stop your cryin', hold on tonight

Let me tell you about the event, A Fighting Chance. Or, rather, let me tell you what the creator in crisis said about it:

6 weeks ago I took one of the biggest steps of my life and filed a domestic violence restraining order against the father of my child. He was removed from our home and my child and I started rebuilding our lives. Since that removal, my now-ex has harassed me repeatedly and is retaliating by trying to take my child away because I finally filed for permanent, full custody.

Unfortunately, at this time, I do not qualify for assistance from Legal Aid.

I have contacted my local bar association and found an attorney willing to take on my case at a significantly reduced cost — nearly close to pro bono. However, I still cannot afford this vital assistance. I’ve reached out to shelters, local charities, and the Domestic Violence Resource Center in the hopes of being put in touch with a lawyer willing to help me free of charge and was unsuccessful. My only choice at this point is to pay to defend my custody petition if I want to ensure my son stays safe with me.

My prospective lawyer has given me a quote of $1800-$1900 for a custody case billed out at his reduced rate, to be paid as a retainer. They do not anticipate it costing more than this and if so, once the retainer is depleted, they will work with me on a payment plan suitable to my SSDI payments. They require the retainer upfront.

My child’s father has an attorney and they have mailed me their response to the custody petition I filed. My prospective attorney will begin work on the custody case ASAP, once his retainer fee has been satisfied. Currently there is no hearing set yet, but that can change rather suddenly and without notice.

I am scared. My 12 y/o child who is autistic is also terrified.

We need help--your help.

Now, I can say the creator behind Funky Junk (and that link goes to her Marketplace, because before all this went down, she'd closed the in-world store to move to a new sim) is not only a really talented builder of skyboxen, cottages, and other structures, but is also generous beyond belief--several of her very detailed builds I've bought on Fifty Linden Friday rounds, and she could easily charge six times the cost I paid for those homes, without raising an eyebrow on anyone. She's also a genuinely kind person, and is devoted to making sure her customers are satisfied with any purchase. Which makes this all the more horrifying, and it starts out fairly horrifying.

Hence, "A Fighting Chance", the charity event. Port in, and you can give to a direct kiosk, or peruse the offerings of other creators in support of her efforts. Or, you can choose to go to her Gofundme page, where she's desperately trying to generate funds to hire a lawyer.

It is a sad fact of reality that many of these cases result in the abusers trying to seize the children from the parent, because they know that will hurt them most. And most of these cases succeed, especially if said parent was a stay-at-home one, and, when they left the main wage earner of the family, can be logistically portrayed as having no visible means of support. It's awful, it's deeply wrong, and it's sadly commonplace.

I would ask you to give what you can. And I wish her all the best. I hope she and her son get through this, safe, together, and not homeless.

you can't be sure of any situation, something could change and then you won't know (part one)

This one's going to be a bit more heavily anonymized, simply because while I want to share the chat and the conclusions reached--or not reached--it is, essentially, a chat capture from a private forum on a semi-private chat server, so...I'm not as clear on what the rules are for this particular service. I have read through their terms of service, and they do notably use the "Facebook clause" (which Facebook lifted nearly verbatim from Yahoo), which states that they have the absolute, non-revocable right to use anything posted by any individual using their service in inter-company communications, advertising, graphics, et cetera, in perpetuity...and that seems to say to me, at least, that any expectation of privacy is null. But...these are friends, so I'm still a touch nervous.

So for this one, I'm choosing replacement names based on the periodic table of elements to further hide identities.

[2:27 PM] Platinum: people love finding any little thing to take offense over these days. It was a kinda dumb design, but to call them out as intentionally racist or anything just feels like jumping to wrong conclusions.

This was about Gucci's so-called "blackface" sweater. Now, me being me, I'm more offended that Gucci wanted nearly one thousand dollars for a sweater that deeply ugly, but...that's me. There's been a ton of fallout over this, too: Dapper Dan, a Harlem-based fashion designer who works with Gucci, weighed in negatively (to the point that Gucci's CEO is setting up meetings to talk it out with him); director Spike Lee is calling for a Gucci boycott; Soulja Boy, one of many rappers who raised Gucci back to top label status, says he's "done with the brand"; and Gucci itself panicked and gave a public apology. Plus, several commentators online and off have raised the question with Gucci on whether they had any black employees who could have given feedback on this design for them, and their answer to that? "We had one black employee", apparently.

One. They had one. So the answer is no, in 2019, no one in Italy did even a two-minute search on Google to verify whether or not a design like this would be offensive. Now, I realize, Italy never had the issue with blackface minstrel shows that the US had, but come on, people. That's just willful ignorance.

[2:29 PM] Platinum: I really dislike the whole ultra offense-at-everything and cancel culture going on these days.
[2:37 PM] Platinum: like the situation with Liam Neeson, where he came out to admit to a really dumb, somewhat racially driven thing he did 40 years ago, which thankfully didn't lead to the conclusion he admitted he was hoping for at the time, and very clearly said how horrible it was and he's ashamed of it, and realized even back then how stupid he was being. And then all the Outrage Warriors come out of the woodwork to say that he's a terrible person *now* and that he IS a racist *now* because of something he did 40 years ago and actively acknowledges was a terrible thing, and yet the idiots still want to say these things and get him shut down and all of his work cancelled now.

It ignited quite the firestorm of controversy, yes.

[4:00 PM] Iron: And unfortunately whether the outrage is justified or not is not as relevant as it should be to how effective it is, [Platinum]. It works either way: https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/liam-neeson-cancels-late-show-appearance-amid-racism-controversy-a4059956.html
[4:11 PM] Fermium: And amusingly? I dislike outrage about outrage warriors.
[4:11 PM] Fermium: Like. The whole idea of outage culture is mostly a conservative idea.

Well, yes and no. The raising of the spectre of "social justice warriors" came out of Tumblr, as an insult to the easily outraged, generally white, extensively over-educated set of females who frequently got offended over every little thing, then went on to make posts that were easily as offensive as anything they snapped over. But, the concept was nabbed by the conservative boards on 4Chan, and from there it became a conservative talking point--SJWs and "snowflakes" became interchangeable, and both were used to generally paint liberal voices who may well have had honest reasons to be outraged over the things they were outraged over. It became an easy way to dismiss opponents: "Oh, they're just an SJW, you can't listen to them, they're just crazy libtards."

[4:14 PM] Fermium: The vast majority of people who are 'outraged' or offended usually have a reason. Like even in your explanation of it, you said they were called intentionally racist. And no, I'm sure someone did, or some did as part of the idea of using offensive things to advertise.
[4:15 PM] Fermium: But I think the vast majority likely said it was racist. Which it was. But most probably don't think the company was being racist. Unless this was like strike two or three
[4:21 PM] Arsenic: I'm all right with demonizing "outrage culture", simply because the [4Chan] folks have been not-so-covertly adopting it as a way to strike back at critics (see: James Gunn). There's some babies I'm alright with throwing out with the bathwater.
[4:34 PM] Fermium: Well, yes. But that's an exploitation, as was GamerHate. It used a legitimate cause to carry out acts that are against the principles or unrelated to the issues supposedly being misused.
[4:35 PM] Fermium: It's basically Concern Trolling on a large scale.

I don't entirely disagree, but I still think some of the storm of outrage is coming from a group of people who basically exist at this point to be outraged, all the time, over everything. Now, to be fair, I'm only basing this on scrolling through Twitter; I'd base it more on Tumblr, because the posts can go more in depth, but I'm not paying attention to new Tumblr posts at present; I'm culling through my personal backlog, transferring them to another blog, and then will kill my Tumblr account. So my impression of "people outraged to be outraged" may, in fact, be entirely wrong.

[5:15 PM] Iron: Being an idea created by conservatives, if so, doesn't mean it's invalid. People aligned with the conservative party sometimes have correct ideas too and it's important to stay open to that. I do know that outraged people have a reason, people do things for reasons, they're just not always good ones.
[5:15 PM] Iron: But there's an issue that it's just never good enough to satisfy many people that are outraged. It was pointed out that this colour design of this product is too close to a racist look that is used. Fair, it's good that it was pointed out. Gucci pulled the colour. Okay, that's also fair and a good call. They also publicly apologized which was possibly unnecessary imo but probably a good call. Although I do think addressing the issue at all probably brought more wrath upon them, as engaging whatsoever with the public after you've made a mistake will unfortunately lead to that, which sucks and isn't right that that's what happens. Gucci pulled all other colors of that product as well, it seems, which should be overkill but I completely understand because people are outraged, which means any reminder of the accidentally racist like sweater existing at all will cause issue. Boycotts are being called for against Gucci. There are people that won't be happy until Gucci as a company dies now all due to a simple mistake that they tried to fix when it was pointed out to them. And that's not okay.
[5:16 PM] Iron: The same thing is happening with Liam. Right when he said it publicly he was pointing out that it was a mistake and a horrible thing, he didn't even need someone else to point it out to him. It was a terrible thought he had at that time and he knows it and is clearly sorry he had it back then. But people are calling for and succeeding at getting his events cancelled now, and that's very not okay.

I raise a point later, though, that my main objection to the storm of controversy around Neeson is that people are profoundly missing the main educational point in what he said. And I think that point is far more important overall.

[5:18 PM] Iron: I'm not against people pointing out when a thing is racist and thus not okay, in fact I'm for it. Like what Liam did himself and what Gucci admitted to and pulled that colour of that product.
[5:19 PM] Iron: But when someone has displayed the signs that they recognize what they did was not okay and appears to have learned from it (which we can never truly know but have to guess) then that should be a good thing that the person or company improved themselves and recognized as such. Outrage culture isn't, in my mind, when someone points out that they think a thing is bad. It is when they continue being outraged after it has been addressed.
[5:19 PM] Iron: Possibly because they are looking to be outraged more than they are actually looking to improve things, but also possibly because they just don't know how to recognize when a situation has been resolved.

Maybe that's what I'm trying to say, by making the distinction between 'cancel culture' and the typical conservative impression of SJWs in general--the people heavily in the cancel culture movement don't want a dialogue, they don't want a meeting of the minds to see how to untangle these tangled ethical issues; they just want to cut the offending person or company off at the knees, erase them from existence, and move on to the next thing to be outraged over.

[5:20 PM] Fermium: The issue is, that is a legitimate issue that is overblown!
[5:20 PM] Fermium: Because no one uses Outrage Culture that way.
[5:21 PM] Fermium: What you define it as, isn't what it means in common vernacular.
[5:22 PM] Fermium: The Gucci incident wasn't outrage culture. The Liam incident might be, but that one is complicated for so many reasons at this point. And I've not cared to spend the time researching it. I get what he was saying, it was a horrible thought, he knew it was, some people never get that moment of realization.
[5:27 PM] Iron: Many parts of the Gucci incident were driven by outrage culture and some parts weren't, in my mind. I have trouble writing it off as completely one thing or completely another thing as what happens in these situations is generally too complex for that, given the number of various things that happen.
[5:27 PM] Iron: Too complex, imo.

These issues are complex, unfortunately. Part of what I'm considering as "cancel culture" and "outrage warriors" are the people who seem to have the mentality of erasure: to wit, chip the king's name off the wall, no one will ever remember that king again, and everyone will be happier forever after. The problem with that is, even in ancient times where this practice was done to "erase" historical figures, they never got everything. We may have no reference for certain statues now, but in many cases (in Egypt and Mesopotamia, specifically), the names were written in multiple places, so this attempt at social erasure failed utterly.

Worse, now, is the age of the internet--the internet never forgets, because the internet is multiply coded, multiply transmitted, multiply copied, multiply stored. If the information is uploaded at all, the information is preserved somewhere, the information is out there. So modern attempts at "canceling" don't work in the same way--the outrage can cost jobs, can cause boycotts, can damage reputations, but the "erasure" aspect never comes into play, because once said on the internet, it exists forever.

[5:31 PM] Iron: Liam did come to that moment of realization though which is an essential part of the story and is why he should be in the clear now, an example of someone falling as we all do (in a general sense) but picking themselves up and improving themselves before any harm seemingly came of it.
[5:35 PM] Iron: If I'm using the term "outrage culture" wrong then I don't know, but I hope I've explained what I mean well enough to get past that usage. But I intend it to mean a culture that is seeking out a focus on being outraged more than just trying to actually make things better (possibly without realizing their true focus themselves), even though they tend to put up a front of trying to improve things.

That's how I tend to use the words, too, so if I'm also using them wrong, I'm willing to be educated on the correct meaning.

[5:41 PM] Fermium: My issue is, that 'Outrage Culture' is a dismissive term. It lets people who have certain privileges dismiss or mock the issues and concern held by those who don't have those same privileges.

Yes. That I would wholeheartedly agree with, having had an evening to think over things.

[5:41 PM] Fermium: That sweater was racist. Intent or no, it was. Gucci took it down. Good on them. But it was racist in that it'd be the exact sort of thing some 4channer would wear in public to be edgy and claim 'No, I'm not racist, it's just fashion'.

Yes, we're back to the sweater again. This conversation flowed back and forth between the two incidents.

[5:41 PM] Fermium: So to claim that is outrage culture is to dismiss the actual issue. The issue being that Blackface was, and still is a thing. It's something some people have to deal with, or have heard stories of their parents or uncles or grandparents having to deal with it.
[5:42 PM] Fermium: Taking it a step further, even if the sweater itself wasn't racist. The moment it was mentioned that 'You know, that sweater looks like like blackface' it became so, purely because, again, aforementioned 4chan edgelords and conservative hicks who would wear it unironically in 'support' of the company, but in reality just to troll black people.
[5:42 PM] Fermium: To try and take your last paragraph and expand on it. They were outraged by the sweater, and they made things better by making it public and shining light on an issue many people forget is even an issue.

And that's a valid point. Raising our concerns about products, about companies, about political movements, on any side of things, should be good for the interchange of ideas, and for coming together and reaching common ground. How'ver, if it's just outrage to be outraged, that means that they don't want the interchange of ideas. They don't want to reach common ground. They want to exclude, to silence, to end interchange on this topic.

So where is the line between people who are genuinely, emotionally outraged/hurt by something, and people who are simply seeking out things to be outraged over so they, themselves, feel superior to whomever they feel is beneath them? Is there a clear dividing line? I thought there was, but especially going through this again, I'm not so sure there is.

[6:41 PM] Platinum: [Iron]i has it right. The people that I call Outrage Warriors are the ones who just continue to be outraged anyway after an issue has been addressed. The people that engage in cancel culture against people like Liam, trying to get his jobs or talk show gigs cancelled, whether by going to the people in charge of that to take it out from under him, or by inflating the controversy so much he cancels things himself and has to then go into damage control mode. It's the people like that who make it very difficult for people like Liam or anyone else to come out and be open about the mistakes they've made, to show that they've grown, and that other people can grow and move past mistakes too. Because these days if you try to do that, your past just gets held against you forever by the Outrage Warriors, that are never satisfied until they've ruined you completely and ground you into the dirt.

That's my feeling too, because right now, at least in the United States, we are extraordinarily polarized as a culture. As I mentioned in my last post, it's this polarization that makes it so very easy to reduce whomever we view as against us into the Other, into the animal, into something nonhuman that cannot be dealt with in "rational" human ways. When we alienize (not alienate, that's different) our opponents, we are removing their agency as fellow human beings entirely. Which makes it far easier to treat them poorly--in fact, that's the root cause behind much racial tension and police brutality against black people--this specific form of the Us vs. Them mentality that's grown over the past ten years.

[6:44 PM] Platinum: Outrage Culture may be able to be used by some who don't get the actual issue as a dismissive term. Shame on them for using it that way. But it is a real issue as well. There are good reasons to be legitimately outraged, there are good reasons to speak up about it and to say something, to create a change. But when it crosses that line from legitimate outrage and trying to do something to make it better, into 'we're not going to stop being outraged and attacking until this person/company has been wiped from existence because of this one mistake they made', that is Outrage Culture, and that's the part I disagree with.

Right. If we raise these issues to try to make society as a whole better, we are trying to turn our outrage into communication to learn and understand each other. If we raise these issues because we're trying to end the conversation entirely, we are leveraging our outrage to silence the other party entirely and restrict their voice from the discussion.

[7:58 PM] Fermium: I'm not convinced the term can ever not be dismissive. It is dismissive. It's like trying to claim fag means some [a**hole] who rides their motorcycle around the block at 3 AM. Sure, you can mean it that way, but it's still offensive.
[7:58 PM] Fermium: Outrage Culture as a term is inherently dismissive.

So what's a better way to describe it? Conversation that fosters dialogue is what we want; conversation that ends dialogue is damaging. What's a better term for attempting to silence the opposing side merely by the force of our outrage?

[8:09 PM] Iron: I mean, I just told you what it means as far as when I used it. It is related to being dismissive, but of a thing that should be dismissed but unfortunately isn't. The over the top outrage that is more about being angry than actually fixing things. A focus on the outrage over the correction.
[8:09 PM] Iron: If you think my use of the term doesn't line up with what you consider outrage culture then that's okay, you can define my issue with a different term. Whatever term you find that matches up with what my issue is, that's okay to use instead.
[8:11 PM] Fermium: It is dismissive for one main reason.
[8:11 PM] Fermium: Who are you to dictate what people should and shouldn't be angry about?

Well, and that's a different issue entirely. I understand why it's being brought up here, but I think that's a separate thing. While we should be cognizant of how we phrase things, often when we are outraged, angry, hurt, we do not invite discussion, we dictate terms. I am guilty of this, so I see it in myself as well as in others. But does this issue completely intersect with outrage used as a weapon?

[8:12 PM] Iron: I'm the same as anyone else. But being angry about something forever is harmful and just leads to everyone being angry, since there's nothing anyone can do to fix it.
[8:13 PM] Iron: I don't think that's a good thing.
[8:14 PM] Iron: I'm not blocking people from being angry, I know that's not within my rights to do; I'm pointing out that it just makes things worse to do it that way.
[8:15 PM] Iron: They are free to point out the same to me, about how they should be angry all the time even once someone tries to fix a thing or themselves. About how that will somehow make things better.
[8:16 PM] Iron: If they can make that point, then go for it. I'll likely respond back as to why I disagree though. That's a discussion and those can be quite good.

Yes. Even with pain on both sides, even with hate and anger on both sides, if we can get to the point where we can have these discussions, then things can advance, can change. Maybe even get better. But is that dictating how someone else should feel?

[8:20 PM] Fermium: But see, the issue is when you turn it into a culture or an epidemic. Yes, you can disagree. But to claim there is an outrage culture is to imply dismissal of them being outraged. Instead, you should disagree, perhaps try to figure out why they are outraged, see if there is something from their perspective and privileges that makes them that way that you don't have or ever thought about.

Now, I make points against this later on in the conversation, and since this is getting long, this will be part one, with part two to come. But upon reconsideration, I think there is a point here that I missed on the first go-round. Am I dismissing the easily outraged as simply being easily outraged because they want to be, and not acknowledging their opinions as valid, whether I agree with them or not? It's a daunting question.

(Continued in part two.)

must it take a life for hateful eyes to glisten once again?

This video mostly speaks to rifts in the YouTube atheist community, but there's a great list near the end of things that I think are worthwhile for mending broken fences in any community that's suffering.

The lessons learned that Jim, the speaker for Atheist Edge, presents:

1. Thicken our skins. Even insults aimed at us don't have to actually hurt us. Or, as Patrick Swayze put it in Roadhouse, when one of the bouncers asked, "Well, what if someone calls my momma a whore?", turn the question back on itself. "Is she?" was his answer. Face that down. Are we the horrible thing they called us? If we're not, let it go.
2. Identify trolls from people who are just emotionally attached to an idea. Watch the patterns. People who are emotionally committed, and potentially not thinking, may sound like trolls, but at some point, they will play their hand. We will see that whatever is on the table, is an issue they really identify with.
   Trolls don't. Trolls are just looking for a reaction. They're poking the bear to hear it roar. And they get immense satisfaction when the bear roars. Don't give it to them. Disengage, do not interact to the best of our abilities. We won't change the mind of a troll, because they aren't emotionally invested. They're just dropping insults to see what works and what doesn't.
3. This one I'm guilty of--don't unfriend the people against us and our opinions, don't block them, don't insult them behind their backs online. Things get heated, but if the only voices we're hearing are ones that 100% agree with our own, we are not growing and adapting to the world we live in. "If you create an echo chamber for yourself, it's even more harmful in the long run", he said, than maintaining contact with people who offend, enrage, or hurt us. (This is not easy advice to take, because we are consistently told that for self-care and emotional stability reasons, it's good, and sometimes vital, to cut off toxic people around us. I still believe that some people cannot, or are not willing to, change, and in those cases, maybe walking away is the only option we have. But to the best of our ability, try to keep the lines of communication open.)
4. To that end, reach out and extend an olive branch to the other side, if we can. Be open to hearing from them. (This is also hard, admittedly, because some people just mix like gasoline and flame. But we must try to do our best.)
5. No name-calling. This one I'm also guilty of; I try not to, because it is childish, and it makes me think I'm descending to their level, not elevating the discourse back to rationality. But try to keep this in mind. Look at how foolish Donald Trump sounds with his endless parade of nicknames for people he doesn't like. If a man holding the highest office in the land sounds like a fool when he bleats about "Lyin' Ted", "Crooked Hillary" and "Crazy Joe Biden", how am I going to sound by retorting with "Moron-in-Chief" or "President Cheeto"? None of these terms are purely accurate; most are designed to strike at someone on some level just for a reaction. (Can we say trollish behavior?) Can we at least stop slinging mud at each other and just communicate?
6. Try to find common ground. Some issues are by their nature polarizing, and right now, our current political and social climate makes it far too easy to other those who disagree with us. We are not talking to aliens born seventeen million light years away. We're talking to people who breathe the same air we do, cry the way we do, bleed red the way we do. Even if it has to come down to nothing more than that, even if there is no other common ground to meet upon, we always have at least that one salient point: we are speaking to other hominids who were born on this planet. And if we take the time to look deeper, we may find we have more in common than just air and iron.
7. One-sided conversations aren't good, either. We need to give our opponents time to respond, and we need to offer them the dignity of honestly hearing them out. If we truly don't understand their points, repeat them back to them, with an added "Am I understanding you correctly?" And sure, this may take a while, in person, on social media, in emails sent back and forth. Some things cannot be easily resolved, it will take time. Let it take that time.
8. Be aware of how we're speaking, how we're phrasing things to people, especially if we're speaking across the aisle on a divisive point. Personally, I know it's very difficult for me not to sound sarcastic, and it takes a tremendous effort--both in real life and online--to rein in the snark. Take a break, breathe, disengage for a while until we're not speaking from that place of pure emotion, and able again to speak from a place of logic and reason.
9. He brought up a concept called "steelmanning"--he defined it as, when we take another person's opinion that is diametrically opposed to ours, and explain it back to them in a way where they completely understand what we're saying. This is also diametrically opposed to a "straw man" argument, also known as an ad hominem attack, where we pick apart what we consider is a weak point in someone else's argument, and misrepresent what they said on that one point just to knock down that one point. When we prove to someone with a differing opinion that we understand that opinion, then and only then can we give constructive criticism on the particulars of that opinion.
10. Make a list of all of our currently held positions, on all issues--social, political, psychological, emotional, cultural--every opinion we have that we might be wrong about. Write it down. Refer back to it. Read it over now and again. Revise it when it needs revising. And keep this point in mind as well: if we cannot think of a single thing that we might be wrong about, then we have stagnated to the point of mental death, or at least thought ossification. If we cannot be budged on any issue we feel is important to our emotional well-being, then we are intractable and unwilling to change in any way. We'd be better served by picking lilies and laying down at that point, because we are no longer growing, thinking, evolving lifeforms.
11. Keep in mind, too, that the reason some of these people may be hostile towards us, is that we--or more likely, people who hold similar opinions to ours--are hostile to them. It's a basic self-defense mechanism. Get bit once, heal. Get bit twice, be grumpy about it, and heal. See someone who might be coming close to bite a third time--bite them first. It's a primal reaction, but we need to be better than that.
12. Realize that they may never have dealt with anyone, one on one, who holds dissimilar opinions. We have to be the ambassadors for our own communities, our own beliefs, our own ideals. And we must do our best to be the best version of ourselves when we realize we are in the ambassadorial position.
13. Lastly, understand that we don't have to be at each other's throats to disagree. We can hold fundamentally different opinions and still be able to communicate, as long as we are willing to communicate. Catholics and Protestants get along in Ireland, and they have a long and bloody history that, in many places, is still etched into the brick and stone of the walls around them. For the most part, Japan is one of our allies now, and they have every single reason (potentially NSFW images) to hate us forever.

None of these rules, guidelines, whatever, are easy things to do. Some are incredibly difficult to do, because we are not just thinking beings, but feeling ones. And ordinarily, there's nothing wrong with having emotions. The problem is when we get swamped by our emotions and cannot think clearly. The moment that happens, we are back in the cave, shaking clubs at the unknown dark. We have to hold on to our reason, to our calm, as much as we can, for as long as we can. Another thing Patrick Swayze said in Roadhouse: "Be nice." There may come a time when we can no longer be nice, but until that point, be nice. Be polite. Be cool. Never forget we are speaking to another human being, with feelings of their own. We need to keep thinking as clearly as we can if we ever hope to mend the breaches that divide us.

Because as long as we are standing on opposite sides of the fence, we can't accomplish anything. We have to at least be willing to meet on neutral ground, and talk things out. And sure, it won't work with everybody. But we will never know who it will work with if we never try in the first place.

that which drew you, like a crow to glass beads

From a notecard just given out in Caledon notices:

"This weekend I announced I would be closing a number of the Winterfell homesteads. Honestly, the announcement was more difficult to share than I had expected. One of the regions which was slated to go was Mists of Winterfell, the region that connects Winterfell to Caledon. From what I have been told, the more skilled sailors of our realm can sail from the very northern sim of Winterfell all the way down to the southern most end of Caledon.

"While thinking about the symbolic connection between our two realms, as well as the physical one, I have decided I cannot let the connection be broken.

"I will be redesigning the sim and setting it up as a public attraction. My hope is the donation kiosks I am planning to include will make it possible to keep the sim open for many more months, if not years.

"While I understand that not everyone will be able to contribute monetarily, I ask that you share the LM and spread the word that Winterfell is a wonderful place in which to explore, relax, and enjoy.

"Yrs Respectfully,
Princess Selena of Winterfell"

I wholeheartedly raise a glass to that. Now, I used to live in Winterfell, as some may remember. I did not leave over any lack of respect on either side, nor due to feeling unwelcomed--though neighbors did make me take down Sumie's Darkhouse, which was a heart blow--but solely because my Linden income has never been reliable. When what sources I had evaporated, I simply could not afford to keep paying rent.

Elsewise, I'd likely still be there, on Salix Alba, Luctus Isle, or any of the other shadowed reaches I've called home. And I may one day return, if financing allows. I would adore another chance to make Winterfell or Caledon home again.

It will likely take a bit for the Princess to restore the land, but once done, do support if you can. Our virtual connections are tenuous enough as it is, but the joining of the Independent States of Caledon with the reaches of Winterfell was one of the more heartfelt moments of memory, and has genuinely brought only good to both realms.

our temple, your tomb

[Looking For Group] Yannka@yannhope: LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC LF1M CW IDRIS EPIC

You know, saying it over and over again won't make people pay attention to you, Yannka. More than likely, it'll make most of us mute you so we don't have to see that again.

[Looking For Group] lavernica@maaaaaaaaarrr: llll 15k TR LFG MC/ VT/ SP lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Same thing with this. It's just unnecessary. It doesn't draw the eye; at this point, most of us honestly don't bother reading through it and just hit the "Ignore spam" button, which gets the account reported. Find a better way to get your point across, people.

[Zone] Sarnsidous@p1s7ol: I once met a girl from ardulo. She loved putting things in her &)^#...
[Zone] Apophis@apophis101: ignore ^

Mm-hmm. Pretty much.

[Zone] rock@rottw: 15K GS PREFECT VORPAL LOOKİNG FOR DUNGEON
[Zone] Tom Ujain@trogers2: party time woooooooooo!
[Zone] rock@rottw: 15K GS PREFECT VORPAL LOOKİNG FOR DUNGEON
[Zone] Tom Ujain@trogers2: dread king come dance with us!!!
[Zone] rock@rottw: 15K GS PREFECT VORPAL LOOKİNG FOR DUNGEON
[Zone] Little Caprice@elmoregemstone: rock is reported for spam
On the other hand, apparently I annoy less than Little Caprice. I wouldn't have reported rock, regardless of how many times he said he was a "prefect vorpal" looking for a dungeon. He's just a Timmy power-gamer wanting a high-powered run, is all.

[Zone] Revenia@Lethargion: 15K GS DUNGEON LOOKING FOR PERFECT VORPAL

*snerks* Of course, sarcasm abounds...

[Zone] Grace Blackrune@sockmunkey: its darwinism. I figure if they arnt smart enough to know how to use the right channel. odds are they are too dumb to group with

This, however? Also a good point. "Zone" is general in-area chatter; "Looking for Group" is for finding dungeons and fighting instances; and "Trade" is for selling keys and specialty items for in-game currency.

[Zone] Apophis@apophis101: my logic also
[Zone] Gwynneth Lifegiver@iamnotahobbit: hehe if every spammer were reported the GM's would be spammed,lol

Well, and again, I really don't think rock's copypasta-dungeon-seeking was spamming, per se. But, while I do report all the spammers I see, there are lots I miss. And not everyone reports everything they see, so she has a point.

[Zone] rock@rottw: 15k gs dungeon looking for vorpal perfect
[Zone] Tom Ujain@trogers2: YEAH painsaw show us your moves!
[Zone] Grace Blackrune@sockmunkey: hey rock, in all that spam. you still havent said what class you are. ill wager it means more then your silly gear score
[Zone] Apophis@apophis101: he doesn't know what his class is....
[Zone] rock@rottw: lol ım a GWF
[Zone] Xatmo@xatmo99: middle class?
[Zone] rock@rottw: yeah apopis and u still dont know who is your father

Weak insult, rock. Really weak.

[Zone] Xatmo@xatmo99: my father is darth vader
[Zone] rock@rottw: good for you
[Zone] Grace Blackrune@sockmunkey: would of NEVER figured rock would be the dumb barbarian type. shocker
[Zone] Random Chance@Random_Chance: I have a lot of class...it's all low, but I've got a lot of it
[Zone] rock@rottw: yup grace.... and ı didnt know u were a $%*$)

Really, rock? Step it up, boyo, you'll never make points with cheap shots.

[Zone] Mtal Quickfingers@ben69b: no i think you meant to say your mom is darth vader

Also a cheap shot, but you know what, rock? As opposed to your grade-school chipping, that one shut down the conversation for a while. Moron.

So later, this happened...

[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: hEY, could you help me please? I have one question.
[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: i didnt get 1000 diamonds
[Zone] Random Chance@Random_Chance: why should you have gotten 1000 diamonds?
[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: my wife did :)
[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: and she was 1 level lower
[Zone] Random Chance@Random_Chance: why were you expecting to get 1000 diamonds? doing what?
[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: i have no idea, why did she ?

Okay, so, brief explanation: after level 11 in Neverwinter, all characters can pray at shrines, healing campfires, or by rezzing out portable altars. This gives adventurers a boon from the gods they worship, an amount of astral diamonds (the Auction House currency), and sometimes a potion useable for protection or healing.

So if this person prayed, and didn't get their diamonds, that's kind of a big deal.

The answer, how'ver, had nothing to do with the game, and everything to do with current politics:

[Zone] Apophis@apophis101: for not working....like real life

Really?

[Zone] Evanduril@neurovirgin: she didnt do anything special
[Zone] Mtal Quickfingers@ben69b: daily prayer maybe
[Zone] Apophis@apophis101: don't work in real life.....go to social services office....get free $ :)

That's so not how it works, Apophis. But thanks for being a loyal, no-nothing drone of Fox News. Also, you're an ass.

And, lastly...

[Zone] Unuldor@derplurker: pvp=moar money=you win
[Zone] Celeste-L'Arche Doré@divine8soul: NEVERWINTER IS NOT REAL=SCAM

What the hell does that even mean? NO MMO is real. But that doesn't automatically mean they're scams. They're an alternate form of entertainment, just like paying for movies, or subscribing to Netflix or HBO.

Honestly, I think folks in Neverwinter are losing intelligence points...

and my throat closes off when I see your face

(Note: this took me some time to pull together, due to RL intrusions, so...the Comcast thing is rather dated.)

So more news on the whole Comcast/Netflix debate--unsurprisingly, everyone's denying everything. But the evidence is mounting; we'll see how Comcast reacts in another week or so.

In the meantime, a note on Second Life as an antidepressant. (Pro tip: it doesn't work that well):

[19:08] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: now after the anxiety hits I am starting to get Depressed
[19:08] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: I get the same kind of cycle
[19:09] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Me too.
[19:09] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: What normally helps with your depression?
[19:09] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): the depression comes from me not able to get Lindens when I need them the most

Now, that sounds like a really superficial statement, but when we break that down, the same truth that's part and parcel of Second Life appears: human emotion. And human emotion can be a very tricky thing, especially when bundled over cable or fiber-optic lines with data and interaction.

Life, on SL, is amplified; it always has been, and it always will be. So what might be a little unease, a little melancholy in RL, becomes crippling self-doubt, anxiety attacks, and major depression. It's not a little thing anymore. And shopping for virtual goods is one way that many, many of us use to stay emotionally afloat--whether we realize that or not.

When--for whatever reason--we can't do that...or if we're emotionally unstable to begin with...things veer off the rails.

[19:10] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and thats where the anxiety comes from
[19:10] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That can be stressful. What do you need them for?
[19:11] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: well
[19:11] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx): to be truthful I am trying to get some things i had in the past
[19:11] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: when I was able to upload
[19:11] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: L
[19:11] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but now I am so having to work for everyhting
[19:12] jxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and I dont know if I cant keep it up on djing

That's something else to consider, too. Maybe the jobs we hold don't do for us what they used to. Maybe, in this economy, our employers need to downsize. Or we're in some facet of the entertainment industry on SL, something that many people are no longer investing in, due to personal (even RL) cutbacks.

For whatever reason, the Lindens no longer flow like they used to. What do we do then?

[19:12] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: there is a lot of wonderful free things in SL
[19:12] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: the amazing part of this world

It's true. And, contrary to what many believe, it's a lot harder to tell these days if someone's outfitted completely in free gear, or paid hard Lindens for it. Between some really excellent items turned out in hunts, store group gifts and freebs, and Marketplace freebs in both traditional styles and mesh, people are slowly upgrading their games. (While there's still a 'sameness' to mesh I don't favor--in that everyone using similar silhouettes combined with specifically tailored body shapes means the grid, and those in it, are starting to look remarkably alike--overall, texturing, contouring, shading and ageing are looking much better in 2014 than they did in 2009.)

[19:13] ixxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: alot to see in sl
[19:13] ixxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: grand canyon?
[19:13] ixxxxxxxxxxx Sxxxxxxx: u guys see that yet?

I didn't even know there was a Grand Canyon on the grid! And yeah, you should go check it out, they did a really good job recreating it.

[19:13] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx nods. "Especially in hunts or events."
[19:13] fxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: oh yeah group gifts are the best
[19:13] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Even ways to earn Lindens.
[19:14] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: So many free things on Marketplace. Also, if you only need a few lindens, you can earn them playing the Linden Realms game.
[19:15] Emilly Orr: Linden Realms is only for Premium accounts, though, isn't it?
[19:15] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: I don't think so. I think it was made to get newbies comfortable with the user interface

I did not know this. Doing some initial research, I found an old report from Inara Pey mentioning that it's for Premium account holders only; still, there were indications that it was planned to spread to the masses, so who knows? I've never actually checked out the game myself, so I can't say.

[19:17] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I used to use this thing called the Travel Money HUD, you wore it and traveled to sims and looked around, and then after a certain amount of time, they paid you a small amount of L.
[19:17] Emilly Orr: There's a couple other groups like that. I belong to two of them.
[19:18] mxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: regular work in sl can suck the fun out of it... it shouldnt be and doesnt need to be, a relentless struggle for money in here
[19:18] Emilly Orr: That can get stressful on its own, though one of them, Rise Star Gaming, they have a lot of pretty sims in their chain. Sometimes it's just fun to wander and see new things.

There's also--or at least, there used to be--a similar enterprise to Travel Money called Earn2Life, and the Bletaverse group has a 'cone jumping' game where you do much the same thing--port to various sims, wait, collect a small amount of Lindens in exchange.

[19:23] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: I have a friend who joined SL a couple years ago & promised her husband she wouldn't spend any money on it. She made all her initial money in Linden Realm, then learned how to make textures, which sells on Marketplace. She now has enough money to be comfortable in SL, without spending any real world money.
[19:23] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That's awesome!
[19:25] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: It's very rare to make much money in SL, so you have to live frugally too.
[19:25] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: People win contests with art pieces and such.

It's true. If you have a talent for texturing, clothing creation, 3D graphics, Second Life can still be a good space to create. And--even in the current economy--at least mildly profitable. (However, with the downturn in financing grid-wide, as many makers are finding, they can no longer count on SL to provide their sole income. People who do are pretty much walking tightropes without safety nets. It can get scary.)

[19:25] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You should look at Builder's Brewery. They have a lot of building freebies and they even teach free classes.

While I eternally struggle with group space, if you have group space and an interest in content creation, you cannot go wrong being a member of Builder's Brewery. They have almost constant classes on various aspects of building and scripting, free texture packs, genuinely helpful people, and a members-only sandbox. It's really cool.

[19:25] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I had a friend who made neat builds and entered contests and art shows with them, made lots of L with it.
[19:26] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: Some people make their avatar look really hot, so they can win club contests
[19:26] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh yeah, that too.
[19:26] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: contest were huge for me when I first started and won many of them lol
[19:26] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: Whatever you do though, you have to work at it before it pays off
[19:26] Emilly Orr: I used to do that a lot, years back. Find a contest, find a costume, dance for an hour. Thing is, you have to be pretty social.
[19:27] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: yeah, it;s mostly people who like you who vote for you.

True fact: Whenever I have the time, I still attend the EGL dances that Bare Rose throws. While they are costume contests--and I've even occasionally won--the point is not to try to go to win. You'll only be disappointed. Just dress in what you want to match the theme, and go to have fun. Talk, be social, listen to what others are saying, and enjoy yourself. Because costume contests aren't always who you know; sometimes it's how much your personality impressed people at the event, whether they knew you before or not.

[19:28] gxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Well, when ppl shaft me or tick me off, it's hard to be social. I wanna be the opposite and life, be it real or sl, is enough to make you antisocial.
[19:28] Emilly Orr: Pretty much. So, one of two things--either you like going to random clubs and hanging out (which sucks if you have social anxiety), or you go to pick up costume tips from other people.
[19:28] Emilly Orr: If you go expecting to win, you'll just be depressed after if/when you don't.
[19:29] gxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and I've been in several contests and didn't always win when I wanted SO BADLY to win.

Yeah. It's kind of the name of the game. It helps if you have a diverse wardrobe, but if you have social anxiety, costume contests are not your best bet for Lindens.

[19:28] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: Happy Hippo & Builders Brewery are good place to learn
[19:29] Emilly Orr: And if you have group space, Mari, join the Builder's Brewery group. They offer building classes on EVERYTHING.
[19:29] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And she means everything.
[19:29] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: They had one on cupcakes not too long ago.

I've seen class notices for cupcakes, pies, all manner of furniture, clothing, basic and advanced scripting, particle theory, mesh texturing, beginning animation...if there's an instructor, there's a class. During holidays, they have giveaways, and as I said before, the main store has--in addition to some very lovely door and stained glass window textures--several packages of free items for beginning builders. And of course, there's the sandbox (though, for reasons as incomprehensible to me as seeing the Caledon states assailed, it's frequently griefed by trolls).

All in all, it's an active group full of helpful voices, for the beginning builder to the advanced. Never a bad thing to have help when you need it, after all.

[19:29] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Hey, speaking of group space, how many groups can you join? Lol.
[19:30] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I think it's 42, which is not nearly enough. D:
[19:31] Pxxxxxxxxx Exxxxxx: I'd rather have more Profile Picks than more groups
[19:34] Emilly Orr: The problem with groups, unfort, is that every time someone logs on, the system scans everything in sequence and assumes it's all active. So all your calling cards are scanned and set to active, then said to on or offline ONCE that's done; all your groups are set to active, then only the ones actually communicating are set to open; and all of that happens before the asset server pulls in your inventory.
[19:34] Emilly Orr: I'd love more groups, but we're kind of hurting the server as it is.

Unfortunately. It's likely going to be a consistent problem, too. Will we ever see another leap in groups, as we did from fifteen to forty-two? No idea. I'd love it, several others would love it; many who run businesses, especially more than one active business, truly, honestly, need more groups than they have; but will it ever happen? Severely doubtful, in my opinion.

[19:34] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: the wonderful thing about sl though is there are many free things to live great. I can make a brand new avi look like he spend so much money just from group gifts. Many designers in SL know that not everyone has money to spend in this game and they provide very detailed work for free from time to time.
[19:36] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: as far as places, there are free housing or 1l housing in SL as well
[19:36] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: meaning you rent a house for like a week for 1l

Pushing aside outright squatting--while it likely still can be done, it's still not a stable way to live--there are a lot of apartments and smaller places scattered around for free or low-cost. Most of these are reserved for players under two months old, but not all of them.

[19:36] Emilly Orr: Something to keep in mind: every now and again, run searches on Marketplace. "free 2014" f'rinstance, pulls in everything marked free from this year. Holidays are good--"free Halloween" or "freebie holiday". "Free dresses" or "free hoodie" can work, too.
[19:37] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: There are also blogs that showcase freebies. Fabfree is a good one.
[19:37] Emilly Orr: FabFree has both men and women bloggers, too. So it's not just a parade of womenswear.

At this point, they don't have any male bloggers on staff, but watch the blog anyway--they still cover menswear from time to time.

[19:37] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: to be honest it amazes me that there are designers that give things out for free. They spend hours and hours on their creations and yet give it to us. LL is not making this. Is real people, who spend their time and energy for us and for that I am grateful

Me too. Now, I have complained about the quality of certain freebies before--especially when I think the designer could do (and has done) better--and I accept responsibility for any emotional harm I've caused (and the commensurate banning from at least one sim, which has been problematic on more than one hunt).

But I've never complained about the actual making of freebies (and highly discounted items) themselves. That a designer takes time out of their busy schedules to make things for free, for cheap; to make group gifts, many times the equivalent of items they could actually put on the market to sell; no, I'm honored and humbled by the gift of their time, by seeing their devotion to their customers, and to life on the grid.

[19:38] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: There are sometimes really nice prizes in scavenger hunts too.
[19:38] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: lets do this lol If you guys know of groups or LM of amazing free things, send them in and Ill put them all in one notecard and send it out =]
[19:39] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: no reason anyone should be depressed becaus they don't know their resources
[19:40] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'll help with that, Josh. I know a bunch of places with freebies.

So I did a bit of research, and found links to track down to help.

[19:42] Emilly Orr: http://fabfree.wordpress.com/
[19:43] Emilly Orr: http://slfreestyle.blogspot.com/
[19:43] Emilly Orr: http://freebietelegraph.wordpress.com/
[19:43] Emilly Orr: http://slfreebiehunters.blogspot.com/
[19:43] Emilly Orr: All of these have recent (this month or this week) posts.
[19:43] Emilly Orr: And there's two congregate feeds I know of--where they're not actually blogs, themselves, but they're lists of links that are hosted ON a blog site.
[19:43] Emilly Orr: http://slfreebdollarbluckychairhunts.blogspot.com/
[19:43] Emilly Orr: and
[19:44] Emilly Orr: http://elizawrigglesworthlinks.blogspot.com/
[19:44] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: thank you dearly Emily. Im copying and pasting them into a notecard
[19:44] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Virtual vagabonds, too.
[19:44] Emilly Orr: Wouldn't be a bad idea.
[19:44] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: I think its great resources for people who don't have money. People should know they have resources and there are a lot of great possibilities without the needs of lindens.
[19:45] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: thanks Luna
[19:45] Emilly Orr: http://www.virtualvagabond.com/

There are more than just these, after all--there's at least twenty grid-wide hunts every month, plus store hunts, theme hunts, and freebie blogs galore, plus store blogs that occasionally do posts on freebies and cheapies their designers have put out. Which is leaving out the plethora of goods that can be gotten simply by wandering around stores, or joining store groups that draw your interest.

[19:45] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: There's also something like 55l Fridays and 60L weekends, isn't there?
[19:45] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That stores do? Sorry I'm throwing our random, had meds half an hour ago, so sleepies.
[19:45] Emilly Orr: The lady behind Virtual Vagabond is interesting--she used to be an SL Hobo, back when that group owned their own sim. She still believes in the ethos of the hobo, though--live where you can, own only what you need or what amuses, give away what you can to help others.
[19:46] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Aw, that's really cool.
[19:46] Emilly Orr: Let's see...there's 55L Fridays, 30L Saturdays, 60L weekends--those are all pretty general, kind of catch-all, any designer can apply deals.
[19:47] Emilly Orr: 25 Linden Tuesday started specifically for Gorean merchants, now it's branched out to Gor outfits, medieval outfits, with the occasional musical instrument or BDSM collar.
[19:47] cxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx chuckles. "I didn't know that."
[19:47] Emilly Orr: There's a few others. Most are searchable on Google or in-world to find locations.
[19:48] Kxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: http://seraphimsl.com/ shows discount events that are going on, and usually has pictures.
[19:50] Emilly Orr: True, I forgot about them!
[19:51] Jxxxxxx Bxxx: I love seraphim but not everything there is free

This is something that bugs me a great deal about the SL-Schnaeppchen blog, as well--the main blogger was amazingly good, and devoted to finding the best hunts and freebies on the grid, and then she ran afoul of a particular designer (I'd love to name her, but I'm trying to be better these days). It wasn't the blogger's fault, it was wholly the fault of the hunt designer, who misliked with intensity the fact that she gave out SLUrls to each store.

Now, this is commonplace, but back then, it was usually something only bloggers did. That controversy killed her interest in maintaining the blog, though, and now it's pretty much just dead air, broadcasting distant visions from 2012.

I used to follow SL Freebie Hunters more closely, as well, but at this point they're no longer purely hunt freebies. And while they pick good things to blog about, if I'm wanting to read on hunt items or general store freebies, I don't want to read that that luscious cream leather couch is on sale this month for "only" L$199. I'm sure that's a good deal, but...that's far from a freebie, or a hunt item, so why is it there?

(As I mentioned at the start, this is old, but I still wanted to get this out there, because I still believe there are some good resources that were discussed. If you don't have tons of Lindens, and your addiction is shopping; if acquiring virtual items helps stave off depression; well, here you go. Be safe out there, and have fun on SL.)

hold my tongue before I say too much

I've been having some trouble sleeping, of late, so these past few days have seen far too many very early mornings. Apparently, people don't think clearly early in the morning...

It started here:

[09:50] Txxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: THE POTION DEPOT
All Potions = 35L
Shubbie Food = 35L
10-PACKS only 299L!!! ㋡
[09:50] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: How goes it hunters/fishers? been a while.
[09:51] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: waves
[09:52] Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [actual Marketplace link redacted]
[09:52] Gxxxx Hxxxx: [[Group moderator issues a warning for Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx]]

So, this particular group, something like this happens every day. It's one of a few hunt/fish/find groups I'm in, currently, all of which exchange either time or treasure for Lindens (or at least, bits of Lindens), that once one reaches at least one full Linden, one can then cash out. They're all pretty much based on various models of sim traffic generation, and I'm happy to help them refine their techniques for small amounts of personal gain.

At least until I find a job I think I can a) do well, and b) trust enough to be loyal to, after my checkerboard past employment history.

In this particular group, there are pretty strict policies. No advertising unless it's from a merchant in the group, and related to this group's products/goals, no drama (or at little as possible), no cursing, keep things friendly and polite.

So the Potion Depot, being both a registered fishing spot, and an occasional coin-hunting spot, qualifies on both levels for this group, and has permission to send out text ads on occasion. Mr. K, he of the wholly non-related "come buy my clothing that looks like a lot of other mainland clothing shops' lines" store, was not allowed to send out advertising.

[09:53] Kxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok

And Mr. K even agreed afterwards. Sent, warned, done, right? ...Well, not exactly.

[09:54] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WHY IS THERE A WARNIGN FOR Kxxxxx?
[09:55] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: he is posting links to MP in here we dont allow advertising.

Also, it's spelled "warning". And you managed to misspell Mr. K's name, there. It's only five letters, come on now.

But demonstrating her total lack of understanding...

[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: [09:50:27] Txxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: THE POTION DEPOT
All Potions = 35L
Shubbie Food = 35L
10-PACKS only 299L!!! ㋡
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: ISNT THAT ADVERTISE?
[09:55] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that is advertising OUR products
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OOOHHHH
[09:55] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OK
[09:56] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxxx], is your caps lock stuck?

I thought it was a pretty reasonable question. Many of us were thinking it, after all.

[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO [09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I TYPE IN CAPS ALOT

"A lot". And why?

[09:56] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: oh ok
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CUZ EVERYONE ELSE TYPES IN LOWER CASE
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO I LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT
[09:56] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHAHA

..."Blahaha"?? Also, "because". But "blahaha" is still getting me.

[09:57] Hxxxxx Rxxxxxxxx: so you need attention ? well most people will simply mute you
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxx] I THINK YA LANDED THE DIFFERENT ROLE WITHOUT THE CAPS PRETTY EASILY...JUST SAYING IS ALL.
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: ACK
[09:57] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx: it's contagious!!!

That's when [Axxx] noticed his caps lock actually was on.

Ms. [Kxxxxx] hadn't caught on, how'ver.

[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HUH
[09:57] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: caps is classed as shouting

And also generally considered rude.

[09:57] Emilly Orr admits to struggling with the temptation to mute [Kxxxxx] just for the all-caps thing.
[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO ITS NOT
[09:58] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: yes it is
[09:57] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CAPS DOESNT MEAN SHOUTING
[09:58] Emilly Orr: Yes, yes it does. It always has.
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOW

Now what?

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO

Oh. ...Wait, now she can't spell two-letter words without mangling them? Really?

[09:58] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: pretty much yes unless you have a disability.
[09:58] ixxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx ~stuffs [Kxxxxx's] mouth with marshmellows~ shhhh... shhhhh
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: A "!"
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: THATS SHOUT

So...it's only shouting at someone else if exclamation points are involved? That makes no sense.

[09:58] Mxxxx Lxxxxxxx: yep
[09:58] Emilly Orr: That temptation is becoming stronger.
[09:58] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: [Txxxx], im going deaf in here :)
[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: CAPS IS FOR GRAPPIGN ATTENTION

"Grabbing".

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I WOULD KNOW

Apparently not, because she was still yelling at everyone.

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OR PERSON EXPERSSION

"Expression".

[09:58] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I STUDIED IT IN COLLEGE

You went to college, Ms. [Kxxxxx]?

[09:58] Uxxxxx Nxxxxx: Thank god for muting

I was beginning to feel strongly the same way. But I had an ethical dilemma--she wasn't using racially insensitive words, she wasn't cursing a blue streak, she just wasn't as bright as she thought she was. I'd be the worst sort of elitist--and I tend that way anyway, which is something I'm trying to correct--if I muted everyone who couldn't type on the grid.

[09:58] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you can type on caps here ........ but if it goes into drama causing behaviour then it will be handled .
[09:59] Emilly Orr: I think you mean "expression", there, Kxxxxx.
[09:59] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: coming from someone with a disability, I agree with terry.
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOT ME
[09:59] Emilly Orr: Also "grabbing".
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WELL THEY DECIDED TO COMMENT ON IT
[09:59] Emilly Orr: Because you're yelling at everyone!

I think that's fair, isn't it? She's blaming the rest of the chat for her poor behavior, as if everything would have been perfectly fine had we not said a word on her shouting at the group.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: UM NO
[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

Oh, gods, on top of everything else...She's a lolperson. Gyaaaah.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WELL BOLD MEAN SHOUTING AS WELL THEN

It can, yes, though it's far more difficult to add emphasis in SL text, due to the lack of emphasis text. What we can use, and frequently do use, are conventions like *this*, or _this_, or ~this~. There are others, but all of them are fairly standard ways to indicate text that should be read as italicized, or bolded, or even as a direct emote/descriptive line.

We can even use ALL UPPER CASE to indicate bold text, but...then the problem becomes, since any emphasizing text is just that, for use to emphasize the non- emphasized text...then how are we properly supposed to read text from an avatar who NEVER HAS NON-EMPHASIZED TEXT?

Answer, virtually anywhere on the grid or on the net: as shouting. The fact of which seemed to mystifyingly elude her comprehension utterly.

[09:59] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HAVE A GREAT DAY
[09:59] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx rubs her temples, sighing.
[10:00] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:00] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx shakes his head
[10:00] Emilly Orr pulls [Kxxxxx's] profile and is honestly not surprised by the all-caps nature of almost everything there, too.
[10:00] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It's funny that I have Aspergers yet I'm more polite then someone without it.
[10:01] Gxxxx Hxxxx: 6.5 - Group chat is a place for friends to enjoy mature and amicable conversation. It is not a hotbed for drama. Instigators of drama in group will not be tolerated. Personal, highly political or emotive issues should also be sorted out on a personal basis and not in group.
[10:03] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO WHERE IN THAT DOES IT SAY I CANT TYPE IN CAPS
[10:03] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DDUUUUUUHHHH

Maybe not, but I do believe her actions led to group drama, which is discouraged. Also, I believe being rude to a moderator of the chat is never a good idea.

[10:03] Emilly Orr rolls her eyes.
[10:03] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx facepalms.
[10:04] Cxxxxxxxxxxxx Axxxxxxxxx: oh good lord [Kxxxxx] still here
[10:04] Axxx Zxxxxxxxx .../facepalm
[10:04] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Are you five.
[10:04] Emilly Orr: Still fighting against that temptation to mute.
[10:04] Axxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [Kxxxxx] how old are you.
[10:04] Txxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lets move on

And we all tried to, because [Txxxxxxxxxx] is another mod in the group.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the end of things for me, because...for some reason known only to her spinning neurons, she IMed me.

[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAA
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I JUST ADD ALL MY ALTS
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

And I would care...why, exactly?

[10:05] Emilly Orr: Not talking to you if you're going to scream at me.
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DONT
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: Y NOT JUST EJECT ME
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

Now I was really confused. Did she know she was just talking to me, and not to an actual group moderator? Had one of the mods written her with a warning, and she wrote me back by mistake? I was baffled.

Also, that would be "why not just eject me", [Kxxxxx]. Just so you know.

[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: U WANT THE NUMBERS
[10:05] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:06] Emilly Orr: Because I'm not a moderator or an owner of the group, you nitwit.
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO STOP TALKING TO ME

Let me get this straight. Ms. [Kxxxxx] wanted to send me a personal message, so she could tell me not to talk to her, when I had no interest in talking to her in the first place!

I began to wonder if she was either on drugs, drunk, or off her meds somehow.

[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DUMB ASS
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Emilly Orr: Nah, I'm just seeing where this goes for later publication.

I was, too. I'd started taking notes while this was going on, for two reasons: one, this entire interchange never ceased to be baffling, and two, it was a somewhat refreshing break from pixel-aligning the new build.

[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DOESNT MATTER
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKIGN TO ME
[10:07] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: "Talking".
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: ITS CALLED A TYPO
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: DUMMY

Oh, just savor the irony. The woman who can't spell is calling me dumb for correcting her spelling mistakes. That very nearly made me smile.

[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NOW
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKIGNT OT ME
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: "Talking". Also "to".

I know, past a certain point it's more like poking a baby in a crib, not an honest intellectual challenge...but she was irritating, and I'm far too easy to irritate most days.

[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LET SEE IF U CAN FIGURE THIS ONE OUT
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BIWTCH
[10:08] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:08] Emilly Orr: Seriously?

And I just have to wonder...was she trying to mispell that word, or did she mangle it further in her attempt to be "cool" or "amusing" or...whatever it was she thought she was actually doing here.

[10:09] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: STOP TALKING TO ME
[10:09] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: HAHAHA
[10:09] Emilly Orr: You started this.
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: OL
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: NO
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I HAVE MY OWN RIGHT TO TYPE

As I keep correcting people on the grid, no one has the right to free speech there, because it's not a public holding, it's a software company. Linden Lab is the sum total decisionary on who says what, when, about what, and for how long. That anyone, including our bubble-headed screamer here, thinks they have a "right" to say anything is so beyond laughable, it swings around into tragically sad.

[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: I DIDNT
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND IM
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: YOU DID
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: IF YOU DIDNT WANT ME TALKING TO YOU YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SO ;
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LIKE I JUST DID

I admit, I'm failing utterly to grasp whatever logic point she's trying to make, here. It eludes me.

[10:10] Emilly Orr: No, actually, *you* IMed *me*.
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BUT YOU CONTINUE TO TYPE
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: SO THAT MEANS YOU REALLY DONT UNDERSTAND
[10:10] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: WHICH MEAN EVEN IF YOU DO DECIDE TO REPORT ME
[10:11] Emilly Orr: Who said anything about reporting you?

Seriously, who mentioned reporting? If I say I'm going to report someone, I usually say I'm going to abuse-report them. Most of the time, I go ahead and AR them, then tell them they've been ARed. I don't bother to warn anyone in advance.

If I--and again, this is a largeish "if"--tell someone I'm considering their words for publication, that means here, or on one of my other blogs. Because I do have a few, chiefest of which is actually linked on the web section of my SL profile. It's hardly a secret.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: MY RESPOND TO LL IS THAT I PLAINLY ASKED YOU SEVERAL TIMES O STOP TALKING TO ME
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND YOU REFUSED
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND I CAN REPORT YOU
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA

For...what, exactly? Holding a conversation? In which I say very, very little beyond correcting her spelling? Yeah, that's going to go a long way.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: JUST LETTIGN U KNOW UR CHOICES SWEETY THATS ALL
[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: BLAHAHA
[10:11] Emilly Orr rolls her eyes and goes back to building.

I did, too. I'd had it with her nonsense. Everything past this point came in after I'd closed the window.

[10:11] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND FOR SOMEONE THAT DONT WANT TO TALK YOU SURE ARE RESPONDING
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: GO BACK TO BUILDING
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: AND PLEASE DONT TALK TO ME
[10:12] Kxxxxx Kxxxx: LOL

I have no intention to, but I do feel sorry for her friends, and--assuming it's actually happened--any loves she might have. Those poor, sainted souls putting up with Ms. [Kxxxxx] screaming at them at all hours. They're very brave.

tracing lines to what connects me and binds me to (pt. I)

Somewhat in response to the news that Blizzard's North American servers had been hacked, the City of Heroes team installed a pop-up that warned to keep player information secure, and change passwords often. Of course, this caused some controversy for those who didn't know about the hacking of Blizzard's WoW servers:

[Help] Aeon Emperor: what recent events caused the personal info popup?
[Help] Fire-kissed: Blizzard lost a bunch of personal details
[Help] Fire-kissed: To hackers
[Help] Fire-kissed: Nothing to do with NCSoft
[Help] Aeon Emperor: ok. thanks.
[Help] Firebomb: If you think Blizzard is gonna be secure with your personal info...then you're gonna have a bad time.
[Help] Demonlord Mephiles: it's just in case you played WoW and use the same password on both games
[Help] Bonnie Beatdown: really makes you want to use their real money auction house now doesn't it
[Help] Kneecapitator: I wouldn't trust Blizzard with my granny's ashes, much less my credit card number.
[Help] Third Discipline: credit card info was not compromised

Well, that's actually tricky. Non-matching encryption-secured passwords were compromised, along with identifying information (including emails and security question answers) for credit card data, so...I think that's about 50/50. Actual numbers? No. Everything a thief might need to change your security question by use of your email? Seems likely.

[Help] Temporal Surgeon: I thought NCSoft did suffer a breach
[Help] Vibrobeast: yeah. once that annual pass is over i'm done with wow.
[Help] Firebomb: No, just your billing adress. I'd sooner give a stranger my CC number than my adress.

Not entirely sure that billing addresses were in the data grab, but bank information was. So again, I'd say that's about 50/50.

[Help] Temporal Surgeon: anyway I wouldn't trust Blizzard with personal info anyway but in a pretty dramatic way anyone who plays WoW trusts them with a LOT of personal info due to Warden
[Help] Demonlord Mephiles: maybe this helps to pry a few players away from wow
[Help] Kneecapitator: They don't need help driving off their own players at this point, really.
[Help] Damgun: How have things been going since the whole panda jumping the shark thing?

Yeah, about that...Watching the official World of Warcraft trailer for the Pandaria expansion makes the class seem epic beyond all boundaries...at least until 1:37 in, where the first Pandaran is revealed. Almost instantly, though, an entire slew of Kung-Fu Panda parodies involving the class arose on YouTube, and even now, it causes a lot of head-shaking, both from those who play, and those who don't. The news that Blizzard was widely hacked--even for Diablo information, not WoW info specifically--was pretty much just the cherry on the rancid sundae, frankly.

[Help] Ringmaster Diablos: Weren't pandas always in warcraft though?
[Help] Vibrobeast: they jumped that shark over 10 years ago. seemed fine for awhile.
[Help] Kneecapitator: No clue, quit back in November and never looked back.

I suppose that's one way to deal with the problem, but it seems somewhat severe. And yes, to answer the first question, Pandarans were in WoW before, but never as player characters. They were always these round, generally happy mockeries of Asian culture. It's just that with the new update, they can be round mockeries of Asian culture that players can play.

[Help] Temporal Surgeon: I tried playing WoW a few times. It seemed like an OK game and (at the time) a lot better developed than CoX on a number of fronts but a huge amount of people I encountered were completely socially retarded

That, too. Just like any other wide-spanning MMO, there's a lot of folks who are there just to kill things in any way they can--and some of those ways include insulting other players, sexually harassing female players, and in general being utter complete idiots online simply because they can. WoW isn't the hate-spewing visigoth of stunning emotional upset that games like Call of Duty or Battlefield can be. (And I still remember what happened to Anita Sarkeesian when she dared to use Kickstarter to fund a series of female gaming tropes for public dispersal. And do I even need to bring up Borderlands' "girlfriend mode option?)

[Help] Third Discipline: So what is it about Blizzard that attracts so much hate? It almost has to be jealousy or something, because I generally don't get upset about companies I just don't care about.
[Help] Vibrobeast: then they literally defaced the diablo franchise

Oh, in so many ways...

But I don't think it's jealousy, actually. I think it's comprised in equal parts of the filtering gloss of nostalgia, combined with what folks believed about the Diablo property, itself.

While there are a lot of games (more than I can even go into) that feature dystopian futures, Diablo managed to find a way to combine leveling, gear advancement, and character interaction with the "it's all going to end in tears" mentality--and I won't lie, something about that combination was magic, because the first Diablo game was insanely popular. Then came Diablo II, and the introduction of Battle.net. Now, we had a bigger world to play in, more options, and we had two forms of playing with friends--locally, via a LAN connection, or online with several other players. (I've played Diablo II on LAN mode, but never played Battle.net--I favored a mod that was legal--basically, a way to keep both life potions and mana potions at the same time I could keep large and small combined potions--but when applied to a Battle.net connection, would revert everything to either large or small combined potions. I wanted to be able to carry all three types if I wanted to, so no Battle.net for me.)

Between Diablo II--and its expansion, Lord of Destruction--and Diablo III came several intervening years that saw the development of World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and several other games from the folks at Blizzard. This--undeniably--influenced the art direction for Diablo III, and that was my single biggest complaint with the game.
Unfortunately, there are other complaints at this point, like the always-connected-to-the-internet angle, and even worse, the fact that there's no desire to replay after reaching endgame. The first is bad enough, but the second is going to cost Blizzard revenue, community good will, plus future sales of both the Diablo product, and new games or expansions they may come up with. The second is the death knell, frankly.

[Help] Firebomb: Because no one understands how a company with pisspoor customer service can be #1
[Help] Victory Bolt: To be honest... I have never gotten any good customer service from Blizzard when i played for a few years..I think that's where the bile comes from

Well, that's part of it, too. But hey, Second Life has abysmal customer service, too, and...oh. Right. Yeah, that's a really bad thing for a major company.

[Help] Calefact: Sometimes people come into this game expecting something like WoW, which can cause resentment in the vets

Isn't that the problem, though? Because I'm sure some did come in expecting a WoW-like environment. And that's exactly what they got.

But the bulk of Diablo fans wanted nothing like WoW. They wanted something like Diablo--dark, moody, dystopic, where the fighters, the mages, and the rogues were roughly equivalent in size, and only the boss mobs were larger, to enhance that sense of power.

What they got? HUGE men with brawny muscles, looking like overinflated bodybuilders; willowy, vacuous females; and insanely oversized, brightly colored monsters to fight. Yeah, that's WoW, not Diablo. And people protested.

[Help] Vibrobeast: it aint jealousy. they just dumbed their design philosophies to cater to the xbox live crowd
[Help] Wrath Talon: pls dont turn this game into WoW, i fled from WoW to here because it is casual
[Help] Vibrobeast: ...you don't know about the xbox live type of gamer do you? ...i live with one. :(
[Help] Vibrobeast: you DON'T want to play with them.

Is XBox the new AOL? I don't own an XBox, though I've watched a lot of the Achievement Hunter vids on their current crop of XBox Live games. Maybe it's just about open accessibility--at the risk of sounding elitist, maybe big MMOs and XBox Live have this in common: the fact that we don't have to be smart, polite, tolerant, respectful, compassionate or even stable to play games with other people. We just have to be breathing and have the time.

And I'm thinking since this one's running long, I'll stop it here and make a second half.

hard to find, blinded by sorrow

Have friends who want to support Gala Phoenix, but they don't play in SL (or perhaps their accounts lapsed)? It's okay--Gala's set up a legal fund request on IndieGogo.

IndieGogo, like Rockethub and Kickstarter before it, works on the principle of crowdfunding--the contributions of the many can be smaller if we all join together to make something happen. Rockethub is more for professional or scientific funds, Kickstarter is more entertainment-based...IndieGogo sort of straddles both camps. It's not as well known as Kickstarter, especially, but it has strong ties to development capitol, and investment sources.

This campaign has a lower goal--$10,000 (US), which is half of what she needs to begin the court case. Why? Because the One Voice event has already raised the other half:

Fortunately, many amazing and generous content creators, designers, and supporters have come together to hold a fundraiser in-world. In the first few days, we have already raised over $10,000, and I expect we will raise more before the event is over. However, many people have asked for a way to donate outside Second Life, so I have set up this page. Because of the success of the in-world fundraiser, I am keeping the goal of this campaign more moderate.


The Second Life content creator community will not be intimidated by bullies abusing a system that should protect us. Please stand with me.

Help if you can.

and a strange voice sings a melody

You don't have to go to the One Voice event to participate--here's a list of stores who have One Voice vendors on their own sims:

*tuttiFruitti*
.HOD.
A and S Visions
A.D.D. Andel
Addiction Jewelry
Adoration Home & Garden
Adorkable Poses
AlterEgo
Anna Shapes
Anymore
Art Dummy!
Avisage
Belleza
Bent.
By Snow
coldLogic
don't freak out!
elymode
English Muffin
Essences
Faerycat Designs
Fallen Gods
Flowey
Fri.Day
For F's Sake
Geometry Clothing
HANDverk
Holli Pocket
Ingenue
Insatiable Designs
isoMotion
Izzie's
Ju
lassitude and ennui
Manna
Mayfly
MINA
Mon Cheri
North West
PnP
Pulse Skin
RnB Designs Furniture
Sakide
Sax Shepherd Designs
Schadenfreude
SHUSH
silent sparrow
Sleeping Koala
Solange
Sugar
Sugar and Cyanide
Sway
Vanity Hair
Zibska/Zibware

There are likely more to come; I'll keep you posted.

And if you can't get in to the event yet, you can always try a fun little trick--going to Apocalips Kansai means you can cam across into the event itself and look through things that way, plus, it's really an excellent East Indian temple build.

Now, just so you know going in--they're keeping a viciously tight count on scripts. Not prims, per se--I saw a full fur with extravagantly bound tail and wings perusing the various vendors with the rest of us.

While I took out all the SLUrls from the now three notecards listing offsite participants, I was standing next to the main port point for the sim. This is a partial transcript of local chat:

[16:58] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home mxxxxxx.mxxxxxx [2㎆/85] Mxxxxxx Mxxxxxx
[16:59] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home cxxxxxx [8㎆/120] ⓒⓗⓐⓓҳ̸Ҳ̸ҳ (cxxxxxx)
[17:00] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home pxxxx.dxx [12㎆/185] Pxxxx Dxx
[17:02] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home kxxxxxxxx [11㎆/188] kxxxxxxxx
[17:02] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx [5㎆/86] ˡʸʳᶤᶜღLYRICღˡʸʳᶤᶜ (lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx)
[17:02] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx [5㎆/86] ˡʸʳᶤᶜღLYRICღˡʸʳᶤᶜ (lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx)
[17:02] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx [5㎆/86] ˡʸʳᶤᶜღLYRICღˡʸʳᶤᶜ (lxxxx.rxxxxxxxxx)

Poor Miss Unpronounceable "ˡʸʳᶤᶜღLYRICღˡʸʳᶤᶜ"...she just didn't seem to get why she was being bounced home all the time, and kept trying to get in. Over. And over. And over again, each time never changing the resize-scripted items that were throwing her out to begin with!

[17:03] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home nxxxxxx.sxxxxxxxx [7㎆/190] Nxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx
[17:03] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home nxxxxxx.sxxxxxxxx [7㎆/190] Nxxxxxx Sxxxxxxxx
[17:09] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home mxxxxxx [6㎆/91] ɱïℓεγ ɱεℓσđγ (mxxxxxx)
[17:10] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home mxxxxxx [6㎆/91] ɱïℓεγ ɱεℓσđγ (mxxxxxx)
[17:10] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home cxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [10㎆/170] ςнεℓş (cxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
[17:11] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home bxxxx.bxxxx [3㎆/51] bxxxx Bxxxx
[17:11] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home mxxxxxxx [10㎆/324] Mαεlyndα Cεrnα (mxxxxxxx)
[17:12] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home vxxx.sxxxxxxxxx [12㎆/557] Vxxx Sxxxxxxxxx
[17:13] PDS HomeSecurity Orb 1: (Weapon) Teleporting Home sxxxxx.bxxxxxxx [3㎆/50] Sxxxxx Bxxxxxxx

I think you get the idea. Basically, if you go in with resize-scripted hair, shoes or clothes, or you have a multifunctional HUD attachment--you're going to be bounced. You can always come back--that is, if you can get in at all--but they're not allowing anything much over the bottom line into the sim.

As a result, while there is a high amount of lag, by the time I actually got inside the sim, there were very few vendors grey and unrezzed. There was some texture blur, which frankly owes as much to http-protocol fetching than anything, but even that cleared up fairly quickly.

Everything is clean, easily laid out, and as low-prim and low-scripted as possible. Anyone wanting to run a large charity event really needs to talk to the One Voice crew to get their tips on how it's done.

And yes, I picked up a gorgeous, but ultimately useless item (at least, for the couples' menu options) from WetCat at One Voice:

(from the Charity efforts album; WetCat's "Clouded Lotus" swing and tree set)

This retails for L$398, half of which goes to the fundraiser, and features two sets of pose options: poses for couples and singles in the swing, which does swing if the top branch is touched, and poses for couples and singles reclining on the ground pillows. Be sure to pull something nearby into Edit when you rez it out, because as usual, for the swing to work means it's unlinked from the rest of the tree.

I'll go through pictures later that a friend sent me; my trip through resulted in an inability to pull up profiles or snapshots while I was there, so argh. But watch for future entries, and remember, this event only runs until the 15th, so go while you can!