More about Brigadoon

Here are some more details about Brigadoon and how I feel it might help people dealing with Asperger's Syndrome.

Basically, I'm trying to do with Brigadoon the same as I've always done with the Braintalk Communities, just using a new communication technology. Namely, I'm trying to provide a group of people with an environment within which they can interact with each other and help each other learn how to communicate in new ways, to see if they can learn from each other and provide support to each other. I'm helping to guide this community, but for the most part I want to see what the participants in this community make of this new environment on their own. I've seen amazing support environments spring up on Braintalk, with people helping each other help themselves with minimal intervention on my part. That's the same with what I'm trying to do with Brigadoon.

Brigadoon is a private "virtual world"...a whole Island...that exists in the commercial online virtual world system known as "Second Life." It truly isn't a "game"...there are no preconceived goals or "monsters" or tasks that people have to do (like with the Sims Online). It's simply an online world where people can create whatever they like, interact however they like...essentially a tabula rasa.

In this "Second Life" environment, people have the ability to create private" areas. Whole areas where only specific people have access. Basically like having an Intranet with a controlled membership. I've scraped up funds to be able to purchase and maintain such a private area in the Second Life world (Brigadoon Island)...and I'm opening it up to high-functioning Autism/Asperger's Syndrome people who are currently using Braintalk.

What's special about Second Life that I think will help Autism/AS people? Well, from what I've seen on Braintalk, and in other online communities, there are many Autism/AS people who are very high functioning and are seeking out new online technologies to help them communicate with people and to help them practice their socialization skills. Many of these people are amazingly articulate when posting messages in online forums and chatrooms, yet they still have problems interacting in the "real world" when put in a situation where they are face-to-face with other people.

What's special about the "Second Life" environment is that it is visually very REAL. You create your own avatar to represent you in this virtual world, and instead of just seeing names on a webpage you actually SEE other people standing around you in a 3-d world. You can also BUILD things in this world...houses, theaters, sculptures, gardens...whatever you like. And then you can visit these places with other people, and interact with them in a 3-d world that looks quite similar to the "real world." You can sit in a garden with other people and socialize. You can sail on a boat and watch the sunset with friends. You can host a campfire gathering on the beach and show each other how to build sculptures or just chat about whatever you want.

I've heard from high-functioning Autism/AS people that they really want to learn how to socialize and interact better with other people. It's just hard to do in the "real world." I've heard that they try very hard to learn socialization skills the same way most people learn to "play the piano"...it takes repetition and experimentation. And the reason many of them embrace the online world is that is is one step removed from the real world. Less stressful, with less consequences.

So, in a nutshell, my basic idea is this. Second Life provides a more perceptually immersive socialization environment online. It looks more "real"...and gives you more freedom. Yet it is still NOT the "real world," so it's a place that people can practice their socialization and collaborative skills in a much more "consequence-free" place. By giving Autism/AS access to this private Brigadoon environment, I'm creating a place where everyone else is "on the same page" so to speak...everyone knows that everyone else is dealing with the same issues, and they can help each other help themselves. And I feel that what they learn from participating on Brigadoon can truly HELP them in the REAL world. Help them deal with face-to-face interactions.

Now, Brigadoon is a private island, but it exists in a larger public world of Second Life. The same way Braintalk exists on the Web....Braintalk is a private haven, and outside of it is the whole Web. People who have access to Brigadoon have the OPTION of visiting this public world of Second Life...full of thousands of random people with different goals for using the Second Life world. By default, if someone is an adult (18+) and they want to participate in Brigadoon, I give them the option of visiting the public world of Second Life. BUT...if someone is a minor (under 18) and they want to use Brigadoon, I can set it up so that they ONLY have access to Brigadoon...they can never "wander off" our private area.

Behind all of this, everyone is a real person. And I understand the potential for misunderstandings, hurt feelings, etc. But with Brigadoon, I'm the only person able to add members. And while I realize I cannot control every little thing that people say to each other on Brigadoon, I CAN manage it the same way I manage Braintalk. By providing some guidance, by helping people, and by trying to provide an example in how to be supportive. So far, all the current members of Brigadoon have been very helpful and cooperative...the few bad interactions have only been when people go OFF of Brigadoon and meet other random people. I can't promise that people on Brigadoon won't get into conflicts...the same exact way I cannot totally prevent conflicts on Braintalk. But that's a real-life risk that participants in Brigadoon have to accept...the same way when people participate in the forums on Braintalk. All I can promise is that, on Brigadoon, I'm keeping close tabs on things and working hard with the residents to foster a supportive environment as best I can.

Mind you, I have no idea if any of this will "work"...it is truly an experimental community (same as Braintalk was/is). I just have a gut feeling that Brigadoon can provide an innovative and helpful environment that will let Autism/AS people practice their socialization skills....and that they will be able to take what they've learned into to the "real world" to help them interact and socialize with people.

Take care,
-John

If you've made it this far and would like to know more about me and what I do in Brigadoon, please check this out.