a "drama free" Second Life - it's a virtual world to enjoy

Second Life has a great freedom to it - a freedom to explore, imagine, create, communicate, follow interests, share with fascinating people. My reckless openness and generosity has naively taken me into some awkward situations though, and too close to some *psychotic* and manipulative people - but for the most part it's been a very positive experience.

The word "drama" crops up in this context. Where people get hostile, take offense, accuse and abuse - seemingly at the slightest provocation (or no provocation except the imagined), want to argue, maintain a grudge and particularly seem to have a short temper. Now people may have many good reasons for such behaviour - the may be just immature, be tired, have brought depression from RL into SL, or been abused in RL and want to take this out on anyone they see in SL. It may even be low-blood glucose, as obesity and diabetes seem to go closely together. It may also be an act of petulance to be manipulative and get their own way, even profit from the niave. Whatever the reason, you have probably seen such type in SL - and endured such behaviour.

I tend to feel sorry for such people - even try to reason with them. I've been generous to people who ultimately can't be helped, and bite the hand that offers help, enough times to realise when the mute-button, and backing off, is the only option. The familiar pattern of "dramatic" behaviour is now so obvious to me I understand why some Avatars have the "no drama" request in their profiles, though I wonder if that's a magnet for dramatic people or not. Drama is created by very selfish and immature people, who want reactions and attention - once you can see that about anyone it's best to remain calm and let them go off in their own world of self-abuse, offering help and keeping the door open, but never getting into their arguments. A favourite tactic of the dramatic is to use the contacts or friends list as a weapon - "I delete you" - I admit I find that amusing, I use the contact list to keep in touch with Photography clients, and long-term friends - and tend to clean up my list often when I don't see or talk to someone for a while - so if someone deletes me they are doing me a favor, and it's probably they that miss out :-)

So thanks to those who have helped me learn a bit more about "drama" and how to avoid it. All part of making SL a better place.