Interview Questions

Male 1

1) It was the only thing that was clean.

2) I got interested in it through some classes in high and decided I wanted to continue in that field.

3) No, I wouldn't, because I feel like if you change one thing it would change the entire course of everything and overall I'm happy with the way my life is going.

Male 2

1) I looked down at what I was wearing and I said, "Do I really need to change my clothes?"

2) I made vidoes for a bunch of my classes in high school and decided I like that.

3) I don't know. Whatever happens, happens - I don't really give a shit, as long as I'm not homeless. And as long as I have money to retire with. I'm cool.

Male 3

1) Uh...honestly, it's what I've worn the last three or four days. It was just kind of there and not dirty yet.

2) Uh...originally I wanted to be journalism major, but realized I hated writing, and decided I liked TV from a class in high school and went with it.

3) Yeah...uh, cuz right now I have no future and to have anything to garuntee I'd get the job I want would be awesome.

Just a note.

So Second Life was on the Office tonight.

That's pretty awesome.

Observation

Once again, I revisited my beloved Hanja Welcome Center, where I stayed for about a half hour on a Tuesday, the 23rd of October, from 11pm to 11:30.

While I was there, I mainly just listened to a conversation going on, mainly being delegated by a man I will call SP. Going for gross-out shock and vulgarity to "incite" new users, SP had nothing of substance to say but certainly kept things interesting.

Here are some priceless quotes and insight SP gave.


[19:51] SP: LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!

[19:52] SP: I LOVE BEING SINGLE!
[19:52] SP: I HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH SEX SINCE I WAS A BOY SCOUT LEADER!!!
[19:53] SP: I mean at the time...
[19:53] SP: I was dating alot.

[19:53] SP: I have what's called a heziated colon.
[19:53] SP: Which means that sometimes I can't control my sphincter
[19:53] SP: Well nobody knows this, but sometimes I poop my pants so I have to wear a diaper.
[19:53] SP: I have to take medicine for it every day.
[19:54] SP: It's a little suppository I have to put up my rectum.
[19:54] SP: I have what's called a heziated colon.
[19:54] SP: Which means that sometimes I can't control my sphincter
[19:54] SP: Well nobody knows this, but sometimes I poop my pants so I have to wear a diaper.
[19:54] SP: I have to take medicine for it every day.
[19:54] SP: It's a little suppository I have to put up my rectum.

[19:55] SP: I need to go poopie!

[20:10] SP: I just visited a SL adoption center. I spanked a 'child' on the ass and she tp'd away

and in closing...

[20:19] SP: THROW THE JEW DOWN THE WELL
[20:19] SP: SO MY COUNTRY CAN BE FREE
[20:19] SP: YOU MUST GRAB HIM BY HIS HORNS
[20:19] SP: THEN WE'LL HAVE A BIG PARTY!

Second Life treasure hunt

Tonight, when looking at educational events, I was surprised to find a Treasure Hunt under the tab.

In the spirit of Halloween, the Treasure Quest Hunters group organizes a newbie Treasure hunt for Second Life users to get acclimated and moving around the the Second Life world.

As the group moderator explained to new players, this how the Treasure Hunt works.


[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- Ahoy Me Hearties, welcome to the Treasure Quest, if its treasure your after you found the right crew.
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- We pirates have a few suggestions that might make this easier for you.
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- The hunt is easier if you have joined the group - just ask if you need an invitation...
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- It means we can help wherever you are.
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- You'll recieve a notecard with a tp and somewhere near to where you land you'll find treasure!
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- Good luck maties, look out for enemy pirate ships and beware of walking on planks!
[19:17] Calypso Llewellyn: -*- If you have any questions or need any help dont hesitate to ask, we pirates aren't as scary as we look!!!

"Treasure Quest is a new and unique scavenger hunt, exclusive to SL! As you travel from Sim to Sim, you will encounter many locations, where you solve the clues and you find the hidden treasure! Our last Quest covered 35 locations, varying from clothing merchants, home décor, jewelers, and costumers, to tattoo artists, the UFO Watch tower and clubs!"

It's also for a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is a very good cause.

Interview Observations

From the article, "Conducting an In-depth Interview" (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY393) I was given a great deal of insight in how to perhaps conduct interviews on Second Life.

I hope to be able to approach various avatars on Second Life and conduct an informal but in-depth interview with a basis of questions, but I will hopefully manage to let the avatars speak and give insight about themselves and their views on Second Life.

A couple of things I noticed about interviewing in Second Life that I might find problematic is mainly the practice of interpreting non-verbal communication. The article discusses how to be flexible and perceptive of what people aren't saying, which is hard in Second Life, seeing as people are hiding behind digital avatars, which unless animated, do not give emotion beyond what they are typing. I suppose when I begin conducting my interviews, I should be especially aware of how people are typing and what is being interpreted through that.

Luckily, since every communication on Second Life is typed, I can therefore copy and paste every interview instead of having to do record voices and transcribe the audio.

Interviews on Second Life will certainly be an interesting and insightful look into the lives of people and how they interact virtually.

Picking Apart Methods in "In the Zone"

There were a variety of research methods used in the ethnography and study called "In the Zone."

- Formal Field Immersion with a Research Team
- Participant Observation
- Interviews
- Field Notes, Audio Tapes, and Photographs

Data Included:

- Gendering of Space
- Cultural Ethos of Sports
- Occupational Stratification By Social and Group
- Interplay Between Embodied and Virtual Reality

Particpant/Direct Observations

The two different types of research being studied are participant observation and direct observation. The main difference is that participant observation includes taking part and watching how people respond and react to you while you're a part of the study. In direct observation, you don't actually take part, just watch what other people are doing and saying - like a fly on the wall. In both however, you are watching with a purpose.