April 18, 2007
A Virginia Tech research assistant has created a memorial to those killed in Monday's rampage shooting.That's not so unusual, but the medium chosen by Ross Perkins is: he created the memorial within the popular online game Second Life.
As reported by Stephen Totilo at MTV News, Perkins, who goes by Milosun Czervik in-game, said:
The wall is just my contribution. The texture on it is 'Hokie Stone,' which is the stone that covers nearly all buildings on our campus.
I heard that there was a candlelight vigil in one part of 'SL' earlier today, but I was with friends here [in Virginia] watching the ceremony and then just walking around outside... We are numb, really. As more names are released, it will get even harder as we learn about the wonderful people we lost.
Perkins is a regular visitor to SL, where he manages the Information and Communications Technology Center, which provides educators with virtual teaching tools. He told Totilo:
I thought about doing a memorial yesterday, but I had mixed feelings about it. Wasn't sure if I should — if it would be perceived as trite — and really, I didn't feel like being in 'SL' much.
Via: Kotaku...
Comments
There are currently around 450,000 who use it very frequently and SL is nearing 1 million active users (nearly 6 million registered users).
There has been fund raising going on for the American Cancer Society in SL, called SL Relay for Life (www.slrfl.org) which has already raised over US$ 41,000 this year alone.
There are currently people raising money for Virginia Tech victims in SL as we speak.
The memorial is a way of letting people from all around the world come together and show their grief. It's a show of solidarity and I think a very worthy one.
Therefore that shows what an impact Second Life can have.
Today, In Virginia
Dr BLT's One Man "Banned"
Words and music by Bruce L. Thiessen, aka Dr. BLT Dr BLT ©2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/TinV.mp3
Virginia’s Tears
Dr BLT's One Man "Banned"
Words and music by Dr BLT ©2007
http://www.drblt.net/music/VT.mp3
Bruce L. Thiessen, Ph.D, aka Dr BLT
University Instructor
Singer/songwriter/psychologist
Some do candlelight vigils.
Some write poems.
Some do documentary type videos.
Some get together with friends to remember or discuss their feelings.
Some write letters of sympathy or share their own experiences.
Some people set up flower/candle shrines.
Just because someone doesn't have the time or money to donate in any useful fashion (especially if they don't live local to the tragedy). Nor does it mean that they HAVEN'T donated their time and money to the tragedy as well.
You've jumped to conclusions, Chris. Whether it's a community of gamers showing their support in a game, or a book club choosing selected poems, or a media outlet playing documentary videos of friends and family, it's all forms of support. And just because we see one form, doesn't mean that those same individuals aren't doing other things as well. They may not be. But we don't know that for certain.
As mentioned, though, the unfortunate part is that some real goomba will come along and probably vandelize it. Then again, if it doesn't get vandelized, what does that say about those who DO vandelize other scenes? That despite some acts of childishness, there is the mind of a feeling Human being underneath? Wouldn't that be nice too?
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
...I fail to see how this is in poor taste.