Social life keeps residents online

SAN FRANCISCO — If you build it, they will come — but only if you entertain them.

Special events, parties and sales represent an integral part of Second Life's social culture.

Musician Ben Folds recently held a CD release party in Second Life, Suzanne Vega played a few songs and author Kurt Vonnegut talked about his latest book, "A Man Without a Country."

The "Slaughterhouse-Five" author even had his own avatar, complete with a bushy digital mustache. A green wizard and a few winged creatures, among others, attended the interview.

When asked for his view on Second Life, Vonnegut said: "It's actually possible to get a better life for individuals. I'm frequently an enemy of new technology, but I love cellphones. ... I'm up for anything that makes people happier."

However, reflecting on that August interview, Vonnegut told the Chicago Tribune that he never saw his avatar and, "It was just another interview. I'm not full of gratitude for all sorts of things, so I just found it silly. But I find so much silly; I'm 84 years old."

Folds' experience was much different.

"It started off as just another stop on the promo trail, really," Folds said. "I hadn't done it before. ... It was sort of interesting once we got into it, but it was still kind of confined and boring, because of the way I was conducting it."

So, Folds acted like a rock star. His avatar guzzled beer, took off his shirt, then jumped into the audience and attacked fans with a "Star Wars"-style light saber. Crimes against break dancing also were committed.

"We're finding all these cool ways to interact with other people," Folds said. "Imagine if you couldn't use your legs or something, I think some people would really dig that."

He continued: "What it means to me is freedom. The rules aren't written yet. The earth, the land, has been pioneered, but there are still new ideas. It's one of those Web sites that ... are poised to reshape the Internet."