As I’m sitting here listening to lame stand-up comedy, I’m thinking about how much better this is than last week’s BlogHer in Second Life. Yes, I’m doing a lot of low-carbon conferences lately.

BlogHer helpers were not helpers willing to help. In the first session I heard, some woman talked about her very important blog making fun of Second Life newbies and their pathetic fashion sense. Nice.

By contrast, as I sat around in Second Life this afternoon with my head hung (happens when you are out of the virtual world), every time I came back, some extremely friendly person wanted to help me or chat. I told them I was on a conference call from Chicago, told them about Democracy for America (how could they not know?). Nice people — and animals and hybrid creatures.

This is almost as good as the police chase that just ended on my street. Which to watch? Mmm. Virtual lame comedian or real teenagers and cop in bullet-proof vest? Gotta go outside. Meet in the street. Say hi to the neighbors who are out there, too.
I’ll catch the keynote later because face to face always has to win out.

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No, it isn’t dead. I have such a mixed relationship with politics. I get high on local political organizing. It lasts for days after every meeting, training — anything. I love the face-to-face and local.

But, I’ve had a tough time lately with national politics,. I tend to devolve until my response is just a reactionary “Bite Me.” Very helpful, I know. And it’s depressing me completely to see what criminals are getting away with on a national level. I sit down at my spiffy laptop to opine, and all that comes out is a deep sigh. For months this is true.

I’m going to steel myself. There are some excellent resources, events, activities around. Deep breath. No sigh. Go.

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