----------------------
Back to Days List----------------------
Another quick session on desktop this time. I had really been wanting to find something unique that I could document. The thumbnail for this world was Joe Biden and Donald Trump kissing, so I knew this would indeed be "unique".
While I find this particular world uninspired, I do have an appreciation for shameless meme spaces. I've heard some describe them as cultural timecapsules, but for me I like them as a sort of mental break space. I don't have to appreciate or focus on anything as it's all just memes.
Despite the ridiculousness of this place, I did find some genuine conversation happening at the world's spawn area. This user on the left was talking to a small group about a program he was coding, although I forgot what it did exactly. It sounded impressive enough.
My next stop was the Local Police Department where I met Rinzler from Tron: Legacy. That was a good movie. Tron deserved better than Jared Leto.
This place looked to be a hub for a roleplay group. Apparently this group has been around long enough to warrant a meetup at the video-game festival MAGfest. I should go back to give this history board a proper read, and maybe even talk to some older members.
Some LPD members man the front desk and answer questions about what they do. Since they are roleplaying and have no actual power to enforce the law, they mostly do patrols through VRChat's various worlds.
This picture on the wall of the lobby made me understand how tight-knit this community is. There's something to appreciate seeing a niche group like this stay connected after so long.
It was also at this moment that I realized that this entire police force was composed of small anime cat girls. With a group this big I figured there'd be variance.
I did manage to capture a moment where two officers interrogated a suspect. His girlfriend was trying to dismiss the officer's questions yet he kept slipping out some incriminating details. I think he was trying to avoid a murder charge?
I took a stop by Kmart to grab a KitKat. I didn't, actually, but I did go to a virtual Kmart. These kinds of real world rest stop areas are a common sight in user created content, going far back as the 2000s.
The visual of Leland Coyle from The Outlast Trials and Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia stopping by Kmart Express for some snacks is already absurd enough, but one must remember that the context of this moment is of two real people wearing avatars in a virtual environment.
When you strip away the fantastical visuals and pop-culture characters, you'll find that the scenario being played out is not too dissimilar from real-world mundane activities.
What makes a boring real-world activity like going to a gas station unique and exciting in the virtual world? I ask this because companies like Facebook, now known as Meta, have tried to emulate this with their own virtual recreations of real places.
The difference being that these virtual recreations of the real world have a different context for existence. Meta wants you to go to a virtual Wendy's to buy actual food. With this world, there is no product to buy. There really is nothing to do here besides interact with other people.
There is a functioning car but that's besides the point. I think the reason why users flock to these places is because of their familiarity, but also because they are given the opportunity to truly exist in an environment without it being a transactional one.
Is this an argument in favor of loitering? I feel this discussion is more nuanced than a blanket conclusion like that, and has more to do with how public spaces are managed in the real world. It's certainly not one I'm qualified to give a definitive answer to.
After my quick stop I arrived at a karaoke bar, which advertised itself as being in sync with the singer.
The bar had the usual blend of users. This Jason Voorhees was having a blast.
I'm quite proud of this moment. A kid came up to me and asked for some help with his settings. He couldn't see some of the avatars due to VRChat's "shield" feature, which replaces complex and demanding avatars with simpler ones for better performance. I helped him turn it off.
I never get tired of seeing shots like this. There's something I find pleasing in seeing a large group of users gathered in one spot to see others perform.
The next world I visited was this serene pool/home hybrid. I think if I had to call any of the places I've visited so far home, it would be this one.
The beauty of this place is unquestionable, but I struggle to think of anything unique to say about it. Frankly, this was the moment in my journey where I realized that despite these new locales I was essentially going in circles.
I had seen these avatars before from weeks ago. The one on the right at the fishing world and the one on the left was in the audience at that Audience Anarchy game. Had I truly seen everything?
Taking a note from my time in that Brazilian world I visited this French world in the hopes I'd find something cultural to capture. This user on the right said that his avatar was of a popular French Youtuber. I don't doubt him but the Israeli attire does make me raise an eyebrow.
This world was much smaller, and had no cultural in-jokes, compared to the Brazil ship, but in its place I assume it to be a more realistic depiction of their cities.
This courtyard with a good view of the Eiffel Tower was nice. It even had a greenhouse hangout spot. I love contrasting architectural designs like this. With this more realistic approach to the world, I wonder if spots like these are actually something you might find.
I debated on whether or not I should include this, but I figured it wouldn't be the most offensive thing I've shown so far. After all, my goal is to show off how users express themselves through creation.
This includes users who find amusement in the offensive. Yes, that is the temple seen on Jeffery Epstein's private island. You'll be surprised to hear that this isn't the first time I've come across a recreation like this while on my journey through VRChat.
I think you could make an argument that this absurd recreation of such a notorious place is meant to be emblematic of the frustration behind the equally absurd Epstein Files, but I doubt the creator made this world as an act of political activism.
These Penguins from the film Madagascar were fascinating. They weren't users, but non-player controlled entities that walked around and squawked strange phrases like "Wanna join my poly?" You could even pick them up and they would plead for you to put them down.
While looking at some users, one of them noticed my camera. I thought I was going to get harassed, since they looked the type to do so, but he just turned to his friend and said "Hey, smile for the camera." It's funny how universal the desire to be photographed is.
I wish I had something more appropriate to end this day on, but the truth of VRChat, and every digital world for that matter, is that places like these do exist. They were made by someone and, regardless of the subject, are still representative of said person's individuality.