Hi, Wannabe (and all) .

I shared some of the same concerns or thoughts that you relayed after joining SL. In truth, though, SL hasn't come to replace RL efforts or interactions.

With improved/increased ability to socialize and communicate with others in the virtual world, it also adds to confidence when in RL. Maybe, in part, it's attributed to the fact that in, i.e., SL, the foundation for communication starts with the premise that it really does take two to have any type relationship and it is quite obvious - in SL - when it's active or passive. The latter doesn't lend itself to SL. The "skills" attained and/or bolstered translate to RL .

So, I think, a more concise way of looking at it: SL, as far as I understand (from the inside) is that it augments RL.

In addition to Brigadoon, SL has also been useful for stroke survivors; there is another group in SL that was started by a BT member and it's entitled ShockProof .