Transcript of the July 20, 2010 Meeting of the Virtual Worlds Roundtable
Topic: What the Hell are you Wearing?
Iggy's Note: I badly wanted to attend this meeting, if only to goof off in an outfit I would never wear otherwise. I'm imagining the good old hoary Humanities professor Dr. Chuzzlewit with tweed jacket (patches on elbows), sensible shoes, crooked regimental tie, fringe of hair on bald head, monograph on the historical importance of legumes in sub-Saharan culture, and pipe (filled with a mixture heavy on latakia). In other words, the way I'd never dress IRL. I will admit that I don't wear my Uncle Gabby T-shirt (depicting the Maakies character drinking and driving) to educational events.
The meeting was lively! Hope you enjoy this transcript as much as I do!
Call-out points/ideas:
Special thanks to Margaret for capturing this transcript while work called me away. Our photographers--Sheila, Grinn, and Achrysalis--did a superb job! Join our VWER group at Flickr and add your own pictures!
AJ Brooks: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable meeting.
AJ Brooks: Our meetings are made possible by the Office of Information Technology at Montclair State University. We meet here each week at 2:30pm SLT for an hour.
AJ Brooks: The VWER meetings will be moving to a new day of the week, from Tuesdays to Thursdays. Our first Tuesday meeting will be August 10th - the Tuesday before SLCC.
AJ Brooks: sorry - thats our LAST Tuesday meeting will be 8/10
AJ Brooks: Our first Thursday meeting will be on AUGUST 19th, which is the Thursday AFTER SLCC. We will meet at the same time, 2:30pm SLT, and will meet on Thursdays from that time on.
AJ Brooks: I have a few very exciting announcements to make, but before I get started I'd like to invite those sitting up in the amphitheater seating, please come down and join us around the roundtable. There is always an empty seat on the side closest to the ramp.
AJ Brooks: Our topic today is "What the Hell Are You Wearing: A Frank Discussion on How We Represent Ourselves in the Virtual World."
Free Radar HUD v1.1 by Crystal Gadgets
AJ Brooks: The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable is a forum to educate and inform the community about issues that are important and relevant to education.
AJ Brooks: The views and opinions of any of our special guests or visitors do not necessarily represent those who volunteer or organize these meetings,
AJ Brooks: or of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Office of Information Technology , or Montclair State University.
Haley Swansong: Yeah
AJ Brooks: This is a public meeting, so we do keep and publish a transcript of what is said in local chat.
Haley Swansong: Way cool!
AJ Brooks: If you've not seen the transcripts, you should check them out - they are a great information asset.
AJ Brooks: The transcripts can be found at our NEW web presence - http://www.wver.org - and select the TRANSCRIPTS tab at the top.
AJ Brooks: Our site is, as I said, quite new, and we are still working to fine to it. The formal "announcement" for our new site will come at the SLCC.
AJ Brooks: Please do visit our site and send along any suggestions to me directly.
AJ Brooks: Speaking of SLCC, the VWER will be holding a very special meeting from the convention. Details to follow, but the meeting will take place both in Boston and in Second Life.
AJ Brooks: The Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable meeting happens each week and we continue to develop a community of educators from around the world with a variety of thoughts, needs, and ideas.
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol geoff I think there is a free seat next to me
AJ Brooks: Please join the Virtual Worlds Education Roundtable group here in SL. You can also find us on Facebook and Flickr by our full name and Twitter @VWER.
AJ Brooks: When you blog or tweet, please remember to use the hashtag #vwer (IM me if you're not sure what that means)
AJ Brooks: For those not familiar with these type of text chat meetings, as a hint, it is better to have your "local chat" open, it will help you follow along better.
AJ Brooks: As a reminder, we do ask that everyone sitting in the theater seating join us around the roundtable. There is always an empty seat on side closest to the ramp.
AJ Brooks: Finally, if you have Mystitool on, or other similar tool, please put it to sleep or detach it for now. :-) It tends to lag things.
AJ Brooks: One more thing
AJ Brooks: I'm thrilled to announce that the VWER will be a Level 5 Community Sponsor for the Second Life Community Convention. This is the highest level of community sponsorship possible.
Arielion Clawtooth: Yay. @blub is in the spirit of the event, too.
AJ Brooks: The SLCC will take place August 13-15 in Boston, with some sessions streamed into SL, including ours. Details can be found at http://bit/ly/slcc10
Zotarah Shepherd: Yay
AJ Brooks: As part of this effort, we will be giving away a FREE registration to the convention. For more information, click the sign or one of the kiosks here in the amphitheater.
AJ Brooks: Why don't we start off the way we always do, by introducing ourselves. No need to wait, go ahead and type into local chat now
Kali Pizzaro: Evelyn McElhinney Nurse Lecturer Glasgow Caledonian University
Zotarah Shepherd: We might need a bigger table. : )
AJ Brooks: Let us know who you are, what you do, and your educational affiliation.
Zotarah Shepherd: I am a MA in Education (technology & psychology) student at Sonoma State University in northern California working on a Thesis curriculum project: Teaching and Learning Life Foundation Skills in Second Life on my sim Ralanora.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Rosanna Brown, Lassen Community College Library, Susanville (northeastern), California, rbrown@lassencollege.edu, @RbrownLassen. In world, call me Lo.
Geoff Lumley is Geoff Barker-Read from the University of Leeds, UK
AJ Brooks: My name is AJ Kelton and I am the Director, Emerging Instructional Technology for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University in New Jersey
hobbs Constantine: is incognito today
Ruby Lysette: Jenny Saxton, Reference Librarian, Miami Dade College, FL
Gg Riederer: Gloria Hofer instructional technologist Santa Clara University
Margaret Michalski: Margaret Czart, Research information Specialist at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Birdie Newcomb: aj, you said www.wver.org, should be vwer.org, right
Marcia Kjeller: Marcia Kloepper, IT Spec, Auburn University
Devine Darkwatch: Lee Devine. DXATC in Utah
Graham Mills: Peter Miller, biologist, Liverpool
Sheila Yoshikawa: Sheila Webber outside SL I teach in the Information School at Sheffield University, UK
JeanClaude Vollmar: I'm Jeff Le Blanc in RL. I work for the University of Northwestern Ohio as the VP for Information Technology.
Zola Zsun: Zola Zsun/Linda Lindsey-UTSA
Birdie Newcomb: Birdie Newborn, peripatetic
monkey9 Wirefly: Doctoral student in Dublin City University
Eddy Grunstein: Steve Naragon, Philosophy, Manchester College (IN)
Grinn Pidgeon: Dr. Barbara Pittman, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio. Faculty Development/Instructional technology/English teacher
AArrr
Profdan Netizen: Dan Holt, Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI. I teach writing, both first year comp and creative writing.
Achrysalis Metaluna: RL: Amy Gilbert, Project Manager @ University of Texas Houston Health Science Center
Callista Silvansky: Kimmy Hescock, visual information designer, Oregon State University
Bruce Mowbray: retired farmer - southern Ohio.
Sam55 Chester: I teach writing and Composition
AJ Brooks: come on folks, don't be shy - especially new folks
Jimmie Veeper: Southern Lehigh School District, PA, USA
Lindsay Madrigal: i teach in film & digital media, university of california santa cruz
Meredith Winslet: History instructor, Tulsa Community College
AJ Brooks: we'll only mock you when you're NOT here. :)
Sheila Yoshikawa: sneezing - is that a cold or hayfever?
AJ Brooks: who else?
Birdie Newcomb: Is it catching 8=)
Sheila Yoshikawa: just phasing out of the hayfever season here thank goodness
AJ Brooks: going twice
AJ Brooks: going once
zamfir Paule: Lee, PhD student, Computer science at Virginia Tech
AJ Brooks: oh, wait, - thats me
AJ Brooks: :-)
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: A cold.
Graham Mills is feeling underdressed
hobbs Constantine: please less with the coughing and sneezing plz?
AJ Brooks: sold to the mayan warrior
AJ Brooks: wow - chat lag galore
LOM Runner: IEEE member, DeVry Student, Network Engineering major. Starting a virtual program for young girls with Girls in Tech meetup group
AJ Brooks: anyway - feisty topic today
Marnie Mehler: I teach technical writing at Texas A&M University
Graham Mills thiks Chatlag Galore would be great avatar name
AJ Brooks: thanks. I'm finding the chat a little laggy, so forgive me if I skip folks
AJ Brooks: lol@ graham
AJ Brooks: so - fiesty topic today
AJ Brooks: full or acquisition, almost - no?
AJ Brooks: what the hell are you wearing???
zamfir Paule: anyone in Engineering or science area?
will Xenno: Will Professor of History at the Secretary of Education in Brazil Brazil
AJ Brooks: what does that imply?
AJ Brooks: Boa noite, Will
will Xenno: Ola Aj
Sheila Yoshikawa: are you wearing your cold virus, Lo?
AJ Brooks: seriously - that was a question - what does the topic theme imply?
Ruby Lysette: psychology of avatarhood
Sheila Yoshikawa: it implies that what we wear matters
AJ Brooks: when did everyone get so shy? :)
Kali Pizzaro: take pics if you can see more than grey
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Yep. everybody stand (sit?) back.
MarlaSinger Andel: What do our avies say to our students?
Zotarah Shepherd: That maybe we should dress a certain way?
Grinn Pidgeon: inappropriateness
AJ Brooks: wow - lots of stuff, no?
Arielion Clawtooth: To me it implies whether your attendance at events affects your avatar attire
MarlaSinger Andel: When we try to sell SL to our admins, and they see us in-world, do they take us seriously?
Kali Pizzaro: that we need to dress a certain way in certain situations
Zola Zsun: how we look as in rl gives a first impression before we speak or someone reads our profile
will Xenno: Will Professor of History at the Secretary of Education in Brazil Brazil
LOM Runner: yesterday I was wearing nothing. I think SL servers are perverted
Achrysalis Metaluna: Agreed with Zola
Profdan Netizen: That what you wear says something. Whether intentional, or not.
will Xenno: I starting the information security
AJ Brooks: so - lets start with this basic premise.....
Arielion Clawtooth: I can't show many presentations in SL to my bosses because there are just too many bosoms in them.
AJ Brooks: in the virtual world -----
MarlaSinger Andel: Are we talking about clothing or personas?
AJ Brooks: does appearance matter at all?
Meredith Winslet: @Profdan -- agreed
Zola Zsun: i think here it would be both
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: both, Marla
Josain Zsun: Lately I always arrive as naked Ruth.
Eddy Grunstein: Yes, appearance matters even more in sl, I think.
Marnie Mehler: Thinking about our appearance requires the same kind of intentionality that other rhetorical decisions do
AJ Brooks: what is the difference between a short skirt and a dragon?
Arielion Clawtooth: Depends on the setting.
Margaret Michalski: Aj I think appearance does matter for some part
Kali Pizzaro: yes especially in a profession (nursing)
Zola Zsun: naked ruth has her own unique charm :)
Ruby Lysette: starting to sound too much like RL
AJ Brooks: @aolz - lol
CLEOPATRA Xigalia: i hope it does
Profdan Netizen: And it depends on the audience.
Josain Zsun: Beginning to think I need to start collecting Ladies outfits.
MarlaSinger Andel: My younger students are comfortable with any of my avies, but it's my coworkers and supervisors who have problems
AJ Brooks: is there anyone who thinks appearance doesn't have an impact on others?
Sheila Yoshikawa: i don't think it matters MORE in SL, I think it is more that outside SL we are already conditioned to obey certain norms/expectations and so there tend to be fewer surprises
Zotarah Shepherd: I guess it depends on your subject and your style of teaching and the grade level of your students.
LOM Runner: What about a dragon in a short skirt?
AJ Brooks: @LOM lol
MarlaSinger Andel: It does not appear to have impact on the young adult students
Kali Pizzaro: depends on the situation agree ZO
MarlaSinger Andel: such as freshmen
monkey9 Wirefly: Do you think if you are teaching in SL you should dress in a certain way? As you would in RL?
AJ Brooks: do we care what the students think? if so...why?
Arielion Clawtooth: Ironically, most of my participations involve faith issues, so the angel thing actually works *for* me.
Eddy Grunstein: @Sheila: that we have more control over our appearance in SL makes me think it is of greater significance in here.
Josain Zsun mmm...dragons in short skirts
Achrysalis Metaluna: What my avi is wearing definitely has an impact on how seriously folks in administration SL
Zotarah Shepherd: It should be relevant to what you teach in some way
Achrysalis Metaluna: *view SL
hobbs Constantine: We care b/c we are the bridge between RL and VW
MarlaSinger Andel: Students appreciate variety in our avies even when coming in for the first time
Kali Pizzaro: agree Hobbs
AJ Brooks: so - if I teach underwater basket weaving, I can't have a dragon avatar? or furry?
Profdan Netizen: Makes sense @Sheila. Though the opportunity to change what you wear is much broader and more flexible in SL than in RL.
Luisa Bourgoin: there are different norms SL vs. RL its way more relaxed inworlds. including little yellow submarines
Zotarah Shepherd: If you teach history maybe you can dress in a historical outfit
MarlaSinger Andel: Does what you teach matter?
Margaret Michalski: I care what the students in my project is because the results of my project determine the further use of vw for education in my institution.
Zola Zsun: i dont think it is of greater significance here, actually i think playfulness in appearance is more tolerated
CLEOPATRA Xigalia: yes like a toga!!!
Arielion Clawtooth: But when people are already critical because it's "a cartoon" or "sex game", seeing a lot of chesty females is a problem.
CLEOPATRA Xigalia: or vampires
Zotarah Shepherd: If you teach math you could dress as an equation in SL. ; )
Arielion Clawtooth: At least to my bosses.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Advice from my best teacher: you get more respect if you are in the uniform of the day.
CLEOPATRA Xigalia: haha you can Z
AJ Brooks: @Zotarah! ROFL
Profdan Netizen: lol, Zo.
Sheila Yoshikawa: I once had a rather eye-opening talk with some students in which they dissected the dress sense of everyone male and female in the dept, this is in RL, they expected people to "make an effort" and they made assumptions that however you dressed you were thinking about THEM (students) when you made your decisions
MarlaSinger Andel: I don't want respect based on appearance
AJ Brooks: @Lo - do you believe that is true?
LOM Runner: yeah, what you teach matters.. when it comes to perking interest quickly
Arielion Clawtooth: Don't forget the "F" word...Funding
AJ Brooks: respect outwardly - or internal respect, which is MUCH more important, to me
monkey9 Wirefly: Does it undermine your "authority" in the SL classroom if you are dressed as a furry?
Zotarah Shepherd: We want to consider what our clothing and appearance says to people.
AJ Brooks: great question monkey
Profdan Netizen: And again it depends.
Zotarah Shepherd: Our appearance is a nonverbal message.
AJ Brooks: so - we all agre that dress has an impact - yes?
Kali Pizzaro: for me we are doing simulation not a lot of furries on a ward ;-)
Achrysalis Metaluna: Agreed with Arielion. Yes
monkey9 Wirefly: Yes
Arielion Clawtooth: Yes.
Zotarah Shepherd: yes
Margaret Michalski: Monkey it depends what you are teach
Callista Silvansky: yes
Meredith Winslet: Yes
JeanClaude Vollmar: yes
Margaret Michalski: teaching
MarlaSinger Andel: I have polled my students on this issue, and they say it does not matter, but I teach only first and second year general ed
Margaret Michalski: yes
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: I do believe in wearing the uniform that suits the time and place.
Eddy Grunstein: definitely
Geoff Lumley: yes
will Xenno: yes
monkey9 Wirefly: Perhaps it teaches tolerance?
Margaret Michalski: definitely LO
monkey9 Wirefly: tolerance?
AJ Brooks: ok - so, if appearance matters - who do we care that it matters to?
Marcia Kjeller: we have to know and dress according to our audience. we should know what they expect and dress accordingly in SL
Birdie Newcomb: Dress might be relevant to what you're teaching, such as history, philosophy, art
Kali Pizzaro: me
Sheila Yoshikawa: On the whole I am most careful with younger students and with students I am new to, who I think are most wary and in the case of younger students tend to be more conservative about dress
Profdan Netizen: I once came to a chat with my students with a cigar, and one of my students had a real problem with it.
Zotarah Shepherd: Yes Birdie
Margaret Michalski: my superiors and people new to virtual worlds
Luisa Bourgoin: how about size? when monkey asked about furry, I thought abut some sandbox King Kong ...
Arielion Clawtooth: I think Birdie hit on a good point. Showing immersion in avatar costuming would be a selling point.
Birdie Newcomb: And if you're aiming to stir creativity, some creativity on your own part would be a big help
AJ Brooks: who do we care our appearances matter to?
Csteph Submariner: Agreed Birdie, I always wear an RFC uniform when touring groups around the WWI sim, and we encourage the wearing of the free outfit too
Sheila Yoshikawa: if i had a huge avi i would see that as intimidating
Arielion Clawtooth: Bosses with money for funding.
LOM Runner: I would be a piggy bank if I taught accounting.. it depends on the personality of the instructor
Sheila Yoshikawa: sending out wrong messages about a desire for authority
Achrysalis Metaluna: for me, administration. Because I'm always trying to get buy-in for education in SL
Ruby Lysette: Well, I'm representing my college
Margaret Michalski: superiors and newbies
Margaret Michalski: same here Ruby
AJ Brooks: ok - so, for the most part, we can take MOST students out of the equation - do we agree?
Margaret Michalski: yes
MarlaSinger Andel: Yes
Profdan Netizen: No, I don't.
Csteph Submariner: depends
Sheila Yoshikawa: no
AJ Brooks: most people are saying - superiors, in some fashion
Sheila Yoshikawa: students are the ones i think about most
Profdan Netizen: Agreed, Sheila.
Sheila Yoshikawa: they are the ones where i would feel responsibility
Kali Pizzaro: i could be a flying pig for all my boss knows
Zola Zsun: wait, are we implying that students also should be schooled in how to appear ? on rl campus.. well.. .. there is much variety
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol Kali
Ruby Lysette: Is dressing appropriately for the occasion part of their education?
AJ Brooks: yes - but most people who spoke up, said that most of their students either didn't care, or - for them it was a more flexible acceptance
Zola Zsun: so i would expect it here even more
Arielion Clawtooth: But if we make it fun but appropriate for students (creative immersion) that's a good thing. In limits.
Eddy Grunstein: I really don't care about the administration, re: my clothes.
AJ Brooks: @eddy - really?
AJ Brooks: I guess you don't rely on them for funding
Kali Pizzaro: i care what the students think
Zotarah Shepherd: If you teach biology you could dress as a mitochondria
Sheila Yoshikawa: hmm actually i have found on RL campus there is actually a lot of conformity - loads of students wearing jeans, t shirts etc
MarlaSinger Andel: Wow, eddy had great job security
Profdan Netizen: What would you consider the limits, Arielon?
Graham Mills: chemistry students could be molecules
Zola Zsun: i read somewhere that gestures or animations made more of an impression to new people in sl than appearance does anyone thing that is important?
Eddy Grunstein: Many of my students think we should all dress as bankers, more or less.
Kali Pizzaro: i care what i look like as i do in rl
Csteph Submariner: I think students should be given training in how to customize, but then pretty much suit themselves
Margaret Michalski: I was told that for official education events I should wear professional outfits
Graham Mills: or they could wear protective clothing as in RL lab
Zotarah Shepherd: In real classes I have seen professors wearing t-shorts and jeans.
Sheila Yoshikawa: my students tend to adopt a wider range of appearance in SL
Arielion Clawtooth: @Profdan Suggestive sexy stuff, depending on age & setting. As Birdie says, depends on the subject matter.
Callista Silvansky: i do a lot of advertising to staff/faculty/admin, so they are my focus when i think about clothes
Marcia Kjeller: I once got um, lots of comments about the way avie was walking. seemed to be too distracting to the all-male audience
Kali Pizzaro: but that does not mean i could not be a heart or a lung if i though it was appropriate
Eddy Grunstein: AJ, no they wouldn't fund me if I dressed better....
Achrysalis Metaluna: Agreed with Callista
Sheila Yoshikawa: from fat and wearing a towel to cardboard box to fluffy gowns
Callista Silvansky: i often will put on something similar to what i am wearing irl, and they get a kick out of that
KarenKate Sands: My admins do care, and for some of my students it matters alot to be dressed appropriate for whatever the situation is
Josain Zsun: I met a Day 2 Newbie the other day bragging he already had 900+ gesturesâ couldn't maintain a conversation with him.
LOM Runner: of course gestures are part of it
AJ Brooks: well - that wasn't my point, exactly, Eddy - if they were funding you, you m ay have to care what you were dressed like (sometimes)
Kali Pizzaro: yeah i have the same old duck walk
Arielion Clawtooth: If the power of the media for education is immersion then the avatars should add to not distract from that.
AJ Brooks: well - what then is the line for distraction
Eddy Grunstein: Right, AJ, but I teach philosophy, which rarely comes begging for money. We just need chalk.
AJ Brooks: is a dragon distracting?
AJ Brooks: a furry?
AJ Brooks: @eddy - lol
Kali Pizzaro: in simulation i am simulating real life. afraid that is the point
Zotarah Shepherd: Yes Arielion I agree
Arielion Clawtooth: Roma is a great example, except it has porn in it too. Sigh.
Csteph Submariner: agreed Ariellon
Zola Zsun: just like rl.. being appropriate matters, but is appropriate different here where there is so many choices?
MarlaSinger Andel: So do we insist that male students dress as males? Can't I (a women instructor) dress as a male? What are the lines?
Margaret Michalski: It you are teaching something about dragons maybe not
LOM Runner: the laws of interpersonal communications and non-verbals still apply here in a way
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: There is another consideration in SL: prim-hogging.
AJ Brooks: what is the line for distraction - where do YOU draw the line of inappropriate
Sheila Yoshikawa: *I* don't find dragons or furries intrinsically distracting, I think eh students get more distracted by behaviour than appearance e.g. someone divebombing around
AJ Brooks: I say YOU because we will not come to consensus on that topic
Eddy Grunstein: I feel like the power in SL is to model our appearance to our subject of the day (as many have mentioned) -- and it keeps the students paying attention.
Achrysalis Metaluna: good point @ Eddy
Margaret Michalski: for me it would be something that looks too club like etc
Eddy Grunstein: But LoC over here is pretty worrisome, even if he is a salad.
Csteph Submariner: should set a maximum ARC
Meredith Winslet: Agreed Sheila
Profdan Netizen: Another distinction is what works at the beginning of the semester vs. later in the semester.
will Xenno: but it would be good, at least in SL that everyone, students and teachers, had a certain freedom in his dressing room:
I think it might be a good time to realize the capacity imagery them without control .. as already exists in RL
monkey9 Wirefly: i think you might lose some of the gestures and non verbal communication when you dress like a salad? no offence, lol
Jimmie Veeper: Is LoCE99Ch8 distracting right now?
Kathryn Pleides: How important is continuity of look for the instructor/students? Is it distracting if someone looks different from what you've come to expect?
Ruby Lysette: I'm just happy I can look closer to the age of my college students.
Margaret Michalski: @ will...you are right but that would probably be off class hours
Zotarah Shepherd: Loc is appropriate to THIS discussion. : )
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: What? You can't tell I'm jumping up and down in glee?
monkey9 Wirefly: ha ha
Sheila Yoshikawa: @Ruby whereas my worry is actually that the students will think I am trying to look young when I'm not
Eddy Grunstein: @Ruby -- agreed1
Kali Pizzaro: would you ask a banana or a furry for health advice
Zotarah Shepherd: hehe
Luisa Bourgoin: Loc is looking ... rather peaceful. not at all ... carnivorous
Kali Pizzaro: ;-0
Sheila Yoshikawa: Yes Lo is highly appropriate
Csteph Submariner: depends if they were qualified
Sheila Yoshikawa: as ever lol
Eddy Grunstein: lol LoC
Zola Zsun: I have always thought that the argument in schools that clothes cause distraction is a myth.. sorry but way too much has always been made of that
Kali Pizzaro: haha
Kali Pizzaro: please take snapshots if you can see i can only see grey
monkey9 Wirefly: Very interesting , so it is the same as RL then really? You must dress to impress and suit the occasion!
LOM Runner: I realy don't think students are if there instructor dressed like Naruto.. They would be more impress their instructor know who Naruto is
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: In our local high school, clothes to cause distraction.
Zola Zsun: i am old and i remember when a teacher was fired for wearing his hair on his forehead .. bangs... sheesh.. the action was far more distracting
Zola Zsun: than the hair
MarlaSinger Andel: I want to be evaluated on my content and behavior and not on my appearance; I don't judge my students, and they don't judge me. However, my supervisors do judge and there's not much I can do about that but educate th em
Kali Pizzaro: Great pics are being taken thanks AchRy
Csteph Submariner: I think if the instructor is not using costume in some way to increase their impact then they're missing a trick
Zola Zsun: everything here mirrors rl to a great extent.. almost always.. because that is where our brains are
Zotarah Shepherd: In high school appearance matters more because teens are struggling with identity and appearance is a part of that. What if teachers sent the message that it does NOT matter. More tolerance?
Ruby Lysette: But isn't SL the great equalizer? We all look great.
Kathryn Pleides: interesting point, Zotarah
monkey9 Wirefly: Itis a GLEE moment!
Zola Zsun: more tolerance is always a good thing.. almost always
Kathryn Pleides: Experiment with a class where everyone was a dragon or a furry or a Tiny or a rock?
Kali Pizzaro: yep
Kathryn Pleides: Would it change student/teacher behaviour?
Zotarah Shepherd: Well Ruby we can look great if we want but we can look odd or gruesome too.
Csteph Submariner: except for furries (j/k :P)
Kali Pizzaro: so it depends on what you are teaching
Sheila Yoshikawa: but hmm - in fact it does matter, appearance in the outside world. There are a number of aspects of this which I don't like. On the other hand I enjoy titivating my dress in RL and SL
Jimmie Veeper: A metamorphosis for Loc.. peer pressure.
Kali Pizzaro: Does it depend if you are only online or you have met the students f2f
Ruby Lysette: I meant that you don't have to be self-conscious
AJ Brooks: sorry to be absent a bit (if anyone even noticed - lol) but I had to take an urgent phone call
Eddy Grunstein: Kali: I wouldn't think so. Why would it?
Kali Pizzaro: Just asking
LOM Runner: What about students that have to dress in uniform. I hope they don't have to come in a 3D sims wearing the same thing.. That sucks.
Kali Pizzaro: as in you maybe built a relationship
Kathryn Pleides: Having met them face to face they will already have a mental impression of how you look
Margaret Michalski: I am always reminded that I should be dressed professional
AJ Brooks: reminded by whom?
monkey9 Wirefly: can you give students a uniform in SL? Sorry, relatively new
Kali Pizzaro: yes if you are in a profession there is an expectation
Zola Zsun: and always specify WHICH profession
Zola Zsun looks at her shoes
Kali Pizzaro: yes our student nurse get a uniform
AJ Brooks: @margaret - reminded by whom?
Profdan Netizen: I think it can, Kali. Since there is no look for distance ed teacher, having a look established where they can recognize you is more important than a f2f class.
Margaret Michalski: My superiors and others that are thinking of using vw for education
Arielion Clawtooth: Some people dress as if they're in the worlds oldest profession. :o)
Kali Pizzaro: my students dont as they are all mature registered nurses
Graham Mills: Being a n00b is like uniform anyway
Margaret Michalski: Lucky for the health field there are scrubs
AJ Brooks: @margaret - why do they feel the need to remind you of that?
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: A certain amount of this discussion reminds me of talking with our sons.
Eddy Grunstein: lol@Ari
AJ Brooks: so - if someone has a n00b avatar on, does your impression of them change?
Eddy Grunstein(ms>>en): "lol @ Ari"
Zola Zsun: yes
Margaret Michalski: Aj, it appears that anything outside of scrubs or a full suit is not appropriate
Margaret Michalski: that is just what I was told
Csteph Submariner: in regard to SLK yes
Kali Pizzaro: not with the new ones in V"
Eddy Grunstein: Yes; they look like all my students.
Csteph Submariner: *SL
LOM Runner: yep
Graham Mills: it helps to be able to tell students apart
AJ Brooks: @Margaret - thats fine, I'm not thinking along those lines. I'm wonderign why they feel its important to keep telling you how to dress. Do they think you'll forget they told you before?
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: I agreed with them that it is stupid that people decide who we are based so much on what we wear.
AJ Brooks: :)
Kali Pizzaro: lol
Csteph Submariner: haha
Arielion Clawtooth: @Margaret Not at all. We've been saying it can be appropriate and fun to the event, just not button pushing.
Zotarah Shepherd: New avatars are much better than when most of us started.
Profdan Netizen: Do they have an RL dress code, Margaret?
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj, my institution would really like to use vw for education but MANY still need to know it is not a game
Kali Pizzaro: i do think it depends on what you are teaching
MarlaSinger Andel: Some institutions require an avatar that looks like the RL person. I think this is a form of discrimination.
Margaret Michalski: @ Profdan, at certain meetings yes..they have requirements
AJ Brooks: @margaret - ok, so it is their impression of what it is, instead of a reality of what they ahve seen. Got it. understand
Zola Zsun: ys marlasinger i agree
LOM Runner: agrees Marlan
Profdan Netizen: At least they're being consistent, Margaret.
Margaret Michalski: @ aj yes
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Unfortunately, categorization by clothing is not going away just because I think it is stupid.
Sheila Yoshikawa: if someone is dressed like a noob it can be helpful in indicating whether they might be grateful for advice or help
Kali Pizzaro: haha
AJ Brooks: ok - so I have a two-part question
AJ Brooks: 1) Does anyone think I am dressed inappropriately, and 2) does anyone think I'm dressed inappropriately for this meeting today?
Zola Zsun: @LoCEetc.. yeah aint it a shame!
Margaret Michalski: @ profdan...Some see real value but they are not the final decision makers. That is where everything because tricky.
monkey9 Wirefly: That can you put your hand up
Kali Pizzaro: no glad you are out of that old tshirt
Birdie Newcomb: It's pertinent to the discussion
Kali Pizzaro: poo
Graham Mills: appearance attracts media scrutiny: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=408771
Eddy Grunstein: No and No, AJ. But you would be inappropriate in some settings, wouldn't you?
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj If you were teach a Native American course.....NO
Margaret Michalski: lol
Sheila Yoshikawa: not inappropriately
Gg Riederer: I think you are appropriate because of the topic.
Achrysalis Metaluna: 1. No, 2. No, I think it's appropriate for the meeting because it invites dialogue
AJ Brooks: :)
Kathryn Pleides: AJ - you're fine. But I wouldn't wear that if I was presenting at an in-world conference. ;-)
LOM Runner: Sorry J.. to laggy to be looking around the feaking room
monkey9 Wirefly: see you know
Birdie Newcomb: Or were you fishing for compliments???
AJ Brooks: @Kathryn - right
Achrysalis Metaluna: Agreed with Kathryn
LOM Runner: grrr...
Gg Riederer: Kathryn, good point
AJ Brooks: so - why does everyone think I alwasy wear the same clothes?
Arielion Clawtooth: I think it's on topic and appropriate. As long as no one is allergic to feathers. :o)
Zola Zsun: depends on the kind of conference or subject matter too
Sheila Yoshikawa: i think it is a shame if one feels that one CAN'T wear that kind of outfoit at an inworld conference
Eddy Grunstein: Maybe you have identity issues, AJ?
Grinn Pidgeon: cheap
AJ Brooks: @shiela - unless it had something to do with my topic, I think the outfit would distract people from the message of my talk (at a conference)
Sheila Yoshikawa: except the shield might be a bit distracting when you type
Lim Portal: Nice link Graham
Kathryn Pleides: Zola - if it was about clothing, it would be appropriate! Something where folks who aren't used to how avs can dress in SL might not take him seriously though
Zotarah Shepherd: That would be perfect for a Mayan(?) lecture AJ.
Kali Pizzaro: you cant b ....... (fill in with a word of your choice0
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj. for the same reason I usually wear scrubs...easy and convenient. Plus not trying to impress anyone.
Kathryn Pleides wolf-whistles at AJ
Gg Riederer: I think how your avatar dresses affects how your message gets received sometimes
will Xenno: In speaking of Marla that worries me. I think that SL could be a more relaxed, the avatar would be a vision and imagery not possible to copy or semelhaça of reality ... insisting it will institutionalize the SL and will be as boring as the RL
Sheila Yoshikawa: but you would sort of get used to the outfit quickly and it gives you something interesting to look at if the talk were dull
Grinn Pidgeon: did Pathfinder ever change his outfit for presentations?
Sheila Yoshikawa: which it wouldn't be with AJ obviously
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Always having the same avatar is sort of like wearing a name tag in RL.
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Quick recognition.
Graham Mills: @Grinn Path does now
AJ Brooks: Pathfinder was not an outfit, he was an avatar - difference, and YES, once he came to one of our meetings in a different avatar
Kathryn Pleides: LoC - good point
Eddy Grunstein: Right, LoC
Haley Swansong: Different outfits fit different Sims
Kathryn Pleides: Like Iggy's dreads and tophat
(Iggy's note: I only removed them to look a lot like RL me when I was last in Old Willowdale, a sim that recreates an idealized suburbia from the early 1960s. I even drove my 1959 Caddy. In such simulations for education or roleplay. I think it wise to let the clothes and avatar fit the setting).
LOM Runner: distance from the message? based on a avi? that's doesn't sound irght
monkey9 Wirefly: Could I ask a question? Hands up who looks like their SL identify in RL?
AJ Brooks: so - what is the difference between and outfit and an avatar?
Achrysalis Metaluna: I do
Arielion Clawtooth: @Morpork Good point except if it's one a lot of people use.
Zotarah Shepherd: I wish!
LOM Runner: I do
Kali Pizzaro: me but fatter in rl hehe
Profdan Netizen: Somewhat.
Kathryn Pleides looks like she did in college, *cough* years ago
KarenKate Sands: pretty close
Gg Riederer: I do
Francesca Aulder: i do
Meredith Winslet: No
Eddy Grunstein: I try, but I'm older than this.
AJ Brooks: skin and shape - kind of, outfit at the moment, no
Birdie Newcomb: not even close
Achrysalis Metaluna: (we'll skinnier and younger in SL, lol. But I try to get as close as possible)
Graham Mills: Not at all
Sheila Yoshikawa: actually the bit that is like me outside SL is that i wear lots of different clothes
Margaret Michalski: Clothing you have an option to change and an Avatar you don't...the way I see it
AJ Brooks: oh - please - EVERYONE is skinnier and younger in SL
AJ Brooks: and why the hell not!?!?!
LOM Runner: But I'm sexy in RL anyway, so of course my avi gotta be on point.
Kali Pizzaro: lol
Kali Pizzaro: go girl
Csteph Submariner: I'm less yellow in RL
Zotarah Shepherd: hehe
Meredith Winslet: @ AJ lol
Birdie Newcomb: beats exercising...
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol Csteph
Grinn Pidgeon: I wear the patch on the other eye
Achrysalis Metaluna: LOL @AJ
Arielion Clawtooth: My wings are larger in RL
Kali Pizzaro: lol
AJ Brooks: what is the difference between an outfit and an avatar?
Eddy Grunstein: exactly Birdie!
Margaret Michalski: Clothing changes and an avatar does not
Marnie Mehler: I don't walk quite as sexy :)
Arielion Clawtooth: Avatar = Personna
MarlaSinger Andel: I think now you are asking about deeper issues like gender id
Eddy Grunstein: Doesn't the avatar offer us some stability in here?
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: I started out looking like my RL self.
AJ Brooks: can an avatar have an outfit?
Kali Pizzaro: well i had changed my avatar skin and i was meant to look like Angelina Jolie
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: but it was too scary, so I changed.
Kali Pizzaro: i looked like a man
Kathryn Pleides: I think of avatars as the basic body.
Zotarah Shepherd: I like that we dress "intentional". Default appearance looks like we don't care.
Haley Swansong: well I have an elf avatar when I play in elf clan the Av changes slightly I add elf ears and I am a bit shorter
Eddy Grunstein: @Marla -- right, the avatar codes a lot of information, as well.
Sheila Yoshikawa: my clothes are part of my persona, I think
Kali Pizzaro: in rag
monkey9 Wirefly: Are you the same gender in SL as RL? Apart from the submarine
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Yes avatars can have outfits.
Arielion Clawtooth: @Morpork Do you wear that avatar all the time in SL?
Birdie Newcomb: I usually check the hovering name first, then the avatar appearance
MarlaSinger Andel: What is the difference between a male avie wearing women's clothing or a male person using a female avie?
AJ Brooks: so - when we talk about appearance, are we talking about avatar or outfit
MarlaSinger Andel: This is why we can't make distinctions about appearance
Arielion Clawtooth: I'm talking about both.
Meredith Winslet: both, perhaps
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj outfit
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: I don't exactly wear any avi all the time.
MarlaSinger Andel: In SL it is a projection of an inner reality
Haley Swansong: Most avatars I know in here keep basically the same hair and shape so their friends recognize them
Csteph Submariner: Yes Malrla
Sheila Yoshikawa: I think for some people I know, the fact that they are always changing their avi is a sort of constant
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: I frequently wear male clothes on a female avatar.
Meredith Winslet: I was a bald cloud once.
AJ Brooks: is a naked furry worse than a furry with a mini skirt?
Arielion Clawtooth: I believe SL is more of a reality than "real life" because you can choose your "real" persona here.
KarenKate Sands: @Haley - yes, met too. we might all switch to other av's together tho
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: They require little alteration to fit properly.
LOM Runner: I shop at OldNavy. And my avatar is wearing a shirt I cut outta OldNavy website.. so I'm trying to morphin into LOM when I reach the 5th dimension. Thanks.
Josain Zsun mmmâ furries in mini-skirts
Sheila Yoshikawa: @arielion and indeed your name
Haley Swansong: right i changed my hair one day and everyone was like-what happened to your hair
Zotarah Shepherd: Teens on the teen grid change their appearance more often and I think that is normal.
MarlaSinger Andel: So can an institution insist that I dress like a woman if I want to appear as a man?
AJ Brooks smacks Josain across the back of the head, like in NCIS
Eddy Grunstein is thinking of a furless furry
Josain Zsun doh
Achrysalis Metaluna: LOL @AJ
Arielion Clawtooth: You may be "stuck" in a fat body, different sex, etc. in "real" life, but here you can be exactly who you are in your personhood
Profdan Netizen: Good question, Marla.
Haley Swansong: In fact I recreated my hair and appearance here as close as I could on Reaction Grid do Im the same person both places
will Xenno: Arielion Clawtooth also see the SL as a space for creativity, an escape from reality a lot of painful times
will's translator: Arielion Clawtooth Vedi anche le SL come uno spazio di creatività , una fuga dalla realtà un sacco di volte doloroso
Csteph Submariner: appearance is the first thing you do once you learn how isn't it?
Kathryn Pleides: Csteph - I think so, for most folks anyway
Haley Swansong: Yes Csteph getting rid of the newbie look
LOM Runner: yep Csteph
AJ Brooks: if CSteph and I showed up at a Metanomics meeting, which one of us do you think most people would be talking about?
Arielion Clawtooth: It's a dream of anyone who has ever looked in a mirror and thought "Why?"
Csteph Submariner: and a sign that they now 'get it'?
Sheila Yoshikawa: though for my first 2 months i crashed whenever i tried to edit appearance
Profdan Netizen: lol, Shela.
AJ Brooks: if CSteph and I showed up at a Metanomics meeting, which one of us do you think most people would be talking about?
monkey9 Wirefly: There is a call for chapters for a book on identity in SL, think it is from the open university in England will be interesting I guess
Sheila Yoshikawa: @AJ we are all perfectly behaved, we would just be attending to the speaker
Csteph Submariner: I can make more noise
AJ Brooks: @Shiela - LOL
Arielion Clawtooth: LOL. Not in the backchannel. :o)
Zotarah Shepherd: I am used to Csteph looking like that.
Sheila Yoshikawa: @Zotarah yes, so it is familiar
AJ Brooks: my biggest problem when I am doing an orientation for students it to keep them on task learning the basics - they all want to go rid for appearances.
Zotarah Shepherd: yes
Csteph Submariner: a lot of people try to sit on me if I'm at ground level :p
Kali Pizzaro: ok so has anyone noticed that i have change my clothes 3 times during this meeting
LOM Runner: Yeah, Baby!
Kali Pizzaro: ;-P
AJ Brooks: JOKAY!!!
Chimera Cosmos: hi all
Kathryn Pleides: @Zotarah - I think that's an important point. When you're used to someone's avatar looking a particular way, it doesn't strike you as odd until they change it
LoCE99Ch8 Morpork: Just your clothes? :-)
Haley Swansong: Just think of how many Lindens w spend on virtual clothing
Arielion Clawtooth: Hey, Jokay and Chimera!
Sheila Yoshikawa: @Kali no I suppose not, partly because Lo's changes seemed more dramatic
Csteph Submariner: hi Chimera
Achrysalis Metaluna: @Haley, no kidding!
Chimera Cosmos: hey Csteph
AJ Brooks: the more we customize. the more we associate with our avatar
Achrysalis Metaluna: Agreed with AJ
Csteph Submariner: yes AJ
Arielion Clawtooth: I miss this avatar when I change.
AJ Brooks: so the learning is not our avatar - it is US
Margaret Michalski: Agreed AJ
Kali Pizzaro: yep
Meredith Winslet: yes
AJ Brooks: we dont' say - my avatar went to the VWER meeting
Chimera Cosmos: I'd get bored if I wore the same clothes in RL - even more so here LOL
Haley Swansong: After I saw my pay[al bill I learned how to make clothing
Zotarah Shepherd: I didn't but because of the ease of changing clothes in SL any of us could do that too.
AJ Brooks: we say *I* went
Profdan Netizen: That's a good point--how do you incorporate that in student orientation, AJ?
monkey9 Wirefly: GTG see you all soon, thank you fro an interesting chat
Margaret Michalski: absolutely AJ
AJ Brooks: but stopping them from customizing
LOM Runner: right AJ
AJ Brooks: its the forbidden thing to do
AJ Brooks: so they want to do it more
Sheila Yoshikawa: bye monkey9
Arielion Clawtooth: Bye Monkey! Come back soon!
Meredith Winslet: right
Csteph Submariner: I play with some huge ARC outfits for photoshoots, but this is my default look
Arielion Clawtooth: What is ARC?
Csteph Submariner: and the RFC guy for the trenches
Zotarah Shepherd: I have taught appearance to newbies and it is fun.
Haley Swansong: When I took my kids in I had pre dressed their av's
Csteph Submariner: Avatar Rendering Cost
AJ Brooks: @Haley - ack, how boring!
Kali Pizzaro: 40 on the sim
Arielion Clawtooth: Okay. Thanks.
Haley Swansong: I gave then each a boc with 5 tops and 5 bottoms and a bunch of textures
Csteph Submariner: how much work the system has to do to draw your avatar
AJ Brooks: oh - ok - got it
Haley Swansong: we spent the first day getting our look
Csteph Submariner: hi prim attachments etc push it up
Kali Pizzaro: my male colleague had major problems with shoes
Zotarah Shepherd: I think students get more immersed in SL or any VW when they can change the appearance
AJ Brooks: shoes?
Kali Pizzaro: he always seemed to have a court shoe on with his suits
AJ Brooks: you mean, like, he won't wear them - like Olivia?
Sheila Yoshikawa: lol
Profdan Netizen: Where do you all take/send students for free clothes?
AJ Brooks: lol
Sheila Yoshikawa: it's a look
Kali Pizzaro: i give them free clothes
LOM Runner: *XD*
LOM Runner: I found myself cleaning my inventory more than my RL closet. Who's with me????
AJ Brooks: I think UNNAMED's translator is not working
Eddy Grunstein: I give my students a few LMs for freebies.
Arielion Clawtooth: An avatar we use had hair, then when it got a new uniform it suddenly got a new head that covers the hair and makes it bald. Still can't figure out how to fix it. :oP
Kali Pizzaro: haha lo,
Chimera Cosmos: why not teach them to mine the Library folders?
Chimera Cosmos: from the default avis
Haley Swansong: Profdan I make up sets for them and then show them how changing the texture can change the whole look
Kathryn Pleides: LOM - I have many many more clothes in SL than RL
Chimera Cosmos: tons of mix and match in there
AJ Brooks: @Chimera - most people don't even know about the Library folder
Zotarah Shepherd: I would rather give students some Lindens to shop at nice places. Also more immersive and teaches budgeting.
Sheila Yoshikawa: i gave them a few things, but I also have a shopping trip for good quality freebies with some students, might as well exploit my in depth knowledge of shopping
Chimera Cosmos: exactly - so a good lesson
Chimera Cosmos: and handy
Josain Zsun just noticed zero group memberships
Csteph Submariner: anyone here use the default walk anim?
AJ Brooks: @Chim - I agree
AJ Brooks: I teach it in my orientation
AJ Brooks: I do - @csteph
Gg Riederer: I do
Chimera Cosmos: the clothes in the Library folder now tend to be better than most freebies
Haley Swansong: I found my students really prefered to make their own clothing
Josain Zsun: I think I've never changed mine
Zotarah Shepherd: I keep and regularly hand out a Notecard of places to shop.
Margaret Michalski: mix and match of the library clothing can be enough sometimes
Csteph Submariner: interesting
Zotarah Shepherd: The Library is much better now yes.
AJ Brooks: Hey, csteph - you don't take up a seat at the table either - good ghoing. :-)
Profdan Netizen: I grabbed better walking anim when using Kirstens viewer.
Chimera Cosmos: for beginners, the Library can save a lot of time
Csteph Submariner: haha
Kali Pizzaro: majority of my students are part time and dont spend any time in sl except class
Chimera Cosmos: while still showing them how to use inventory
Csteph Submariner: my dry dock is HUGE though
AJ Brooks: @kali - me too
Profdan Netizen: Good idea, Chimera.
Margaret Michalski: @ Chimera especially with these new avatars they have
LOM Runner: I rather teach them how to fish, then give them fish. So I would sent them to NCI (New Citizen Inc) for classes.
Eddy Grunstein: Same here, Kali.
Chimera Cosmos: I've taught how to change the colors as a fun lesson
Eddy Grunstein: I'd be happy if they worked more on their appearances.
Profdan Netizen: I also use the Virtual ability Orientation and they have at the end.
Kathryn Pleides: I confess I do sometimes get distracted by people's appearance in that if I like something they're wearing I want to find out where it's from and who made it to add to my shopping list
Kali Pizzaro: they dont have time they are working and SL is a big surprise when they come as it is lol
Sheila Yoshikawa: also blogs like Fabulously Free in SL
Callista Silvansky: kathryn, me too haha
AJ Brooks: so - in a virtual world we preach that we don't need the traditional classroom - we come back to the beginning question - why do we care about traditional dress?
Zotarah Shepherd: I would require students to do some social things and exploring in SL and take photos of it to get more immersed and practice SL skills.
Arielion Clawtooth: The "naked avatar" problem from lag is also a great conundrum because the embarrassment sells the idea of immersion.
Kali Pizzaro: one of my students had a see through top on and her fellow students had a good laugh at her in rl (she laughed to)
Kali Pizzaro: too
Kali Pizzaro: she said i need clothes !
Kali Pizzaro: so i gave her some
Chimera Cosmos: cuz it is fun!
Marc Rexen: We do care about classrooms and we do care about dress...at least initially, because they tap into the conventionalisations the students already have.
Kali Pizzaro: it allows for socialisation
Marc Rexen: This means a suit for a business and shorts, t-shirt, and floppies to teach UNIX. :)
Margaret Michalski: @ Marg good point
Chimera Cosmos: yes, it creates a comfort zone
Arielion Clawtooth: I try to use embarrassment over the way avatars are dressed or not as a selling point for immersion.
Chimera Cosmos: we can't be too purist right off heheh
AJ Brooks: oh - before I forget, and before more peopel leave - next week Olivia Hotshot will be your Moderator. We'll annoucne the topic later this week
Arletta Martian: i used to volunteer at a newbie portal and handed out enough clothes to both males and females to form a whole wardrobe and taught them how to change clothes... when i could get the newbies attention, that is. Surprisingly the ones i had done this with, often went on to all the freebie places to get even better looking stuff. Women that is. Male avs sometimes were not interested in changing clothes (usually ones that i knew wouldnt wind up staying in sl beyond this first visit) while other males were interested in getting spruced up for the females.
Sheila Yoshikawa: it's something to talk about, practising communication, inventory skills etc
Kali Pizzaro: agree Sheila
Csteph Submariner: we give away an outfit to visitors and tell them how to change
LOM Runner: I don't know why people should care so much about being professional looking in SL all the time. Not when companies like IBM have representatives looking like a mashup of the Predator/Borg avi.
Kali Pizzaro: then down to work
Kali Pizzaro: hehe
Marc Rexen: Yes, learning to dress teaching the fundamentals of building...though it's not obvious at first.
Chimera Cosmos: who says changing clothes means only looking "professional" Lom? hehe
AJ Brooks: @LOM - that goes back to the avatar / outfit question I asked
Chimera Cosmos: look at me today!
Chimera Cosmos: endangered sea turtle on my head...
Arielion Clawtooth: That's an issue we haven't discussed. Psychological associations. What we perceive as "fun" might set off issues in fragile folks.
Csteph Submariner: haha, just saw that
Zotarah Shepherd: I might have a theme dress for the classes and give prizes for the best outfit.
AJ Brooks: its hard to walk on eggshells around "fragile folks" almost anything can set them off
Haley Swansong: The vampires freak me out
LOM Runner: I'm so laggy, I'm looking at a wall right now
Achrysalis Metaluna: interesting point @Arielion
Arielion Clawtooth: True, AJ. So be careful. LOL.
Chimera Cosmos: I got this whole outfit from Operation Squeegee - about the Oil Spill
AJ Brooks: lol
Kali Pizzaro: could they dress as an eggshell
Profdan Netizen: Like I mentioned earlier, Arelion, a student getting upset when I brought a cigar to a chat.
Margaret Michalski: @ Aj...Over all I see the avatars as us....HOWEVER, there are times for a good laugh.
Csteph Submariner: Ah!
Meredith Winslet: True Margaret
AJ Brooks: @margaret - you mean, like today. :-)
Josain Zsun: @Chimera So that's recycled BP execs?
Chimera Cosmos: I think it's an opportunity to teach tolerance too
Chimera Cosmos: in an engaging way
Margaret Michalski: @ aj..yes
AJ Brooks: Hey everyone - wish Margaret safe travels, she's headed off grid and for some family fun for a bit.
Chimera Cosmos: the "why are we threatened by how people look" thing
Kali Pizzaro: have fun MM
Margaret Michalski: Thanks AJ
Csteph Submariner: tata Margaret
Meredith Winslet: Cheers
Margaret Michalski: Thanks Kali
Arielion Clawtooth: But how could she have fun without us?
Kali Pizzaro: true
Margaret Michalski: Thanks Csteph and Meredith
AJ Brooks: ok - we only have about 5 minutes left - who has NOT had a chance to say something and would like to
Chimera Cosmos: You sound like the kid brother Arielion heheh
AJ Brooks: @chimera - just swat him with a newspaper, he's harmless
Margaret Michalski: @ Ariellion....I will be in internet cafes keeping up with VWER
Arielion Clawtooth: As long as she brings me back something :o)
LOM Runner: 3D Virtual life and augmented reality will be the future of our students. They will be exposed on the regular. They will be no room for comformity.
Chimera Cosmos: something virtual?
Arielion Clawtooth: @Chimera I'm not picky.
MarlaSinger Andel: agree LOM
Zola Zsun: i agree LOM
Margaret Michalski: Sure I can get you virtual stuff
AJ Brooks: well - interesting you said "3d virtual life" and not a 3d world
AJ Brooks: I like that distinction
Margaret Michalski: I can pass would landmarks
Margaret Michalski: lol
Chimera Cosmos: speaking of landmarks...
Haley Swansong: Clothing and customs can be very useful for role play
Chimera Cosmos: RFL builds go away tomorrow, and there are some SPECTACULAR ones
AJ Brooks: RFL?
Chimera Cosmos: Relay for Life
Sheila Yoshikawa: relay for life
Zotarah Shepherd: Relay for Life
Marc Rexen: Relay for life...worth walking.
Chimera Cosmos: the cancer thing, you know
AJ Brooks: ah - kewl
Chimera Cosmos: 41 incredible sims
Kali Pizzaro: i was going to wear a gunshot wound on my chest from the medical examiner sim. Would that have been ok
Marc Rexen: bit long, but there are some really nice builds.
Zotarah Shepherd: I just came from there. Great builds are still up
Haley Swansong: kinda of like making an animated cartoon real voices and you control the cartoon character
Chimera Cosmos: yes, but only till tomorrow
Chimera Cosmos: they were just featured on Designing Worlds on treet.tv
AJ Brooks: nice
Zola Zsun: bye.. rl tasks calling
AJ Brooks: last thoughts on topic, anyone?
Chimera Cosmos: I watched them interview the Alice creators
Eddy Grunstein: See you, Zola.
Arielion Clawtooth: Bye Zola
Chimera Cosmos: amazing place
Zotarah Shepherd: I have seen a woman AV with a sword through her heart because someone broke her heart
Marc Rexen: Get Philip to a meeting to talk education.
AJ Brooks: there is my road kill newbie behind my office
Haley Swansong: Oh Chimera I would have loved that
MarlaSinger Andel: We need to set an example ourselves by being professional in behavior and being ourselves in appearance
Marc Rexen: So when he does, we can have questions ready.
AJ Brooks: I'd love to Marc - I'm working on it
Chimera Cosmos: you can still see!
Haley Swansong: use alice with my junior High kids
Marc Rexen: Maybe the questions?
AJ Brooks: Hey - if we all drop Philip a notecard asking him to come to our meeting - he might
Chimera Cosmos: it's a red queen/white queen theme
Sheila Yoshikawa: @Marla sounds good
AJ Brooks: GREAT IDEA!! - a letter campaign
AJ Brooks: look for info on that soon
Chimera Cosmos: and the hookah smoking caterpillar uses lightening and electricity
Zotarah Shepherd: That would be great
AJ Brooks: ok - folks, great meeting, as usual!
Arielion Clawtooth: Does he take cards from anybody?
Chimera Cosmos: not to mention the Hydro Teslatron...
Profdan Netizen: Thanks, AJ.
AJ Brooks: I have to run - see you all next week - and keep your eyes on our groups!
Margaret Michalski: Thanks AJ.....See you when I get back
Chimera Cosmos: bye
MarlaSinger Andel: Thanks!
MarlaSinger Andel: bye
Arielion Clawtooth: Bye AJ!