Kick Me in the Virtual Nuts
Tomorrow night, October 30th, at 9 pm EST, you can log on to the virtual world called Second Life (for free), and have your avatar kick my avatar in the nuts. Or punch me, or slap me.
Seriously.
I took digital photos of my head from all angles and had it turned into a 3-D character, called an avatar. I’ll be on stage answering questions in a public forum in Second Life tomorrow night. Each person will have a chance to come on stage and literally kick my avatar in the nuts. Or punch me, or slap me, or any combination. Just push a button to select your method of assault. My avatar is programmed to react to the blows but won’t fight back.
Your own avatar can be selected from a bunch of options. So you could be, for example, a giant squirrel. And if your spouse asks you why you are late for dinner, just say, “I’m a giant squirrel, and I’m kicking that cartoonist guy in the nuts.” For once, it will be true.
My avatar is a bit creepy looking because it has my head but the body of a 19-year old marathon runner. You’ll want to beat me up as soon as you see me, just for being so creepy. And if you disagreed with anything I’ve ever said in this blog, you’ll have more than enough motivation to pound my nuggets into my thorax.
You can also get a free digital poster of Dilbert and Dogbert, suitable for displaying on your digital wall in Second Life.
This idea was born of the old marketing truism, “Your customers tell you what business you are in.” In my case, this blog has evolved to a forum where I say unpopular things and my readers abuse me in the comments. I’m just extending that to the virtual world where you can take out your frustration at my stubborn refusal to recognize the truth and beauty of your opinions, by kicking me in the ‘nads. This is what you call being customer focused. I think Nordstrom could learn a thing or two from my example.
You’ll have to download the free client software from Second Life before using the system. That’s here:
http://secondlife.com/community/downloads.php
After you have signed up and chosen an avatar, this link will take you to my event:
And if you can't think of a reason to kick me in the nuts, allow me to mention far too often that my new book is out, called Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey-Brain! Available at local bookstores or on Amazon.com at
I cannot believe I missed this :(
Posted by: brian | October 31, 2007 at 04:27 PM
My husband stood behind my shoulder when I was in there and kept yelling at me to kick you in the nuts... so, I blew kisses instead just to tick him off. :-)
Ah, nothing like marital bonding... laughing at Scott Adam's avatar rolling around on the ground in apparent agony after being kicked in the nads by Dilbert. That's art of some sort.
Posted by: MistressOfTheDorkness | October 31, 2007 at 11:05 AM
That was my Day 1 in Second Life.
During which on my MacBook Second Life crashed 4 times so I missed a lot of action but I managed to sit down.
To nobody's surprise, BT Broadband turned out to be not fit for the purpose.
UK's digital infrastructure is just like London Underground or Thames Water piping systems - hopeless.
Anyway it was fun so thank you Scott and everybody who worked so hard to "kick" something unreal.
Posted by: Suki the Ocicat | October 31, 2007 at 09:00 AM
Bah!! I need to start reading The Dilbert Blog from home... I usually read it from work, as it relates to my job more than I would really care to admit.
I was in Second Life when the nutkickerama was taking place... completely unaware.
/sigh
Posted by: Burnman | October 31, 2007 at 07:50 AM
I tried to kick you in the nuts, but all I could do was stand on the stage near you in an unintentionally annoying manner. Turns out I'm really crap at Second Life.
Good thing I love your work and had no gripe worth beating you virtually up for. Keep up the good work!
P.S. I'm having some copies of your book sent to Australia for me and as gifts for my friends. I'm sure it's fantastic. :)
Posted by: Jack Heath | October 30, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Hey!! I have an interview program in Second Life--called Virtually Speaking. Every Thursday at 6pm Pacific (except thanksgiving). It'd be cool if you could come by, and promote your book. (We put up links to your book). Also we record the interview, in Second Life video, so that you can show it on your website.
I figure, if you do a really good interview, we might be able to get PZ Myers to show up. So, please, get in touch. Jay@ackroyd.org
Posted by: jayackroyd | October 30, 2007 at 06:50 PM
it says the location is not available
directing you to nearby somewhere
hm, teleportation..
but i liked to fly
Posted by: rd | October 30, 2007 at 06:22 PM
I'm unfortunately running Vista on a laptop with graphics that Second Life really doesn't like AT ALL. So, no Second Life for me. :(
Posted by: David Becker | October 30, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Nooooooo!
I've just found out that I'm not going to be able to kick you in the nuts. My dear old computer has officially now been declared obsolete. So could you send me a signed T-shirt as an apology for not warning me that kicking Scott Adams' virtual self in the nuts requires atleast 256 mb of RAM, and making me sad but productive?
I bought your book. It's the least you could do. Please!
Posted by: Simon | October 30, 2007 at 05:12 PM
No problems with you plugging your book (you know, the one that we wrote), but as for Second Life - well, I'm still trying to catch up with my first one.
Posted by: Len | October 30, 2007 at 10:39 AM
Why no comment on your Freakonomics bit?
Posted by: eclecticdog | October 30, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Aren't you the least bit concerned that by offering up your virtual nuts for abuse you might encourage someone to abuse your real ones? There are a lot of people out there who have a hard time telling the difference between reality and fantasy. You may get an unpleasant surprise the next time you do a REAL book signing and someone gleefully kicks you in the willies and laughs satanically while you whimper on the floor in the fetal position. It wouldn't be pretty.
You should probably invest in an athletic cup and where it when out in public for a while... That is, unless you have faith that the average person on the street can tell the difference between fantasy and reality... No, I don't either.
Posted by: Mr. Wampus | October 30, 2007 at 09:25 AM
dont be so hard on yourself!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2289583
Posted by: Julio | October 30, 2007 at 05:43 AM
WE abuse YOU? You rarely go a day without insulting your readership.
Posted by: Robin | October 30, 2007 at 04:45 AM
I remember reading something about car "warning labels" in one of your blogs. Well, there you have it, in Europe of course.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/28/business/ad29.php
Posted by: dik | October 30, 2007 at 03:44 AM
This robot has managed to program eyes such that the last few lines of every blog are ignored. whatcha gna do about that scotty???
Posted by: Amy | October 30, 2007 at 02:53 AM
Jeebuz Mice Scotty... Second Life is the pinnacle of looserdom. You should have held this event over at World of Warcraft, where the geeks are so much cooler.
Posted by: Arminius | October 30, 2007 at 02:47 AM
This robot has managed to program eyes such that the last few lines of every blog are ignored. whatcha gna do about that scotty???
Posted by: Amy | October 30, 2007 at 02:42 AM
I think I smell a social experiment...
Posted by: Brandon R | October 30, 2007 at 02:20 AM
Good luck with your Second Life experience Scott ! I'm not returning to that territory. See : http://e-mino.blogspot.com/2007/07/second-life-once-but-probably-never.html
P.S. One question for you : surely with Dilbert appearing in a zillion newspapers, two restaurants that have a fine turnover and loads of merchandising and other deals you must have more money than you can poke a stick at. So why do you keep on promoting your new book all the time ?
Please tick the correct answer :
[1] to make even more money
[2] because I just want it to be popular
[3] I'm addicted to fame
[4] my editor has threatened to kill my cat if I don't
[5] all of the above
[6] other (please specify) :
Posted by: e-Mino | October 30, 2007 at 01:33 AM
Scott,
I am regular reader of your blog and its the first site I visit post lunch.
However, the recent rush of greed thats posessed you and is making your advertise your book again and again is similar to cheap third rated porn.
Do try and moderate the advertising. I might have thought about buying the book but the execessive publicity just wants to make me puke.
I don't like that feeling. Do something about it.
Rohan
Posted by: Rohan | October 30, 2007 at 12:47 AM
I spend enough time queuing in real life without having to virtually queue
Posted by: Brian Ashworth | October 30, 2007 at 12:46 AM
I'm not gonna kick ya in the nuts, but I will in financial sense by stealing your boook if you keep on taunting me with it!
Posted by: James | October 29, 2007 at 11:45 PM
uh....wouldn't we be kickin the 19 year old marathon runner's nuts instead of yours? is there a way you can change that, perhaps? age his nuts a little, so to speak? then it would be a little more natural :p
Posted by: twinkletoes | October 29, 2007 at 11:24 PM
How many experience points do I get for doing this?
Posted by: SirDrinksalot | October 29, 2007 at 11:22 PM