Steampunk Kandy Roussel!

Sex, Lies and the Metaverse...

I know it's been three months since I last blogged, and I have to be honest I've been too busy with RL to even make an effort.

But, I'm back and I have a juicy tale to tell...

Let me preface this post first: This an observation, it's not about anyone in particular, and it's really my view of things... which is very one sided.

This is a story about friends and people who you think are friends, lovers and those you are in love with, trust and sometimes the lack of it, and honesty...

Why do some people choose to be dishonest in this role playing metaverse?

I understand that by the nature of role playing you are already in a dishonest position. You are wearing a mask and becoming something you are not in RL, while satisfying deep seeded desires which are enticing factors of Second Life. You can play a role and escape your real life, you can shape shift into different characters and engage in taboo behavior. You are only limited by your imagination, and in some cases that's not even a factor since most everything you can possibly do in RL is available to you in SL... and then some. But here's a curious tidbit of SL that most who first enter this world don't truly understand until they engage in virtual experiences... Who you are, truly deep down inside, shines bright and loud in world, even behind all the textures, attachments and animations. People can't mask their true nature. If you are happy in RL you'll be happy in SL, if you are sad in RL you will be sad in SL... and so on...

I have approached SL with that understanding and I've tried to keep things in perspective. I'm an honest person by nature, and the world's worst liar. I'll get caught in a lie within the first five minutes of telling it... so I don't do it. I also try to give others the benefit of the doubt, I believe you are honest and trust worthy until you prove otherwise. One can only believe what someone tells you is true, and then actions either back it up or tear it down. Once someone shows they have hurtful agendas or they are intending to play games, I limit my interactions with them and move on with life... that's true for both worlds.

I entered Second Life with the intention of bridging RL and SL. I see that metaverses are the future and one day the lines between the two will become blurred. Second Life is not a game, even though it's touted as such. Second Life is a global social experiment, it's a realm for those seeking to make creative business and personal connections. To me it's no different from Facebook or Myspace, it's just a 3D VR version of those 2D mediums.

Over my 10 months in world I've adopted the motto "take them as they come" to heart. People have come and gone in my short time in world, and I've come to realize making solid connections can be tough. There's so much room for misinterpretation and things can get lost in translation. As by the nature of private instant messaging one can start to assume things are taking place that are not really happening, or be completely oblivious of malicious attacks against them. In real life when a group gathers events are audible and visual, people are transparent and it's apparent when the group is for or against something. In SL a group can gather and portions of the group can get into a private chat excluding others, lines of personal responsibility for others feels are blurred or even lost. It very easy to ostracize someone for the pettiest of reasons, or make that person feel excluded.

I have learn a few valuable lessons for navigating in Second Life...

1. It's as not serious as real life, so relax and enjoy.
2. Don't fall in love unless there is a real and strong two way connection.
3. Don't make any promises, unless they are sincere or business related.
4. Take people as they come.
5. Don't take anything personally.
6. People are not your good friends until they show you they are.
7. Only give as much as you get back.
8. When it starts to feel overwhelming log out and take a break.
9. Tread carefully when bridging the SL/RL divide.
10. Cyber sex is overrated!

I was once told to never trust anyone in world, and at the time I thought the person was joking, but I've come to find out there was nothing funny about it. Trust is a commodity, you should give as much as you get. You may think someone is your friend and you disclose all your feelings to them only to get stab in the back by your own words. Some people prey on others in that way to make their existence seem more important. I try to be open minded and not take things personally, though it may be hard to feel removed from situations that may directly affect you.

And like in real life people can get caught up in the jealously game, and try to compete for the attentions of others or antagonize someone over skillset. And just like in real life some people enjoy being fought over, it inflates egos and puffs people up with pride. Envy and jealously are some of the ugliest traits people can have, and it's a feeling I've learned to battle and release from my heart. When I find myself feeling jealous I to pull away, because I don't like to compete with others for anything. My talents and values are not be compared and I'm different from the next person... my skills are unique.

My SL existence is not to make someone else feel better about them self, it's for my own creations and happiness. Honesty and Trust are very valuable, and people are human no matter if it's flesh or texture mapped polygons, so to lie and devalue trust are grave social sins in SL. People's feelngs are not levels of conquest to be toyed with, love and compassion transcends 1 & 0's, and true friends... real friends... never behave maliciously to make themselves feel better about their own existence.

These are all learning lessons I guess, and I'm only becoming stronger from them. As my friends list grows and my current relationships get stronger, I know I'll be challenged in many different ways, so I'll just continue to learn and adapt in this realm called Second Life.

Robot Kandy!

Nexus 6

I love the movie Blade Runner, I've seen it over 100 times, and you know me I love being a robot. So when I found out there was a Blade Runner SIM I jumped all over it. I changing into my cyber punk mohawk robot look and did a photo shoot. My good friend CROW Dagger join me on the adventure and took many shots, here are a few. Enjoy! =]

Robot Kandy and CROW Dagger

Clean line of sight.

They got me!

Crazy Bus Lady!

La Casa de Dulces -- Kandyland Expansion!

One day while chilling on my beach parcel I began to think how nice it would be to have more space. I purchased my small corner water front parcel in the beginning of the year about a month after rezzing, and I always had the intention to expand either on my current SIM or move to a larger one. My neighbor next to me, who I only meet once in 7 months, had defaulted on her tier, and both of her parcels were seized by the Azure Islands Covenant. These parcels are directly next to me on the east side of the island. Then one day my other neighbor Atena Ah IMed me about another parcel on the northwest corner of the SIM being empty. She seem very concerned about this, she didn’t like the idea that a third of our home island was empty. We both began to lament on how nice it would be to have more space, and I told her I was very interested in expanding and I would be willing to buy the empty parcel next to me.

Her and I walked around the parcels getting a lay of the land when she proposed that she buy the larger empty one if I could purchase her parcel, which is on the west side of me. I told her I was fine with either, I just wanted to expand and it didn’t matter to me if it was south or west. A few weeks later we made the deal, and she moved into the empty parcel and I bought her land… The expansion was on!

Now before I made the purchase I did some planning. I needed to outfit my beachfront and I wanted to buy a steam punk airship. I already had some Tiki gear on my current parcel, a couple of huts and a pair of waterfalls that I purchased from Waterfall World - Tiki Beach - G. I really love the style and quality, but shop was limited in it’s selections. That’s when I start SIM jumping to look for quality Tiki gear. I found two really good places Bloomin' Solutions by JC Designs and * Tiki - Tiki * ! – Store, all my additional tiki purchase came from those two places. From JC Designs I bought a three level gazebo with built in tiki torches, and from the Tiki Store I picked up a romantic campfire that I set in the sand. I also picked up various beach accessories like palm trees, easter island heads, hamocks and rafts. It was tons of fun exploring these sim stores and picking out items.

The month before I started to expand I picked up a giant scripted squid and had dreams of giving him a place to swim, so I deceide to sink my smaller parcel into the ground and let it full with water. Terra forming is so much fun, I loved controlling my enivornment in that way. It was like a Second Life earthquake that I was manipulating. I drop the floor down just deep and wide enough to let my giant squid roam freely in all directions without breaking the water surface. I then went shopping for more wild life and underwater plants. I got the squid from ><)))"> Splash Aquatics <")))>< so I went back there. I got a sea turtle and a spider crab. I then picked up a small cluster sea anemone made by Angus Mesmer, these anemone are very cool. Their shape, color and glow are visually pleasing. I then added some chill out seats, beds and bubbles to the pool for underwater hanging. Miss Queen Coronet was very kind to sprinkle cool pose bubbles around the pool as well, it's become a very nice place to chill.

I then started my steam punk airship search. I had seen some platform vendors on the Steam Forge SIM so I went there to investigate. I found an image of the perfect party deck so I took the note card and tped to **~Illuminated Port of Freemen~** Steampunk Airships. I found the ship parked in the water, I walked on and fell in love and I bought instantly. I came back to my land and rez it right away. It came in two parts so I laid them down on the sand and then flew them up to 454m up in the air. I had to piece the two halves together which was a little tricky high up, but I managed to get them linked. I then went on my furniture quest, my goals were steam punk, high quality and low prim. I came across many different pieces of furniture on my hunt but I settled on a few key items. I bought a Havana Bed with matching lounge chair and leather love seat and chairs set from Victorian Antiques Furniture. Then I purchased a room divider, sofa, lounger and coffee table set from Ambrosia ~ High Quality Old Style Furniture. Then I bought my a western saloon style bar from Fishbelly's Guitar Shop and Steamworx.

I visited many steam punk sims on that trek and I found I really to love the style. I identify with the concept of blending past and future. Those to states of existence are mere images in our brains, memories and visions, and steam punk culture brings it to them to the tangible present. It's not just an SL thing, it's a RL movement that is gaining a following. I guess it's also the urban city girl in me, see the preservation of whats been before while forging toward the future.

I really had blast setting up my place, my intention was to create a relaxing fun environment that all can enjoy. I plan on having many parties here so be on the look out for a flyer or two that will be pop up here in the near future. =]

Burning Life!

Cyber Sunset!

I love Hybrid Gear!

Queenie Pie, Sweet Kandy and Pretty Briddy!

Three of the sexiest avatars in SL!

Code Red -- Angel and Demon Party!

Kandy Angel

Hot Damn Queen! OhLaLa!

WOW!! Sexy Demon!