Torley Lives

Q: Who are you in the game?

A: Firstly,?I don't mind Second Life being called a "game" because it certainly is that, and much more. Some people find it to a derogatory term. However, I cannot relate. To answer,?Torley Wong (that's me) is playing the role of Torley Torgeson in Second Life.

Q: Why Torley Torgeson?

A: Unfortunately, while you can pick just about any first name you darn well please, there is a fixed list of last names you can select from which you can see on the signup page.?This is done in part to deter rude and difficult-to-remember, alphanumeric mumbo-jumbo. Old names which are used frequently (about 150 times,?according to the very helpful Kex Godel) are retired. I wanted to use my real name. Strangely enough, Wong is listed as a past last name, but I haven't found any of them in SL. Mass Wong disappearance? I dunno. Anyhoo, I looked through the choices and liked the alliteration of TorTor.

Q: So how'd you hear about Second Life in the first place, and why are you spending your First Life living your Second one?

A: I'm actually surprised I heard of it so late in the game, so to speak. However, considering my tendency to overlook the obvious, it's not really much of a surprise at all. Maybe it's going to be a blessing in disguise? I hope so, but I cannot say with any certainty. I heard of it from multiple sources and did the math, connecting everything together with my associative thinking. One of these sources is the fine New World Notes, Second Life's very own newspaper/blog/fun site. Another is Cristiano Midnight's SLUniverse Forums. I was SOOO very thrilled to finally meet him in SL! I was informed by the helpful Second Life blog community which is growing. Credit also goes to MMORPG.COM for one of my earliest looks. As is not uncommon with me, the first time I was reading about SL on there, I had already come up with the assumption that it must SUCK. Don't ask me why, but like other things in life I've come to enjoy, I firmly resisted it initially. Things quickly changed.

As for why I'm here, there are numerous reasons. One of them is that because of my hearing loss due to hyperacusis, I am unable to work on my techno music, which saddens me. I felt lazy, depressed, and unproductive — all signs of an unhappy human being. This has been going on since about late May 2004?and in the meantime, I've blogged a fair share and caught up on my reading queue, but something still felt missing. It was too solitary. Like the great genius Stephen King once wrote: "Get busy living, or get busy dying." I pick the former, and add a Second Life onto my First one like layers on a cake… with icing and sprinkles! In time I'm hopeful my hearing will get better and I can compose again, AND continue to live on in SL. I'm more of an AND person than an OR person.

Another big reason why I'm here is that?I've actually been dreaming about experiencing something like this for years. I pined for a Deus Ex MMORPG but that doesn't look like it'll come to fruition, and Matrix Online looks limited compared to what I want to do, creatively speaking. Catherine Omega said it best to me the other day but she said it?so well I'm not going to even start paraphrasing.?Compound this with a YUGE deal of $10 US one-time (not monthly) Basic Account that would make Donald Trump-crossed-with-Max Headroom laugh his pixellated head off while bowing honorably, and it looks like we've got ourselves a winner. There's still a lot of pipe left to lay so I don't wanna say anything too preemptive, but I'm optimistic.

Q:?So what does Torley Torgeson look like?

A: Like this…

This isn't the most recent picture, and I've since been carrying a synth under my arm to represent who I am.

Q: Those are some loud clothes!?You prolly don't dress like this in real life, do you?

A: I do. Except there's an inversion, because?I have a totally neon green coat.?The biggest fictional stretch for me would have to be the blue jeans. I NEVER wear blue jeans in real life because I find them chafing and uncomfortable. I instead am usually donning red-and-black cargo pants with plenty of pockets to hold my candy. (As in "candy raver" — you get the idea.)

Q: And what about the hair?

A: Hair's pretty accurate. A bit shorter IRL tho.

Q: What's the symbol on your t-shirt?

A: How'd you know it was a t-shirt? Really though, the symbol on it just means ME, TORLEY. Like ka, that's the way it it is.

Q: So, what do you do in Second Life?

A: A lot of things. I've covered them in past blog entries so feel free to have a gander. I'm not a great multitasker but I enjoy the diversity of exploring, chatting with fellow SLers, playing games like trivia, and maybe soon, building more stuff. That's a big part of SL and maybe someday I'll be good at it like Brother Zephos is. It all comes down to me having fun and knowing what I do isn't limited to me alone, and that there's a larger community out there who also shares my general interest in Second Life and perhaps even my specific interests in areas such as Stephen King, Donald Trump, older video games (not an expert but I just like them), the other obsessions listed on my site, and even techno music. Which, by the way, I don't really like to talk about it?at this point in my life, but oh well. Hilarity ensues because I came to SL to get away from music but I find more of it here than ever.

Q: Can you give a few examples?

A: Sure. A lot of people stream music from their online property, and quite frequently, it is TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO TECHNO!!! Commonly, anthemic trance or?mellow housey grooves, but by no means limited to those two.?And then I'll hear a song I recognize — trying to keep the high frequencies away from my ears as to not aggravate my hyperacusis –?and I'll?go, "OMG!! THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVE SONGS!" It's happened frequently. I figure I could never be 100% separate from music so why fight it? I've chosen to embrace it and share the love.

Q: I looked at your Profile.?Is it all true?

A: Yes. I'm quite explicit and strict about what I put down there, but I did it with a dash of humor because if life's too short, what does that make Second Life? I feel it's necessary to state these things as to have a good sense of communication and lessen the probability of being misunderstood. If you have questions and need further clarification, you are most graciously welcome to ask me.

Q: You've never had key lime pie before?

A: Not in real life, nor in SL. I'm counting on it though, whichever comes first.

Q: What was your initial experience logging into SL like?

A: OMG, WHAT A TRIP!!! I've gotta say that… I TPed — TelePorted — from the orientation island into the Welcome Area and proceeded to make warm and fuzzy greetings. I can't recall exactly who was there, but I do know upon my very first visit, I encountered some fellow avatars I would later get to know better in the days to come. The friendliness! The help! The expertise… ahhh, it was amazing. The technically skilled people?were knowledgeable without being condescending to a n00b such as myself (with the sad exception of one who shall go unnamed), and fellow newbies seemed to be amazed and in awe of the whole shebang as well.

I was confused and feeling awkward but this was natural and a good thing. I still am, to some degree. I think I always will be. And therein lies the appeal.

Q: Why do you say "OMG" so excitedly?

A: Because I really am so excited. It can be unusual for me to show such an outburst of emotion in any stage of life, so when I do it, it's quite an achievement.

Q: What's an autistic person doing on SL? Is this a joke? You seem so aware, chirpy, giddy, etc.

A: No, this is not a joke.?Autism is not one thing. It encompasses a spectrum of neurological conditions, like shades and colors of the rainbow. I have what is called Asperger's Syndrome overlapped with so-called High-Functioning Autism. The fine distinction is blurred and I remain a unique individual at the end of the day with my own?means of creation and methods of communication. Labels are a necessary evil for accessibility and convenience, and clearly a tree is not a forest, but can be a part of a forest.

Additionally, I have made YUGE strides over the years in terms of self-improvement, with plenty o' room left to go. Words don't say it all so maybe if you get to know me as a person in SL and I get to know you, we'll both smile without having to say anything at all. I can be withdrawn at times and I need plenty of space, so please pardon me in advance. Furthermore, I do indeed get very excited with certain pervasive interests. I'm not a great multitasker and hyperfocused so if I'm slow to reply, now you know why.

Which brings me to say this: toys — and I use that in the best of ways, because toys are fun and fun is good — like Second Life are extremely valuable in helping people who might not be able to communicate via face-to-face or even over the phone (telephoneaphobia?) for various reasons. Or, similarly, people who are sick and?tired of being judged for being themselves: safe, sane, and consensually. Absurd, isn't it??In parts of Planet Earth, if you walk down the street in a Star Trek uniform pledging intergalactic peace, you'll get your ass kicked. Sad but true. But I've seen nightclubs in SL where furries, heavy metal bikers, neo-cyberpunks (that's me!), video game characters, and trendy scenesetters all hang out and dance in unison. It's wonderful to have this unity in diversity.

Some people in SL have shirts with the following saying, and I think it's spirited: YOU LAUGH AT ME BECAUSE I AM DIFFERENT; I LAUGH AT YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL THE SAME.

Second Life is?a platform for this unified diversity.?And yeah, let's celebrate our differences. And let's celebrate them together. We are all unique, yet all the same… and this is another reason why I embrace contradictions.

Q: So, being autistic,?can you count cards like Rainman?

A:?Hmmm? Like I alluded to, get to know me and you may start to notice things. I leave it to your discretion.

Q: Are you a full member of Second Life now?

A: Full Basic Member, yes, as of today. I just signed up at the end of my 7-day Free Trial, so this solidifies my committment. A really gracious thank-you to you who have made me feel so welcome in the community! I am as thankful as a neon monk receiving fluorescent?alms.

Ultimatumly, thank you graciously to Linden Lab and the family of Lindens for making this possible. Their press releases are fun!

Q: Have you read Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, which helped to inspire Second Life with its "metaverse"?

A: Not yet, but I very much enjoyed The Diamond Age. SC?is on my list of "unrandom random readings". Like me spending more time in Second Life, it's inevitable.

Q: What's a typical day in Second Life like for you?

A: I can't define "typical" but I'll generally be keen to explore places. Some of my allies have shoppes and art they like to show off — art of all kinds, not just paintings! A few of many most excellent?examples: Varick Eisenberg — who was one of the first people to greet me when I came in, and I remember his role as Paladin — does really neat particle effects and applies them to sculpture, among other things. I ended up meeting Goshua Lament after some talk on the Forums, and he took me on a balloon tour. Cristiano Midnight just finished a very punchy and fun addition to the SLverse ;), and the other day, I visited the famous Spook House?(it has since moved from that location to Mistress Midnight's?Midnight City). Ace Cassidy?envisions?awesome community projects, Lecktor Hannibal conducted a Tribal Drumming session I attended, Lily Lightcloud is a master builder. I?instant-messaged auspicious designers like?Ulrika Zugzwang (who is evil )?and Cubey?Terra (who is aerodynamic) to?compliment and?inquire about their?respective crafts.?TinaStar Dawn?showed me her luscious land acquisitions; Gwyneth Llewelyn gave me a guided tour of her gorgeous neighborhood of Uli and we've been chatting up ideas; Kex Godel and Toy LaFollette I can always count on for help; and all that and I haven't yet?visited Lisse Livingston's Shaka Mall… but it's INEVITABLE!!! VIRTUAL RETAIL THERAPY!!!?MU HA HA HA. So much to experience.

A key thing to remember is that while these may be online personas, they are always backed up by real human beings who, for the most part, are living out some part of their hopes + dreams online. At least that's what I've heard from others, and that's what I am doing. And what makes it even more real is that these desires are being shared with others who bear witness to the fruition of these blossoming creations?– sending shockwaves rippling throughout cyberspace; impacts that ultimately affect us all!

I'm still looking for something or somethings but I don't know what they'll be until I get there.

Like The Dark Tower — and by the way, I'm still hoping to see a sim devoted to Stephen King — it's about the journey!

2004.09.26