World AIDS Day 2007

Many events and activities in SL were promoting World AIDS Day 2007 today, although I couldn't make it to all of them. Around lunch time I attended a forum facilitated by Rinken Flow, originator of the SL Nyumba Rafiki Community Center (a meaning house for friends). Rinken discussed the issues and concerns for those with AIDS/HIV. Topics included medications, job security (absences due to regular doctor visits), politics and healthcare in regards those living with the disease.

"The NRCC has been present in SL for 2 months," according to Rinken. When people began confiding to Rinken about their HIV-positive status, he knew an SL community would be beneficial to residents. The center offers support for those with HIV/AIDS, as well as, welcomes anyone dealing with or wanting to learn more about the effects of the disease. Rinken hopes to create a RL non-profit version of the NRCC in the future.

I asked Rinken what he believed were the advantages to a person dealing with AIDS/HIV in a virtual culture. He stated that people were much more comfortable in sharing and discussing certain issues in the SL environment, especially if they hadn't 'come out' with their condition to RL friends and family.

I suspect SL develops the confidence needed to deal with RL consequences of the disease - be it emotional, social, physiological. However, I have yet to see any academic research qualifying the specific impacts of these virtual communities. But continued eductation and heightened awareness of health-related issues - in real or second life - is always a valuable effort.