everything falls out of focus, you walk through the door

So I'm frantically trying to get through as much as possible of the Shop and Hop before I fold up for the time being (and yes, I know, I KNOW, I should have been done by now!) and finally reached Aluveaux Technologies. And their gift--shown below--is a universal door plug-in:



And I got all excited. Granted, Tannhauser Gate Stations has iris doors, but still! Sounded potentially neat!



Okay! They put up a build, showing how the doors work! Though, come to think...this one doesn't seem to have doors in it...



Oh. ...Oh. Well, that's...unfortunate...

So some bugs in the system yet. Pity.

and you'll read your Erasmus on park lawns again

[19:45] Grimoire Hexem: no problem, sorry for the inconvenience
[19:46] ɐɹpuɐxǝlɐ (misssuicide.marshdevil): hi its me im the inconvenience its me :P

Soooo. The astute among you might have nooooticed a small change on the blog...in that it's reverted CLEAR BACK TO CONTEMPO so I have to start from scratch. I have one guy saying, hey, you could just convert to Wordpress, buy a cheap domain, I could host it for you--and while it sounds good, in theory, I don't think he understands exactly how much I'd have to port over. Some of the original blog images are already lost to time because I can't remember where I shunted them off to! Plus with hard drives dying right and left...it's a whole thing. A whole huge, ungainly thing.

But it will be fixed in time! I am working out how to do that since I managed to completely erase the changes I'd made to TRY and update the thing which hadn't worked so far and did I mention there's an anniversary I never wanted coming up? I am scarce but a fortnight from two...full...years...with the Eternal Headache.



Just so.

Well one other brief diversion:

[16:48] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nice body
[16:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Thank you.

This was how "nice" the body was, by the way, when I was picking up something at Stiff. (Actually, strike that--this was the pic taken when I was at Dollholic.)

Then I got a friendship offer. So I pulled the profile.

The entirety of his SL bio is confusing:

I am Arab. an usa I like dealing with upscale people. I do not like dealing with people who are slaves to money. It is better for a person to be a slave to money than that.

So I asked. Of course.

[17:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Hmm. You really need a first life pic.
[17:04] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Now, is your 'slaves to money' line including shopping addiction, or do you mean, you're not crazy about anyone who spends Lindens in SL at all?

I didn't give him a ton of time to reply on this latter section, because I did have an elsewhere to be, as it happened.

[17:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): yeahokayfine, I'm needed in RL, so have a good diurnal/noctural span of time.

He's new, as in two-weeks-on-the-grid new, so I didn't want to spend the time it would take to really track down what about the Pripyat fashion doll he really loves, so let's just call it a weird moment and move on.

[[Note after publication from the Editrix: Few days later, I just switched the entire template back to basics and selected Soho Neon as the working template until I could figure out what to do next. Thing is...there may not be a next? I'd love to change the banner, and the background, but a friend told me my blog, which had been loading like molasses in winter for months, is now nearly instantaneous on load. So...we're here for now, I guess.]]

but you need your rotten heart, your dazzling pain like diamond rings

Welcome to Dreadmorne Township.



Obviously, this town has seen better days.



It's not just the eels, there's bodies in the water, too.



The eels are getting bigger...



And what's with the flowers?



That water can't be good for them...unless...



This is why I came, though. I first heard about it on Twitter, and read through everything it asked for. I have a Maitreya body, and the Regalia body. I now own Happy Paw's Lynx ears, Sugarcult's Fennex legs just in case, and Cerberus' Kisa head.

It retails for L$599. A bit more than I intended to spend--way more than I intended with all the accessory parts--but...new forms sometimes require sacrifice, don't they?

At least this one did.



And of course, in the center of town...the maw from the deep. Perfect, really.

Dreadmorne runs until...some point?? Finding information on it is very, very thin on the ground right now? But I'll update this when I can.

would you love me more if I killed someone for you?

There are so many things I need to review from Vae Victis, but this, this I had to get out today. Let me show you Aristo's Vow.



I am not going to present the best images, I well know--for that you have to go to Vae Victis' Flickr--but I did want to show off this lovely phial.



There's a gentle movement of the liquid within. Subtle, but it draws the eye.



And then...things got odd. I'd planned on showing off close shots of it, but I also wondered--can one sit and still hold this? The answer is...possibly yes?



But the phial will still float in one's left hand (only rigged for the left-hand hold), perpendicular to the avatar, not the orientation. I went through all the poses on this couch, and all but the last--lying on my stomach, one hand (the left, of course) buried in the cushion--worked. But three of those poses? Horizontal. So...it looks somewhat amusing floating horizontally.



And this last image was my attempt to capture the gentle, roseate glow this gives off--it, also, is extremely subtle in some lights. In this shot, the low, soft glow can *just* be discerned against the background. Still. The holder will know, and properly appreciate.

You can find this, and everything else Vae Victis brought to share, on Tinseled at Shop n' Hop from today on. And the best part? This is Grimoire's gift for the season. How glorious.

Enjoy, delicious friends.

I've been pulling for something different, but the same is all we get

Oh, dear.



I am so not in the right place.

Save that this is Dollholic. In all its pink, pastel, twee glory.



Better.



So this is something the folks behind the Kinky event put together. It runs heavily to 'girly' colors, lingerie, and Asian-influenced makeup sets.



Don't get me wrong, there is nothing here that doesn't fit their particular concept--and there's nothing here that isn't well made, with a good eye for detail. Many of the stores I am not ashamed to say I've shopped at--precisely for this reason, they make lovely lingerie that fits well and looks good.



I just...with the name...expected less....



Pink? I guess? Like, the doll community--even now that I'm largely outside it--is more than just twee babygirls?

But hey, if it works, more power to them, I'm just really not in that demographic.

wanna wrestle with me baby? here's a sneak little peek

It started here:



Now it's here:



I am not sure this is an improvement.

Complaints From Out of Nowhere Department, you're up:

[07:12] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: Belle Epoque is cheating

Pardon?

[07:12] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: They advertise a whole outfit but when you get to the store its liek every individual piece of it is 25L
[07:12] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: So you need 200 to make the outfit and it would be 1 color only
[07:13] mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: welcome to sl.
[07:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yeah, they've done that for a while now. Some of the outfits are gorgeous, though, and worth buying piecemeal.
[07:13] dxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes i knoow
[07:13] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: I wqouldn't want to reqard someone so deceptive

But...it's not deceptive? I'm unsure what your complaint is?

[07:13] Dxxx Txxxx: thats how most stores do it
[07:13] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: I saw a male outfit liek that earlier too
[07:14] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I wouldn't say it's deceptive. That makes it sound like a bait and switch, and that's not what Belle Epoque's doing.
[07:14] mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: boats. boats are still sold in one piece.
[07:14] Dxxx Txxxx: no need to complain just dont buy if u dont wanna
[07:15] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: Its not how most stores do it
[07:15] txxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: smart marketing is not being deceptive imo
[07:15] mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: y'know. for the fatpack, it isn't unreasonable.
[07:15] cxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: On a Lark doesn't do it that way

Actually On a Lark, Kitty Creations, many of the 25L Tuesday stores, do it the same way--they'll either have ten dresses on offer, and you're buying each individual color, or they go Belle Epoque's way--buy the skirt and the top separate, or buy the outfit, and the shoes/hat/purse that goes with them. Happens all the time.

[07:16] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: I think its called bait and switch

It's...really not, though.

[07:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) laughs as she starts running the 25L list, and discovers that was one of the outfits she'd earmarked to check.
[07:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Actually, On a Lark does that all the time--that's common for them to sell a two-piece set with the tops and the skirts separate.
[07:16] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: And I am not complaining, I am reacting to their tactics, and warning others against them

But again, you are complaining, you're not reacting, and your warning is useless, because it's not what they're doing.

[07:17] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: haven't been there

And now on top of everything else, you're complaining about a store you haven't even been to?! Lady, what is WRONG with you??

[07:17] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 25 Linden deals are the best on SL, other than group gifts, so try to just be thankful that the people and stores that run and participate in this group, have such a wonderful sale list each week :)

To be fair, not wrong. How many other stores routinely throw up something they've spent time creating, and mark it for twenty-five Lindens only?

[07:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Okay, so, again, [Zxx-Zxx], the definition of bait and switch is, the ad says come in for this luxury car for a dime, and you get there and the luxury car is one inch long?
[07:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This is not that.
[07:17] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: On a Lark rarely, if ever sell outfits separtly
[07:17] cxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: exactly
[07:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): This is an image of a complete outfit, but it's not listed as this is the outfit you get, all in one
[07:18] Dxxx Txxxx: amen lady
[07:19] Kxxx Fxxxxxxxx: I agree, what ever is in the picture ad should be for that price unless a disclaimer is stated on add.. like pieces sold individually
[07:19] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Are there a lot of different outfit pieces? Yeah, and that is kind of disheartening. But On a Lark does this, Jangka does this, other stores--it happens
[07:19] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: I don't know about lark, but Belle Epoque is definitely trying to sucker people, and no, one bad apple doesn't spoil the barrel, but youshould tell people to watch out for a bad apple

Still wrong. They're not trying to sucker people. They're advertising an outfit.

And I don't remember if I mention this later on, but sometime during this conversation, when I was running the stops, I did go to Belle Epoque. Her conclusion that she'd have to pay L$200 for a single color of one outfit? I don't know where she gets that from, because a) there weren't eight pieces that made up each outfit, I think there were four, and b) the fatpack for all the colors was L$400, so...if each color cost L$200 to buy, that fatpack would have been L$1600.

[07:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, if it's really a deal breaker for you, nothing stops you from *politely* dropping a notecard to the designer. Emphasis on polite.
[07:20] txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i've never seen it at On a Lark and i have most of her cloths

Don't know what to tell you, I see it a lot. And again, On a Lark? Not engaging in a bait and switch when they do list shoes and dress separate, or gloves and gown. It's just business. It's not even deceptive business.

[07:20] jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Or maybe try to get them to say "Each Piece Sold Separately" on their ad, so they're aware the fatpack isa vailable as an option

That is a suggestion she could validly make. Doesn't mean the designer behind Epoque has to listen, but she could--again, *POLITELY*--mention that in a notecard.

[07:20] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sent you some Lindens so you'd have enough to get the outfit, just in case, [lxxxxxx] :)

I wouldn't have, that seems like rewarding her for bad behavior.

[07:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right.
[07:20] Dxxx Txxxx: omg dont buy it if u dont want to
[07:20] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hope everyone has a beautiful day
[07:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): She's done this for a while, but she may not be aware some people would like to know in advance. That's all you need to say.
[07:24] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: I did my part to make people aware

In a really dramatic, overly whiny way. There were better ways even to bring it up here.

[07:24] Axxxx Sxxxx: If something is well made, I am not gonna complain because they are selling the components separately. It's still gonna be a bargain compared to a regular priced item.

And this--because again, four pieces at L$25 each? Versus, say, Moon Elixir, that nearly always has people buy one of up to five pieces to make an outfit, and prices each of those at L$250 or higher? I'd say Epoque's offering an amazing deal.

[07:25] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that makes sense [lxxxxxx]. I was just saying to try to look on the bright side :)
[07:26] Axxxx Sxxxx: There are some creators whose stuff isn't even worth 25L, so I am not going to complain about the people making stuff that is worth buying if they sell it in a couple pieces.
[07:27] Kxxx Fxxxxxxxx: I wish stores would have gift option available on sales items
[07:29] Exxxxxxxx Lxxx: Kitty Creations always has good stuff

And then, for some reason, Ms. C IMed me with the landmark for On a Lark. Which wasn't even the business in question.

[07:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I...know where On a Lark is, but....thanks?
[07:20] cxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh welcome

I have no idea why she sent me that. It was in the 25L Tuesday hud, anyway.

But my main point is--Ms. E was wrong to call it a bait and switch. It wasn't. It's baffling that she thinks that. And just stating baldly that a business is "cheating" in a group where the designers of the stores listed are members of the group--well, that seems a grand way to be banned from the group, or from that store, or both.

it's a fact of life, your final act is gonna need some work

WELL THIS WAS FUN--

[10:46] axxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: how was your day today?
[10:48] axxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh let me run to madpea to get my day gift for valentines before I forget
[10:48] axxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oops sorry wrong chat

Could've been worse.

[10:48] jxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx hugs [Axxx] "haha, you and me both!"
[10:51] Rxxxxxxxx Rxxxx: Good thing I never post in the wrong chat. (Did I say that without blushing?)
[10:52] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: At least it wasn't something 'really special' where you want the ground to swallow you up after :D

Yeah, been there, done that...far too many times.

[10:53] Rxxxxxxxx Rxxxx: oh I like thos better :)
[10:53] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *giggles*
[10:53] Rxxxxxxxx Rxxxx: so we all hold our breath if she would post more :)
[10:53] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: mmhmmm :D
[10:53] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: where's the popcorn? :D
[10:54] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: well puddles, I haven't seen even one heart...lol...my graphics may not be good enough!

During all this, there was a hunt on the sim. It's not relevant other than people occasionally mention it.

. [10:54] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: tho on the other end they turn redder than their hair. Well at least in my case anyway :D
[10:58] jxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: push your glasses up, get on some good shoes and scan around. You know [Ixx] is the Hide and Seek winner of champs by now! =-)
[11:11] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh please .. why can i not enter , i did no harm to any, if i spoke i asked

All well and good, right? Just chatter back and forth. But no, meet Ms. A, who's either extremely argumentative or extremely stupid by nature. I can't figure out which.

[11:11] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i can not enter
[11:12] bxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I would check your script count
[11:12] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i never go into any public chat .. but to ask

I mean...good for you? But really, you should just ask for help from a mod. It's why they're there, or at least, one of the reasons.

[11:12] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: they exist!! I found one!!
[11:12] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no i am a cat .. it am good on that
[11:12] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: gosh
[11:15] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ah lost a letter but well .. if you don't want me there i go to other skin shops .. but refund my member ship please, legally a ban would stilll do that hihi .. i do not get the ban .. i sometimes talks of a board not working but otherwise i never speak out anything lol

Err...no, there you're wrong--if a group charges a fee, you don't get it back, even if you're banned. Which it doesn't sound like you were, anyway?

[11:18] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: u should really check your scriptcount as [bxx] said, if you would be banned you would have gotten a notice about the reason

Ms. D's another mod. She would know.

[11:22] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no i am a cat.. i am like 40k .. it is that i mentioned the board was not working lol .. it did not .. it was just so you knew ... there where more that noticed but i only reported lol

And that can't be it, either, we say that a lot. "[X giveaway thing] is down again." High-traffic sim, it happens. We're then told they're working on it, or they will get to it, or they thank us because they hadn't yet heard, and everyone moves on.

[11:23] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the rendercost is not the scripts
[11:23] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok so how i check that lol
[11:24] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i can see appearance
[11:24] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i never had a problem before
[11:24] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and i did not change my cat

Yeah, but chicklet, you're still missing the point--you haven't BEEN banned.

[11:24] Txxxxxxxx Exxxx: (Axxxxx], check your IMs
[11:25] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol thank you

Okay! You're getting help! Awesome! (She types, knowing what's going to happen.)

[11:25] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i got the message that i got a 2 hour ban .. i don't know why

Here's my other problem with all this: I'm not going to say she's lying, but...I have never heard of this store, or this designer, handing out two hour bans. It's pretty much all or nothing--she works it out with you, or you're gone. No in-between.

[11:26] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but it seems to enter count when i am on
[11:26] Ixxxx Zxxx: we never ban people for a hour or so

And there's confirmation.

[11:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Probably running a high script ratio, then. Which likely comes down to expression control huds, head control hud, tail hud, whatever.
[11:27] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: gosh... if you go off with it .. bless you .. i just go find another skin store that is not this .. pathetic .. cause i still don't know why .. as i never do anythign i just look the boards .. is it cause i don't buy ? i did buy in past lol but sure won't now

"Pathetic". That's...what you're going with? Really?

[11:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Whoa.
[11:27] Axxxxxxxxx Txxxx shakes her head.
[11:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I get you're irked about the ban, but to go from 'why is this happening' to 'pathetic' is a leap, isn't it?
[11:27] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah whaoa indeed , i am banned for some hours for no reason

Missing the point, chicklet.

[11:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Just ask a mod.
[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thanks
[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i did
[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol

So...why aren't you leaving it in their hands?

[11:28] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you was getting already lots of help, we mentioned things and [Lxxx] even wrote your personal.
[11:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Yet, you still said 'pathetic', is the thing.
[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and yes

Was she confirming that she was getting help and still threw a fit in group chat??

[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so i should shut up about it here right ?

Ideally...if you're already working with a mod, keep doing that. Don't complain fruitlessly.

[11:28] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i still don't know why i am banned , i am a cat .. i do no harm to anyone
[11:28] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: would you maybe read your Ims, that was sended to you?

That would be nice, yes.

[11:29] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i read them [Dxxxxx]
[11:29] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank you
[11:29] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol

Really? Doesn't sound like it. Or do you mean, 'Why yes, I read them, but I didn't reply to them, because I'm an idiot'? Because that is also what it sounds like.

[11:29] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: banned is different that ejected

Usually, but I'm still wondering where that 'You've been banned for two hours' thing came from. This store doesn't do that. This maker doesn't do that. So where was she seeing that?

[11:29] Qxxx Bxxxxx: it won't get you anywhere so I'd shut up before you DO get banned.

And she really should have taken this advice...

[11:30] Ixxxx Zxxx: we did NOT ban you

And now you snagged the attention of the skin designer. Go you.

[11:30] Ixxxx Zxxx: we NEVER ban people for a hour or so
[11:30] Ixxxx Zxxx: we ban or dont ban
[11:30] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oooof. Please, [Axxxxx], for the love of all gods, breathe and read your IMs.
[11:31] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: i would think 'ban' would include being unable to chat in group?

Actually, you'd like to think that, but until that person relogs or closes the group chat window, they have access. It's a glitch that's never been fixed.

[11:31] Ixxxx Zxxx: so something must be going on thats not as it should be
[11:31] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i just asked and get banned .. woow what a business
[11:31] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thanks all

Which is not what's going on, you absolute unseasoned chicken wing. Pause in the outrage for five seconds and turn your brain on.

[11:31] Ixxxx Zxxx: anyways... drop it in the chat and IM one of the staff plz
[11:31] Axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i hope you have a bliss about it then it has some course lol
[11:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): If it were a permanent ban--which is all I've heard [Ixxxx] do--likely, yes. And she's still in the group, so....
[11:31] Ixxxx Zxxx: lets find out what happend
[11:31] Cxxxxxx Cxxxx: over scripted?
[11:31] Txxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: they haven't banned you
[11:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Exactly.

In my defense--in everyones' defense--we were trying to help, we were just typing fast, so it hadn't registered the group owner had said to stop. Our bad.

[11:32] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: its nice nice to insult people that try to help in IM, just saying .-=)
[11:32] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Mmhmm.
[11:32] Oxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: she doesn't want help, she wants to be a troll
[11:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Don't make it worse, [Oxxxx], please.
[11:33] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: please .. i see she only asked
[11:33] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what are you guys doing
[11:33] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: girls .. or whatever
[11:33] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: laughs
[11:33] Ixxxx Zxxx: and now she IS banned

And it was entirely her fault she GOT banned.

[11:33] Ixxxx Zxxx: lets change the toppic

And that really should've been it.

[11:34] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so has anyone having a good day?
[11:34] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: gads...still only one heart!! [Ixxxx] you are a good GOOD hider!!!
[11:34] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: woow .. i just saw a questions and you ban for that ?

Oh, good gods, don't YOU start!

[11:34] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: She did not just ask, you didnt readed my Im.-)
[11:34] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not a shopt to be int lololol

Whatever shred of sympathy I had for you, chicklet, is now gone.

[11:34] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: an alt ..how boring.
[11:34] Ixxxx Zxxx: how is the hunt going sinners?
[11:34] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: she did ask and i am sure in the im she asked more
[11:34] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: do you treat customers that way ?

I don't...just make it stop.

[11:34] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: I've found one [Ixxxx]!!!
[11:34] Qxxx Bxxxxx: ...hunt?
[11:34] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well i for ONE love [the store]
[11:34] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: only one! lol
[11:34] Ixxxx Zxxx: yay!
[11:34] _Pxxx Lxxxxxxx: Hi all has the hunt started yet?
[11:35] Ixxxx Zxxx: i know its a hard hunt
[11:35] Nxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxx: Yay a new hunt!!!
[11:35] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: you hide too well!!!

She does. She's been in Twisted too long.

[11:35] Ixxxx Zxxx: but... worth it
[11:35] nxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and i love looking at all the beautiful skins...great job!
[11:35] Ixxxx Zxxx: hehehe
[11:35] Axxxxxxxxxx Txxxx: well i love the one I found lol...but [Izara] you are makin my eyes bleeeed from lookin! lmao
[11:35] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: woow .. i am going to log too cause this does upset me ... this is not a shop it is a culture .. it is like you do as we want you to and you are fine kinda thing , right ?
[11:35] exxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh gosh logg off ff time

Please kill this alt's access too.

After that, things settled down, but sheesh, people. Catch a clue. You have a problem, talk to the designer, the land owner, whatever. If you can't reach them, and you're still in their group, talk to a mod. If that fails, ask--RESPECTFULLY--in group chat. How is this hard?

so if I decide to waive my chance to be one of the hive

This one's...odd. I've anonymized both people and group, though I was tempted not to, because it was all tied up in what was happening in this group, but...what if this kind of thing is happening in other groups, too? So covering it on the 'for what it's worth' terrain, because while I've never run across this oddity, maybe others have?

[11:32] Mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hi! I'm new to the group. Are all items listed in the notecard 69L?
[11:32] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: WTF!!!!!!
[11:33] Pxxxxxx Cxx: holy overreaction, Batman!
[11:33] rxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: llmao
[11:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Really. And yeah, they should be.
[11:33] Mxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm at Lepunk and the face wounds are.....never mind. It's coming as 69L now. haha

So, all's well that ends well, right? Question asked and answered, we can all move on...but while the question was being answered, I went to pull up the group profile to nab the notecard. And...couldn't.

[11:34] gxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i cant get the notice
[11:37] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh...that's....interesting. I didn't see the group info icon on this chat, so went to my groups...not in the group, when I used to be....so started pulling names randomly from this chat...and none of the people in this chat so far has the group visible, at least? Now I'm intrigued.
[11:38] gxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hmm thats weird i used to be in the group aswell did the group went pooooof?
[11:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And...the group's not findable in search?
[11:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): HOW WAS THIS GROUP CHAT STARTED??

Reasonable question, right? I didn't have the group anymore. Why not? I hadn't left it. Why was it gone?

[11:38] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: im confused about what group :O
[11:38] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and i am not in the group

And that's another whole question, isn't it? Why is she getting a group chat popping up from a group she doesn't even belong to?

[11:38] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): The {name of group in question}
[11:39] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ah
[11:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Are you not in that group either?
[11:39] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: nope left recently
[11:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I am so confused
[11:39] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lmao
[11:39] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ghostgroup

No lie.

[11:39] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: l.O
[11:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) hums the Twilight Zone theme
[11:39] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: run ghostsss
[11:40] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: {group link, which I couldn't find, but go her for doing it}
[11:41] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: weird :O
[11:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, I was able to join that, but I was a member before...

Because it was a group that had brought me some nifty items on sale, I wanted to stay in it. But then, I never left in the first place...

[11:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I'm with [Mxxxxxxx], WTF?
[11:42] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: {group link posted again}
[11:42] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: seraphim had group link l.O
[11:43] Sxxxxx Cxxxxxx: [sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx] NoSpam please
[11:43] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oops
[11:43] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but it was no group here O.O
[11:43] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: strange
[11:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I don't think it's spam, [Sxxxxx], I think it's honest confusion

What exactly was "spam" in any of the above, anyway? That's also confusing.

[11:44] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I got a conference chat here itm
[11:44] Sxxxxx Cxxxxxx: To see the group on your profile, you just have to go to the group information and check the box that says "show it on my profile"
[11:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Right....and I didn't have it
[11:44] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And I hadn't left it
[11:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): That's the question

I still think it's a valid question.

[11:45] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 'i am not in the group at the moment, [Sxxxxx]
[11:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) points at [Sxxx]
[11:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And that's the question, too

Because if neither she nor I were in the group, how did we get pulled into the group chat?

[11:45] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: spooky

Very.

[11:45] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: O.O
[11:46] Sxxxxx Cxxxxxx: maybe you left the group, but the chat was already open :P [11:46] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): See, and no

Because, while that is something that can happen--you can leave a group, or be bounced from a group, but if the group chat's still open, it won't close unless you close it, or relog. That's a known fact. But that's not what happened here. I thought I was in the group, but for whatever reason, I was removed, and I wasn't the only one.

[11:46] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ehm i am online since a few minutes
[11:46] Sxxxxx Cxxxxxx: if you need : {posted sale group UUID again}
[11:47] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thankies
[11:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Chat opened, I didn't have the group info icon
[11:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I don't have it now, btw, in this chat
[11:47] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the icon is green
[11:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I went to my groups to click info to get it, didn't have the group
[11:47] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I went looking for the group in search, didn't turn up
[11:47] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: spooky green O.O
[11:48] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And some in this chat are saying they're not in the group at all
[11:48] sxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: are you all real?
[11:48] Axxxxx Rxxxxxxx: O.O green omnimous
[11:48] Uxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we is all bots
[11:48] cxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm also not finding the group in my group list. I know I was once, but not now

Which means at least three of us had been in the group, and weren't afterwards, and one was never in the group at all, so...what's going on?

[11:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So, y'know, if you have any answers, [Sxxxxx], be great to hear them, otherwise, we're just trying to figure things out
[11:49] Sxxxxx Cxxxxxx: maybe lag, or maybe SL issues. maybe everything is fixed with a relog
[11:49] Pxxxxxx Cxx: can we fix 2020 with a relog?
[11:49] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Don't I wish

So ultimately, no resolution, no answers, just--"Relog, it'll be better then"? That doesn't answer anything. I'm still confused as to what happened. And why.

for every market, a sub-market grows

Would this be "Here we go again" part two? Man, this guy whines a lot.

[21:36] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hey this Stay sexy event.... where is the stuff for guys? We like to freaking be sexy as well..... SL is so sexiest when it comes to shopping. smirks

Meet our whining man-child protagonist.

[21:36] sxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeh right. u gonna have to design & build some
[21:37] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok i will
[21:37] Sxxxxxxxxxx Fxxxxx: what ? an Event ? what have I missed :)
[21:37] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: some sexytime event

It's actually the Stay Sexy event, part of the Redeux line of semi-monthly sales events, and yes, it is substantially weighted for women, but there are some male items there too. Also, it's more modern, so complaining (as he does below) on wanting more "Viking Norse" stuff? Dude, it's not going to happen at this event. Get over it already. There are other themed medieval events coming up.

[21:37] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: design and build, im learning blender now
[21:37] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[21:40] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: most male stuff you have to want to look like a college dude with a man bun.... or stuff that makes you like your in a Justin Beiber biker club
[21:41] sxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Me want Viking Norse stuff!
[21:41] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: awwwww nobodys perfect their buddy

"There", but yeah.

[21:49] Emilly Orr: Y'know...if you're going to keep complaining, [Dxxxx], at least change it up now and again. You've been saying the same things, over and over, for months now.
[21:49] Emilly Orr: There's no guy stuff on the list, no, there is, but only soyboys in man buns would want them, no, I actually own everything on the list, why won't people make new things?
[21:49] Emilly Orr: Come on now.

I really doubt he'll respond, but honestly, I'm so sick of his attitude. It's a group for extraordinarily discounted weekly sales items. You want more guy stuff? Talk to the merchants. You want stuff they're not making? Talk to people who know Blender. Or here's a revolutionary idea, GO EXPLORE DIFFERENT STORES. Yeesh.

if I could live my life half as worthlessly as you, I'm convinced that I'd wind up burning too

I walked in on something odd. First, the notice that was sent from a skin maker:

Dear Male customers,

You are about 10% of my male customers.

I think she means 'total customers', here. Apparently she'd received some complaints, though.

This means i can not spend equal time on products
and gifts for you guys because i spend the 90% time on the female customers.

And honestly, that's fair. More women on the grid = more women buying skins. It's simple math. Do the guys wish they had more variety? Absolutely. Do I and other women try to help where we can to get the word out about good male skins, mesh bodies, attire? Absolutely. But the facts are, they will never get the market share that women do.

- Each month you get a group gift,
- Each hunt you get gifts
- There is a male mini Mania board
- There is a male Lucky board.
- Then there is Fathers day as well
- And sometimes camping chairs.

In addition to the lucky boards, she's put out lucky chairs on occasion, and nearly every Yule gift she gives out has both female and male skins and/or shapes.

I would say thats a lot of gift!

I would agree.

So please do NOT complain that the female customers get READ NC

And again, I think she meant either "more" at the end of that, or had intended to include a more detailed notecard. Not sure; no notecard was attached.

But on the heels of that, this conversation:

[11:06] txxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Ixx] you always were so very good to the guys in your group - thank you
[11:06] mxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Some guys just don't appreciate it.
[11:06] Axxx Axxxx: Guys and girls...she's fantastic....if one doesn't like what a shop has to offer...simply leave

I'm not saying that if there's a serious issue, people not inform the maker, but do it politely, do it respectfully, and do it privately. That's all.

[11:06] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: There's actually men complaining? Geez...
[11:07] Bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I read this in so many groups from men. What you wrote is well put
[11:07] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: [Ixx], I am sorry, but is there a newskin for men coming out soon?

And that's different than complaining. That's a request. That's asking for information.

[11:07] Jxx Nxxxxxxxx: complaining about free things?
[11:07] Txxxxxxxx Exxxx: ♥♥♥ [Ixx] is good to all her customers, she always has been
[11:07] Cxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: Just my opinion but anyone who whines about not getting a gift doesn't DESERVE one!
[11:09] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: and of the stated 90%, wonder what the per centage of that is MEN who play a female ava cause there is not as much selection for them as a alady, which is a creators thins

Ms. A, I don't think there's a single male on the grid who's playing a female because they couldn't find a good male outfit. There are a lot of reasons men play women in games, everything from they like the way women look to they want to try the gender out...but not finding a proper skin or suit? Is not one of them.

[11:09] Bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Axxxxxxxx] wrote what I was thinking lolol

Then you're wrong too.

[11:10] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: people are coming down on a persons opinon, but lets face it, 80% of the store is dedicated to ladies, men get 1 MM board to how many for ladies?

Well, let's break this down, Ms. A. I can't speak for every skin shop, I'm only in two groups for skin designers. But at least this one, before the store reconstruction, she had three lucky chairs, one MM board, and one gift board for men, and the same for women. And the womens' board usually locked; the mens' board rarely did. So where were all the men clamoring for skin gifts then? If they couldn't consistently lock a single MM board more than three or four times a month? Were they really that big a percentage of the group?

[11:11] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: the ladies got a stay home skin, men didnt, what about a man who might have wonted one?

You want this to be your rallying cry, Ms. A, talk to the Stay at Home group. Talk to male skin designers. Ask them if they'd offer a skin for free through that group. But don't complain here, when male gifts are offered.

[11:11] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: that was the point
[11:11] Exxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: What did i log in to?
[11:12] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: they werent complaining about the gifts, just expressing their opinion, that is all
[11:12] cxxxxxxx Cxxxx: I left an hour ago...... why is this still a topic?

And that's a damned good point. I only caught the tail end of this, then, but if it's been discussed for over an hour...that's not constructive at this point.

[11:12] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: as i am
[11:12] Bxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Guess that should get taken up with Stay at Home, I don't know
[11:12] Axxx Axxxx: Like any other product, it will get developed when the demand for it is worth the investment of time...that was the point of her Notice, and it only makes economic sense...
[11:12] Ixxxx Zxxx: this is a business! NOT a freebee market
[11:12] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: but it is the indivisual creators that are producing for the stayat home thing. That is where there needsd to be an empahsis

I'm...going to assume that the "individual" and "emphasis" you meant up there, Ms. A, were because you're typing at speed, not that you're just unable to spell...but it doesn't help your point.

[11:13] Cxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: Good lord! The creator is not required to make ANY gifts! Men get a much fairer shake at [this shop] than most other places in my opinion...
[11:13] Pxxx Fxxxxx: Angelique, gifts are given voluntarily and is an option a designer chooses to give. It's not an opinion when someone says there's not enough gifts... that's just plain rude.
[11:13] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: And i know loads of men who BUY you product

Okay, so maybe it's not just typing at speed.

[11:13] Ixxxx Zxxx: i advise you now to drop the matter
[11:13] Exxxxxx Dxxxxxxx hands [Ixxxx], [Pxxx] and [Lxxx] a coffee along with some headache medicine
[11:13] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: ok, I am OUT, enjoy your business with out me
[11:13] cxxxxxxx Cxxxx: thank you!
[11:13] Axxxxxxxx Txxxxxxx: you want to kick me, refund me my join fee and i will leave

You know that's not how it works. You pay a fee to get in, you don't get it returned when you leave. When Frank's Place was planning on closing, there were people in that group, too, who wanted their join fees returned. They didn't get them, either.

[11:14] Ixxxx Zxxx: its a simple matematic

"Mathematic", but yeah, it is.

[11:14] FAxxx Axxxx: good riddance I say...if you don't understand a business, you shouldn't be in chat complaining about it...
[11:14] Ixxxx Zxxx: 90% female / 10 % male
[11:14] Lxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx: ho lords
[11:14] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Part of that 90/10% split is probably because the men don't change their skins anywhere near as frequently

And, at least from what I've seen, that's true. Up until this latest job, granted, I was unusual even among females in that I'd change skins--and species--easily twice a day. But most women have a selection of skins they rely on, different looks, different markings, different hair colors, whatever. And most men, at least the ones I've met--they find a look and that's it, until they change. (And most change when they decide they want to upgrade to mesh, and then they keep that look until the next new advancement.)

[11:14] Axxx Axxxx: that's really pathetic [Axxxxxxxx]...oh poor me, I hate what you're doing..I'm going to leave and take allll of my business with me...but only if you refund my group fee...wow...

Yeah, the dramatic flounce is never a good look, but that one especially--spitefully stating you're leaving, AND demanding the join fee back? As if the mere fact that one person leaves is going to completely cave in a designer's resolve? Any designer, even. Or writer, artist, musician, politician....Strength in numbers works in SL, too, but one single voice in the wilderness, in general, won't change minds.

[11:15] dxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I know I don't
[11:15] Exxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: group join fees are non-refundable
[11:15] bxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: im greatful for what skins [the store] does for men and the gifts, so basicly if your not happy with what [Ixx] does then leave. she can say enough is enough and stop the gifts all together
[11:16] Pxxx Fxxxxx: Ixx doesn't have to explain her reasoning for what gifts, or how many gifts she gives. To complain about it and saying it's an opinion is just plain rude. Also there's no refund for join fee. No one forced you to join, but you also chose to break the group rules or you choose to leave on your own will.
[11:16] Dxx Hxx: 10% or not, I appreciate everything you do to support your male customers, thanks [Ixxxx].

It's good to know that at least some of the men in the group support this designer.

[11:17] Axxx Axxxx: It's truly unbelievable....the monthly gifts...the MM boards....the hunts....the Advent Calendar...the "Pick" gifts...I don't know anyone who is as generous and one could join the group and never have to buy a skin again...yet still complainers...Thanks [Ixxxx], you're fantastic, just ignore the whiny people.
[11:19] Cxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxx: I second what you said [Fxxxx]!
[11:20] Jxx Nxxxxxxxx: exactly [Fxxxx] and [Cxxxxxxxx], I third it!
[11:20] Txxxxxxxx Exxxx: I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supports this store and [Ixx]....you all make it worth it, especially when you stand up for against this petty crap. We love you all ♥♥♥
[11:21] Ixxxx Zxxx: 💗 [Fxxxx]
[11:21] Axxx Axxxx: That said...I have a complaint.............joking...just joking!!
[11:22] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx puts cookies in chat and puts a bottle of Xanax in the chat too for the complainers.
[11:23] Txxxxxxxx Exxxx steals the xanax
[11:23] Dxx Hxx: haha xanax, make it chloroform, I'll park the van around the back and you wont have to hear anything from them ever again

Sure, that's an option too.

But seriously, this is a complaint I've heard over and over again on SL. And while I do understand, believe me, it comes down to finances, frankly. Want more diverse male clothing? Encourage makers to make it (and NOT by complaining). Make it yourselves (a lot of fashion houses on the grid started because they couldn't find what they wanted most). Offer praise for the good things that are on the grid.

But don't just complain. Criticism is not complaint, it can be constructive, it can, if nothing else, tell a designer what's wanted, what's desired, at the present time. But just complaining without that constructive element? It's just irritating.

dyin' in the city like a fire on the water

Before everything, I've made a few more additions, and one subtraction, to the side bar. I'm removing the CDC banner from the sidebar. Normally, I'd be all for supporting their efforts, but their current boss is...not on our side.

So especially right now, when the US is leading the world in deaths (not a number one achievement we EVER wanted), I want to provide links for charities that are actually trying to save people.

Now then. Welcome to Badly Translated Theatre, only for once it's on his end, not mine:

[11:35] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hi

Gad, the dreaded "hi". But okay, I'll bite, what do you want?

[11:35] Emilly Orr: Hello
[11:36] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what is this server about?
[11:36] Emilly Orr: This event, you mean? Or Second Life as a whole?
[11:37] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this event itself
[11:37] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm new to second life

[11:38] Emilly Orr: Well, there are several shopping events during the year. This one is geared towards more Asian clothing, decor, hair, et cetera. With a slight aside for cyberpunk this time around.
[11:40] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I see, could you tell me what second life is about ?, I do not recognize who is bot and who is person

This is still a bigger problem online than in RL, but I'm sure we'll get there.

[11:41] Emilly Orr: It is a bit trickier since animesh, because some of the NPC builds can be named, and move like actual people.
[11:41] Emilly Orr: But in general, bots will have limited speech options, usually just a greeting.

Now, this is not always the case, to be fair. Some can actually answer questions, the ones that run with Alice or similar learning-AI software. This is still not widespread in SL, however.

[11:43] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: So, from what I see, you are not a bot xd
[11:44] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and what is the fun here in second life ?, I would like to know your opinion
[11:44] Emilly Orr: Nooo, definitely not. Lagging a bit, because of the scripting, but not a bot.
[11:45] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: jajajajaj
[11:45] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol

[11:59] Emilly Orr: Grr. Event crashed me. But to answer your question, it really depends what you're into.
[12:01] Emilly Orr: Like to read? Reading groups and libraries exist here. Like to build? There are places to learn how and stores to sell you mesh parts or textures if you don't know how to do that. Into fashion? INNUMERABLE stores for that. The Adult stuff? There's a whole continent on that, plus various businesses scattered around. Into roleplay? Name your flavor, there's probably a sim for it.

And I didn't cover half the things possible here--sailing, fishing, swimming, hunting, exploring of all flavors. Getting married and having a family. There are sims and centers for nearly all forms of faith, there's a few different ways to be a vampire or a shapeshifter, there's learning languages, or even the language SL runs on, for scripting. Dances. Race tracks. Weddings. Equestrian sims. Airports and flying machines, from sleekly modern craft to spaceships to ornately Victorian airships and blimps. Funerals. Executions. Train stations. Birth centers. Diagnostic centers to train RL doctors in various things. There are military sims (though usually without open public access), college campuses, full-scale businesses, art galleries.

And I'm still not listing everything.

[12:04] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I understand, thank you very much for supporting me: D
[12:05] Emilly Orr: Oh, sure!
[12:07] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: How am I noob on this, could it be added? as a friend so I can challenge if I have doubts

I...think he means "ask questions", here?

[12:09] Emilly Orr: Well, you could, but in general, I like to get to know people first, before I friend them. Most of my contacts are business.

Now, this may change as we see how the pandemic plays out. Already the business I'm in has seen a drop grid-wide, because so many people are out of work, and let's be fair here, most businesses in SL can be classified broadly as luxuries. RL is more important, always, and putting food on the table, keeping roofs over heads that need shelter, the ability to survive--these things are more important than a game.

Even a game like Second Life, which is played with real hearts and minds. So I may look into diversifying, getting back into creating frocks and home decor. It's at least something else to do.

[12:11] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I do not think we can meet, I am in Chile. Anyway I understand what you told me
[12:12] Emilly Orr: Ah, you misunderstand. I meant in-world business. I work in world.
[12:15] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: xd yes I understood, but I do not think I have a relationship with your contacts.
[12:16] Emilly Orr: Well, that's entirely up to you.

If he doesn't get what I mean, I am not explaining to a two-day-old the intricacies of virtual bordellos, he'll just have to learn on his own.

[12:18] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: How does it depend on me?
[12:18] Emilly Orr: Well, remember what I said, it's all in what you want?
[12:19] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes obviously, but then ...
[12:20] Emilly Orr: It's all right.

Because I meant that, I was seriously not explaining things if he didn't get it.

[12:25] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and what do you do to have fun here?
[12:26] Emilly Orr: I shop. I wander. I work. I go to events, and the occasional cultural showing (art or dance, usually)
[12:28] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh great and have you ever been to electronic music festivals?
[12:28] Emilly Orr: A few, yes. Other music styles, too. And they have a virtual Burn every year.
[12:30] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: How great, what a shame that around here there is not much of that. I plan in the future to go to work in America or Europe
[12:35] Emilly Orr: Sounds interesting.

I mean, I wouldn't, we've been in a chaotic death spiral for the last three years, which the pandemic has thrown into sharp relief. But, if things ever level out, sure, we could be a positive destination again.

[12:38] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes. Somewhere they recommend, that is fun for the second life.
[12:38] Emilly Orr: Well, and again, what do you want to do here? The options are pretty varied.
[12:41] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the truth would just like to socialize.
[12:43] Emilly Orr: Several ways to do that. RP if you're into characters--fantasy, survival horror, historical for examples. Or take the standard entrance, music clubs and bars. Pick what you want to listen to, type that into SL Search, or just type 'music' in general, and see what comes up.
[12:45] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok, thanks
[12:45] Emilly Orr: Happy to help.
[12:49] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok then i withdraw. Thanks again for your help. I really wish we could be friends. What do you say?

Man, he's persistent.

[12:51] Emilly Orr: Well, I mean, I can, but you're likely not going to hear much from me unless you're a personal, close friend--which you're not--or a client--which doesn't seem likely, but anything's possible.
[12:55] lxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It doesn't matter, you don't have any friends out of nowhere, right? xd when I connect I will bother you a little so as not to lose contact.

I'm too much of a soft touch. He's two days old, he's not going to pay for my time, and he's not someone I like enough to spend personal time with, so...why am I bothering? Who knows? Maybe because he just seemed so damned earnest.

But we'll see how it goes.

feels like we're dreaming, we're tripping and reeling

You ever talk with someone, and you're pretty sure you're both speaking the same language, but there's a translation failure on at least one side? Or at least a failure to comprehend?

[10:26] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: hi. i bought some [store name] skins some time last year for 100L. are those still available? if so, where? im at the mainstore now, and im looking for the [specific] skin, but cant seem to find it here. if its not here, is it still available to get somewhere?

So the lynchpin of this whole conversation is, it's Aprille now. Back in January, this skin store had a huge retirement sale, because they were rebranding. So everything under the old name was deeply discounted, and not moved over when the store changed names, store styles, and sims. (To that end, yeah, I'm wondering what store she's standing in, too, because...the designer DID change sims, too.)

[10:27] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the [store name] skins were retired
[10:27] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: Nope, they were all put away when the [new store name] build moved on Jan 1st, if super lucky and polite, if you leave [the skin maker] a Notecard she might be able to help
[10:27] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what? how long time ago is that?
[10:28] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oh... i havent been able to be online due to private issues :/
[10:30] Emilly Orr: Which is a shame, but yeah, sale's long over. So your best bet is to ask the maker. She might still have them in inventory.

Because she seemed to have blown right by the first suggestion to ask the maker directly.

[10:32] mxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: they retired around Feb I think or Jan
[10:32] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i do hope that. because [specific skin name] is too light and [specific other skin name] is too dark. and since i need to save my lil over 8.300L for 2 months.. well i need to cheap but yet good looking skins for my catwa/belleza

Right, but...does she not get we're not the people to ask?

[10:34] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: cheap = below 400L for head/body appliers and with no-brows option incl with the price

And while it's definitely tricky to find skins with appliers for L$400 or below, it's not impossible.

[10:40] Emilly Orr: Right...and...while that's a great budgeting measure, the skins are still not in the store. Notecard. [The designer].
[10:41] Sxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: Ya, she sent out multiple notices about skins retiring, and left the store up for a few months.

She did. It was a several-month-long sale, which started, I believe, around October and went until the end of January.

[10:46] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yesterday it was the 1st time i was able to come online in 2020 due to private life
[10:46] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so i really had no clues about anything in sl since dec 2019 :/
[10:46] Emilly Orr: We get it. It's hard. Pull the group profile up, you'll see [the designer]'s name, click that, write out a notecard with what you'd like, send it to her.

I mean, am I not being clear?

[10:46] Ixxxxx Bxxxxxx: [The designer] helped someone get an old matching [store name] skin for her alt last week, she's a pretty nice person if you ask nicely and explain
[10:47] Emilly Orr: Exactly.

I think she finally got it after that, because chat turned to more normal things for a skin store, and life went on. But sheesh.

we've tried the goodbye so many days

I...I can't even.



First line on her profile?

I am a redeemed child of the one and only living God and driven by my Christian faith.

I just can't.

From another random profile:

- I started putting in the same effort reaching out to you that you have to me. This is why we don't talk anymore.

That's fair in a lot of cases. I know people who unfriend when those friends stop initiating contact. For me, there are scores of people on my friendslist that are there because I used to talk to them. I'm the one not good at reaching out in many cases.

- Always beware of the fox being in charge of the hen house.

I get what they mean, but in a lot of ways, this is needlessly obscure. Just state it outright.

- If your presence can't add value to my life, your absence will make no difference.

See first point.

- When someone shows interest and passion for you and it suddenly disappears, they've already moved to their next victim.

A reference to the fox again.

- Someone's true colors will come out when you need them most and have nothing to offer in return.

Oh, always. A very old bumper from MTV once said, "If you truly want to know someone, and you don't have a lot of time, throw a glass of milk in their face." Because by doing that, you'll figure out how they deal with anger, hurt and shock all at once. It's valuable information in under a minute, if you really need it.

- Someone who has to be owned and controlled by another will never be loved.

Again, I know what they mean, but...obviously, I don't always agree. On the other hand, it's my choice to be owned. I know the parameters of that ownership. I accept the good--and the bad--within those parameters. And if I ever choose to walk away, I can do that too.

Not that I'd want to, but I am still an adult with choices. Choices I take responsibility for, choices I share responsibility for with another person. D/s, in this sense, is very symbiotic--both partners in the arrangement supporting each other.

Or at least, it should be. If one is owned in this sense, and it's only one way, that's not chosen, that's not submission under domination, that's just abuse.

- Love always takes time. You can't learn about somoene in an hour.

"Someone", and of course we can't. Second Life at large, though, falls into this trap quite often. I've told people in the past that SL is life in the spin cycle. People fall in love in an hour, marry over a weekend, divorce after two weeks. Every experience is more intense, more emotionally vital, and more emotionally devastating when it ends.

And I don't think, largely, that will change, because I see the same patterns of behavior in people who've been on the grid for a decade, that I see in people that just joined the grid. It's easy to be attracted to someone. It's easy to experience that first rush of infatuation. So of course it's as easy to get married, move in together, and, when something occurs that explodes that perceived level of connection and understanding, to storm off, unpartner, and move out.



In other news, running the advents again, I came across this lass. And I swear, when I first saw her, all I could think of was The Handmaid's Tale. I thought it was a scarily bold move to walk around in that particular attire. What a statement she was making.


That's when I realized no, it's just a holiday-red cloak and a white bonnet. Oh. I thought it made a bigger impact when I viewed it as political protest, but there you go. It's just fashion.

'cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more

Running the advents a couple days back, and I ran across this lass. Lady, that can't be good for your skin. Or your health. It's cold out.



I'd bring up the baby hands deal, but I'm more worried she's going to get frostbite on her tender bits.



Also, how does she walk in those?

People and their hobbies...she did have one good quote in her profile, though.

"If you're in a relationship and all you do is cry every day, you need to stop and ask yourself, am I dating a human or an onion?"
~Jessica Kate Plummer

It's a good question.

In other wanderings, I came across this spraddle-hipped individual:



Hoo, boy. So on the plus side, she didn't seem to complete the look with the pouty fish lips and the narrow eyes that was mysteriously so popular a few years back, but...the hips are still wrong. No woman, who is not anorexic, on the planet, has a thigh gap like this. Because human legs are not square. They're curved. Even with those individuals thin enough so that one can see scenery behind them through those legs, there are still curves. Perceive:



A reasonably fit model on a tropical beach somewhere. Note the curves.



A (very) young model, in a portfolio shot. She does seem to have a fairly rectangular gap, but note that that is in clothes. It can clearly be seen that without them (and even in those pants, this can clearly be seen), she would also have curves, just less of them.



An anorexic patient (note presence of hospital bed, those terrifyingly protruding hip bones, and the fact that her inner knees have been bandaged because the bones rubbing under such thin, fragile skin was causing damage). This is the closest we will ever see to the once oft-imitated rectangular thigh gap in Second Life, only...this is on a real person. A real, very unhealthy person. And even she still has (limited) perceivable curves, because humans are designed with padding. And even starving ourselves down to non-viability will only reduce that padding so much.



From the back it's not as bad, at least at certain angles. But again, it's such a weird shape to go for--I'm truly glad she didn't go for the upsetting pouty face, but this combination of extraordinary curves and that thigh gap is just so unnatural that it stands out, jarringly, every time.

on the rooftops they dance, Valentino-type tangos

There is good and bad news in this.

After meeting someone with an Altamura head (which I mistook for Akeruka), I joined the Akeruka group. I demoed a few heads with my usual tragic failure rate. Then I drifted over to Valentina.

This is Valentina after the base shape tweaking:



This is my normal system look:



That's...really close. Like, the closest I've come with any mesh head in three years of searching. And it's on sale...for another day.

The bad news? Akeruka only accepts Omega appliers, I believe. But that's not the big problem. The big problem? I don't have L$1,750 to buy it.

In the end, honestly, I don't care how much I pay for a mesh head--honestly, I'll put things aside and save for it, even though I'm tragically inept with personal finances. I care about how much it looks like the me in my head--the system me. So while yes, the price tag is a sticking point, it is something to keep in mind.

But that price tag. So, the search goes on.

In the meantime, Schadenfreude is showing this off at the SaNaRae event:



I showed this to an actually Jewish friend. I didn't think it was amazingly accurate, but I was amused about holiday tentacles. He said he would have wanted a better place for the shamash, and I agree--it's pretty much just plunked on top of the creature's noggin.

But come on, nine different metals, sixteen different candle color options, all for L$175? I think a little historical inaccuracy can be allowed.

moving on up and forward onto all that will become

Out of the blue, wandering the Erratic Black Friday sale, I got an offer to friend someone. The greeting sent with it was in French and I didn't save it, I just pulled the profile. One day old. Yeepers.

So the next step was figuring out why:

[11:25] Emilly Orr: Do I know you from somewhere?
[11:25] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: salut (Hello)
[11:26] Emilly Orr: Hi. Do I know you? I tend to friend only people I already know, or who are interested in my work.
[11:28] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: j ai pas compris le concept de jeux (I did not understand the concept of games)
[11:32] Emilly Orr: j ai pas compris le concept de jeux?
[11:32] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oui

Okay, off to Google Translate it is!

[11:33] Emilly Orr: Tous le jeux ou juste Second Life? (All the games, or just Second Life?)
[11:34] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: just secon life
[11:35] Emilly Orr: Pensez-y comme à un simulateur de vie. (Think of it as a life simulator.)
[11:35] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ah ok
[11:35] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: merci en tout cas (Thank you anyway)
[11:36] Emilly Orr: Vous pouvez tomber amoureux, vous pouvez trouver un emploi, vous pouvez construire des choses à vendre. (You can fall in love, you can find a job, you can build things to sell.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for Google Translate, but one must keep things fairly simple to get the point across.

[11:36] Emilly Orr: C'est moins un jeu avec des niveaux et des points, car c'est juste ... une autre vie. (It's less a game with levels and points, as it is just...another life.)
[11:36] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: et j ai pas de maison (and I do not have a house)

Oof. You're really straining the coherency of my ability to translate the words. Which, by the way, regarding French, and several other languages, I just don't have. A few words here and there is about as fluent as I get.

[11:38] Emilly Orr: Vous pouvez en trouver sur le marché, gratuitement ou gratuitement, et vous pouvez louer un terrain pour le mettre en vente. Ou achetez un compte premium, qui vient avec une maison. (You can find cheap or free ones on the Marketplace, and you can rent land to put it on. Or buy a premium account, that comes with a house.)
[11:39] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok
[11:44] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: et toi tu as acheter quoi a ton debut (and you bought what you started)

Uhh...was she talking about Lindens? I wasn't sure, but I assumed she was talking about Lindens.

[11:45] Emilly Orr: Vous pouvez obtenir un compte premium à tout moment. Vous pouvez acheter des Lindens à tout moment, par le biais du site Web ou du navigateur. (You can get a premium account at any time. You can buy Lindens at any time, through the website, or through the browser.)
[11:48] axxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok

And that seemed to be that. I moved on, she stopped talking, I declined her offer of friendship, but it was puzzling. Did she just hit the wrong key? Did she think friending people is how you ask questions? The Lindens really need to bring back Orientation Islands in some form, there's just zero instruction on what to do with Second Life before they're shotput onto the grid.

And a bigger question is, if she doesn't know what Second Life is, why is she here? Why'd she make an account in the first place? Seriously? It's not like Overwatch or World of Warcraft, there are no points, there are no levels, there are no quests--at least, within the main grid, there are countless mini-games people have come up with to entertain themselves. But Second Life itself? As I said, it's more a life simulator than anything. At its basest level, it's a 3D chatroom.

So why did she make an account?

river swells and breaks its banks, acting up instead of thanks

[10:35] Txxx Rxxxxxxx (god): LALALALA

Handy life tip: if you have to specify you're a god...you're not one.

Also, unless you're specifically playing an idiot god, might be a good idea to upgrade the level of pronouncements from "LALALALA". Just sayin'.

In other news, I got a card today from the creator behind Caverna Obscura, and I will honestly be shocked if more people don't follow her lead:

Greetings!

Maybe some of you have heard the news that Linden Labs will raise Marketplace fees to 10% on December 2. Here is the blogpost with the official announcement:

https://community.secondlife.com/blogs/entry/3016-the-return-of-last-names-and-changes-to-marketplace-events-premium/

It is a 100% raise from what we are paying now (5%) so many creators/merchants will be raising their prices on Marketplace by 10% come December 2.

Caverna Obscura will also raise MP prices by 10% on December 1 (for all mesh items and some of the older prim/sculpt items). The in-world prices for everything and MP prices on most older prim items will remain the same. Here are a few examples of the price difference:

an item that is 595L$ in-world will cost 660L$ on MP, or

an item that is 395L$ in-world will be 440L$ on MP,

just to give you a feel of what it all means. I encourage everybody to use MP for finding items you like, then going in-world stores and using your viewer’s Search Area tool to quickly locate the item you are looking for on the sim. If you can’t find something in-world please don’t hesitate to contact Elvina Ewing. Of course those who prefer the convenience of MP and will not mind the price increase can continue to buy on MP.

Now, for me personally, I am likely going to see how this plays out, and make the decision then on what to raise. My biggest seller on my tiny MP store is still my very, very vintage Sukkot kit, which desperately needs revision, and the only reason I charge for that at all is because I want to track who's bought it in case I do find a way to revise it. (There are, still, no Sukkot poses on Second Life. It's not that they're hard to do, just that a) I'm not an animator, and b), I'm not Jewish. Shouldn't someone more qualified be doing this?)

But that seems to be where things stand. It's either a cash grab on the Lindens' part, or they're trying to drive traffic back in-world, and honestly, not sure which.

To the rest of the blog post, bringing back last names is a great thing, and everyone's been asking for it for years now, but what's cheap and underhanded in that is, they're requiring people be premium members to make the change, and they're charging an additional fee on top of that. It's baffling.

From the article linked above:

THE RETURN OF LAST NAMES -- UPDATE and CONTEST

We heard you loud and clear.

That's difficult to believe.

Soon it will be possible to change the name of a Second Life account. This is one of our Residents’ most requested features and we’re working furiously to make it available by the end of January. Name Changes will be exclusively for Premium members at an additional fee.

But note, they're not mentioning what, precisely, will define that fee, nor whether the fee will be in Lindens (as most in-world transactions) or in actual real currency (as in in-world divorces).

Changing one or both of your First and Last Name will be available as a single transaction. Last Names will be picked from a list, which you can help us curate.

Yay?

What’s a last name you would choose for yourself? We’ll soon hold a contest seeking your contributions to the pool of last name options. From all of the suggestions, we’ll pick five, and those five lucky Residents will be able to change their names completely free of charge! You will not need to be Premium to participate or to win. The contest will run December 16 through January 15th, and participation details will be announced shortly.

How...lucky for those residents. I don't want to enter, because I'm pretty happy with my last name, but this all seems very strange. Especially that post-January, people who choose to pay $12 a month (which feels like a forced choice, because elsewise, they're stuck with Resident until the end of time) will gain the ability to pay more to change their names, which is something Linden Labs shouldn't have completely screwed up so badly in the first place. Great. It feels like they're asking us to pay for their mistake.

Though it wouldn't be the first time...

the Reds are just over yonder, boys, and we ain't gonna be here long

Hoo boy, I haven't seen something this jarring for quite some time. (And before you ask, no, she's spent far too long on the grid for this level of rookie mistake.)

I present: 2019's Worst Feet award.



Yes, I know, hooker platforms are hugely popular on SL. I'm not saying that. I personally think that particular style of shoe is unflattering, and I refuse to buy any that don't have VERY impressive design features. But as you can see, that's not really the problem. The skin tone is the problem. Did no one mention to her she's not black?

Maybe she's genuinely lost on this point--I was mainly focused on her feet, not the tragedy of the dress (which isn't great) and the fact that her hair was literally larger than her entire head twice over. But then I swung around to the rear, and I realized we had a bigger problem.



I am 98% sure these are vintage shoes, from that era in SL where people made shoes with prim feet in them. Why do I think this? Two reasons, and neither of them have to do with the skin tone that's so jarring. Point one: There was a certain curve to the foot, a very unnatural curve to the foot, that was only seen in really big play in the early days of sculpted feet. It can clearly be seen from the above shot; toes just don't bend like that, period.

But point two is worse: measure the feet. Her feet are the same length as her entire calves, and that's terrifying. That is cartoonish in the worst way. That is ludicrously oversized. Don't do this.

And learn how to use the skin-tinting HUD. Jesus.

and it hurts even more to have to be with somebody else

My heart weeps for the future. Seen at the Fenix event:



Oh, this hurts. That is not Carmen Miranda's outfit, you dolts. This is Carmen Miranda's outfit:



This is Josephine Baker's outfit:



seen in her so-called Danse Sauvage attire. GET IT RIGHT.

infinite power lies all around us and in the heart

(There may be some minor coding issues, and everything I do to fix it right now makes it worse, so I'm just publishing and I'll hopefully track down the glitch later on.)

That group is at it again:

[13:05] zxxx Mxxxx: well off for a soak in my tub with a glass of red ni ni all have a great one ☻

And this was ALL SHE SAID. That was IT. That one, single, solitary line, and on the face of it, it doesn't even specify alcohol, just the color of said beverage.

[13:06] Sxxx Sxxxxx: enjoy
[13:08] Sxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: i crashed.... who won the question about # of stars in the universe

I guess to boost popularity, which means I'm assuming they're losing members, Mod D has taken to giving out random gachas for correct trivia question answers.

[13:08] Sxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: ?
[13:09] Dxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no one knows the correct answer
[13:10] Sxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: 1 billion trillion?
[13:10] yxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i know
[13:12] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Zxxx] won [12:50] Mxxx Zxxx: more than I can count
[13:12] Sxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: i think [zxxx] won... i see in chat history that [dxxxxx] shouted her name before i crashed
[13:12] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[13:12] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Zxxx], don't forget no talk about alcohol, please.

We're all suddenly five and need to be protected from any hint of anything intoxicating, Adult, or mature in any way. Why?

In response to this, I got a private IM from someone:

[13:21] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: I think [the group] rules are just made up on the spot whenever
[13:21] Emilly Orr: Me too
[13:21] Emilly Orr: And I know I shouldn't have said anything, but this one's just plain baffling
[13:21] Emilly Orr: [Dxxxxx] said yesterday it was because "PG rules" insist
[13:22] Emilly Orr: I read the ToS. Bars are part of PG lands in SL. She's high.
[13:22] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: But they approve adult sims
[13:22] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: if it suits her they allow adult
[13:22] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: I posted a link proving I was right but she gives away to a friend too. No rules but whatever
[13:23] Emilly Orr: Right. If they're not within sight of a mall, other stores, seemingly ANY furnishings, or sell anything she doesn't approve of.

Why yes, I am still vastly irritated that all a good texture store in this group did was change sims and they were banned from being posted.

[13:23] Emilly Orr: Doesn't surprise me.
[13:23] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: I really want to say something and get kicked out
[13:24] Emilly Orr: I'm on that edge. I don't want to get kicked out, but I'm really getting fed up.
[13:25] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: Thats it I am doing it there arent many tonic freebies anyway
[13:25] Emilly Orr: True, most of the freebies and gifts are geared to Maitreya or Slink.

Believe me, I entirely understand the level of frustration. Because it really is getting ridiculous.

Then I noticed more conversation in the main group:

[13:21] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The reasoning I have seen is it is not "PG" to talk about topics that teens underage cannot participate in. It really is that simple.

When I grabbed this chat section, this didn't stand out, but upon editing and rereading, this is a HUGE red flag. Now I really want to know to what standards of "underage" they're referring, because BY LAW one cannot have an account on SL unless one is provably over the age of sixteen. Moreover, I have recently learned there's an additional, not highly publicized setting wherein any account that started when the user was sixteen, that account is digitally blocked both from seeing Adult content as well as traveling to Adult sims.

With all that in mind, then, what definition of "teen" are they using? Eighteen? Legally considered adult for anything but drinking in the US. Sixteen? Legally considered adult in certain states for sexual interactions, considered legally adult for many other things in Japan and other nations. Thirteen? Then they're protecting a class of SL citizenry that lied to get those accounts, and moreover, should not be on SL in the first place.

[13:22] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: But I will mention it the next opportunity i get.

Of course you will.

[13:25] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: How are there adult approved stores then if PG cant go there? I am so confused!
[13:27] Emilly Orr: Well, the ToS provisions for Second Life allow bars and clubs to be on Moderate land, which equates to PG, so...that's my confusion.

Because of course, I'm an idiot and had to comment.

[13:28]hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Best idea is to address the owners about some details. We do check the stores thoroughly to be approved or disapproved. I am not the rule maker, though. So I can't help you on this any further.

Which means all these changes are coming about because of Mod R, who's stepping in as group overlord since the group founders don't log into SL anymore. Got it.

[13:28] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The rating PG in here does not relate to the M rating inworld.
[13:29] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: We are an island unto ourselves lol.

What? That makes zero sense. ZERO sense.

[13:30] Sxxx Sxxxxx: So rule is basically no substance talk of any kind, period ... ?
[13:30] bxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That would ban the dictionary ...

It really would. Also, I refuse to believe there is a single sixteen-year-old person anywhere in America that does not know alcohol exists. Maybe, maybe, if that sixteen-year-old is being raised in an Amish or Hutterite community, they may have no practical (or even theoretical) understanding of illegal intoxicants, but alcohol? Beer and wine are not forbidden even in strict religious communities. So again, who are they attempting to protect? It's certainly not anyone already in the group.

From Ms. W again:

[13:26] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: There I did it
[13:28] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: In other words she just said shes makign it up and takes no responsibility
[13:32] Emilly Orr: Yes and no. She said two things there. First, that hey, it's not HER, it's [Rxxx], she just does what [Rxxx] says, and second, it doesn't have any relation to the ToS.

Which is beyond frustrating.

And this from Ms. A, who IMed me later:

[13:29] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The reasons is that the rules are made up depending on the mod's mood and the friends shops.
[13:32] Emilly Orr: Pretty much seems to be the case.
[13:32] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and if you talk about it in public you are instantly banned
[13:33] Emilly Orr: Which is why I'm being very careful until I decide I'm done with the nonsense and can live without the group.

Honestly, I'm seriously thinking of collating all the commonly mentioned stores in this group, and then going to them and seeing what other groups they're in, because if I can get occasional group gifts from those groups instead, why am I dealing with the totalitarian dictator dolls of this group?

[13:34] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The evolution of the group is very interesting from a sociopolitical study point of view.
[13:34] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Today it is a totalitarian virtual terrorism dictatorship

As I mentioned, and there are likely more changes coming.

[13:35] Emilly Orr: I'm still wondering why. Not so much the evolution, all groups involved, but the whole bit the last two years of "We know what the rules are but we're not going to tell you because reasons"
[13:36] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: The reason is discrimination in favor of some shops and silencing their competitors
[13:39] Emilly Orr: Therein lies the question: what did Timeless's creator do to irk them so? She has the EXACT SAME store construction--her main with satellite stores of fashion and textures--that she had before the move. The ONLY change was from a Moderate to an Adult sim, and she made ABSOLUTELY sure she was not violating any provision for this group's Adult store policy. They kicked her out anyway.
[13:41] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Because she did not contribute enough most probably
[13:41] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: or was not friendly enough with the owners.
[13:41] Emilly Orr rolls her eyes
[13:42] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Scandalize is one the forbidden ones without any serious reason other than silencing this competitor
[13:43] Emilly Orr: I have a vague recollection of them being something Adult that was not approved
[13:44] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This group was created because fab free was considered as too strict. But [the group in question] has turned over time much worse

She's not wrong.

[13:45] Emilly Orr: Yeah, FabFree is MUCH less strict by comparison now.

And more from the main group:

[13:31] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: What does that mean, [Sxxx]? What are you referring to, hon?
[13:32] Sxxx Sxxxxx: substance ie drugs, alcohol, adult nature etc
[13:32] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: O! Right, yes. Correct.
[13:33] Sxxx Sxxxxx: Sorry, substance is a UK thing (from the area I originate from) that refers to those topics
[13:33] hxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I thought you meant depth of topic lol
[13:36] Wxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: I'm going to report anyone I see talk about those things even mods

Remember, this is the lass who's hit the point I'm nearing. My solution, when I finally get here, will likely be me simply leaving the group. Hers is to make enough trouble they kick her out.

[13:36] bxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx:
[13:37] Wxxxxxxxxxxx Vxxxx: And just fair that no adult place should be allowed and not another.

It's not. It's absolutely not. The rules are arbitrary, whimsical, valueless, and hidden. All four of these things are bad if a group is trying to get people to live by the rules.

[13:42] mxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *eyeballs chat*

Another mod of the group.

[13:42] cxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why?

Does it matter? It's not like you'll care enough to change anything anyway.

I give up.

Next up (likely tomorrow): explaining the recent YouTube changes.