The Wanderings of a Fanciful Muse

Unhinged!

2012-11-21T19:46:14Z

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Goodbye.

2012-11-18T11:35:32Z

On the 17th of November, when our best friend begged you to set aside your differences with me, you couldn't do it. Not even for her. Your ego is too important, and hurting me for taking away your backdoor support is more important.

I have erased you from my life as much as I can.

Your phone numbers are deleted.
Your pictures are packed away.
Everything in my inventory that you gave me or that had your name on it - gone.
Your blogs, blocked.
Your email, blocked.
Your main and two alt avatars, blocked.

After seeing the level you will sink to in the name of your almighty ego, I want nothing more to do with you.

Goodbye.

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The Unhinged Festival in Second Life

2012-11-17T20:00:03Z

Please come join us for the Unhinged Festival in Second Life, a fundraising effort to help eku Zhong get a bone replacement in her head. More information and the slurl to go can be found on the following website:

http://unhingedsl.com/

Hope to see you there!

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What now?

2012-11-16T08:21:14Z

If there's one thing you discover, after spending enough time in virtual worlds, is the experience causes you to look inside, to question yourself, to perhaps ressurect talents that were dormant, or better define your beliefs in certain things.

It will, definitely, lead you to ask yourself just where you fit in.

For every person you meet, for every venue you attend, you will find differences that people tend to cluster around. I am avoiding the use of the word "clique", mainly because I don't think a lot do it for that sake, but simply because it's human nature to gravitate toward that which rings true with you, makes you feel like you belong.

I am at a time in my virtual life where I'm not sure where I fit. I like to wear clothing a lot would associate with BDSM, but really have no driving desire to delve further into that community. I am the leader of a vampire and lycan clan, but because my family is small, I'm finding it hard to feel like I'm an accepted part of that community. I like PG things now and then, but not all the time...and the same goes for Adult.

I think a part of this stems from my current state of being single. I spent most of my time on Second Life being the partner of the same person - so for that to end, forces me to once again redefine myself, whether I like it, or not.

I was beginning to settle in, and get used to being by myself, when a very vibrant and intense personality came along and wanted to be my new partner. Our relationship lasted all of a week and a half, during which we did, in fact, get engaged...then he decided he would rather not be partnered, because there were too many he wanted to date that were actually closer to his RL age.

While I did cry at his leaving, and did get angry after that, I cannot blame him, and I have to give him credit for being honest with me. That doesn't mean it didn't hurt - a lot - and didn't leave me somewhat of a mess, yet again.

I also worry about the fate of our sim and our little family. Things have stalled in the family department, with no new souls coming in, and a few of the existing ones kind of wandering off to do their own thing, and not really inclined to devote time and energy into growing our clan. Hell, let's be honest - quite a few have wandered off doing their own thing and haven't shown any inclination toward growing things right at home.

Here I sit, pretty much alone, and not comfortable with it, at all. I have no problems admitting that I am somewhat of a mess.

What do you do, when everything you've done for the past three years pretty much included a significant other? When even if all your friends were busy, you had at least one person you could always rely on, and now, you don't?

My energies are scattered. A project I should've finished went unworked-on. A project I was hoping would be a huge success has stalled, because I'm having a hard time finding people to staff it. Things that used to bring me great joy, don't right now.

I try very hard to keep a lot of this to myself to present a strong front for my clan...but who does a Queen get to talk to when she's not feeling that strong and capable?

My best friend in all the virtual worlds is offline dealing with a horrific accident that befell her significant other, who is still in the hospital. Hardly anyone else keeps the crazy strange hours I do.

I am at a crossroads but I don't know which way to go.

A lot of people would do an "avatar geographic" - either changing their looks in a radical way, or abandoning their avatars for a new one. I don't want to do either, quite frankly. I'm happy with Marie. I think she has a lot to offer, because I, as her "pilot", have a lot to offer.

I'm just feeling very lonely right now and unsure what to do with myself.

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A poem

2012-11-15T05:37:43Z

I stare off into space
My eyes, turquoise and cold
No pupils, just glow.

I think
What's out there?
Who, is out there?

Darkened skin flashes in the night
White clothes, glowing as if alive
On their own.

I swish my long, white tail.

I think.
Out there?
Anything?

I can be
Surrounded by gyrating bodies
A lost soul in the midst of a crowd
Wondering if it's really worth it
Or should I just go home.
Anyone?

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Random

2012-10-26T14:17:56Z

There have been quite a few changes over the past couple of weeks.

Gothic, who had pretty much worn out her welcome with all active players in the clan, left for another clan. She's also spreading lies about us; she told a whopper to buddi and he decided to leave with her. So be it, buddi wasn't that big of a participant anyway.

Willy and I decided to split up. We both have different reasons and I'll leave it at that. We're still on talking terms.

I nearly sold Isle of Anu because with Willy's contribution gone, it's made it very hard on me to keep funding the SL sim along with both Inworldz sims. Several people stepped up to assist me however, both in getting my empty plots filled and the residents themselves approving a modest increase in rent. My rent has been the same the entire time I've had that island, so an increase isn't that far out of the question.

Today, as I write this, I find myself feeling the first true pangs of loneliness. When you've been with the same virtual world partner nearly all of your virtual life, it's really hard to be single again. I have nobody to go out on a date with. I have nobody to curl up at night with. There are a thousand things you come to take for granted in a relationship that you don't quite notice until they're gone. It's not that different from a RL relationship. I also miss the RL part of our relationship - frequent phone calls and texts. My cell has been very quiet since the breakup.

I suppose I should try to date others again. Willy said in his profile that I should keep the good times in my heart. I do...and I miss them. I don't miss our arguments and the pain we caused each other, though. There seem to be too many differences to keep ignoring, anymore.

Ideally I'd like to find someone who not only shares the same things that used to be differences, but can also help run our clan and fund the land for it...someone who is talented, imaginative, thoughtful and affectionate.

I may have to take one club down and set that corner of the sim up for rent in USD...don't know what else to do...

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Harsh Reminders

2012-09-07T08:36:03Z

I learned a few very important lessons today.

Even if a person is a high-ranking member of a Bloodlines clan (we're talking an Alpha, here) - that doesn't mean they have bothered to truly learn the game or to think about how vampires and lycans really are.
One should not assume that anyone in a Bloodlines clan, whether high-ranking or not, has enough brains to understand that a Lycan is a Werewolf and wolves have multiple births. One should also not assume that they are smart enough to figure out a wolf gets pregnant with multiple pups from one session of intercourse. In other words, a wolf doesn't have to have intercourse seven times to have seven pups. This holds true for Lycans, who spend a good deal of their time in humanoid form.
One should not assume that, when in the presence of members of another clan, that they tolerate views which may be considered radical or not mainstream. This includes the hypothetical idea of a man being the one to get pregnant - even if such an idea is merely joked about. One will find out that there are men, as well as women, who react strongly to such ideas. Hell, it includes anything radical that is possible from a fantasy perspective.
One should not assume that other ideas, however jokingly put, won't get the dander up on people, even if they are in a Bloodlines clan. A good example is the idea of a single Lycan female and single Vampire female going "man hunting" (as in for mates), and disposing of the bad finds by consuming them. Lycans can and will eat human beings, as will vampires; however, do not assume that members of a clan are able to submerse themselves enough into their roles as such to accept such an idea as mainstream.
Definitely do not assume that the other parties are capable of suspending their prejudices in a virtual world, where anything and everything is possible.
Also do not assume they are willing, or capable, of submersing themselves into fantasy roles which engender different standards and different ideas of what can be termed "mainstream".
Whatever you do, do not assume that they know how to roleplay their way out of a wet paper bag, period. I would go so far as to say that the majority of people in virtual worlds really have no clue what it means to "submerge" one's self into the virtual world, so their minds and thoughts tend to follow the same concepts and assumptions that they would in the concrete, or "real" world. You might as well be standing on a streetcorner saying you're a fantasy creature, though I wager such behavior may get you locked up for observation.
Accept that the majority of adult human beings you are aware of are constitutionally incapable of suspending belief enough to accept the concept that fantasy species and races can, and do, follow different moralities and accept different things as "mainstream".

*headdesk*

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Knock it off, guys!

2012-09-05T21:47:40Z

Today someone called my daughter a bunch of filthy names because she's a she-wolf pregnant with a litter and likes to work in a strip club.

First of all, who made you the Morality Police? Do you know how she ended up pregnant with a litter? NO. Do you have the right to decide whether or not she works as a stripper? NO. If you came in to see her strip, what does that make YOU?

Take your outdated morality somewhere else, we don't need it in Second Life.

I'm very happy to say that my daughter AR'd the bastard.

In virtual worlds, you can do and be anything. If it makes you feel good to strip in a strip club, who is to judge you? I know plenty of people will try but they really need to keep their mouths shut. If they're there to watch you, what does that make them? Like it or not, you have the same free choice as they do so if they don't like it, they shouldn't be in the strip club.

In real life, there are a lot of girls that strip or escort because they either can't get another job or they like doing it. Either way, it's highly misogynistic to judge them for their chosen profession - especially if you're one of their patrons!

Time for the double standards to end- IRL and in virtual worlds.

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Random

2012-08-24T00:25:21Z

There are a couple of things I'd like to say that may piss some people off, but frankly, I don't care if they do.

1. I am despairing that there are any stable, creative individuals left that aren't involved in their own groups, already. Every time I tell someone new that we don't tolerate drama and are as "real" as it gets, they will nod and smile - but do they stick around? No. I'm left to conclude that they find our sim and group "boring" because we don't allow people to beat up on one another or dump on one another. It's either that or they've seen SO much drama that they refuse to believe we don't tolerate it. I find this very frustrating.

2. Men, it's your turn. Listen - you can't treat women like shit in the concrete world, so what in the HELL makes you think you can treat them like shit in virtual worlds? The SAME women you have to treat with respect in the concrete world are the ones you find in virtual worlds. STOP already with the chauvinistic bullshit.

My SL daughter got involved with someone whose name I won't mention. Every time she's dressed in the least sexy manner when he's not around, he's grilled her about what she's been doing and who she's been with, as though she dressed on purpose to tantalize other guys. Ummmmm....NO. WRONG ASSUMPTION.

You cannot tell us how to dress in virtual worlds anymore than you could get away with that in the concrete, so get over yourselves or be willing to follow the same exact rules you try to impose on the women in your virtual life. That's right - it's a two-way street, guys. Don't be trying to tell the women what to do or treating them like they are sluts based on what they wear. You wouldn't want to be judged like that, would you? Apply the same sort of thing to the female side of the race and maybe - MAYBE - you won't get slapped so much.

Also don't be dictating behavior to the women in your virtual life. If they aren't wearing your collar and have a dom/sub contract with you, they are NOT your SLAVE. YOU certainly don't like being told what to do so stop doing it to women. Again, it's a two-way street and you really need to remember that.

Just because a woman has a strong personality does not mean you get to ignore her and talk to her husband. If she's in charge of something, you talk to HER - NOT her husband. You don't ass|u|me that the man is "in control". You treat her as an individual worthy of the same consideration you would want for yourself.

If you have a hard time with the idea of a woman in charge, you best go to one of the Gor sims or something like that - because that's the only way you're going to avoid them.

This is the 21st century and it's about time you get with the program, guys. It's not the 1950's though I wager you could conceivably find a space in an virtual world set up for just that...but if you aren't frequenting a scenario where it's obvious women are second-class citizens, then for the gods sakes, stop TREATING them like they are.

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Good roleplayers are hard to find

2012-07-29T13:53:55Z

As some of you know, we are trying to build a roleplayer base for our Bloodlines clan.

We are doing our best to find a "happy medium" between White Wolf's "Vampire: the Masquerade" (otherwise known as V:tM) and Bloodlines on Second Life. In order to do that, we've begun setting some ground rules. A good example is that if someone is vampire at all (that includes hybrids) - they are dead. They cannot have children the natural way. There are a lot of Bloodlines players on Second Life that don't really know how to play a vampire, and have babies and whatnot. If they truly wish to immerse themselves in the role, they have to accept that they are dead, and so is their ability to have children.

We also have a very hard line against drama, and if we have a player who is constantly creating drama - and we're not talking about the kind that happens during routine roleplay - they get one chance. If they don't clean up their act, they're out.

We have already ejected and banned one member for extremely abusive drama. Not only did he fail to show my character any respect, he constantly defied orders, and mixed way too much "real life" in with the roleplay. He played people off one another, lied a lot, and abused the girl he got engaged to, to the point where she didn't eat for 4 days, IRL. He'd already had one chance and he more than blew it.

What has he done since then? We found out that you can still pay someone who has blocked you. Go figure. They can't send you things, they can't talk to you, but they can pay you? He was doing it to get his ex's attention. She'd unblock him long enough to tell him to stop and then they'd be going round-for-round again. He was telling her we didn't want her but kept her around anyway. He was telling her all kinds of things meant to make her feel bad - and they did. He even told Willy that she was planning to make an alt character to be with him and/or leave our clan. I know the last to be a baldfaced lie because she asked me to promise her that I wouldn't ever let him back in the clan. Finally, we got her to block him, and instructed her on how to file an Abuse Report should he keep paying her to get her attention.

We had another guy come to us, that had a boatload of souls, and wanted to be in a clan that was more traditional - which is what we were shooting for. He turned out to be a flake. First of all, he was in bed with all of his female minons, literally - and that's all he had. Second, he and his RL girlfriend were mixing way too much RL and SL. She was going to leave him for her SL lover, and gave him till the end of July to find a place to live. He was having a relationship with the head of another clan, who offered to take him in. He didn't care for her stiplulations, however - dump the subs and be exclusive to her, in RL and in SL. In the meantime, he and his RL decided to give their relationship another chance, so he told this clan leader he wouldn't be moving in with her. She, in turn, said all kinds of hurtful things about him and his "girls" to her clanmates. I stood in their castle's living room and listened as they related the drama, up to and including one of his girls crying over the microphone.

I reassured them all that they would not have that kind of drama with us, and I thought we were headed toward an exciting future. A couple of days later, I sent an instant message to our group chat, and what was this guy doing? Having sex with his "girls". Obviously they weren't interested in more "meaningful" interaction.

Yesterday, he messages Willy and informs him that he is quitting our clan, that there wasn't enough interaction. Then, I find out what really happened. He returned to the clan he just left, headed up by the woman who wanted him for herself. Evidently, she followed through on her promise of an "RP sim" that he could exclusively set up. Obviously, nothing that was said or done mere days before counted, anymore - and we and our clan were the ones that lost out.

This guy actually joined and left us, twice. The first time was when he was on the outs with his RL girlfriend and he, as he put it, "wanted to make sure his minions were fed while he worked out what he was going to do." Did he talk to me, first? Nope. I would have gladly kept them safe and fed. It was two days later that he rejoined us, using his alt account, bringing his main account and all his souls and "girls" with him.

Inside of a week, he was lieged, delieged, lieged and delieged. Flake!

I am beginning to wonder if there are any stable adults, with their heads on halfway straight, who love to roleplay and are on Second Life. I'm beginning to think those that are, are already in groups and just as suspicious of newcomers as we have become. All I know is I am fed up with the sociopaths, abusers, and flakes we've already run across. It takes a great deal to get me angry, and I was fuming, yesterday.

Abuser #1 accused me of being "elitist". The only possible way he could've gotten that is (a) I won't stand for abusive drama, and (b) We would like to have some actual guidelines to our roleplay so it's not a free-for-all. Tell you what - if that makes me "elitist", then I wear the tag proudly.

If he called me "elitist" because I tend to get quiet in big groups, then that shows he does not know me at all (he doesn't). I'm not being aloof, I'm being genuinely shy. It takes me awhile to warm up to others, and that's true for Willy as well. Meeting a crowd just once usually isn't enough for either one of us to loosen up.

Yes, I am co-leader of our Clan. Yes, that means I interface with others more than many others do. And yes - it takes an effort for me to do so. At the same time, I know for a fact that I'm polite, kind, and cheerful with most folks.

For right now, I think Willy and I are just going to take it easy and maybe work on building projects. Dealing with people like I've outlined above can take a lot out of you, even if you're like me and you try not to let them get under your skin.

I would just be happy if a couple of genuine roleplayers came along...

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Boundaries.

2012-07-24T08:19:43Z

I think the biggest drama-causer in SL is people refusing to set boundaries and stick with them.

I also find it interesting how many people interpret it as "temper" when you do set boundaries, they cross them, and you take subsequent action.

The largest overall policy on our sim is "no drama". I know a lot of people say that, but we mean it, and we back up our word.

We had a clan member who had caused a boatload of drama not long after we took over our clan. He was sat down and told, with no uncertain terms, that if he didn't stop it, he would be out. At that time, he stopped it and for awhile, things were nice and peaceful and we were working on growing our clan, fine-tuning our roleplay rules, etc.

Then he got the girl he wanted, and even after that, things were pretty quiet - until they got engaged. The girl wanted a nice wedding, and who can blame her? I was roleplaying the Queen of the clan AND her mother, so "us girls" started planning her wedding.

It's my opinion, from a woman's standpoint, that a nice wedding is more for the bride than it is for the groom. Brides love the pomp, circumstance, frills, flowers, and everything else that makes up a wedding. Guys, most of the time, are lucky if they can get their suit on and find the rings in time </tongue in cheek>

We immediately hit trouble. This groom hated weddings; he had never had a wedding in the past, he just partnered whomever he was with. I think that's a part of the reason why he didn't stay partnered to the girls. He did not demonstrate that he understood how to relate to a girl at all. There are times when a girl needs to hear that she's loved. She needs those occasional flowers. There are a thousand different ways a guy can demonstrate that he loves and cares for her, and it's important he go through the trouble. That's true in real life, as well as virtual worlds.

He also had a very bad pattern of making it "all about him" all the time. Anyone who has been in a romantic relationship knows it is give and take. It's never one person's way, all the time - and if it is, it doesn't last long.

It didn't take long for things to degenerate. He started pressing her to minimize the wedding. He started pressing her for a date sooner than we planned; we figured it'd take about a month to do things up right. He started saying he wasn't doing any of these things, yet the potential bride was so upset by what he was doing that it extended into her concrete life and she'd stopped eating.

I finally asked her right out: If this is how he is going to treat you, then is it truly worth the trouble of marrying him? Virtual reality is supposed to be fun. It's not supposed to make you sick and make it so you don't want to eat.

She agreed with me, and shortly thereafter, unpartnered him and threw away the engagement ring. I, in turn, ejected him from our clan, banned him from rejoining, ejected him out of all groups and banned him from our sim. I returned his house and everything in it, refunded his rent, and cleared the space.

HE thinks I somehow talked her into leaving him and acted completely out of a rage. I couldn't have been cooler than a cucumber as I pressed the buttons which erased his existence from our sim and our lives. People like him, who are used to getting their way, who are used to testing a person's boundaries till they break, don't know how to handle it when they run into someone who keeps firm boundaries and will not let them cross them.

I run my virtual life like that. I run my roleplay like that, and I run my concrete life like that. Nobody has the right to abuse me, and if they keep pushing, they end up pushing themselves right out of my life. In a lot of cases, they find themselves 'on the outside' of my friends and family's lives as well.

Every time, they think I either acted out of rage or totally misinterpreted something. They think they can twist, turn, and malform reality so that it's all my fault and I owe them an apology and need to reverse my decisions. It frustrates them to no end when I "stay on message" and refuse to let them form a new reality out of the old.

This is why people trust me, and why they know they can depend on me. I am consistent in my actions. I make my boundaries known, and I don't allow others to blatantly cross them. I look after those who want me to look after them, and behave in like manner.

Sometimes it IS black and white and NOT shades of grey.

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Where are all the DJs?

2012-06-13T11:21:43Z

Club Industry, at any hour, used to be hopping with live music and a large crowd of dancers...but no more, evidently.

I was there around 11:30PM and was shocked to see no DJ at all and only a few bodies, some of which were staff. The next DJ wasn't on till 2AM.

I did notice a slow "lessening" of staff at CI. Personally, I was too intimidated to either host or dance there, because they had a lot of complicated rules. That didn't seem to stop a lot of folks however and it hasn't been till the last few months that I've seen a distinct lack of staff. More than one gig has only the DJ and host and no dancers.

We've advertised for staff and haven't gotten many replies. I thought it was something with us, but then I see staff reductions at all kinds of clubs that used to be hopping at all hours of the day and night.

Even mainstream genre DJs seem to be hard to find.

WHERE DID ALL THE DJS GO?

Is it that people have given up because the majority of the crowd doesn't tip anymore? Again, people either forget, or don't know, that DJ, Host, and Dancer income consists of tips only. It sickens me to see how little, if at all, people are willing to surrender of their precious Lindens to truly talented people whose sole job is entertaining them.

Listen - next time, instead of plonking that 10L or 20L on a sploder, why not plonk it on the DJ, Host, or Dancer? Even a small tip is better than none at all, and shows that you really do appreciate the job they're doing entertaining you and others.

I truly hate to think people take the entertainment for granted, and yet, they don't tip to show their appreciaion. Lemme ask you this, fellow SLer - in your daily, concrete life, do you ever go to a bar or a coffee shop? Do you leave a tip, or just ass|u|me the help is being paid a living wage? In most cases, they are being paid UNDER minimum wage and their only hope is to make up the difference in tips. If you work one of these jobs, you don't need me to tell you.

Just remember, people, club personnel in virtual worlds work for tips only. Tip, and tip well if you can. Tip even if it's a measly 5L. It means a lot.

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The Garden Of Your Mind

2012-06-09T13:01:22Z

Miss this guy...

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...

2012-05-25T15:56:16Z

I am sick and tired of bullshitters. That is all.

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8 Awesome Things About Tim Burton

2012-05-20T09:55:48Z

From Alternet.

The new movie Dark Shadows took a decade to drop. A long-running bit of Tim Burton/Johnny Depp lore, the dynamic duo has been trying to make a film based on their favorite kitschy ‘60s vampire television show for years—so to have it released in theaters seems almost beyond comprehension for megafans. Unfortunately, though, it seems like it might have been left in the oven a little too long: critics are panning it like nobody’s business, despite its marquee director-star pairing and a packed cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter and Jackie Earle Haley.

It's odd that a project so labored over and long aspired to by Burton and Depp—the latter has spoken lovingly about watching the original show as a kid—could flop. That said: lest Dark Shadows is truly that unpleasurable, here are eight things to remind you why Tim Burton is awesome.

[ Read More ]

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The Second Self

2012-05-14T14:49:15Z

Second Self

Definition

"The term Second Self is a way of describing one's online or external identity. In the case of the web, one's online identity evolves in tandem with offline self. This self, instead of simply a secondary self, is becoming an extension of the self. In the same way that the primary, offline self needs to shower, dress, and maintain the self, so does the online self.

Psychologist and sociologist Sherry Turkle wrote about intense change experienced in the way we use and view computers. For instance, she wrote, "we no longer give “commands” to a machine; we enter into dialogues, navigate simulated worlds, and create virtual realities. Further, the psychological holding power of the computer is no longer limited to one-on-one person/machine interaction. Millions of people now interact with one another via computers on networks, where they have the opportunity to talk, to exchange ideas and feelings, and to assume personae of their own creation".[1] Increasingly, actions upon one's extended self by others directly affect the analog self. For instance, if one posts a piece of content online through their extended self, comments on that post will induce a physiological response in the content creator. Conversely, if no one responds to the post, the content creator may feel isolated or distressed, as if they had spoken in a room with their friends and had not been paid attention to. "

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It really makes you wonder...

2012-05-14T06:46:46Z

Saturday night we attended a wedding of two Clan members. It was a grand affair and fun was had by all, except for our resident 3-year-old who wouldn't stop bugging the new beau of his ex-girlfriend.

Surprise, surprise - talked to the King tonight and the nuptials were over before they really began. Seems the groom wasn't being honest with his wife in the concrete world and she told him he absolutely could NOT be married in Second Life.

Now the jilted bride is dating the resident 3-year-old. I wish her the best of luck, but I wouldn't get near him with a 10-foot pole, the guy has stalker issues.

Speaking of the Clan...the only member (outside of my husband) to wish me a happy Rez Day on Friday was the Queen. The King didn't even do it till I informed him. He was up to his eyeballs planning this wedding that dissolved the day after.

There aren't many in the Clan who are active. We (Willy and I) have tried to get them involved by inviting them to the club and the castle, but most don't bother showing. Here I thought I was joining an active, close-knit group and now it seems like it's all a waste of time.

I did cull my flist and if you got cut, it's because we never talk and I have no clue what's going on in your life, much less you knowing what's in mine. I need friends that keep in touch and want to get involved in things and take the time to note my rez day, which is just as important as a RL birthday.

I was a bit put out tonight as well. I applied to be a live model at DV8 and was surprised to get a favorable response back. The head model told me to track her down and let her know when I was available for an interview. I responded to her notecard, friended her, and shortly after seeing her log in, IMd her, as requested. She had a roller derby practice to attend but told me she'd contact me afterward. Roughly 2 1/2 hours later, she logged off without saying another word to me.

I don't know what's going on but it seems the general Rude-O-Meter of people in Second Life is rising again. People don't pay attention to others. They don't follow up on commitments, or they're damned sloppy about it. They don't make sure everything's kosher in the concrete universe before sailing off into happy marriage with another avatar...and a lot of times, they can commit, but then cheat on whomever they've wed because they think it's not real and they can do whatever they damned well please without respect to anyone. They claim to be your friend and then you don't hear from them till they want you to see their store or attend some event they've arranged. If it weren't for the event or grand opening or whatever, they wouldn't talk to you at all.

I'm finding it all very sickening.

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Well..

2012-05-12T08:17:29Z

I guess you find out who is really your friend and who is a simple acquaintance when it comes time for your rez day.

Yesterday (5/11) I became 4 years old in SL. Only two people remembered, and one of them wasn't feeling well, so there was no party or anything special.

Yes, this depresses me. I think I'll go cull my friend's list, now.

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Can we say... A Bit of Paranoia?

2012-04-27T18:58:43Z

I have spent the past several hours catching up on news and whatnot across the Internet concerning Second Life.

It appears we aren't done yet with "security companies" who want to dance so close to the SL TOS as to give others cause to be concerned.

If you aren't already aware, the Green Zone Users group was created to go along with the Green Zone HUD which was constructed to let users know of merchants and landowners employing the ill-fated Redzone security system. It is still valid as an educational group, especially considering that Redzone wasn't the only security system that breached privacy. Even today, after Linden Lab updated their TOS to disallow such intrusions, there are systems out there that do just about everything BUT cross that line.

It seems Voodoo Security Systems was one such system. Its owner, Monkey Wonder, used to have profitable talks with the Green Zone Users group - and as a result, changed the protocols on some of his systems so that they don't quite "skirt the line" as much. However, it seems lately he has suddenly gone off the deep end. Not only has he accused the entire Green Zone User group of being griefers - he's posted the usernames of everyone he found in the group, AND sent them notecards that basically said "leave the GZ Users group or else".

See this thread on SLU: Monkey Wonder maker of Voodoo decides to threaten people.

First of all, most of those who received the notecard have sent in an Abuse Report, since it constitutes harassment and defamation of character. This, however, wasn't enough for Mr. Wonder. On top of posting damned near every username on his Voodoo site, hes now created a blog here to further defame what constitutes a group of generally innocent users interested in nothing more than preserving privacy on Second Life, to the extent that it is possible.

Many of us, upon reading about this continuing drama, have since joined the Green Zone Users group, just because we can. You might also say we're proving a point. Threaten people with all kinds of things, libel their names, and you will get lots of others rising up and joining them in protest.

All I must say is that Mr. Wonder appears to be very frightened of the opinion(s) expressed about his (and other) security systems by the GZ Users group, and is retaliating well before anything has been attempted at a higher level. This leads me to believe that he is, in fact, engaging in activities that either skirt close to, or cross that line in TOS that was deliberately enacted to better protect user privacy.

Update: It seems Mr. Wonder has a full list of GZ Users names posted here. Rumor has it he has someone planted in GZ Users just to update this list on a regular basis. I don't see my name yet...

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The Great #inworldz - ian White Out

2012-03-30T04:51:46Z

Something happened tonight that reset the entire Inworldz grid, and booted everyone. When we came back, we were all white!

Didn't matter what you did, you always returned to being white. Change skin? See yourself for two seconds, then turn white again.

My inventory claimed to be all there but then when I tried to wear certain objects, it told me that it couldn't find it in the database.

Guess I won't get any work done tonight.... LOL!

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It's been awhile...Inworldz Cliques?

2012-03-27T10:31:44Z

I have ditched my Wordpress page because it was too much of a hassle keeping up with the spam, and nobody followed it. If you want to follow me, follow this journal here on Dreamwidth. I'll be posting from here and crossposting to LJ.

Something happened on Inworldz the other day that left me wondering...are there more and more people who think they're a "big deal" there?

My virtual husband was talking to a fellow resident the other day, who was telling him how good her clubs are doing, etc., etc. and seemed to look down on him.

I've run into this before, with others who somehow think they have "standing" in the community.

I don't know about the rest of you but my understanding of Inworldz is that ALL residents have "standing", that no one resident is above another. The majority of us are creators, and enjoy Inworldz for the freedom it offers us to create.

I would hate to think there is a "clique" forming that thinks they're above the "general masses". Somehow, I doubt Ele had that in mind when she and the other Founders created the grid.

I would also hate to think that others are somehow "controlling" where the rest go for entertainment. That was somewhat "implied" in the talk my virtual husband had.

Our club is different. It doesn't host mainstream country or rock. Rather, it hosts alternative genres in the Electronica and Industrial categories. Now, I realize that there are many who are unfamiliar with those genres, but I would hope that some would give them a chance and at least check out our club.

That hasn't exactly been the case, and that's why we haven't had a show there in awhile.

I am fully expecting the grid to go bonkers once Tranquillity gets done installing the rest of Physics. After all, who wouldn't want to have a sim for a mere $75 bucks, free uploads and a script engine that barely winks at a whole boatload of scripts?

For now, we have bouncing boobies and more reliable footing, which is the first part of Physics. Watch out when physical objects are included - ooh baby, watch the traffic soar!

If Inworldz becomes as popular as Second Life used to be, where are all these "better than thou" people going to be? Right now it's easy to make yourself "prominent" in the community because it's still rather small. When the numbers of active logins jump from the hundreds into the thousands and beyond, those same people will be faces in the crowd.

I think it's sad when people believe the only way they can look good is to act like they're somehow better than others. The ones who ARE better than others are those that help out newcomers and long-term residents alike. The ones that'll give something away for free just because it's badly needed. The ones who aren't as concerned with profit that they would dare double the prices they charge on Inworldz to equal the US dollar amount they get on Second Life. Those that are more interested in making things work for the majority, rather than raking in the bucks for themselves.

THOSE are the people who really matter and are often silent and behind the scenes. Those kinds of people deserve the most respect, next to the Founders.

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Grifter. Liar. Cheat. Oath-Breaker.

2012-01-30T04:18:02Z

Let me tell you a little story...

There was this girl - I won't call her a woman, because her attitude bespeaks a girl - who was moving from Georgia to California to be nearer her son, who is staying with his father. She needed a place to stay, because she claimed that she used her moving money on lawyers dealing with child custody. This was sometime in June of last year.

We provided her a home, took her into our hearts, and under the auspices of the Temple. She journeyed back to Georgia in September, ostensibly to close on her condo there and wrap up some financial matters. She returned in late September and stayed with us, for the most part, through last Friday.

Why did she leave last Friday? Well, during this entire time, she didn't pay us much for using our water, our electricity, our Internet...she did occasionally buy us some groceries with the food stamps she got on General Relief. She kept claiming that her bank card wouldn't work. She borrowed money to get medication. She ate up Internet bandwidth, pushing us into overage at $10 bucks per 50gb, ostensibly uploading and downloading mainly for work. She put a lot of wear and tear on my washer and dryer which, while being a good brand, aren't all that new, doing half-loads of laundry, instead of combining her things with some of ours to save wear and tear, water and electricity.

Our electric bill went up $200 per month. Water went up $20-30 per month. We went through at least 2 "blocks" of Internet overage every month. That's not including money borrowed, gas spent running her all over (she can't drive due to seizures), etc., etc.

All and all, she spent a couple thousand at our expense. Last week, we finally confronted her about getting us some money. We'd pretty much spent anything we'd saved back and things were getting tight. She told us she would talk to her friend in Georgia, and get some money. Allegedly this friend came through and she was going to give us $175. Well, she finally got to the store and took out $80 but we didn't see a dime of it. Two days later, she moved out on us while we were sleeping, going so far as to take the bells off the front door so we wouldn't hear it opening and closing.

She never asked her friend for money. She didn't need to, she had money to pay us, and lied about it.

She also took a tower computer we'd lent her to get a hard drive sorted out, and two Healing stones I'd lent her for a migraine.

The name most know her by is Tyger Warren-Wilson. Whatever you do, do NOT take this girl into your house, or lend her money you can't afford to miss. You'll be taken for a ride.

She's a liar, a grifter, and dares to call herself a Witch. She's no Witch, she's a Warlock. An Oath-breaker. Damn, I hate Chaos Witches and she's one of them.

You see, her staying here was dependent on me, since I technically own the house and most of everything in it. It was MY hospitality that was extended. It was MY heart that opened and trusted her.

You don't betray someone like me and get away with it.

You don't steal a Shaman Healer's stones and get away with it.

You don't betray a Celtic HPS's heart and get away with it.

You don't steal my property and get away with it.

You can block me all you like Tyger, but that won't stop what's already headed your way. Grifter. Cheat. Liar. Oath-Breaker.

Return $500, the tower, and the Healing Stones, and your life will become infinitely more peaceful. Didn't your mother tell you to beware of the quiet ones?

You have earned the singular reward of being the first that's banned from the Temple of the Pentavalent. Oh boy, aren't you cute.

*shakes head*

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fanciful_muse @ 2012-01-27T21:17:00

2012-01-28T05:21:57Z

How Thick Is Your Bubble?

Not Provided

Score » 12 out of 20 (60% )
Result

On a scale from 0 to 20 points, where 20 signifies full engagement with mainstream American culture and 0 signifies deep cultural isolation within the new upper class bubble, you scored between 13 and 16.

In other words, you don't even have a bubble.

Quiz School

Take this quiz & get your score

How Thick Is Your Bubble? » Quiz Maker

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Drawing the Line

2011-10-10T22:57:03Z

There is a point where informaton ceases to be informative, and becomes spam.

Everyone's threshhold is different. Be that as it may, I have yet to hear of a person who didn't tire of seeing the same exact information, in both notice AND chat, more than, say, a couple of times per day. When you get tired of it, it becomes spam for you.

I am a member of two help-wanted groups for our club - djs wanted, and "all other staff" wanted. Now granted, they don't place a hard limit on how many notices you can send out - but at the same time, when it's the SAME announcement, sent both by notice and by chat, EVERY SINGLE TIME and roughly ONCE PER HOUR - I don't know of ANYONE who doesn't tire of seeing it.

I was invited to one group, and joined the other on my own - they're sister groups - because we need both DJs and Hosts. I will put out a maximum of one notice - no chat - per day. Sometimes I don't put one out every day. I figure that if someone is truly looking for employment, they'll have their notices turned on, and they'll get it - at least in email.

If someone feels the need to put the exact same announcement in both a notice and IM chat, then I'd say they are fully aware that some have notices turned off. The sad thing is that they don't stop to think of WHY people have notices turned off. Could it be because they are sick and tired of hearing about that particular club/merchandise/event?

I know how to search notices to see if there's anything I want to read. Since I'm not looking FOR employment, I don't really pay attention to the notices that come out of these groups. I'll glance at them, then close them.

Last night was the last straw. I was hearing the same announcements about the same club every single time I turned around - echoed in both notices and chat, from both groups. The only difference between them is one said DJs, the other said other personnel.

When they started up again today, I finally got into chat and asked them to stop spamming. The information was being sent out by one of the OWNERS of the group! I tried to explain in a reasonable fashion why I felt seeing the SAME announcements echoed in both notices AND chat, at least ONCE per hour, was a bit excessive. Someone else chimed in and said she sent out 8 notices last night and got 0 replies. Well, d'oh! Guess she didn't stop to consider that once you've heard it, over and over again, not only don't you wish to work there, you don't even want to step foot in that club. At least that's the way I felt. When they're doubled up in IM chat on top of it, I really REALLY want nothing to do with that club.

People - once or twice a day, in notices, is fine, for a help wanted group. Sending one per hour and echoing the same info in IM chat is NOT going to help you find employees.

It also won't help you sell products, and believe me, I've seen this behavior - and worse - in groups where you can advertise things for sale.

Think about how you feel when you see someone else snowing you under with notices and IM chat for the same thing, over and over, again.

It's a good thing I'm running Firestorm Beta. I can turn off both notices AND chat.

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#nymwars - Why are some so naive?

2011-09-22T19:27:50Z

#nymwars

I don't use my legal name on the Internet and I never have.

99% of my online friends know me by a pseudonym, and most don't know my legal name.

I use a pseudonym on Facebook and nobody seems to mind. Contrary to the belief of some, using a pseudonym does not inspire me to be crass, racist, bigoted, or just plain mean.

I use a pseudonym because I am a woman who has been stalked from Internet sources, all the way into concrete life.

Nothing scares you quite as much as the idea that some crazed Internet lunatic may be following you with a gun, intent on silencing you, once and for all.

If celebrities can use pseudonyms, why can't I? Do the celebs throw all common courtesy out the window because they're using one? Some do, I know - but they'd be just as crude and rude no matter what name they used.

Today I was reading an article on Google+ which shows just how naive some people really are, despite all the warnings and terabytes of information out there that it is NOT safe to use your real identity on the 'net. I saw some raise the issue of "What do you want to say that you're afraid to say under your real name?" for instance. Um...ever been an activist for some cause that has its detractors? Ever been stalked to the point where someone claims to have your real address and is passing it to others who could pose a real danger to you? Ever been divorced or have left an abusive partner that you don't want to have track you down? Those are just a few reasons why someone would post under a pseudonym and it has absolutely nothing to do with being afraid to own one's own words.

Basically, anyone who is not a white, privileged male from a Western country can find reasons not to use their real name on the Internet. Heck - even some of those have reasons. Ever say something on your G+ account that you wouldn't want a future boss to see, or your current boss to see? Ever bitch about something at work? Ever criticize some workplace policy, or lack of?

Those who claim that it's "right" to use your legal name on the Internet have obviously been lucky enough never to have been a target of others who would want to hurt them. Give it time; sooner or later, they'll say something someone else considers unpopular and it'll be brought to their attention at a most embarassing time.

I have used nyms since I got involved with the public Internet near its launch. Right from the start, you are told not to use your real name. Bulletin Board Systems expected you to use a pseudonym. IRC chat, the basis of all other popular chat systems today, expected you to use a nym. Kids are told never to use their legal name on the 'net because it could encourage pedophiles. How many young users of Myspace were bullied because they used their real name, and bullies found them? How many have committed suicide?

Do you really think that kind of behavior stops when people reach the age of 18? If so, you have a lot to learn.

I have known bullies who DID use their real names set about gathering a mob to drive someone clean off the Internet. I have seen others fall victim to such tactics, and worse.

It is a matter of personal safety to use a nym and I'm not about to change that for the benefit of ANY multinational multibillion corporation!

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