Tomorrow night, October 30th, at 9 pm EST, you can log on to the virtual world called Second Life (for free), and have your avatar kick my avatar in the nuts. Or punch me, or slap me.
Seriously.
I took digital photos of my head from all angles and had it turned into a 3-D character, called an avatar. I’ll be on stage answering questions in a public forum in Second Life tomorrow night. Each person will have a chance to come on stage and literally kick my avatar in the nuts. Or punch me, or slap me, or any combination. Just push a button to select your method of assault. My avatar is programmed to react to the blows but won’t fight back.
Your own avatar can be selected from a bunch of options. So you could be, for example, a giant squirrel. And if your spouse asks you why you are late for dinner, just say, “I’m a giant squirrel, and I’m kicking that cartoonist guy in the nuts.” For once, it will be true.
My avatar is a bit creepy looking because it has my head but the body of a 19-year old marathon runner. You’ll want to beat me up as soon as you see me, just for being so creepy. And if you disagreed with anything I’ve ever said in this blog, you’ll have more than enough motivation to pound my nuggets into my thorax.
You can also get a free digital poster of Dilbert and Dogbert, suitable for displaying on your digital wall in Second Life.
This idea was born of the old marketing truism, “Your customers tell you what business you are in.” In my case, this blog has evolved to a forum where I say unpopular things and my readers abuse me in the comments. I’m just extending that to the virtual world where you can take out your frustration at my stubborn refusal to recognize the truth and beauty of your opinions, by kicking me in the ‘nads. This is what you call being customer focused. I think Nordstrom could learn a thing or two from my example.
You’ll have to download the free client software from Second Life before using the system. That’s here:
http://secondlife.com/community/downloads.php
After you have signed up and chosen an avatar, this link will take you to my event:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kula%204/248/250/32/?img=http%3A//www.aimeeweber.com/ScottAdamsSlurl.jpg&title=Scott%20Adams%20Virtual%20Book%20Tour [no longer available]
And if you can’t think of a reason to kick me in the nuts, allow me to mention far too often that my new book is out, called Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey-Brain! Available at local bookstores or on Amazon.com at