Living in the Internet

Who Needs a Second Life?

I don’t need a program called “Second Life”. I’ve tried it but I just don’t “get it”. I know I can fly, but I keep bumping into things when I try. I’m not interested in trying to be a different body type or sex on screen. Not because I am not interested in adventures, that just doesn’t constitute an adventure to me. I’m not interested in buying virtual real estate, because I want to buy real real estate. And until they can figure out how to get to taste the virtual chocolate, I would rather order my Sundaes in first life, even if that means that I have to get on the treadmill to pay for it.

A thought occurs to me for a new virtual reality game. You eat here, and if your avatar works out, you don’t gain weight. Or maybe we could set things up so you drink all night with your friends and your Avatar makes bad decisions and gets hungover-Now I’ll bet people would line up for days to play that game!

But I have a Second Set of Friends

All of that having been said. I spend a ton of time with people who (in the words of Teresa Boardman ) live in my computer. Thanks to Digby and Twhirl and Outlook there are constantly little boxes popping up and bells chiming on my computer with notes from or about people that I never met yet feel as if I know.

They are creative, and funny, sharing photos and quips from all over the country. They are supportive, sharing their experience in new media, and their strategies working in the real estate business and the challenges with their friends and families. Even while writing this, I had to break to read a post Entitled Share The Love  written by Danie Rothamel. And I can go on and on about these people , most of whom I never met,

So How does this Translate?

When I was younger in the business, I remember seeing the name of a local REALTOR published in a National Magazine. I was really impressed that I knew someone who was receiving that kind of attention. Today, I am in constant contact with this group of forward thinking people who are becoming media stars to other REALTORS, and consumers.

As a newcomer to the group , I found out a couple of things that I now believe to be true;

1. People’s personality, good or bad, comes through when they interact over the computer
2. People’s sense of community is as strong in the computer as it is outside the computer
3. People who are your  friends in the computer will rush to defend you if you’re attacked
4. Some people in the computer, actually sound like they write when you meet them!
5. When you meet the people outside the computer, they are often exactly as you thought they were. (see my post on MovePhilly for an explanation of this one)

So I now have a great group of people who are supportive, helpful, articulate, and advancing their businesses while they blaze the way for the profession. Of course, if you’re reading this, you’re already on the way to finding them.