Introductions
First I’d like introduce myself and say hi to all the wonderful people I’ve met online, many of who have become friends. My name is Dan J. Mace and in the different social places online I’ve used different variations of that according the rules of each.
Experience
How do I know about these things? Since the early 1990’s, due to a back injury I’ve had many hours where I was stuck in a chair and rather than watch the walls yellow, I got online to meet others, enjoy conversation, play online chess and other online games. Over the years I’ve met a lot of people in every different kind of online social atmosphere there is. For those who think online is strictly for the kids, I was born in 1952. My Experience: à Began online when there was nothing but Bulletin Boards à Spent many hours in chat rooms of almost every kind… yes, almost every kind. Many for friendship, some for fun and others out of curiosity. The one’s I haven’t visited I strongly recommend you avoid as well. à Social Events Director and Events Manager for events in an adult 3D Virtual World à Presently a Social, Events & Business Director for Prototerra, an advanced Virtual World for ages 14 and up. à Presently a Moderator for an online dating service. à I’ve owned numerous online businesses since 1994 and have 10 active web sites and businesses online now à Developed and advanced online technology to enhance and facilitate online interaction including a current project that will aid in online universities, conferencing, webinars, retail shopping and many other applications. These will be available in the Virtual World, Prototerra. Banner link to it below. à Produced films and video’s using avatar actors from virtual worlds and introduced the use of them in real life outlets such as virtual tours of real homes and towns using an avatar as the tour guide in those situations. à Produced entertainment videos with avatar actors both inside the virtual world and in the real world and placed real world people inside the virtual worlds. These films can be seen using the banner link below to Pretty Good Creations. I’ve done many other things online but hopefully this will establish my experience well enough.
Why This Site
Now for the reason for this site. To help people understand what’s out there. To help them find what they’re looking for, what to look for according to your interests as well as what to avoid. To know how to get along and make friends in these places and to clear up some misunderstandings and misconceptions. In addition to offer a ratings system for as many places as I can based on what people look for in them. I hope you find it informative and helpful and please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Easy To Navigate
This web site will be set up with an easy to understand index to help you locate specific information rather than have to read through everything looking for that one little bit of info you’re looking for.
This website and all its contents are copyrighted © Nothing on this site may be used without express written permission of Dan Mace, owner and developer of this site.
|
Index When link is in green it has content. In blue it is being worked on still & page is blank.
For fast easy loading we will be keeping the “Bells and Whistles” to a minimum. à Some great things about online social places à Talking about the best ways to get along in online social environments à Rules to remember in socializing à What to look for when you’re trying to understand what’s going on in chat à Terminology and abbreviations à Ratings for online social places à What kinds of social places are there and what to look for in a place you would like à A special online Dating Section. Working out details on this now. |
~ Links ~ If you would like to advertise here use the Email link above and we will reply with contact details. An advertising pricing page is coming soon. |
“It’s All About The People!” |
From Bulletin Boards to Virtual Worlds For Romance or Friendship ~ What its like ~ What to expect ~ How to interact |
Please pardon our mess, this is a new site and just beginning. It will be an ongoing process forever so please check back often! We are working on our index and setting up the pages now. |
Getting Started and Clearing Up A Few Misconceptions
First and foremost let’s clear up one of the biggest misconceptions about the ‘others’ you meet online. Regardless of the method of communication, from E mail to Virtual Worlds the ‘others’ ARE real people. They are not players in a game you buy and set up on your computer. They are subject to the same needs, wants and desires as everyone else and have every right to expect the same courtesies they would be afforded if you were meeting in the mall face to face in your home town.. All too often I’ve heard the comment, “It’s just a game!” well what you’re doing with it may be but the others playing it with you are still real people. If you remember nothing else, remember that. If it helps here is an analogy. The computer is like any other vehicle that conveys you to other places. Look at it like a car. You get in it, you drive it around the net and you see others in their cars but behind every steering wheel, or in this case mouse and keyboard, is a real person doing the driving. As real as you are so when you approach someone online, don’t do or say anything you wouldn’t do if you were sitting side by side at a traffic light, looked over and acknowledged each other. For those of you who have been the target of rudeness remember, rude people do what they are regardless of where they are. You have every right to be treated with respect but that doesn't mean you always will be. In your home town or on the net it’s the same. You’re going to meet all types of people and very likely types you never even knew existed. Which will be both good and bad.
What Is Different About Interacting On The Net
To begin with the biggest difference is the inability to emote in type. What you said and what they read may easily be 2 different things. Since they can’t hear the tone of your voice they may, and not too rarely will, take what you said the wrong way. Rather than argue or take offense, clarify. Added to this potential for problems is the fact that you are interacting with people from all over the planet and for all I know a few aliens on Sat Link as well. With each different spoken language, each different cultural background and adding the already lacking of emoting in type it’s easy to see how things can be misunderstood. You know your own language and how people speak it. When you meet someone new pay attention to “how” they say things. If the phrasing seems a bit off there is a good chance you’re speaking with someone who’s first language is different from yours. As in all things, and this a very valuable thing to remember, if you’re not sure….ask.
I’ll be adding more soon….. Thanks for stopping by, Dan |
Please feel free to link to this web site and if you can, please use the banner below. Copy and save or paste it to your site. The banner already has the link in it but if you need the address it’s: http://www.socialonthenet.com/ Resize as needed to fit your site. Thank You! |
Here is a little 1 minute video I made a while ago. It’s a short comedy but it also makes a point. Move your mouse cursor off the video will eliminate the wording and border. You can also make it full screen using the crossed arrows on the player. And yes that’s me, unshaven and no idea I would ever post this video. It was a test to see how I would make an avatar come out to the real world. I hope you enjoy it. |
