This Isn’t The End

It saddens me to say that I have sort of left There at the moment. I am in a different virtual world, Second Life to be exact. I suppose I have grown tiersum of There’s limits and problems and Second Life allows me to explore horizions not possible in There. I don’t believe that I will ever be at home within Second Life, for There is my home on the internet. My friends are There, my memories are There, my dreams are There.

I hope There continues to grow, improve, and thrive. But at the moment I can only offer There my passion and continued support, nothing else. I can only hope that my journey within There has just begun, that the past years are only the beginning. I do wish that I will truly and fully return to There one day, that I can feel free and limitless within There as I once did. But as it stands currently, I have seen and done everything. I am no less passionate, enthusiastic, or excited about There’s future.

I believe that I can only hope that There has a bright future. However, we don’t know what the future holds and what There’s future plans are. But I can say this, I believe that There’s future is in the hands of the members. If There goes anywhere, then the members will be leading the way. I trust that There’s members will do the best they can. I believe great things are happening in There, but I can offer There and There’s community nothing right now.

I don’t believe it is right for me to stay if I can not offer anything to help There grow, thrive, or improve. I have spoken my opinions and suggestions, and all I can hope is that the future holds great things for There. The future of There isn’t up to me, but to the current citizens of that world and those in power. I hope There follows the right path and does indeed fix what mistakes have been made in the past. It’s up to There’s community what There evolves into and I put my faith in them. Know that this isn’t the end of my journey…

Sorry For Not Posting…

I know, I have not really made a new post recently. Real life kind of has me busy and I only have time for certain things. Also, I simply have not been spending as much time in There as I use to. Maybe it’s burn out, which I have experienced before. But don’t worry, it isn’t like I am giving up on this blog or There. I’m simply too busy to concern myself with There-related things at this moment. I wouldn’t dream of leaving There any time soon, so don’t worry, I will be back and posting in full force soon enough!

A Virtual World… But Real Feelings…

Today I saw a video of a There wedding that really touched me. Weddings inside There are quite common actually and I think those are prime examples of how There may be a virtual world but the people behind the avatar are very real and have actual feelings and emotions. I have had love inside There. I was very close to someone and then they simply disapeared. I can’t say that it doesn’t affect me to this day. I think about the relationship and what happened everyday because it was so much a part of me. I don’t expect everyone to understand how love could develope between two people inside a virtual world. I think it is hard to explain but the feelings that are felt are still very real.

What touched me the most about this video was a quote, actually. It went like this: “You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.” It is rather hard to explain why this touched me so much. I suppose because that person that I loved did have faults and her leaving me was one of them. But I loved her then and I still love her today. It really tares me apart not knowing what happened to her. However, I still appreciate the time that I got to spend with her. Life gave me a great gift by allowing me to meet her and I will never forget any moment we spent together.

That video caused me to reflect on my past in There and the fact that There may be virtual but it really does touch real lives. No relationship, real or virtual, can ever replace what I have experienced in There. She touched my life so and I deeply thank her for that. I also thank There for giving me an oppertunity to meet and love her. A relationship like the one I had only comes around once in a life time and even sometimes never. I really may never know what truly happened to her or what her reason was for dispearing but that doesn’t matter any more. I still have the memories and the feelings, which is so much more then having nothing.

The True Metaverse – What Will It Be Like?

I have asked myself this same question many times. I do in fact wonder that the Metaverse will be like. Currently, we don’t have the technology to truly build and create the Metaverse. I think right now we are simply making the building blocks which one day will form the real Metaverse, the real 3D internet. I believe that the Metaverse or 3D internet will rely heavily on user-driven content. The Metaverse of course will be in real time and very dynamic. It’ll follow the same philosophy many virtual worlds today follow, freedom without limitation.

I think the Metaverse will have at least 2 or 3 fully functional 3D virtual worlds at it’s core. Those virtual worlds will then be networked with prehaps 2D applications and websites which will then be “translated” into 3D content and displayed as 3D content inside one or all of the virtual worlds. Of course, the possibilities don’t have to stop at the Metaverse’s core virtual worlds being linked with online applications or websites. No, I think users of the virtual worlds at the Metaverse’s core could also link those virtual worlds with offline applications and programs which are on their own computer.

But I also think any virtual world that is part of the Metaverse will let their users script. That basically means being able to program and run actual programs within the virtual world you are using. For example, There uses a scripting language called ThereScript which is based on the actual programming language called Lua. ThereScript is used for many things inside There but mainly the vehicles and other sorts of dynamic content. But I don’t think the Metaverse will simply be one or two virtual worlds but this huge network of offline and online applications and websites, including virtual worlds at the core of this network which would be called the Metaverse. I simply think that the Metaverse will mainly run on user created content.

The overall framework of the Metaverse will be building block based. It’ll have virtual worlds at it’s core but will also have much other functionality. External applications, programs, and websites will be linked with the Metaverse so that more content can be offered inside the actual virtual worlds. The main part will be the 3D virtual worlds but that core will also rely on outside content as well. In reality, it is kind of too early to really have a clear vision and idea of what the Metaverse will be. But I do believe that even now we are helping to build and create the technology which may or may not be used to build the eventual framework of the Metaverse. Virtual worlds like There and Second Life are only part of the equation. But user-driven websites such as Flickr and Digg also have a part to play in the Metaverse’s evolution. The true Metaverse may be far off into the future but even now we do have a real impact on what that future may or may not be.

What Do You Do When Fighting With Narrow Minded Photographers?

Lately on a photo sharing site called Flickr I have been fighting with a few members of the community over Flickr’s “non-photos” policy. Basically, if your account contains too many “non-photos” then your entire account cannot be seen in any public area. No one can even find your photos in a public search! The only way to have your photos noticed is if you add them to a “group photo pool”. I have expressed many dislike for this policy because of my desire to share my experiences in There with the Flickr community. No one seems to understand that and they seem to stick with a 19th century definition of “photo” in which a screen shot isn’t considered a photo.

Well, isn’t that just convient for them? Obviously today people can consider any kind of image a photo. That includes any kind of screen shot or other image. I think they don’t understand that more kinds of images would add depth and diversity to the site. It would open doors for more customers and allow new possibilities which is a good thing. Flickr can’t avoid people uploading these so called “non-photos” and I don’t see the point in fighting those people who do choose to use their Flickr account in their own way.
Flickr is basically ruining many customer’s expereinces with this policy. I have seen people agree with me and defend my opinions but it seems there are too many of these closed minded people on Flickr. They don’t understand that there is no point is using Flickr if my photos of There are hidden from public view. I am not the only one who posts screen shots and other “non-images” on Flickr. Lots of people do and they all come against this policy once or twice. Flickr itself and it’s community should embrace change and improvment. But it kind of seems like they don’t want to and I don’t understand that way of thinking. I’m not closed minded, especially when it comes to peoples opinions and points. But many of the things they point out are just plain wrong and dumbfounded.

I think user-driven sites such as Flickr have a big part to play in the future of virtual worlds and the Metaverse. I do believe that it’s possible that one day 2D content may be able to be “translated” into 3D content inside a virtual world. Kind of like a web page being streamed into There and then displayed in 3D format. But these Flickr members also wonder why anyone on the Flickr site would be interested in virtual worlds or There. It’s very easy to find many screen shots and groups connected with virtual worlds on the Flickr site. Many There and Second Life users make use of Flickr but still have a horrible experience due to this policy that doesn’t even make sense.

I went to Flickr to share my experiences inside There with everyone at Flickr, not just people who would of happened to find my photo stream. I don’t appreciate my photos of There being blocked from public view and public search. It just makes people have a bad experience with Flickr and never come back. But I do think Flickr may learn and embrace change which is why I don’t plan on leaving the site. I like the way Flickr works actually, but not the policy they have in place. It simply hinders some people’s enjoyment of Flickr and I think such hinerance should be found and not embraced. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, won’t we?

I’m Back In There!

Yes, it is true. I am most certainly back in There. Actually, I have found myself logging in lately even tho I kind of decided to quit. I suppose I just can’t stay away! I’m not suprised either, I have decided to “quit” There before and never could stay away all those other times either. What can I say? There is a addiction for anyone and everyone who joins or signs up. It is an amazing place and I don’t know what I was thinking when I said I was gonna quit.

I guess I realize that it doesn’t matter what problems are on There’s current platform. I do believe in There’s future and potential and I think I will always stick by that. It’s an amazing platform and has some undiscovered uses. There is something you never leave because you are always a part of it. Every visitor and every member of There has taken a part in shaping, changing, and building There. It is a world of creativity and innovation. Once a Therian, always a Therian. I’ll be making some posts later too.

I Won’t Be Updating “The Digital Journey”

I won’t be updating The Digital Journey for a while at least. Basically I am in burn out with There, I find myself board lately. Also I don’t agree with some things going on in There so basically I won’t be using There much. Of course I will pop in There for a little while a couple days out of the week but basically I won’t be using There much any more.

Until they do a lot of the needed improvment and add much of the needed features then I don’t find myself being in There for long amounts of time any more. I still want There to succeed and I wish the company and community the best, I just am lost and board any more. I think it is actually sad that I have to abandon There in some ways and I think I am gonna miss the fun times I use to have. I’m not saying There isn’t fun for others but usually it has been getting boring for me.

So, until I get back into There I just won’t be updating The Digital Journey. However I do suggest anyone interested in There check it out, I think it is well worth your time. I’ll still mention There to friends and family, but unfortunetly I won’t be perticipating in There a lot, as I have said already. I must say it has been an amazing journey and a lot of fun times along the way. It saddens me to see myself loose interest in something so innovative and amazing, but that doesn’t change a thing. I’ll still follow the progress and development of There and I do hope that soon I can return to the world I hold so dear.

Just Thinking…

I have been thinking about There, where it is, and it’s future. I have also been reading some stuff about a virtual world similar to There called Second Life. In fact, I am quite farmilar with Second Life on many levels. I was an active user of Second Life at one time until I ran into a lot of drama and decided to leave. In reality, I wasn’t too pleased with Second Life or the experience I had with it over all. But I suppose you are asking what this has to do with thinking about There’s future. Well, much more attention goes to Second Life then to There and I must admit that doesn’t please me too much.

All of this action is going on in Second Life and sometimes I wonder why it isn’t going on in There. I care about There very much and of course I want the best for it, but these kind of thoughts just come over me many times. There has amazing potential and I truly believe that There is the ultimate platform to build the Metaverse upon. But I don’t think it is perfect, in fact There is far from perfect. I just wonder if There is missing all of this attention because There doesn’t have much of what Second Life currently does. I’ll admit it, There is a bit more limited then Second Life. I don’t condone There’s limitations, far from that. In fact many times I have been on There’s forums asking for less limits and more tools.

I am very aware that There is in a state right now where they need to focus on bug fixes and making technical issues a thing of the past. But I want many things to be realized. I want Makena Technologies to take the original dream of There and to compare it with the current There. In my mind I don’t think they’d match but that is just me. Again, I only want the best for There and I think that is what all members of There want. But many members of There’s community have different opinions on There’s future, which I believe I have said before. Sometimes I don’t know. I simply think many mistakes have been made and would like There to fix them. Also, I would like Makena Technologies (There’s Owners) to understand many critical features are missing from their product.

I know other things have to be taken care of right now but I just want them to realize somethings. If There just got things like scripting and in-world object editing I think so many new doors would open. Of course There does have a very powerful content creation system in place right now but some things could be improved. Ok, prehaps many things could be improved. Feature additions tie in with There’s future, which is where much of There’s community is divided. Some people don’t see There as being a Metaverse but a hang-out, while others do see There as the ultimate platform for building and creating a Metaverse. I’m one who strongly believes in There’s potential and I always will think There has that potential.

I don’t complain on There’s forums any more but I do still complain in my head. One of these days I wish I could talk with Michael Wilson (Makena Technologie’s CEO) and give him a list of all problems I have with the product. Of course, he shouldn’t just listen to me but everyone. All ideas should be accepted by the company and community. The problem I often find with There’s forums is that they always make up exuses for why this or that can’t be done. Well truthfully, their exuses are often times bullshit. Now this isn’t the company I am talking about, this is the community I am talking about.

Being members of There should mean you embrace change and digital evolution, because we are all building and shaping the Metaverse. We all have an impact on There’s future, weather it be good or bad. I embrace improvment and change because that is what being dynamic is all about. And of course There is a dynamic and ever-evolving virtual world! I don’t think I am the only one who sees things this way. I actually know for a fact I am not. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone would just agree on what There’s future should be? Then I think things would be a whole lot better and improvment/feature addition would go a whole lot smoother. But unfortunately, these are only my thoughts and suggestions. Too bad no one from Makena Technologies will be reading this…

Been Exploring… And Uploading!

Today I have been exploring some of my favorite places I have had in the past. Also, I have been taking alot of screen shots and I uploaded them to Flickr so my photo stream should be updated. If you scroll down and find the section “A Peak Inside There” then you’ll find the pictures I have taken so far. And yes, There is a picture of my amazingly hot avatar, JB!

One thing I noticed is how people are building around a lot of the original architecture that was built by There’s design tream. Much of what the design team did was very nice, but some of what members are building around it isn’t so nice. I enjoy looking at what members build but it isn’t right to litter and trash what has already been put inside There. Prehaps I should have a post dedicated to that subject, object littering in There! Well… I guess we’ll see.

How Much Really Has Changed?

I was driving around tonight in There and found that I actually got lost… Which basically never happens! I am an avid explorer and I know my way around There quite well but I suppose a lot has indeed changed. It is weird actually, I could swear much of the terrain has changed. Even big groups of trees are gone, but I would be lying if I said I knew where each tree in world should be. However, I can claim I know where many landmarks and neat builds are!