And what part is that, you might ask?

Instant messaging and a lack of privacy.

Simply put, before we had the new controls added not too long ago, it was a struggle for me to be online, ‘cuz I’d often get flooded in a torrential downpour of IMs. It was very painful because I kept hashing out ways to communicate my busy-ness, but wasn’t terribly effective.

What’s tough with IMs is, if someone sends ya one, they have no visual cue as to what else you’re doing. So they’re like noisy, chirpy, harsh cellphones at times, when they come in droves. It’s kinda like some flocks of birds: one is cute, too many is a Hitchcockian nightmare.

But through the privacy controls and new Web profile tab to share more about myself, I’ve made things somewhat saner. And regained energy to focus on work I need to do, and the play that comes after that as well.

It took me some months to realize these fundamental truths, but when I came to grips with them, my eyes opened wider, with keen awareness, and I realize I don’t have to feel badly for concentrating on what I’m doing inworld.

It helped.

Well, to be fair SL wasn’t the only source of stress at the time either. Dunno.