[updated] Second Life Day of Remembrance is April 17
Friday, April 4th, 2008 at 3:42 PM by: Everett LindenSecond Life Day of Remembrance, April 17th, 6 am to 11 pm SLT
Big Easy
Have you ever lost an in-world friend? As years pass in Second Life, more residents will have the sad experience of logging in to find that someone they know and love in-world has passed away in Real Life.
Resident Katt Kongo recently lost a dear friend, SL resident Ginny Talamasca. In response, Katt conceived of a new community event that would commemorate the life, spirit, and creativity of all the residents who have left us. April 17, Ginny’s birthday, marks the beginning of the yearly ‘Day of Remembrance’ in Second Life.
The event is organized around the New Orleans tradition of the Jazz Funeral and the Second Line. Rather than a sad, solemn affair, a New Orleans funeral celebrates life with music and parading. Our parade will depart from historic Jackson Square and crash joyously through the Big Easy region four times–so that Residents in all time zones can participate.
Participate!
Linden Lab has donated two regions to the effort, but in the best SL tradition, this is a completely Resident-created event. If the Day of Remembrance speaks to you, please join in the effort. All levels of participation are open!
- Are you a builder or scripter? Volunteer to help script some cool actions in our awesome memorial temple.
- If you are a musician or DJ (especially if you speak Jazziiness) who would like to perform on the main stage, get in touch!
The rest of you mark you calendars for the 17th– come by and join in the “second line” of the parade. Second liners spin parasols, twirl hankies, play various instruments and carry pictures of the dearly departed, all to a Jazzy beat.
For more information, please visit this web page to learn details about volunteer opportunities and the event schedule.
Let’s send our loved ones off in style.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Dusty Linden: “Hello World!”
Yes, the deadline for Day of Remembrance volunteering is tight, but that can be a good thing! You’ll know that if you volunteer to help out, it won’t consume the rest of your life! We’ve got some fun, simple projects to knock out, as well as some clever complex ones for those who love a creative challenge. Please do check the ideas on the informational website http://sites.google.com/a/dustylinden.com/info-day-of-remembrance/Home, or even propose an idea of your own! The website will allow you to contact the right person for your skills, and the Remembrance Team would love to expand to include you! We all look forward to working with some of you on this very meaningful project.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I’d rather say. SL is getting more and more part of my life.
Some day things will happen to me like in the TRON-Movie.
I tried to right-click the door the other day. …huugh *shivering
Must get some rest before cyberspace gets me.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Wow, Way to go Katt **hugs** I lost a very dear friend also in 2006 and one last year, this is something I have been waiting for! Sign me up if you need help!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:13 PM
What a wonderful and thoughtful idea. Certainly is on my calendar.
But, umm Dusty … I’m not sure Ginny died last April? I seem to recall it was late last October or early November.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:17 PM
I have mixed feelings, so many “online” friends get struck down by mystrey diseases, car accidents etc and vanish. I have developed a sense of cynicism to “misfortune” online for purely internet “friends”. The vast majority simply want to untangle themselves from online for real life reasons, so “die”.
Some online friends have become r/l friends and have passed away over the years, I mourn them as real friends, To me grief is a private matter. I cannot bring myself to mourn an online friend who disappears.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:26 PM
The Ginny Talamasca “death” was supposedly in November. With a Limited one month sale that was to follow. which is still going on. This whole Ginny thing has been called a scam and a lie. So, why is Linden Lab using names of people that may or may not have passed away, and rumor has it, is doing a publicity stunt.
A day of Remembrance is a nice idea, but it should be for EVERYONE, not pointing out specific people. That really leaves a sour taste!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:36 PM
My friends and me lost a very good friend in July 2007 and we don’t need a celebration like this. Remembrance shouldn’t be fixed on a specific date, because they live forever in our hearts.
I think it’s a better idea to create a small memorial place for this friends, like i did it.
For all good friends and Pinka, who are now in after life: we still love you… your living forever in our hearts and memorys.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Donating two themed sims to serve as a permanent memorial park to honour all residents that passed away in real life would be respectful.
Using it as an excuse to throw a party is insensitive beyond belief.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:40 PM
how morbid
April 4th, 2008 at 4:40 PM
In SL I feel connected to all I meet,..LOL..some good some not so but we are all a part of it. Whether they pass in RL or just leave,..to me it is still the same…a loss. I think it is a wonderful Idea to “give” them a proper show of our longing to have them here with us. After all it has been said many a time “it is more the thought than the gift itself” A loss of any kind always seems eaisier to cope with among friend who feel the same,…and a New Orleans style march seems very fitting indeed!! Just wish Torley played the trumpet!! : -P I bid you Peace
April 4th, 2008 at 4:41 PM
@8: I never saw the word “party” used once in the blog post.
Do you want everyone to be depressed, or at least have fun and enjoy the day?
April 4th, 2008 at 4:52 PM
For the cynics in the audience — Katt was well acquainted with Ginny in Reality. Those who think it’s a scam will just have to be cynical on their own time.
And actually the April 17 date comes from Ginny’s rl birthday, not the date of her passing.
P2
April 4th, 2008 at 4:53 PM
@ Dusty: April 17 would have been Ginny’s birthday. She died Oct. 31.
@Opps: There is no “supposed” death. Ginny’s death has been verified with LL. Her funeral was attended by SL residents. Would you like a picture of the gravestone?
@Vanessa: It’s simply a day to remember the ones we have lost. While it’s tempting to buckle under the weight of sadness that thinking of what I lost in losing Ginny, I think it’s more important to rejoice that she lived and more importantly, I GOT TO KNOW HER!
I would really like that to be the point of the day. Not celebrating that these people are gone, but celebrating their lives.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:54 PM
@11 Nimrod, you ever saw a New Orleans Funeral Celebration? It looks more like a party then a silent remembrance. It’s a part of the culture there to celebrate this with Jazz. But this is not what the most ppl like for a remembrance.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:59 PM
And PS. Actually, Oops.. Dazzle/LC was closed until the new year, until Ginny’s partner decided what to do with the store and the designs. Sometime in January, the store was reopened, and a time was set for the store to close. However, because there was an issue with the sim, where it was down for weeks, the sale was extended. It is permanently closed now.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:59 PM
This is a great idea. I may not know if in RL my frends that go away passed on but I’ll celebrate their memory anyway. WTG people
April 4th, 2008 at 5:02 PM
I think the idea is to celebrate friends lives who have passed away. This is a time to remember, celebrate, and not forget peoples lives.
Usually such remembering will be remembering the happy times, quite possibly laughing about stories about our friends. At the same time there will be tears shed.
Should be a a good day and I think it’s very good that Linden Lab is supporting the fact friendships are made in SL and the many Real emotions that are created by the friendships.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:04 PM
LL calling this a day of rememberance is so morbid. I have lost a couple friends I met in SL and I am capable of mourning the loss of them myself. I dont need or want LL to declare that the day they choose is official. I cant even get a week old ticket answered. I do not want LL entering my real life. OMG Im so mad right now. Over 4 years I have lived in SL do not preach to me LL.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:13 PM
yup. they may be playin world of warcraft or something
April 4th, 2008 at 5:17 PM
My father died in RL last year, although my father didn’t have any appreciation for Jazz, he would have been tinkled-pink to have had a New Orleans type funeral. As it was he was Scottish, so we all left the Church to Campbeltown Loch (where he was from) and drank Campbeltown Whisky in memory to him
Chorus:
Oh! Campbeltown Loch, Ah wish ye were whisky!
Campbeltown Loch, Och Aye!
Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky!
Ah wid drink ye dry.
Now Campbeltown Loch is a beautiful place,
But the price of the whisky is grim.
How nice it would be if the whisky was free
And the Loch was filled up to the brim.
I’d buy a yacht with the money I’ve got
And I’d anchor it out in the bay.
If I wanted a nip I’d go in for a dip
I’d be swimmin’ by night and by day.
We’d have a gathering of the clans
They’d come from near and far
I can see them grin as they’re wading in
And shouting “Slàinte mhòr!”.
But what if the boat should overturn
And drowned in the Loch was I?
You’d hear me shout, you’d hear me call out
“What a wonderful way to die !”
But what’s this I see, ochone for me
It’s a vision to make your blood freeze.
It’s the police afloat in a dirty big boat
And they’re shouting: “Time, gentlemen, please!”
Campbeltown Loch is sung to a march written for the bagpipes, The Glendaruel Highlanders.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:18 PM
I think this is a wonderful idea
SecondLife is too close to RealLife to be ignored when it comes to important things like emotion and grief. Cheers to you Katt for the concept and to LL for supporting it.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:19 PM
This seems like an odd thing to do - after all, in First Life, it’s not common for many cultures to have a single day where everybody commemorates their dead. I’m very sad that Katt lost a dear friend… but is a “nationwide” day of institutionalised remembrance a custom that we should deliberately choose to introduce to our SL culture?
Stirring up people’s memories and feelings about lost friends is NOT something you should do lightly. Let people grieve in their own way. Don’t make an annual party out of it. If I choose *not* to dance along with the jazz carnival, will people feel I’m somehow dishonoring those that we’ve lost? I don’t want to be put in that situation.
Beyond that, In virtual worlds, when people disappear, it’s often not clear what rl circumstances caused them to not be around any more… the famously documented “A Story about a Tree” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Story_About_A_Tree) is an example of how apparent rl deaths of MMO players are sometimes not what they seem… who knows, maybe we’re pouring out grief for rl things that haven’t actually happened… is that a healthy thing to do?
I don’t comment here often… but, to me, there’s just something seems…. wrong… about this.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:26 PM
@21 “SecondLife is too close to RealLife to be ignored when it comes to important things like emotion and grief.”
Take a break from SL for a while. Seriously.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I lost an SL friend last May, I wrote a little poem I can share:
Look up!
Look up my friends
Look up!
Our dear friend Ace has left this world
But she lives on in third life, so
LOOK UP!
Look up and smile.
In every moonbeam we see we see Ace.
In all the stars that shine the brightest star is Ace.
Look up!
Look up…
See the sunrise, see Ace
See the moonset,
See Ace.
Look up, friends, look up!
And see her shine.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:38 PM
I think this is just a wonderful idea! I am so sorry for those of you who are personally motivated toward this event through a direct loss. I am delighted, though, at the celebratory spirit of life that has been adopted! Parade and dance on!
April 4th, 2008 at 5:41 PM
@Toy: it’s obvious you’re not in favor of the idea… so there’s a simple solution: feel free not to participate.
@Shep: I don’t think it’s that unusual. In Mexico, they celebrate “Dia de los Muertes,” while similar holidays are observed in the Czech Republic, New Zealand, the Phillippines, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Austria, Germany and parts of Africa.
Many other cultures around the world have similar traditions of a day set aside to visit the graves of deceased family members. Often included in these traditions are celebrations, food and beverages, in addition to prayers and remembrances of the departed.
The Bon Festival is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed spirits of one’s ancestors. Similar holidays exist in Korea and Nepal.
(Thanks to Wikipedia)
P2
April 4th, 2008 at 5:41 PM
By the way, nobody is forcing anyone to attend the wake up! if they do not wish to. If some want to come and celebrate life in the presence of color and music and camaraderie, why would one possibly want to deter that?
April 4th, 2008 at 5:42 PM
@23: If you aren’t emotionally invested in anyone in SL, you probably will never understand those of us who are.
P2
April 4th, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Oh I wont P2 but I did think this called for responses, or did I miss something?
April 4th, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Have I ever expressed how distressed I am at the deep angst and lack of good will regularly displayed on the LL blogs?
April 4th, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Toy LaFollette Says: “LL calling this a day of rememberance is so morbid. I have lost a couple friends I met in SL and I am capable of mourning the loss of them myself. I dont need or want LL to declare that the day they choose is official. I cant even get a week old ticket answered. I do not want LL entering my real life. OMG Im so mad right now. Over 4 years I have lived in SL do not preach to me LL.”
That sounds pretty insensitive to me to deny this to those that lost someone and do want this. If you don’t want LL “entering your real life”, simple, just don’t attend the event. Attendance numbers will decide if it is worth having again or not, not preaching from the blog.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:48 PM
awwz.. i got the tingles.. how sweet.. hugs to u
April 4th, 2008 at 5:49 PM
@31… I happen to be quite capable of showing my resect in my way. I dont think a MMO should get involved with it. Like I told P2 this called for comments and that is what I have done, may I suggest if you dont agree with me dont read my comments.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:58 PM
This is amazing!
April 4th, 2008 at 6:03 PM
“in First Life, it’s not common for many cultures to have a single day where everybody commemorates their dead..”
Erm…. Halloween / Samhain, Celtic fesitval of the dead (Western Europe/US), Día de Muertos (Mexico), All Saints/Souls Day (most of Europe and Russia), Araw ng mga Patay (Philippines), O’Bon festival (Japan), Chuseok (Korea), Qingming Festival (China), Khamis al-Amwat (Middle East), Fet Gede (Haiti) and so on and so on.
MOST of the world’s cultures have such a festival and as seeing as we have a wide cross-section of them here in SL, I think a Day of The Dead is a great idea.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:05 PM
THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE …. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN … KNOWN UNTO GOD ….. (wearing my poppy every single day)
Let s try for once not only to remember friends and loved ones (lost my mom on cancer last january) BUT
Also all Military Personel who dare to give each day their most precious thing .. Their live … in past wars and now a days … just for our freedom ….
April 4th, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I would love to participate, on so many levels this is important to me.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:14 PM
It just goes to show you that people are always looking for a reason to be sore about something.
No one could definitively say that this event won’t help some assuage their grief. That is enough for me. Those who would rather stew or be angry are not having their arms bent backwards to attend.
If it does not step on your toes, be quiet and let the rest of the crowd appease their pain in their own way. It’s not your damn business.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:15 PM
“As years pass in Second Life, more residents will have the sad experience of logging in to find that someone they know and love in-world has passed away in Real Life.”
With all due respect, in most cases, how would anyone even know? It’s an honest question. I don’t think that many families of recently deceased Residents would necessarily think to contact Linden Lab, and even if they did, most of the time, they wouldn’t have access to the person’s password anyway. Privacy issues also come to mind.
Please note: I am not negating this whole idea. I’m just trying to figure out how it would work in most cases.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:21 PM
@39 your problem is, is that you have a perception of how you think, things like this work, step back a bit and see that you don’t have to figure it out. your either in or your not, think of it like ‘art’ some people get it others don’t, this is celebrating the art of life and death
April 4th, 2008 at 6:25 PM
@Katt: Ohhhh so many things to like about Ginny, and now to discover he was a fellow Aries.
Thanks Katt!
April 4th, 2008 at 6:26 PM
In my case, those who are important to me are on a special contact page in my address book. If I passed away, my family would know to contact them. In the case of Ginny, because of Last Call and the Dazzle sim, Ginny’s partner had to verify her death.
I know some people won’t like this, while others will find value in it. I won’t tell you that you should get behind this idea, and you certainly shouldn’t tell me I shouldn’t want a day like this to celebrate the life of my friend. I would hope that something that is supposed to be a GOOD thing would not cause people to attack each other.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Katt, my apologies, I got the significance of the date wrong. I’ve updated it.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Out of all the people that have passed away in Second Life, this “memorial” is being dedicated to someone who was known for mass producing mediocre quality content, and one who brought many a drama and and deceit to the community.
I personally think it’s tasteless for LL to call out one person, especially someone who had done nothing significant for the community, whether he was a nice person or not, there are countless others who have done more for the community, non-profit, who have passed.
This is really pathetic to see LL favoring certain individuals the way they do certain real-life companies.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:36 PM
thinking it over, i must say I agree with those that really dont like the idea.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Oh one person you could had maybe done this for before, would be Feliciaa Feaver who had long struggled cancer, and had been a huge support of Relay for Life in Second Life, and was gracious to so many people, who in my opinion did much more for the good of the community and Second Life than this individual who lived for clearance sales and mass producing content. Way to go LL, classy
It’s similar to your favoring of companies like IBM, NBC, & CSI. Front page advertising, grid-wide messages for the opening of NBC (I mean really!)…this is a community, don’t treat the big guys better than the little guys, because honestly, it’s the little guys that made SL what it is.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:38 PM
@ everyone who commented on my comment:
It’s not my business how anyone chooses to remember someone who passed away, it’s personal. There is no right or wrong way.
Personally, it doesn’t have to be a depressing, sad and teary event, but making a public spectacle out of it just crosses the line for me and I can not identify with that. If you disagree, that’s fine, everyone’s different.
What I do feel is insensitive is LL backing a singular vision of what a “Day of Remembrance” should be like instead of leaving it open for everyone to fill in in their own, personal way.
@Katt: I do wish you all the best with your event and I hope you don’t take my comments the wrong way.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:41 PM
@Belinda. Sheesh. It is NOT dedicated to any one person. The blog post merely explained how the idea came about.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:43 PM
I for one, think this is a good idea. What better way for everyone to rally together in camaraderie and remembrance? We all have either lost someone, or met someone who has. Second Life can use more holidays, and a Day of Remembrance is a great place to start!
April 4th, 2008 at 6:45 PM
I’ll do what I can (I did a lot of footwork for another Day of Remembrance in SL last year). Too bad the work is before tax day in the US though.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:45 PM
RE: Katt, If they are going to have a rememberance day, then most certainly don’t have it on the same date as a favored individual. That’s insulting to those that have also lost their lives, like my good friend Wally who passed away in 2007. Pick an anonymous date, and be more respectful to those of us who have dealt with the same pain that you may have.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:49 PM
While I don’t know the person concerned, I think the concept is great and starting a few traditions that are unique to SL can bridge the first life culture gaps.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:55 PM
[...] Lab have donated two sims for the event and the call has gone out for musicians, builders and scripters who’d like to be involved. [...]
April 4th, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Every time I read the blog responses it just amazes me at the amount of whingers whiners and moaners there are in SL.
Katt suggests an idea that I’ve no doubt many people will appreciate, SL gets on board with it and the whingers whiners and moaners come out in force to knock it.
@38, I agree 100% with you
“No one could definitively say that this event won’t help some assuage their grief. That is enough for me. Those who would rather stew or be angry are not having their arms bent backwards to attend.”
April 4th, 2008 at 7:06 PM
@Belinda: It’s easy to hide behind a generic name and express negative opinions about someone you apparently have issues with . *shrugs* If the quality was so bad, then Last Call would not have been so popular.
@MJ: How is such a day chosen? You could put forth a day that is secretly your grandfather’s birthdate, while Resident X can suggest a day which is the day his pet dog died.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:08 PM
RE: Katt, true, but at least it’s not advertised as such.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:09 PM
No idea is ever going to please everyone. Instead of griping or whining, why not allow those who have interest in this to do it without attempting to belittle them/us?
P2
April 4th, 2008 at 7:09 PM
I see, if someone disagrees they are called names. Last I looked I have as much rights to disagree than agree.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Katt,
I wouldn’t go as crediting the quality to his popularity. He only averaged 7-12 people when he wasn’t running a sale, when he ran a sale, he was pretty popular. Regardless, that’s not the issue here.
I may not agree with his business ethics or morals, but I don’t have anything against him or have any issues with him, I simply strongly disagree that Linden Labs should go as far as stepping in and starting this memorial day after an individual, let alone someone who had such a controversial persona and was involved with many shady transactions, rather than someone who went out of there way for special causes, such as Feliciaa.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Overall, I think this is a nice idea. We form serious bonds in SL, and taking a moment out to remember those we have lost is a good thing. It is not about one person, no matter whose name is on it… it is about all who were a part of our community that have passed beyond our sight and hearing…
Oh, BTW - logins are down…
DRD
April 4th, 2008 at 7:27 PM
yeah lets not have rememberance day on her frineds death lets cheapen it by having it on here rez day and have a month long sale to boot lets have a im not a scamer just for profit and not give back to residents or to the metaverse on my rez day..
April 4th, 2008 at 7:28 PM
i mean him hehe
April 4th, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Belinda, I knew Ginny when she was just starting out, when most of what was in SL was not very good. Whenever I went somewhere, I bumped into people also wearing Dazzle clothing. Yes, her popularity was diluted as more graphic artists came into SL and began to create, but LC was always popular, popular enough that she could donate to ACS, then later pay her excessive medical bills.
But why do you keep making this about Ginny? I did initially come up with the idea because I lost my friend. But lots and lots of people have lost, one way or another, people they met in SL and really cared about. I feel that SL will eventually have many holidays, and a day of remembering all of the really great friends we have made in SL should be one of them.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:32 PM
With respect to anyone who does pass i do not think SL i a place to pay respects if someone wishes to use thier own land as a memorial then that is great but Lindens getting involved to me seems a slippery slope.Remebering someone does not need a day if you care you remember them everyday.This is not what SL is about its about your own experiance not being told when to remember someone.
I am sorry to anyone who passed but these are deeply personal things to the people who knew them.Saying we now have a day to remember is wrong.you are cheapening real rememberence days for huge loses of lives.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Maybe we should also remember the actually dead grid……..but maybe it’s only me…..
April 4th, 2008 at 7:32 PM
I think we all remember those lost everyday. We have had memorials for years and while Ginnys death was sad why do the Bobby’s and Tori’s in sl not warrent a two sim celebration.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:33 PM
‘Day of Remembrance’ is better than ‘Ginny Talamasca Memorial Day’ (thank the gods that someone saw what a bad idea THAT was), but making it April 17 is questionable, if you asdk me. Commemorating those SL residents who are no longer with us is a fine thing; having a day of commemoration so strongly linked to someone whose contribution to SL in general is of arguable importance, and has more to do with name recognition than anything more meaningful or concrete, is something of an insult to those others who are lesser known.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:35 PM
In a somewhat oddly coincidence, yesterday marked the loss of a very dear SL and RL friend of mine as well. I can appreciate LL’s desire to help provide a way for us to celebrate the lives of those we have loved, who are no longer with us.
Personally, though, I’m not much for the N.O. style of funeral, as described. I very much prefer the idea of dedicating a sim or sims that could be used for permanent memorials of some kind. Perhaps there is some practical way of doing that? I know I would be grateful for the opportunity to plant a grouping of hand-made iris in her name. Far from creating a graveyard, I think residents could come up with something truly creative and amazing, that stands as a permanent testament to our SL friends’ memories and accomplishments.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:36 PM
We lost Teri LaFollette April 3, 2008. I have lost several people I was close to in sl, including a relative. I am thrilled to see this day being put aside for those of us who wish to remember our sl family.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:37 PM
“…why do the Bobby’s and Tori’s in sl not warrent a two sim celebration”
Because no one asked LL for one?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:38 PM
The problem is this was made about one person when it was dubbed on Kongo’s friends’ birthday. While the idea of a day of remembrance is lovely, this also reeks of personality and ego.
Linden Labs should have realized that this was a volatile issue and will have been made more so by associating with Kongo and Ginny’s death.
Many died before her and will die after her. This really isn’t reflective of the entire Second Life community — only a couple people. Very sad, indeed.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:40 PM
I think that is absolutely wonderful. I have backup information for my Second Life account & various friends online in the case that something ever happens to me. I love the idea & have yet to lose anyone that has been dear to me on Second Life but support this effort in any way that I can.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:41 PM
im glad someone made out on this death but keep in mind all the land barrens and just out for profit mass content creators your making a bad world for new comers who may have some good even genius talent so long live the metaverse may you die in commercialized hell i here china got a good metaverse coming out soon maybe i will have to sell and leave you wont miss me and i wont miss you
April 4th, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Hey ass holes I cant log in while your making an effort to grandiose some ass tart I dont know!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:44 PM
rembrences should be private make something on his sim
April 4th, 2008 at 7:46 PM
@ Stanton you are out of order,i might not agree with this move but i hope you never get to log in again,no need for that.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:46 PM
I think this is a really sweet idea.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Boycott it, I say.
Oh wait, unless they get the log in and TP failures fixed by then, it really won’t matter, will it? No one could show up if even if they wanted to.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:47 PM
This is a wonderful thing you have done. So many of us have logged on to find out partners or our friends gone forever. It creates a place of closure… a place where we can mourn and celebrate at the same time. Thank you!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:51 PM
*sighs* These comments are a bit like a train wreck…. you know you shouldn’t look, but you can’t help but to do so. As someone pointed out to me, a lot of these comments would have been avoided if Ginny were not mentioned. But it’s better to be honest about where the idea came from.
I’m sorry that the fact that it was me who suggested this holiday, then suggested the date as April 17, upsets some of you. There is no ego here, no favoritism, no FICness. I had an idea. I asked. LL saw the need for such a day.
If you don’t agree with it, if you feel it’s best to express your feelings in another way, then so be it. There are plenty of others who will benefit from this. I’m not trying to make anyone partake in this who doesn’t wish to. If it helps you, here it is. If not, ok, I hope you find what does help you.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Actually there’s already been other people doing memorials, including youtube.com filiming of it, statues, the works, I have a friend who organized a grid wide memorial for anyone who lost someone. Getting the lindens to make it official doesn’t mean it wasn’t already being done in SL, it was just being done with out the blog entries or the Linden endorcement. Frankly I think its wonderful to celebrate a person’s memory in the way of as described in this blog post. Those who want something more somber can have what they want. This is my second life, if i want to celebrated a relative, a beloved friend or pay tribute to Torley Linden I can, as long as I am not infringing on your rights to live your sl as you wish, no one has the right to impede another’s SL. I don’t remember people for what they DID, I remember them for who they are. Including Ginny’s friend. She was a human being behind that key board and deserves to be remembered along with all others in sl. If you don’t want to participate, then don’t attend, its that simple.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:58 PM
@ Katt: THis is about Ginny because you saw fit to ask for a ‘Ginny Talamasca Memorial Day’ which is a hideous idea that insults all the other SLers who pass away every year; you were smart enough to realise this once it was pointed out to you, and moderate the request to one for a ‘Day of Remembrance’. It is too bad that you lost your friend, but tying the date of such a commemoration to a single individual, whose contributions to SL are at best minimal, who has done little to nothing for the larger community, and who was actively disliked and even detested by many poeple who had close, firsthand personal knowledge on whioch to base their opinion, is really just insulting, and you’re rather blind if you fail to see why.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:59 PM
PS..if we ever celebrate Torley’s memorial (and I hope that’s a long time coming Torley!) we should have two sims decorated in water melon celebrations!!!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:01 PM
I like this idea. I dont think it was made because of one person. Thats where the inspiration came from though. Thats how it always happens too. Any major holiday in the U.S. at least is acredited toa person or organization or particular event. But according to the beliefs of some we can do away with martin luther king jr. day entirely.
Someone was inspired to create an event to take place in second life. What do you think second life is…something that someone was inspired to build. To those with differing opinions about the event….you have your rights. Just don’t take away the rights of anyone else. I believe it will be a pretty free form event regardless of how they set it up. people are going to do what they want.
I say kudos to the idea. I hope it catches on with many people. Lets forget the back and forth banter about who was the reason for the event. Lets instead agree on who it should be about. Those who are no longer here in this second life with us. for whatever reason. Lets celebrate their life. And if you feel like mourning their absence than do that too. Whatever you do…make it because you miss them and love everything that they were/are. I think thats worthy of a memorial event/celebration. I dont care about the date…thats all it is…a date…..whats more important is what its purpose is. Lets cry and laugh and drink and sing to good and dear friends and family. Lets live like they were still among us! A shame it would be to forget them. Whoever they may be.
For those who disagree. Im sorry. Find something else to do with your day. Again no one is forcing you to come. But you are welcome to.
I know I would like to go.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:02 PM
i am stunned sl is stupid enough to believe such a story teller, katt and ginny have good chance to be same and one (guess why they know each other so well,lol! ) and many others,i can bet
and yes i want to see the grave stone, there is a bunch of crooks dealing in sl and it is obvious that one day this will have to stop! they use anything emotional and the goal is not so clear (or too clear)
now about this shop nothing to regret, it is cheap quality ,awful design,low taste, models with no class , not even what french will call “couturasse”
stop it! we are far from a game now
now about mourning people i dont need to show off , this is in my heart ,in rl or sl
what makes me happy here is that i dont listen to 10% of what is told and on this i might believe 0.5%
just sharpen your brain my friends and keep your kleenex for better cause !
April 4th, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Katt i am truly sorry for you loss and i have nothing but respect for you doing what you can to have this day,but i cannot agree to having a rememberence day,people grieve every day to me a rememberence is set aside for remembering something heroic people did for us and i would fully support a garden where people could add names of lost friends and go sit there when needed,i feel this is a step to far because to me this date means nothing.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Pandora, its not all that hard to verify if someone died. The friend we lost April 3, her obituary is online as well as guestbooks etc. So when your thinking that its a scam, be sure to check out your facts. You could be adding insult to injury. Granted if money is being asked for, I require verification myself before donating to anything regardless of the purpose or cause.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:08 PM
i thinkthis event is good for those who did lose loved ones just because they can gather with others who endured a similar experience. for those who think this is all about ego and such, i think they look too into the event and should just enjoy it instead of criticizing it!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:08 PM
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” People grief loss different ways. However, memory is one of the great things that we all have, even if at times we forget or want to forget…those memories still exist. It is your choice whether you remember how someone you loved or knew lived or how they died. That is up to you. But no matter what you have to deal with your grief. It hurts me when people are insensitive towards others over how they grief. I myself have lost loved ones in both SL and RL. As Jareb Teague said, “Even hundredfold grief is divisible by love.” What those who are grieving need is love….not grief about how they deal with the pain. If an event like this is not how you wish to grieve, you are not forced to attend it. I just am thinking that it is incredibly inconsiderate to denounce this day as bad for all, when it may in fact help many people deal with horrible losses. And as to the date or who is mentioned in the post…well…it is how the idea started…whether we like that or not, and the person who started it obviously lost someone they cared about. But she told the truth about how it started and I personally feel it is the thought that counts. As we look into the future I would like to simply say that love no matter SL or RL is eternal. As Sascha on motivateus.com once posted, “As long as I can I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us.” May god bless all of those who lost loved ones and friends, both RL and SL.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:11 PM
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness … We are the Hokies …
Well don’t forget to remeber those that lost ther life last year on April 16th in the Virginia Tech tragedy. As we remeber them everyday with our in world memorial on the sim of “Memorial Park”. We also have memorials for other students that have lost there lives to tragedies, like the 5 students from NIU. Our memorial runs year around. And they are interactive with both of those universities.
We have set up a park that is very peaceful and we even textured part of the parcel to resemble the VT logo, and placed 33 trees on it, making for a very somber park in which to walk or sit.
Think is a great sim to just enjoy a quiet place in SL. If your there to honor the ones lost or just to reflect on life, I would suggest you stop by Memorial Park. We take it one day at a time, not just one day out of the year.
Just a Spontaneous Thought
April 4th, 2008 at 8:12 PM
@ 89 Erosid Dryke, would you please do my Eulogy when I die? You are very inspirational and moving.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Oh for goodness’ sake, what a bunch of ignorant, intolerant and downright rude people so many of you are! What is wrong with you? Half of you didnt even read the blog post properly, that is obvious from the comments you’re making. Opinion is one thing, but you’re stomping over other people’s feelings here. STFU if you can’t be civil in expressing your opinions… nobody is forcing you to participate, it’s not taking resources away from LL, they are just donating a couple of sims temporarily, FFS it may be SL but do you HAVE to be reminded that there are real people behind the avatars?
I know of several people who had SL friends who died in RL. I knew one of these people and shared an SL wake for her with them… Many of us live all over the world and since most of us got to know her in SL, what could be more appropriate?
Some will want to participate and some won’t. I think it’s lovely that Katt came up with this idea and put the work in to get LL’s participation, and generous of LL to provide the sims. None of this negates peronal choice - it’s just a place for those who want to pariticpate, to do so.
geez!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:17 PM
awwwww…..I am blushing…..TY……
April 4th, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Ok, in my whole year of being on SL.. I have never written in the BLOG. OMG!!!! Since LL rolled out this “Wonderful” Viewer 19.1.1, SL has been the worst I have ever encountered in my entire life. I would really appreciate it if I could get the old viewer back. My AO never works. My avitar skates through walls way more than usual and the lag is unbelievable. Please, this is absolutely rediculous. I have my credit card information on here, why? Where in the world is my money going?
April 4th, 2008 at 8:24 PM
@94 I find it very upsetting that you would post that here….this is a place for remembrance of those who we have lost…not a place for you to rant on about SL. Please refrain from doing it again on this board. If you must do it, then do it on an appropriate board.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Please take a moment to remember Jesse Malthus, if you knew him, on this day of remembrance, and always.
coco
April 4th, 2008 at 8:27 PM
When we lose a loved one in a particular circumstance, we often name occasions or organizations after them. (Jerry’s Kids, Susan G. Komen foundation, etc.) As far as I know, nobody who has also suffered the pain of that same situation ever objects to the creation of those groups or days. I hesitate to use this as an example, because I know someone will snark me for it, but when we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the US, I never, EVER hear anyone who ALSO lost a relative in the US civil rights struggles complain that we are taking a day to celebrate someone we lost and everyone else we lost alongside them.
Ginny was very popular and well loved, as well as a wonderful designer. There is nothing in that sentence that takes away from anyone else that we’ve loved and lost here on the grid. I don’t feel it’s at all disrespectful to have an event that celebrates their lives with music and laughter instead of tears. I would imagine many of them would have preferred it that way. And this event doesn’t stop anyone from planting a flower or lighting a candle for them. Not at all! There is room for everyone to do what is best for them, and no need to fight about it.
Should anything ever happen to me, I do hope you have the mother of all parties, though.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:28 PM
There will be a day of rememberance for a wonderful idea named “Second Life”, which was ruined by a bunch of ignorant, incompetent and inept employees of the company who ran it, very, very soon.
If there is anyone who really RUNS this company, he should wake up and fire all these freaks, before this here dies within the next months.
I am in SL since more than 1 1/2 year now, but it never was as worse as it is now.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Well said Cocanut someone who did something for everyone on these blogs.Jesse Malthus did much for all of us.Most will never know.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:31 PM
unfortunately for you , i am pretty well documented and when this will go too far i will not hesitate to organise the wall of shame for some abusing residents ..capice ?
April 4th, 2008 at 8:33 PM
I remember what Ace Cassidy did for the Iraqi war dead…. he did it on his own. He had no help from LL. I helped work on the water effects on it….. Did LL just decide it will improve their image now? Where were they when Ace covered the tier for that memorial? I cannot accept what LL is doing now. It just strikes me as a strong slap in the face to those who came before. I will do my grieving alone I dont need a 2 sim show.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:34 PM
First, my condolences.
But…great idea for a remembrance day! Do not mourn my death in SL or RL, but celebrate it instead when that time comes. In fact, how about a means for residents who so desire to leave a certain amount of L$ in an inworld bequeath to [at least help] pay for just such an event? Why should my friends pay if I die with $10,000L in an also then “dead” SL account?
Another point: When will the clueless at LL recognize that the SL client needs an inworld calendar? There’s almost no way I’ll remember this date if inworld–and among the countless useless notices from groups. I get notices and then forget events and times every single day–and b/c there’s no means to record and remind. We need an integrated calendar, not a browser! Does LL really think I’ll use their POS browser before Maxthon/Firefox/IE? Answer: No! Doh!!! (Oh, this is like voice, right?)
Relatedly, please bring in a CEO who has a clue about providing even minimal customer service, and far better service quality. At present, and with the Lindens, no such concepts were ever conceived as best they know. And if they were, LL has certainly decided they have no place at all in SL.
(Just lost $100L b/c of that grid stability thing LL thinks should come *after* pretty water and other eye candy which puts none of the money I just lost back in my pocket. I also cannot make any money right now. At p