I am a very lucky man.
I have had two passions in my life: libraries and social VR/virtual worlds. And I have been able to embrace and express both of my passions, both as an academic librarian (my paying job) and as a social VR/virtual worlds explorer and blogger (my hobby).
Librarians at my university are members of the faculty union, and like professors, we have an opportunity and an obligation to do “research, scholarly activities, and creative work”, as our collective agreement states. My work on this blog, and on the Metaverse Newscast show, actually forms a part of that “research, scholarly activities, and creative work”. (Yes, it is even written down on my list of goals this year!)
And I have started to develop a reputation as an expert on the ever-growing and evolving world of social virtual reality, which is informed by my hobby and my passion. In fact, I just learned this afternoon that I am going to receive the first formal recognition of that role, an honorary title from the Virtual Existence Society, to be given at a special awards ceremony on December 1st, 2019!
The mandate of the Virtual Existence Society is as follows:
We are a group of like-minded individuals who find value in the practice of virtual embodiment and the philosophy of virtual existentialism, and want to preserve, and promote those things.
The purpose of this society is to preserve and promote our shared belief and values by the means of passively strengthening our members’ faith in them through philosophical formulation and understanding of those values, and actively participating in activities aimed to preserve and promote said belief and values.
The society also conducts activities aimed to preserve and promote virtual world platforms to which it resides in (e.g. Second Life).
Luca, a Second Life vlogger whom I have blogged about before, sent me the following formal invitation:
And I am in some very esteemed company! The other Amica Honor recipients for 2019 are:
■ Erik Mondrian
■ XaosPrincess
■ Draxtor Despres
■ Daniel Voyager
■ Wagner James Au
■ Marianne McCann
■ Inara Pey
■ Loki Eliot
■ Cristiano Midnight
■ Naria Panthar
■ Novata
■ Syaoran Aluveaux
■ Saffia Widdershins
■ Cinder Roxley
