A few weeks ago, I decided I would check out some live music, in Second Life. I don’t get to do that often enough and thought I’d go listen to a performer that I hadn’t heard in quite some time. As I entered the place (name of venue, performer and others have been removed for obvious reasons)…a particular avatar said ‘Hi JueL’..as did quite a few others, as I’m far from a noob, in Second Life…
I listend to the performer on stage, someone I’ve known for quite some time, and who has come such a long way in their performance, especially when it comes to acoustic guitar.
I was completely into the groove, as usual. Then the ‘particular avatar’ that said Hi, said ‘JUEL YOU AIN”T NO ANGEL” and I almost laughed out loud. I decided not to acknowledge the comment, because I simply had no idea where it came from. There was no ‘build up’ to the comment, they just continued to say it and I continued to ignore it. Obviously they needed some attention, but it wasn’t going to be from me. Eventually I left, after the performer on stage said (again completely out of the blue) ‘SOME PEOPLE, don’t know my friend ____… he writes my music for me on my backing tracks.
BINGO.
I’ve had problems with this particular avatar for a few years. Of course he changes his name often, due to the fact he’s a heckler to anyone that doesn’t ‘appreciate it’ that he does backing tracks (and trust me, they are nothing unique). This avatar has come to my venue on several occassions, of course, under different names, but he just can’t keep his little mouth shut, and has a tendency to draw a lot of negative attention to himself.
These are the types of things that can normally really get to me, but then I recall where it began. About 4 years ago or so, he decided to harass me, because I write my own songs and perform my own music. Then he decided to harass me because I did benefits for others, and then, because I tried to raise money for an SL performance. Yeah…nice eh?
THe performer, who will remain unamed, found it necessary to explain to the WHOLE AUDIENCE that this person is so cool because they write music for them. Which, doesn’t make a person cool or uncool to me. What makes a  person COOL or UNCOOL, is respect, which obviously neither of these people posess for others, yet demand it from everyone.
Why would anyone take time, at their friends performance, to harass another performer, because of their originality, or because they openly raise awareness for benefits, fundraisers and such.
So to you unamed souls out there….I pity you. I have always loved a certain handful of musician and performers, artists etc…but when you harass your audience for no reason, other than you are upset because they do something you don’t…it just shows the shallowness. Changing your avatar because you…well, don’t make friends so easy..due to the fact you find it  more fun to harass…is sad…and people that support those that do these things…it’s ok, I feel really good without that in my life.
There are a small handful of people that find it more fun to draw the negative attention, public attention to themselves, rather than enjoy their experience in SL.
It’s best not to let people like that, ruin your SL experience.
I’m not into drama, which is why I don’t respond to negative comments. I don’t have the energy to get into a WHY DID YOU SAY THAT TO ME conversation…I outgrew that a long time ago. I came to hear music and that’s what I did. Most times I don’t even see the chat. I had left the computer to grab a bite to eat…and happened to see this particular boy, flapping his words around instead of listening to his ‘friend’.
I heard someone once say  ”We tend to let that one negative experience, get to us…and forget all those who love us’
TRUE!!! It’s a bit of our human nature. So instead I thought of all the things I love, all the friends who make me smile, all the moments that are unforgettable in life and before you know it, I have a big grin on my face.
I remind myself, that ONE persons perspective of me, is certainly just that. One. I remind myself that for everyone one person that is feeling challenged, simply because of their own insecurities…is certainly no way for me to judge my path, and there are 10 others who support what I do, because it resonates for them.
One lesson I’ve learned…never try to be like someone else. I learned that when I was very very young. I’ve let it guide my whole life. I’m not jelous of any musician, song writer, artist…I am in awe of them, they move my spirit, they inspire, but they do not dictate who I am, they do not define what I do. They are not ‘competitors’ to me, I do not find myself challenged to be better than someone. I find myself challenged to exceed what I expect of myself, and that is peace to me. I find it my mission to find the best words to describe the pictures in my head….and well, if one little avatar (or the coward behind it) doesn’t like it, and finds it their life mission to copy and paste conversations, or to draw negative attention to themselves….I guess I look at them as the Monkey in the cage….slinging poo because they just simply have nothing else to focus on, but the actions of others.
And now that I’ve put it on paper, and into words…it’s been eliminated from me….like any toxin…it simply turns to waste, and if you’re wise, you know exactly what to do with waste. When life gives you lemonade, you make lemons. When life gives you ‘chit’, you plant a garden.
