Live Your Dream: What's Your Problem???

***This and previous posts are reprints of items in various issues of REZ Magazine, distributed in-world.

“Death and Taxes”

Dear Gudrun -

I am wondering if it is worth investing my money and effort in Second Life. The game seems to have lost its fizz. Businesses and clubs are closing, it seems, because no one is showing up.

Can a new entrepreneur become successful in SL? I know that some would say that if I know so little that I need to ask random strangers about it, then I need to hide whatever cash I have, and go to a book store and buy a book, or go to a college and take a course. But, you are not a random stranger. I, as is the case with many in SL, see you as a savant... I know your advice will see me through the quandary I’m in.

Please help,

Flat Soda

Dear Flat -

“She who bemoans the lack of opportunity forgets that small doors many times open up into large rooms.”

So you’re wondering whether or not Second Life can support your venture? You’re wondering if there’s enough commerce in Second Life for you to make a profit? All that hype that used to be in the Tech media about Second Life being an outpost of large corporations has long since gone. But, that wasn't what Second Life was about. Second Life is alive and well.

Don't worry about investing your money and efforts (but, at the same time, don't bet the farm). There is no shortage of chombolones such as myself who do nothing in SL but spend money (and win the occasional Zyngo jackpot). We will buy pretty much anything that is beautiful, fashionable, funny, or just fun.

These stats are from the info graphic Linden Labs presented as part of its SL 10^th anniversary celebration back in June. Since SL's inception:

36 million accounts have been created
$3.6 billion (USD) has changed hands for virtual goods and services
217,666 years (equivalent) have been spent in SL by users
1,000,000 visit SL monthly
400,000 register monthly
700 square miles – SL land mass – 14 times the size of San Francisco (where LL is)
2.1 million virtual items are for sale
1.2 million transactions take place daily

This economy is based upon the Linden, which has proven remarkably stable over the period of its existence. The goal of a modern currency is to more or less equal the amount of goods and services in an economy. As long as this equation holds up, the economy remains stable. If there is too little money, the economy stagnates. Governments manipulate this. If a government creates currency irresponsibly, for instance simply to cover a deficit, inflation occurs, resulting in higher prices and wages. If there is too little money, on the other hand, the economy stagnates. Since economies tend to grow, creation of more money is common.

The Linden is, of course a “fiat” currency. This does not mean that it was issued by an Italian automaker, and that it will continually need to be "fixed again by Tony." What it means is that it is not linked to any material resource, such as gold. The US Dollar itself became a fiat currency in 1973. Today, all national currencies, including what used to be known as the Pound Sterling, are fiat currencies.

Ummm... This means all money is imaginary. It's good that so many people are imagining it, LOL.

But, the Linden has been remarkably stable for YEARS:

1 - Each Linden is worth $.00408. This has been true for years, give or take 1/1000 of a cent.

2 - The Linden is backed by the precious commodity vaporware. You've heard of the rare earths used in everything from computers to car mufflers?? Well vaporware is like that. It is essential to Linden technology. Trust me; SL is full of big ideas that will revolutionize the way you play. Just look at the latest viewer versions.

3 - Vaporware? Where else can you sell land the doesn't REALLY exist? (Well, of course you can. But where else is it legal?)

4 - Vaporware? You can even sell thin air - air not even having the added value of being pumped at a gas station. You can buy air to live in or do business in up in the sky.

5 - I'm guessing that the Second Life economy represents at least one-third of the entire world’s virtual goods ("vaporware") market.

6 - Vaporware is rapidly becoming indispensable as well as precious. No one in the world can live without it. It's central to much entertainment.

7 - The Linden has a unique status in the world economy. After all, there are some words you never hear in SL - bunko, con, flim flam, gaffe, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle, bamboozle. Hmmm.

8 - The Linden is a terrific tax shelter. (At least so long as no one is looking, and no one has... much... yet.)

9 - You will never see a sign in SL that says "We do not accept Lindens." And I don't care WHAT country you THINK you're in.

10 - Lindens are far more widely recognized than Monopoly money, chocolate doubloons, or licorice dollars.

Given this healthy economy, what are your opportunities? Putting on my savant hat, I see four major "industries" in which SL residents invest their time and spend their money:

FASHION - The biggest industry in terms of volume. This is probably the number one way to make money in Second Life. There is a huge range you can work with for both women and men: ignoring basics like avis and skins, there are all varieties of clothing, shoes, and makeup, and there's nothing to stop you from adding to the diversity of offerings. But remember, only quality sells... anybody can make a piece of junk.

Making really good stuff can involve some edumacation. You will need to spend plenty of time just learning. Practice and become really good at what you are doing before investing all of your energy in trying to compete. And build a nice store even if you hafta hire a contractor.

LAND - The biggest industry in terms of pricing.

Unless you gotz huge cash that you're willing to invest, do not even consider this. In SL, top land owners, who pay a lot for a lot, get deep discounts on tier expenses. If you intend to start with one sim and work your way up, you're probably fighting an impossible battle. What is more the land market in Second Life is extremely depressed right now. There's simply too much inventory available.

BUILDING - Variable, building sales, construction contracting.

As in the fashion industry, you must develop a unique high quality product. *Is there a type of building or an amenity that is unavailable? That is your entree.

"ADULT" SERVICES -

You can minimize your expenses by coming onto someone else's land and providing your services there for a fee, rather than creating your own premises. This requires an investment in the various props you need such as clothes and other accessories. On the other hand, you may be more comfortable with your equipment having been installed on your own turf :=P

START A CLUB -

EVERYONE wants to start a club in Second Life. I don't want to say that it is completely impossible to earn Lindens by starting a club. However, it's one of the most difficult and time consuming things you can attempt. It’s only years later that you will know whether or not you were successful.

DEATH AND TAXES

Death and taxes - In RL these are certainties, in SL not so much. To be sure, your real life will someday end. This may come as a shock to some young people... sorry to be so blunt, but it's true. Nevertheless, your SL avatar will live on, waiting to be revived by anyone who knows or can guess your password. (You could leave it in your will.)

As far as taxes, there is no official mechanism for taxing SL profits. But proof of SL's viability lies in the General Accounting Office's interest. The GAO recommends that IRS find relatively low-cost ways to provide information to taxpayers, such as on its website, on the basic tax reporting requirements for virtual currencies. Why? Because according to Linden Labs, residents exchange more than US $150 million worth of Linden dollars per quarter. Duh...

Can virtual transactions be taxed? Transactions within a “closed-flow” virtual currency system do not produce taxable income because the currency can be used only to purchase virtual goods or services. In an “open-flow” system, virtual currencies can be used to purchase both real and virtual goods and services, as well as be readily exchanged for government-issued currency, such as U.S. dollars. The GAO's example of an open-flow currency designed primarily for use in a virtual economy is Second Life Lindens.

Factors that prevent their checking up on you are anonymity and hazy borderless transactions :=P

The GAO and IRS think you simply should be forthcoming about your Linden profits. LOL.

I hope I have helped you decide...

TC ~ Gudrun

"Primps but No Pimps"

Dear Gudrun -

I'm fascinated with the idea of becoming a Second life escort. Part of it is the lure of easy money, but I'm also a bit of a nymphomaniac. ;-) Besides, it seems like fun.

With all the freely available sex in SL, is there still a demand for escorts?? My instincts tell me there is, but I have not been able to verify my hunch. I do want to get into the trade.

Unfortunately, I don't know where to begin. I saw in your profile that you recommended a movie called "Woman in Flames." I watched the movie with interest, but it is far from being an SL whoring guide. If you could take me under your wing and tutor me, I would be extremely grateful.

Sincerely,

Fonda Peters

Dear Fonda -

First of all, just so you know, I have never been an "escort" in Real Life or in Second Life. I find Real Life prostitution a very scary thing. From a Real Life point of view, most men think all prostitutes are motivated by money or sex, just as you profess you are. I believe that statistics prove this notion false. It's not simply a desire for lots of money or recreational sex that motivates, it's grinding poverty combined with psychological trauma and exploitation.

Often prostitution is the easiest and most obvious way to get money for basic needs. Sometimes extreme poverty makes parents think of using their girls to make money. In other cases a manipulative man sees a woman’s situation and gains her trust through affection, apparent compassion, and a promise to care. They seem to share a desire for a better future. She leaves for a better life, but once she is isolated, the relationship transitions. The man dominates and abuses the woman. The man tells her that they need money, and that she will have to find a way to get it.

Drugs and alcohol are frequently if not inevitably involved. And trafficking in humans as sex slaves is a far larger problem than most people care to recognize.

Of course, Second Life is not Real Life, and many of the scarier aspects of the sex trade are totally absent. Manipulation and exploitation, however, can exist in any environment. And, yes, there is a demand in Second Life, though it may not produce customers lined up at escort islands. It's sort of like Zyngo. People in SL remark how few customers there are in the Zyngo parlors. But the parlors represent huge investments, and are capable of paying out huge amounts in winnings... in some cases, millions of Lindens.

Why do you want to be a sex worker? If your answer is "I want fast money," fuggedaboutit. There's something inherently delusional about get-rich-quick schemes. On the other hand, if you enjoy work that's intellectually engaging, meeting new people and exploring their avis, if you are an exhibitionist, if you like to talk dirty, or you just don't take sex very seriously, you might have found a calling.

Is it surprising that there is a demand for paid sex when so much free sex is available? Not really. With an escort, the customer gets the sex he (or she) wants when he (or she) wants it. It’s all about control. It’s up to the escort to be equipped to provide the customer with satisfaction.

That having been said, based upon my long experience and superior powers of observation, I can certainly provide a primer for escorting in SL.

It’s said that escorts can earn as much as L$10,000 per tryst, an hour or o of work. This is approximately US$41, although the exchange rate fluctuates. It's not something that a brand-new character would be able to pull off: an expensive wardrobe of realistic avatar clothing, skins and animations is required, as is gender verification and a place to go. The industry supporting the sale of these necessities, and arranging escort encounters, may seem more profitable than actual on-the-street work. BUT, you can and should cut out the middle-man. And your profit in an hour could pay for a week’s lattes.

Do you really want someone arranging your encounters? And don't bother with ads... They all say the same thing anyway. The way you present yourself has MUCH more to do with your salability.

You can charge several hundred L$ for a simple text chat/pose ball encounter of 30 minutes, or, if you can pass for high class, several thousand. But stick with johns who have payment info... The others are either alts, or too cheap to afford you!

There are many escorts who now provide voice sex. Some are what they purport to be and some aren’t. Voice morphing has become very sophisticated. (To me, SL is a fantasy world. Actually speaking to a sex partner comes very close to actually incorporating them into your RL. But everyone is different.)

At the high end of the market are the escorts who provide video cam service. I don’t know why anyone would log on to SL to do Webcam when there are thousands of webcam girls out there for free in the RL. But then, there’s lots I don’t know.

You can make a note card with your prices...what will you be doing?...or willing to do at the right price... if you're also a dancer you can hand them out to your big tippers or people that come to the club.

Example (from real SL):

15 mins of text chat - L$700
30 mins of text chat - $L1000
5 mins of voice chat - $L1000
10 mins of voice chat - $L1500
20 mins of voice chat - $L2500
5 mins of video chat - $L10,000
10 mins of video chat - $L20.000

Getting back to looking high-class -

My GF Michele has rules for shopping and dressing. Michele's 12 commandments are: (1) Don't rule out freebies, but don't rely on them either. (2) If it looks cartoonish, it is. (3) Have lots of shoes... many styles, colors, heels, flats, boots, casual, dressy and organize them accordingly. (4) ALWAYS look at the details in SL clothing... it’s as important to the look as it is in RL. (5) Accessories and hair and nails make a difference... ALWAYS take the time to create a whole look. (6) Makeup: what do you mean you only have one skin? You NEED to be able to adjust your makeup to the moment and don't forget your fingernails and toenails. (7) Don't be afraid to use an illumination tool to backlight your look. It’s a special cheat we can use here!! (8) Don't be afraid to try a new store, but put your favorites in their own inventory slot. (9) Lindens aren't the same as dollars and Euros; don’t be afraid to spend some. (10) NEVER wear the same thing day after day. And most importantly… (11) Dress in a way that is comfortable to the personality of your avi: If you dress like Ms. Manners and act like a hooker (or vice versa) it just won't work. Finally… (12) Improvise: use the stuff in your inventory to create new looks that work for you. I would add a 13^th... Don’t wear mesh, because the johns may not be able to see you (tho I guess everyone has been forced off the old viewers).

Of course, once you have snagged your john, you will have to provide him what he wants. Ideally, you will have a property stuffed with pose balls and stellar animations. And don’t just get sex balls... slow dancing and cuddling are even sexier. But there are several public locations that have those things. What you need most is a chat library, regardless of whether you do text or voice. You should develop your own, but here are some examples to get you percolating:

“I am shy about my naughtiness.”

“I hope you don’t mind me being like this, but you are intoxicating.”

“Oh my, sorry... *blushes... I was distracted looking at you.”

*bites her lip and casts her eyes down over your body...

*gliding across the sheets, moving upwards, parting my legs, reaches up takes your hand and waits for you to lay above me...

*wants you to feel the soft satin of my panties, taking your hand and having you run your hand over my mound then peel my panties off, I kick them off and spread my legs for you...

...etc., etc. Anyway, you get the idea.

In closing, here is a little story. It may assuage any fears you have of “ruining” yourself:

An Irish daughter had not been home for over five years, and upon her return her father cursed her, asking “Where have ye been all this time? Why did ye not write to us, not even a line? Why didn’t ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old mum thru?”

The girl, crying, replied, “Dad, I couldn’t bear to tell you… I became a call girl.”

“And what would that be, then?”

The girl hesitated, then stammered through her tears, “It’s a kind of prostitute.”

“A what! Out of here, ye ungrateful little baggage! You’re a disgrace to this family!”

“OK, Dad — as ye wish. I just came back to give mum this fur coat, brother Kevin this gold Rolex and you this Mercedes convertible. I also wanted to invite you to spend Christmas with me on my yacht on the Riviera, and to move into my ten-bedroom mansion afterward.”

The father hesitated, then asked tentatively, “Now what did ye say a call girl was again?”

The girl softly said, “A kind of prostitute!”

“Oh! Sweet Jesus! Come here and give yer old man a hug, girl; ye scared me half to death! I thought ye said a kind of Protestant!”

TC ~ Gudrun

“Pirates Don’t Smell in SL”

Dear Gudrun –

At age 19, I enlisted in the British Navy. During my travels at sea, I learned everything there was to know about sailing, and also about the lore of the free-lance sailor and pirate. Later I met a tattoo artist from Chicago, and I learned how to use a tattoo machine. I practiced on drunks brought in from the docks. Honing my skills down on the Gulf Coast, I made a lot of money, and I bought a boat. I remain a sailor today. Though a tattoo artist, I also skipper of a large three-masted schooner, with which I conduct tours of the Caribbean islands where I live.

I am also an avid fan of Second Life. Whenever possible, I join the fun, dancing and hoping for the occasional sea chanty and willing maiden. I especially enjoy regaling the land bound beauties with stories of the sea. I also enjoy torturing vacationing couples with implications that , because of the sultry native atmosphere, one or the other of the spouses has been unfaithful.

So, for most of my life I have been a sailor. As such, starting with the British Navy, I have routinely put away two pints of rum (nothing special, just 80 proof) per day. Lately, my stamina has not been what it used to be. But I’m thinking of trying 100 proof rum. Am I in trouble?

Please help,

BLOODYHELLICANTKEEP Drinking

Dear Drinking:

First of all, let me be very clear: If alcohol causes you ANY problems in Real Life, whether with your job, your family, or anything else, stay away from it. This is something that varies enormously with individual people. Base your actions upon your own unique experience (or lack thereof).

For some reason, your name conjures up Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp is an actor who joins my Top 10 list of actors who look like they smell bad. And he should... He rolls his own and gets falling-down drunk. People like that rarely bathe regularly, even if they own beautiful white cats. Of course, he lives in France, so... (FYI - In my youth, I had Robert Mitchum on this list. He was much less disheveled in appearance than Johnny Depp, but lo and behold, Revlon introduced a deodorant after him in 1970! Take me to the racetrack, LOL!) Anyway, if you smell or look like Johnny Depp, read no further. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

Nevertheless, despite its negative associations, alcohol has been used by human beings for over 8000 years. It is basically a mood altering recreational drug, and the most popular one. Ninety percent of most Western populations have experienced it.

Alcohol is legal, which means that it is available for those adults who want it (and non-adults who may conspire to get it). And it is part and parcel of many social functions: dinners, sporting events, birthdays, weddings, funerals, and parties of every kind. Besides this, getting drunk is considered a rite of passage for many young people, and is an approved form of recreation in the armed forces.

There many kinds of social situations. In Second Life, even more than in Real Life, alcohol can be the lubricant that makes you socially successful. There are, of course, the drinking anims, and beverage choice clearly identifies you to the class-conscious among your fellow avis. But chances are you are “having a few” in RL while you are in-world. Alcohol consumption while engaged in SL (I dislike the phrase "playing SL") can improve your experience immensely:

It decreases judgment and thinking ability, including decisions and consequences. This can be a huge plus. For example, not thinking about consequences of actions or words, acting on impulse, missing social cues, and losing awareness of how your behavior impacts others, can make you a spontaneous and fun person, allowing others to serendipitously discover the many and varied aspects of your personality.

It slows your overall thinking process and decreases concentration and focus. This is not bad. There is new research that indicates that this IMPROVES your performance in games such as Zyngo. Zyngo is a major source of revenue for ALL involved in SL, possibly the only thing that keeps the whole shebang afloat.

It decreases awareness of surroundings, which means you needn't worry about mesh, disappearing scenery, etc. YOU COULD CARE LESS!

It decreases inhibitions. THIS can lead to risky behavior by giving signals we don’t mean, invading others’ space, increased touching, increased personal disclosure, increased focus on obtaining pleasure, promiscuous sex. Ummm... This is what SL is all about, right??

It also increases aggressiveness and/or seductive behavior, and facilitates selective communication, both very valuable in SL. If you haven’t gotten into trouble yet, there you go!

There are psychological underpinnings:

Some people drink in an attempt to assuage personal problems or bridge perceived gaps in their lives. They consume alcohol to 'stun' themselves and avoid the pain of their situation. Family problems, bullying, violence, divorce, low self-esteem, health problems, unemployment, and financial stress can all be reasons for using alcohol as an escape mechanism

For others, the reasons for alcohol use need not be negative. Dependence can develop when the positive effects of alcohol (relaxation, confidence, enjoyment of food) become important in the pursuit of activities. Combined with personal triggers, activities such as attending sporting events, hanging out with friends, or a luxurious dinner, can increase the possibility of becoming dependent.

Whatever their reasons for drinking, as a person drinks more, he or she develops a tolerance for the effects of alcohol. This means drinking large amounts to achieve the same effects formerly obtained by drinking far less. The acquisition and ingestion of large amounts of alcohol can assume an important place in the person's life, consuming large amounts of money, displacing friends and family, and undermining their careers and other endeavors.

Take the AUDIT Test

It appears to me that drinking is heavily associated with Second Life. This is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). It is presented here as a public service.

The points that are associated with each answer are listed below. Keep track of your points as you take this assessment.

1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

(0) Never (Skip to Questions 9-10, or skip them all)
(1) Monthly or less
(2) 2 to 4 times a month
(3) to 3 times a week
(4) 4 or more times a week

2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?

(0) 1 or 2
(1) 3 or 4
(2) 5 or 6
(3) 7, 8, or 9
(4) 10 or more

3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?

(0) Never