Learning the lingo of Second Life can be a bit daunting. At the same time, you may come accross these obscure terms while you are actually asking for assistance on an issue, leaving you frustrated. If the following statements confuse you, this post might help.
“Even though my avie was ruthed and I didn’t have my AO attached, I tped in from my 512 with a SLURL instead of the LM in your picks, but before the fat pack even rezzed I realized the perms on the prim shoes with the invisiprims and walk animation were not trans.
I decided to grab my alt because loading the inventory on her doesn’t lag me out unless I am near some primhog of a build with a ton of1024s that some griefer slapped down and called texturing.”
Can you translate it?
In preparation for the NMC Symposium on Creativity in Second Life, in August of this year, I had the very pleasurable task of creating an in-world visual dictionary on Second Life vocabulary. I thought now would be a good time to post my growing list of defined terms, along with a few additions. If you have any additions or corrections you would like to see, please let me know or simply post them as a comment.
If you would like a copy of the visual dictionary that I created, it is available on NMC’s Orientation.
128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048- noun: These types of numbers can refer to one of two things. They could be referring to the size of a parcel of land (in meters) or the size of a texture (in pixels). When referring to land, the words 512, 1024, and 2048 are used in the context of tier payments. Textures will generally be referred to on the lower end of this number spectrum as 128s, 256s, or 512s.
Alpha-noun: A texture, or portion of a texture which is transparent in Second Life.
Alt- noun: A person’s alternative avatar. A second life resident may use more than one avatar account.
Animation- noun: A series of animated frames that can be played out by an avatar in world to simulate any action.
AO (Animation Overide)- noun: An animation Overide can affect the way an avatar sits, walks, runs, stands, or any other animation possible for an avatar. An AO differs from a standard pose or animation because it is worn as an attachment that automatically triggers the movement.
Avatar, Av, Avie-noun: The virtual character that symbolizes your presence in Second Life.
Build- verb: The act of creating objects in world. Build can also be a noun, usually referring to a sim designed as a unit or a series of structures designed together. Example: The build on that sim includes a freebie shop, a store, and a park.
Crash-verb: To unintentionally be disconnected from Second Life.
Fat Pack- noun: A term stemming from the content creation sphere of SL and referring to a pack of several available options for one item. Popular usage applies to hair that comes in several different textures or an item of clothing in a variety of colors.
Flat Web- noun: The Internet and the corresponding websites contained on it. “Flat”, of course, refers to the fact that they are not 3D.
Full perms- noun: see Perms, Permissions
Gesture- noun: A Second Life animation which must be first activated and then triggered with a string of text that you set as the trigger. Common examples include the “:)” gesture, which when activated will cause your avatar to smile. You can find gestures in your Library “Gesture” folder. Residents can also create and sell gestures that trigger animations and sounds when the defined string of text is typed.
Griefer-noun: An avatar that specifically sets out to cause another avatar or groups of avatars “grief” through various types of harassment including caging or shooting in areas where such behavior is prohibited.
Inventory- noun: The window that contains all of the items that currently belong to you.
Invisiprim, invisible prim- noun: A prim that makes a part of the avatar disappear, while allowing objects to show through. Invisiprims are commonly used in shoes with a shape not obtainable with the foot shape edit functions in the Edit Appearance menu.
Lag, laggy, lagorific- noun: The condition of delayed responsiveness while within Second Life. While the causes of Lag may vary, some indicators that you are experience lag include slowed chat reaction, sluggish object or texture appearance, and momentary loss of reaction between your avatar and the world.
The term “laggy” can also be used to describe the condition of lag. At the same time, lag is often used as a verb. For example: Too many attachments “lag” up the sim. The word “lagorific” is used to describe a laggy sim and is either a combination of lag and horrific, or lag and a sarcastic terrific.
Landmark(LM)- noun: Second Life’s answer to a bookmark on the traditional Internet. A landmark is a way of “bookmarking” a location in Second Life if you plan to return to it or recommend the location to someone else. Landmarks can be created by choosing “World” from the menu bar on the top of your screen, followed by selecting the “Create Landmark Here” option. A landmark can be accessed through your inventory and used to revisit the marked place or can also be given to another avatar by dropping the landmark on his or her profile.
LOL, lawl, lolling: LOL stands for laughing outloud. The word lawl means the same, but refers to what LOL sounds like when read as a word. Lolling is the process of laughing out loud.
Mods: The term “mods” generally refers to modifyiable rights to an object or build. (see perms) Mods can also refer to a certain set of rights granted between one avatar and another. Granting someone “mod rights” allow them to interact with your objects in Second Life.
Permissions, Perms- noun: Every object created in Second Life can also have permissions set on it by the creator. A creator can choose to sell/give an item at “full perms” meaning that it is copyable, modifiable, and transferable, or an avatar can choose to not allow certain permissions on the object.
Photoshopping: Creating a texture in Photoshop.
Picks- noun: The location in a profile where one can add an image an description of their favorite SL spots, or spots that they personally own. Other avatars can then teleport directly to those locations from the avatar’s profile.
Pose- noun: A Second Life pose will place your avatar into a position that could be essentially anything. Common poses are sits, stands, or any other single frame animation. For multiple frame animations, see animations.
Prim, Primitive, Primmy- noun: A prim is a primitive shape that is the basic building block of Second Life. Prims are used singularly or in conjunction with one and other to represent the furniture, buildings, and nearly everything else located in Second Life. Avatars can also wear prims as attachments. For example, many avatars wear prim hair or shoes or can alternatively wear an avatar constructed entirely from prims. The word “primmy” can also be used todesribe a build that is very high in prim count.
Primhog- noun: A build or object that is high in prims count. Primhog can also be applied to the avatar that created the object, as in, “That Stella Costello sure is a primhog with all her sculptures.”
Rez- verb: To make an object appear in world by creating it through the build tools, pulling it from your inventory into the world, or by way of a scripted object.
Ruthed: The condition of appearing as a specific avatar that is not your own, but that of “Ruth”, a Linden created avatar with short brown hair and a petite stature. While you are “ruthed” you will retain your own skin and clothing, but will posses Ruth’s facial features and hair (the biggest give away!) see “Ruthed” residents
Sim, Simulator- noun: a Second Life location in it’s entirety. Each sim has a unique name and “sim borders” regardless of whether it is separate or surrounded by other sims.
Sliders- noun: The “sliding” selectors that allow you to sculpt your shape when in Appearance Edit mode.
SLURL- noun: A SLURL is an URL for Second Life. Like a web address, a SLURL provides a link to a certain location within Second Life. SLURLS can be used within Second Life or an a webpage.
Texture- noun: A texture is an image that can be applied to any prim or object in Second Life to further the illusion of the object being a real object. Textures can also be worn on the avatar in the form of skins, clothing, etc. Texturing refers to the process of applying textures to an object, creating the textures outside of Second Life, or the visual result of textures on an object.
Teleport (TP, port)- verb: A method of transportation in Second Life. To transport your avatar in SL by means that does not requiring moving the avatar manually. For example, following a landmark is teleporting. One can also offer another avatar a teleport to where his or her avatar is currently located.
TY, ty: Thank you!
Trans: Transferable, refers to transfer perms. (see perms)
WB, wb: Welcome Back!
