I’m so out of the loop on some things that I wanted a chance to learn more about blogging, the power of being a woman blogger, and how to turn my little blogs into more than just daily diatribes of being me. Yeah right.
No, seriously, I wanted to try something new and gain new insight into what I’ve been doing as a blogger and how to improve it. I read blogs every day. Probably more than I should really but I’m the kind of person who likes to soak up as much information as possible. I don’t care where I get it from either. As long as it’s useful to me I will read it.
Long story short, I really wanted to attend BlogHer. The list of reasons why that wouldn’t happen is longer than my arm but I will start with the biggest: It was in San Francisco. Umm, yeah, long way to go for me. So I succumbed to the fact I wouldn’t be going when I learned I could go. Virtually.
If you haven’t heard of Second Life, don’t feel bad. I hadn’t either. I’m not even sure I can adequately describe it. It’s like this life, only better. I’m up for anything you know? So I downloaded the software, created a “Me” and then started checking things out. I’m not addicted to it I swear but I love the possibilities there. BlogHer also loves Second Life because, for the second year in a row, they held some BlogHer events in Second Life for poor schmucks, people like me who can’t get to Sunny CA either.
I watched the opening keynote, participated in some second life/blogging sessions, and watched the closing keynote. Seriously? I am still absorbing it all and I missed some of the events that BlogHer held for us in Second Life. One thing I learned, is that the Internet really does transcends boundaries for people. Because of virtual worlds, I was someplace I had never been before and I met people, contacts, and bloggers who I probably wouldn’t have met because of this world. Before you scoff and say, “Well, you really didn’t meet them. Not face to face anyway.” OH yeah. It feels real to me. I exchanged thoughts, ideas, advice, and laughs with real people (which is what blogging is about to me anyway), and regardless of whether or not I could reach out and touch them, the experience of being “live” with them holds value to me.
I also was lucky enough to be interviewed by one of Second Life’s residents and writers for The Industry Standard, an online news venue.
Hopefully next year, I will be blogging live from BlogHer (wherever they may be) and cruising through Second Life at the same time. How fun would that be?
Hey, sounds like fun! I totally forgot about BlogHer this year…was thinking of going since I’m not far from SF, but have had so many other things going on. I have also been wanting to try Second Life, so now I’m even more intrigued. Oh, and just wanted to say, don’t feel too bad that you couldn’t make it…good old Sunny CA has been Smoky CA this summer with all the wildfires..so you didn’t miss much but poor air quality! 🙂
Thanks Diane! I’m sorry it’s been smoky but glad I missed that. Maybe next year we can go together? I would love to be roomies with you and shannan! Think of the trouble we could get into?
Hmm that was me thinking out loud. What I mean to say was think of all the great things we could learn and let me know if you get to Second Life, would love to be your friend there too!
Gosh, I’m really out of the loop. I’d never heard of BlogHer or Second Life. Glad you were able to virtually attend!