kindness turned into friendship. And time speeded up on the back of our relationship, which was so intense we could feel each other's essence behind the avatar.

One day, I chatted with Isabella, and could tell by her reply she was not feeling well. I was not surprised when she added: "Texts are not enough right now; I want to be held. Can you come see me?" So, I, Net Sherpa, teleported immediately to Isabella's location and found her sitting on the floor, head buried in knees. "Let's hold each other," she said. "I'm kinda down, I need a friend. A slow dance would be nice; I've been lonely." We swayed and winked to the soft music. "I can feel you," she whispered along my virtual neck. "You are a kind man - I have been having a hard time - I need you - hold me - don't let go."

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ashish.sharma@bsmail.in