Digitally Progressive: RootsCamp in Second Life

RootsCamp is an organization that coordinates activities to promote and further progressive change. This group has entities in both real life and the virtual world, Second Life. While looking at Josh Levy’s machinima documentary on social activism in Second Life, I was able to see several of the ways in which the Second Life extension of RootsCamp operated. The details shown in A Better World in Second Life? made me wonder to what extent this particular virtual activist group accomplishes social change in reality.


The particular group interested me the most partly because of its broad-reaching ideas. As a progressive group, it can serve to further the ideas of many more niche organizations, as well as garner a large audience for itself. One thing that captured me greatly about this group as well was one of their forms of virtual activism: a protest on Capitol Hill in Second Life. At first, this type of activism seems like a great idea. It’s a spot that is famous in real life, and so should probably have a good amount of visitors in Second Life on a regular basis; it’s also much easier for protestors from around the country to reach this location than in real life. However, when images of the protest were shown, I immediately began to question how much activism was actually talking place. The area seemed to be filled with only protestors; it was as if they were all just preaching to the choir. Also, the “dancing” that users had their avatars doing definitely took away from the seriousness of the event. It was mentioned, though, that protestors had the opportunity to speak with journalists, a great opportunity indeed. And even if most, or all, or those journalists were not professionals, but home bloggers, it is still a great way to spread the word. Still, it seems like a minimal amount of promotion for the amount of time spent.


RootsCamp used Second Life in other ways as well. Though not as immediately striking as the idea of a march on Capitol Hill, these activities actually seem like they would have a greater potential for effecting change. Levy was taken to a site by RootsCamp organizer Ruby Sinreich (avatar Ruby Glitter), where signs created by protestors were put on display. It was a very interesting spectacle, and brought up ideas of the ability to have such work reach many eyes without being published in a popular publication. What was most important to me about this form of activism was its permanence; even after protesters dissipated, these signs would remain, gathered and tall, for any passers-by to see, and contemplate. RootsCamp’s other interesting activity was their meetings. Members meet once a week in Second Life, bringing people from around the country to one place. The potential for this seems great; through this type of meeting, activities could be coordinated in real life across the country. Unfortunately, it seemed as though the meeting that Levy attended as his avatar was low in attendance.


Second Life provides great opportunities for networking and building an audience around a cause. There are many ways to take advantage of this opportunity, and hold activist events both within real life and Second Life. However, activists should remember that their goals ultimately must manifest in real life; the time spent on activism in Second Life should be used in the most effective ways possible to bring about change in real life. At the end of the day, it’s less about where activism takes place, and more about how many people observe it. Wherever it is observed, the issues will ultimately make their way back to real life eventually. However, it seems that RootsCamp has a way to go in growing and using its presence in Second Life to get their activities seen and their words heard.