First Name: Fang
Last Name: Gartle
Status: Chief RidgeCat Guru
Date Joined: Someday before last Christmas
Avatar Influence: Whatever whenever I fancy.
Words of Wisdom : "What the Fang."


01) In a nutshell, describe yourself in 20 words.
--> What the Fang? You haven’t facebook-ed me yet?!

02) Someone from the NUS Second Life grapevine told us that you were the chosen one to lead this student wave that will shape this NUS virtual community, tell us more about your visions and ambitions with this emerging media.
--> You mean like “The One”? That’s already passé and we are all talking about “I want to believe” now you know?

While many may dismiss this co-designed, co-built and co-own thing as just another facade we need to realise that for us to own something together we all need to take a share in making it real. It’s a matter-of-fact that no one person can make this happen. If you don’t, it won’t. For you too make the community. It won’t happen overnight, it takes more than a few clicks and it can get trying but who ever said good things come easy?

However cheesy that sounds my personal mission is to spread the passion to build this spontaneous community we can all share and the place we can call our own. We can so rock it and own our campus! What are you waiting for?

03) Tell us a little more about your experience so far in the NUS islands, how did the students receive this new platform of communication? Any personal encounters or special moments worth mentioning?
--> I was chatting to this person on NUS Second Life and we got so carried away playing some Kung-fu moves that I ran late for lecture and all he had to print my lecture notes for me! And did I tell you it was only then that we realised we are lecture mates? LOL seriously the most amazing encounters are when you realise avatars can just walk out of their screens into life. Not literally though, I wouldn’t want a web 2.0 version of “Sadoko”!

04) There has been tons of questions about students being involved in activities in this virtual campus, whats in it with/for the students' involvement?
--> Where do I begin... you might go there for your tutorial classes, research, business opportunities, do something a little crazy in campus you’ve always wished to do or to put that in a more benign manner just simply hanging around for some good fun... Take your pick or do it all it is only as exciting you want it to be!

05) Looking into your crystal ball, give us a little prediction of what is exciting, fun or the up and comings for the next few months.
--> There will be rite of passage activities for the fresh ones, parties, hunts, you name it! And when we say it can be anything up to you we mean it. So talk to us and start doing something now for the coolest thing you’d want to see happen!

06) So which is your hangout location in NUS Second Life? Where and when can we say hi to you inworld?
--> I am attracted to green dots. I am always roaming around looking for them.

Psst... In case you don’t know the green dots you see on your mini-map they represent avatars aka people. Alternatively if you don’t “see me around” you can search for “Fang Gartle” on Second Life, add me as a friend or instant message me whichever comes first!

07) Is this avatar your regular look? Are you like Ridgecat Zhangsun(who is in that boring college suit 24/7)? Or like some chameleon ladies famous for constant shedding new suits in Second Life?
--> I have a thing for the extra-terrestrial. But when I am in my human form I can normally in the same face, different clothes but same face just like what I would be if I were human. Oops. *zaps red light on you*

It’s easier for everyone and myself to recognise me that way; or maybe I just don’t want to have a fight between me, myself and I; or perhaps I am so narcissistic and I want everyone who sees me to say “Hey isn’t that the poster girl of NUS Second Life?” *ROFL* (I am in all the posters and banners by the way), now that seems more like it huh? Well it could be simply this face looks pretty and my avatar doesn’t really need any more nip/tuck for a human being.

08) What is the best thing in Second Life that you think all of us need to know? Care to share with us?
---> Get what you want. Do what you want.

Have you been to an ala carte buffet before? You should get the idea.

09) Let us in on a little secret that most of us wouldn't know of in NUS Second Life. Please, pretty, please?
---> There’s a place you could be studying in high up in the sky, beyond where you can fly.

10) Any words of advice/wisdom for the newbies who are coming in?
---> You will figure. Just log into NUS Second Life already will you?

Interview conducted by LividEye Yoshikawa, RidgeCat Guru