The Dark and the Light by Megan Prumier

A friend showed Second Life® to me, and taught me to build simple basic things. Through virtual building, I can build whatever I want. Today I want a castle. You can’t do this anywhere else—it is like magic! So I built all day, everyday, and took some classes. This is the best way to learn. And, because I’m from Italy, SL helps me improve my bad English. It is great for learning different languages.

In real life, I have an ironmongery store—I sell hammers, nails—hardware. When working, I can’t be online. It is not good to be in-world when people call on you every two minutes. Balancing between real life and SL depends on when I have big build projects, like a sim. Then, during all of my free time, I build, usually in the afternoon.

People might come here for what they are missing, or can’t be, in real life. In my first months, I was really addicted to SL. The age of a resident is important. It is easier for a young guy to be addicted than an adult. I discovered SL when I was 25. Maybe if I were younger, it would be more dangerous. Video games, in general, can be addicting, but mostly, SL can be. New generations grow up with violent games, and they stay all day at home playing. SL is even more absorbing.

Fortunately, when I was so caught up in spending all my free time in SL, I missed real life. I figured out that what is real must always come first. So I am in-world only when I really want to be. I always have time for real life. I feel balanced because I see SL like a game. If I want to stay off for a week, I don’t have any problem.

It is possible to come and go easily because scripts work for the business when I am off line. I have a rezzer that shows people my buildings; I don’t need to be present for them to shop. I just check if a customer needs help.

Initially, I worked very hard building my stuff. Now I have enough items that I can relax a bit and build only when really inspired. I remember when I started with only ten buildings: I always thought I must build other things soon—build, build, build!

SHEDDING LIGHT INTO THE DARK

When I moved my virtual home to the Wastelands sim, it made me think to build destroyed stuff. There are too many great shops that sell wonderful things, so why not ruined buildings full of trash? Hahaha! I help people, who don’t know anything about building, create their own places—to set up scenes or series easily. They can completely build a world just from my shop.

I have always liked dark things, even if I can’t say that I feel dark. Recently, I finished Metropolis, and I want to relax for a while because building a sim can be weary. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ meganprumier/sets/72157628057322589/

Business is slowly growing. But I don’t build only for business. I have fun, and I both like to build as well as take pictures. It is a nice hobby. I’m not a builder who earns a big income; for those who do, this can be real work. Rather, my goal is to always build better.

The market stays about the same, but there are always more people who like this kind of stuff, especially guys that played Fallout. Though I never played, many people like the post-apocalytic style thanks to that game.

If you build things with passions, people will like them. I always build like if I’m building for myself. Usually, when I build for another person, I want to be 100% free. My experience tells me it works out better in this way.

Though my building is about devastation, I am a very positive person, not dark or depressed. This is in contrast to my work. I’m a nice person—I try to be! I’m like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Hahaha! —Megan Prumier

(Please see Megan’s article, “Ruins to a Better Life” in the SL version of SSJ#8 that gives insights most appropriate in-world.)

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