I recently met with the remaining SL Elders
for yet another secret summit because the echo of concern has become louder in
recent months. The Mayan temple we used to meet in has now vanished and
replaced by flat lands. We had to seek privacy and peace on a mountain top high
in the clouds to discuss some issues. This time the meeting was different; I
could almost hear the tears of the elders’ roll down their cheeks and see the
frustration in their faces as we formed our circle and drew energy and comfort
from each other. I was saddened to see even the core members of the Elders
Summit are starting to recede in active membership. The lack of energy and
motivation that once made us glow together is now a dim shadow that is forming
a dark cloud of doubts and concerns over Second Life and its residents. Feelings
are uneasy about the future of SL, especially with the rumor that Linden Labs
is trying to get rid of Firestorm and other independent viewers used in order
to force residents to use SL viewers only. Speculation is rife and it is leaving many to
question if there is an intention of a stronghold against the community.
Are
the Lindens being control freaks?
One elder asked if it was a way for Linden Labs
to gain complete control over its residents by limiting them. I cannot say for
sure but according to some residents, it appears that way. I shared a recent
conversation I had with a resident that is currently building his own sim and
moving his projects to another grid. He told me many are packing up and heading
to the OS Grid where they have more control over what they do, as well as save
money. He asked me to go there too.
GOOD
GRIEF!
For years there have been whispers around the
grid about the careless approach by Linden Labs and how they slack in taking
responsibility for the rash of griefers that hinder the quality of Second Life
for some residents. I too have been a
victim of countless griefers, one in particular that seems to be on the same
reckless accusation crusade against others. Reports have been filed on this
person, yet this avatar still putrefies the grid with their festering and foul
antics.
Linden
Labs needs to step it up a notch, or two or 10
Many
agree that LL’s response to the needs of the residents is also lacking. Many
are feeling left in the dark about Linden Labs real agenda and motives, particularly in how upper management continues
to play musical chairs and hot potato at the same time by appointing CEO’s and then snatching their positions back
and replacing them with others with less experience on improving grid
performance. One Elder said doing a hoe-down wearing roller skates and a
blindfold is easier to keep up with. All elders agreed with a chuckle.
One elder made a great point by saying, “Wouldn’t
it be nice to let the residents’ vote on who should be in charge based on what
they have done for the community”?
“If
the foundation isn’t solid, how do we expect strong improvements?” said
another.
Government
and policing run by the residents
I agree we need some kind of organization or
government created for the avatars by the avatars. If a simulated government
option is created, I’d love to be nominated for president. My first order of
business would be to create a court system where avatars with excessive conduct
reports will have to go through a trial of his or her peers and handed a
verdict based on the severity of their conduct. The jury can decided what should be done. The
punishment could be a ban and mute that restricts any interaction with anyone
or anything. They would remain in jail until they pay a linden fine to the
victim or have to sit it out in cell for a set period of time. Community
members that take TOS law enforcement classes for simulated government jobs,
like police officers and judges, should have special abilities to enforce those
restrictions to griefers. “If the lindens don’t want to properly handle them,
let the residents do it!” , shouted an overly excited elder.
Now there is a looming threat to virtual
worlds and taxation by the government. Should we be ready for paying taxes on
game credits for creating virtual product and services in Second Life? It is a form of bartering. Perhaps people
making real livings by converting Lindens to currency might be affected by
this. We will have to just wait and see.
I imagine a mass exodus because of that alone….
Education
in Second Life is dwindling
Another topic brought up at the summit was education facilities and
Universities. They once graced the landscape and offered classes to residents
as well as provided a place for students to come together and learn in a
virtual environment. Today, they are rare and those that remain have empty
classrooms and tumble weeds rolling about. I recently visited an education facility that
teaches English to residents looking to expand their communication goals in
Second Life. The University of Delaware is still
doing their thing and so is a Second Life based school called New Citizens
Incorporated (NCI). Let’s applaud those and other learning facilities for
sticking around and trying to keep education and hope alive.
Business
Conduct in SL is at an all time low
How do we expect to be taken seriously by the
real world or even share what we do with others outside of Second Life if the
leaders, educators and “professionals” can’t even show up on time? To some,
Second Life is not a game. People invest a lot of time and money using the
virtual world for an assortment of reasons and do not like that term unless
they are here thinking they are an e-gangster, furry, a vampire, escorts, griefer
or they are riding a strip pole for
tips.
The
Real World versus Second Life, which comes first?
It is
understandable that real life often shows its ugly head at the most inconvenient
of times, but a considerate back up plan should be in place when conducting
virtual world business. A smart phone App allows business owners and residents a
way to log in and handle certain matters that need attention. It may not be the best quality tool for
Second Life, but it does allow some form of communication to let others know
you are running late, there’s an issue or event cancellation due to unforeseen
RL roadblocks.
Online
Romance and it’s short term Demise
An elder shared an unfortunate incident where
she was on her virtual honeymoon and after an hour of passionate emoting, her
new husband simply vanished. After crying in the shower at their beachfront
retreat, feeling used and put on the shelf, it turned out he didn’t pay his
internet bill and got cut off at the worst possible moment. They ended up
making up and their marriage lasted three month, then it was back to single and
mingling.
Virtual Medicine. Who needs a degree?
On to Medical learning facilities…. They have
also become scarce in Second Life. In the early years, Ann Meyers Medical
Center was on the cutting edge of virtual world and real world education
integration. DoctorAnn Buchanan, created a facility to teach pre med students
about equipment and procedures, using slides and a 3D facility they did mock
surgeries, reviewed x-ray slides and learn together in a virtual way. DoctorAnn
went on to teach medicine at a real world university. She actually got the job
with the help and reputation of her virtual facility.
The
medical facilities that remain in SL today are used for role play with no real
education involved. Scantily clad nurses
and doctors may be of service to residents, but not in the way one may think…
Music
Skills and uneven business practices.
On to the Music Scene….Musicians still flood
venues on a daily basis, but some venue
owners and concert goers have voiced concern about unforgiving lag, the quality
of audio and streaming, fees, as well as singing skills. There are performers competing
for bookings and virtual success every day.
When I am not working on SLE things, I like to go concert hopping until
I find something that suits my mood. I like to observe the crowd and how the
musician interacts with fans. It is sad to say; many times I don’t stick around
for the whole set because the energy is just not there. I can think of a handful
of musicians that I support because they are a complete entertainment package.
The others lack something like charisma or talent… or both.
Three elders nodded their heads in agreement with
that.
Don’t
cry about Lindens once you’ve agreed to pay the fee
Musician fees can range from 3k-15k for an
hour plus 100% tips. Venues may only attract up to 20 people on their own if
they have a good reputation and marketing plans. The popular musician have
their own following which helps many venues, but once they move on, so do their
fans. Many times I see less than 15 at a venue and I’m being generous with the
number. Venues rarely make back more than they put in. Concert goers can be
cheap and many log out or teleport elsewhere without even tipping the musician
or venue.
Venues
with low expectations and high stakes
Another thing that the elders see all too often is concert goers and
even venue owners encouraging bad performances by shouting things like,
“awesome performance!”, “amazing talent!” , “Woot!” “Woot!” and flamboyant
gestures that take up a whole screen with symbols and words, mixed with applauds
that often drown out more interesting local conversations. Yea I said it…but
many of you thought it! One elder thought I should tone down on the bashing a
bit and accused me of sounding like Simon from the first few seasons of
American Idol.
Don’t
Fake the Funk
I backed up what I said by letting them know,
not keeping it real and weeding out the shower singers and auto tune kings and
queens from the real performers has proven to be damaging feedback, because it
has only created a pool of somewhat talented performers with big egos problems.
I went on to say that they pretending to
be full blown rock stars that charge a lot of money for hacking up covers or
masking their tone deafness with voice enhancing programs.
The elders agreed that struggling venues
suffer because they can’t meet overhead expenses due to non tipping cheapskates
and excessive spending on dry talent.
That
is the cause for many failed venues that had to shut down. Believe me, I’ve
seen many fail through the years.
What
has become of Second Life?
Where
is everyone that made this a booming virtual world in the past going? The
Community seems to be breeding more griefers and fakes, and fewer residents
willing to keep it real for the sake of quality in entertainment, businesses
and services.
Please don’t hate on me
I’m
just throwing it all out there in the spotlight to educate the community, but it
seems some avatars have forgotten that the grid was once a successful and
creative place. It may seem active because stores still line up mall spaces on
almost every sims, but you rarely see the owners there to help with customer
service. You may see some stagnant Alts used as mannequins showcasing outfits.
What’s
up with that?
Many are even turning to SL Marketplace to
make the bulk of their sales, leaving the sim and storefront renters with less
traffic. Customer service has been
replaced by obnoxious bots that repeat the same welcome messages to everyone
while loading visitors with note cards, group invites, instant messages and
landmarks. Let’s not get started on the subscriber thingies that promoters use
by randomly adding avatars to a list by the hundreds and then spamming them
with constant notices. Good Grief! An elder chimed in with, “I know right”!
Attitude Problems and Mental Disorders are
the new normal
Another elder brought up “Busy” messages
becoming unprofessional and downright rude and disrespectful. I
agree! Recently, I messaged an avatar that entered a drawing for a spotlight
feature, the response I got made me think there is an invasion of ignorance
that helps form my perceptions of the grid’s failing health and integrity.
These same people are also guilty of profiles cluttered with nonsense and
messages of “No Drama” and other sayings and expressions that make them look
like bitter people with borderline anti social, bipolar disorders.
An elder asked, “Since when has it become
acceptable to act like an animal and bark at whoever contacts you?"
Good
Question.
My
answer to that is, if Second Life has caused you to become rude to others just
for a rise in personal self esteem. It
is a tell tale sign you are the problem. Another red flag is the lack of
friends willing to put up with your attitude. Perhaps a therapist is what is
needed and not a virtual world filled with a global audience that comes here to
be creative and socialize with each other.
“BOOYA BITCHES!” shouted a dramatic elder.
He
continued the conversation by saying that there is a huge imbalance in the use
of this virtual world and it is hard to contain the crazy marbles that scatter
across the grid on a daily basis. These random space wasters cause others to
slip and fall, and never get anywhere. “IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE
FLOWERS PEOPLE”!
OPEN
A WINDOW
I have to agree, stank attitudes, ego driven
lacklusterers, and poor business practices need to be unsupported. By choking
off their linden supply, those that value there time here can finally breathe
some fresh air, enjoy the environment, bring back the colorful creativity and
move forward.
STOP
DRAGGING YOUR FEET LL
One
elder included, “Linden Labs also need to decide if their goals and agendas are
for the community’s benefit or for their own. They need to quit leaving
residents in a limbo, while draining bank accounts with fees to support outside
projects that do absolutely nothing to improve performance of the grid. Giving back to the community that has helped fill
their pockets would be a nice start”.
SL
PUBLIC HOUSING
Another elder chimed in asking, “How about
upgrading premium public housing with more prims or incorporating more LL
sponsored group activities for linden prizes”? The community needs more incentives to avoid
another mass exodus.
I second that! I kind of feel like with the
time I’ve invested in second Life, I shouldn’t feel like I’m living in the
ghetto with neighbors having threesomes so loud I can be hear whips and
moaning. FFS!
“What can we do as longtime residents to improve our experience and get the best out of time
spent in this virtual world”? , one elder asked.
ARE
SL MEDIA SOURCES THINKING ABOUT GOING ELSEWHERE?
The last thing we all need is for the long standing
reputable media sources to start pulling out too. How will avatars market their businesses the
way we have delivered local, down to earth news? We don’t see linden reporters
pounding the pavement and breaking a sweat to interviewing folks about their
daily activities.
OUT
WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW EVENT IDEAS
ALREADY
An
elder brought up that the events list can only do so much with every other
event promoter using it with their best in blue contests, sexy beach bashes and
Hump day parties, *yawn*…and if you use the classifieds, be ready shell out
thousand to be on the top of the list or else you’ll end up with the rest of
the low budget advertisers ranked 5,003.
THE RAMBLE ISN’T OVER YET
Sorry peeps, it has been a long time since I
have gone on a rambling spree, but as an Elder trying to keep it real for the
sake of saving Aviekind from impending doom, I felt it was my duty to point out
a few things and share what the other elders are concerned about. We all seem to be on the same page with a
number of issues.
CHIEFS
AND INDIANS ROLE REVERSAL SITUATION
One elder said it best during the meeting
when he said, “there are just too many thirsty Indians and not enough Chiefs
with water”. Another elder chimed in with, “no, there are too many chiefs
puffing away on something potent at the Linden Labs headquarter and so few
thirsty Indians to keep up with the supply.”The shyest of the elders laughed
and said,” If it wasn’t for these special brownies, I would have never come to
this meeting.”
THE
WRAP UP
Wrapping up this article with a final
thought, I would like to say, I agree the brownies were good, but I truly
believe in Second Life and the people that use it as an extension of their real
life and to express themselves while sharing their creativity with others.
SHAMELESS
SL ADDICT OR EXPERT?
I
dedicated over 7 years doing what I love and serving the community by providing
a tool that has helped many. Call me an addict or an expert, I accept being
both.
Second
Life has helped me in my real life. It inspired me to go back to school and get
the degrees I need in communication and technology so it opens more doors of
opportunity in my 1st life. The perks are meeting people from all
over the world and learning from them. All the elders shared similar personal
growth stories because of Second Life.
One elder said, “at least we aren’t out and about, drunk driving, doing
crack and bath salts!”
THANK
YOU FOR READING THIS FAR
The
day I make my final bow in Second Life is when I am the last elder standing.
With that said, may we all overcome the obstacles that hold us back both in
real life and Second life, so that we can move ahead making positive and
productive choices.
I hope
together we all can make Second Life a place worth staying in.
-Lanai Jarrico
Elders Summit-April 2013
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