Second Life 9/11 commemorations post-script

I did a quick survey of some of the organizers of Second Life commemorations of 9/11 yesterday, just to find out how their events went and how much turn-out there was. It sounds like they were a great success.

The Second Life Library displayed a replica
of the World Trade Center and provided a space for people to share
their memories and emotions on September 11. SL Librarian Lorelei
Junot wrote, "It went very well. We had about 30 people who were very
appreciative. People continued to talk after the program was over and
appreciated the display."

At the beautiful gothic Darkwood Cathedral residents lit candles and hung out in the nearby pews. Organizer
Rhiannon Chatnoir wrote:

There are now 190 candles and there were probably 30-40 prior this that had accumulated over a year or so. So, 150 or so in 1 day. Also, my SL traffic rating for yesterday was 5,172…normally it is about 800. Traffic is a # that represents a formula of # of avs and time spent on land. So, a dramatic rise!

Shava Suntzu led an interesting discussion on the "clash of civilizations" called "Why Do They Hate Us". Shava reports:

There were about a dozen people.  I was a little nervous at first.  One participant seemed disoriented, possibly intoxicated.  Another showed up with Afghan traditional dress and a weapon. I got there early and did a little chatting with people to get them warmed up. By the time the discussion started, things were fairly well behaved.

Topically, we covered a sketch of the history of tension between Europe and Central Asia from Napoleonic times (early 1800’s) to present.  We also touched on the rise of Qutbism and related schools of revivalist Islam especially as it related to youth culture and cultural survival in the region.

Frend Projects organized a commemorative build in the Burning Life sim.  He counted 143 candles placed at his site, plus many flowers and a teddy bear.

No word from Shikima Riel on her enormous September 11 Memorial, but I teleported in several times during the day, and there was always a group of a half dozen to a dozen residents hanging out.  Not to mention several members of the Green Lantern Core there to help keep the peace!  So I’m guessing that build was the most visited 9/11 site in all of Second Life.

Thanks to all the organizers and builders for creating these spaces for us to gather and remember those we lost on that dark day.