I used to read a lot of news articles about Second Life. Not so much anymore, because a vast majority aren't telling me anything new or exciting. And they lack pretty pictures!

I'll explain more about that second point in a bit, but I'll preface this with the obligatory and heartfelt: I'm soooo thrilled to see media coverage of Second Life. We're the buzz, it's a honeymoon period. But the problem for me is that many of these articles sound like the same person wrote them and kludged a few words. You have the predictable mentions of "You can make real money!", "There's sex!"; or the tired remarks like, "Why do I need a Second Life? I already have a first life!" (which actually falls right into our hands) and whiny, cynical digs that'll look altogether foolish some years from now. I may be a skeptic, but I think there's truth in Uri Geller saying, "Cynicism is for cowards".

Well then, since all these journalists are saying similar things, what would be more kickass is putting them all together like Voltron and/or Devastator and writing one big UBER article about Second Life, then distro'ing that worldwide. Oh wait, that's kind of how it's done with syndication, isn't it?

Not to be too cheeky, I take pride in knowing my fave authors have different styles, and that Stephen King doesn't write like Michio Kaku — altho it does tickle the mind fantasizing what kinda collab they'd do! But it's irksome to see so much "I can't tell who wrote this" rehash. Nevertheless, remembering a Council of Torleys exists, if you've never heard of Second Life before, you need an introduction, so you — and deservedly so — should get off on the right foot.

Which brings me to PICTURES.

What is up with these articles about SL where they have a generic stock image we've seen many times before, or a really winding text description which cries out for VISUALS? Like this, it's easy:

Hi, I'm a pretty picture, taken in SL @ YadNi's Junkyard.

"Tim Adams steps inside Second Life" is a fine example. I like Tim's storytelling methodology throughout his first few days, and he's got some rapt observations. I'm glad he came! There's even a classic Snow Crash reference, the likes which of seem to have diminished because while it's a good book, it's not mainstream (wait, what does that mean?). But throughout Tim's week of adventures, where are snapshots?

If that doesn't seem strange or substantial to you, think of tourists. Think of a popular accessory for a tourist. I'll give you three secs… 3… 2… 1…

A CAMERA!

Yes? Yes. Active Worlds knows this (scrunchy but you can see). When you pay good money for a trip, or take a free trip in the case of Second Life Basic Accounts, you can be compelled to capture the moment, save your memories, etc. Heck, I did it back when I first showed up at the scene in September 2004! (I'm such a camwhore.)

Tell me in text, sure, and show me too.

Inform, entertain, be… memorable.

Come see what the Temeros Island shopping experience is like!

Please.

What's even more baffling is, understandably, perhaps it's harder for print media. But these are web articles on thee Inter-net. C'mon peeps, take more cues from Wagner James Au and his spiffy new logo. You'll feel better about your work, I guarantee!

Speaking of, it's sad how far some things are, and I'm just watching for more pioneers to step up to the plate so I can throw them balls and celebrate them. While that doesn't sound quite right, this connects with my love for ambience and how I'm hoping Flickr will add sonic accompaniments for uploaded photos, much as how the Flickr-like Zooomr already does it with Zooomrtations (a hard word for me to say).

This realistically will be distant (and I passionately wish it wasn't), but I'd like to have more places within Second Life with their own audio signature, that if you TPed there with your eyes closed, you'd recognize it. Just like the scent of a loved one. (Which is further ahead still.)

Second Life: field recordings.

Let's do it.

But first — more pretty pictures, please!

I'm almost gratuitous, but not.
(There's a reason why Howard Rheingold has screens-within-a-screen!)