this is not the way into my heart, into my head

Out of the blue in a store group--a store group of a skin designer, no less:

[11:32] Sxxxxxxxx: 􀀀
.❀**•.¸.❀**•.¸.❀****•.¸.❀**•.¸.❀**•
♥ Diamond Sexy Girls♥

And really, do you need more than that to know it was posted in the wrong place? But I'm including the rest anyway, because I get to badly translate it through Google Translate:

Приглашаем вас 22.05.....в 21.00 ...на вечеринку в восточном стиле!!!
Лёгкая музыка в арабском стиле!!!
красивые девочки в костюмах востока
Открытый голосовой канал !!!
Просто кинуть зад на кресла расслабиться !!! !
Отдохни от мира уйди в нирвану !!!
Самая Строптивая DJ
..❀**•.¸.❀**•.¸.❀****•.¸.❀**•.¸.❀**•.¸
¸. 􀀁

Which roughly means...

We invite you on 05.22 ..... at 21.00 ... for a party in oriental style !!!
Light music in Arabic style !!!
beautiful girls in oriental costumes
Open voice channel !!!
Just throw your ass on the chairs to relax !!! !
Take a break from the world and go to nirvana !!!
The Obstinate DJ

So...it's a...dance??

[11:32] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: )
[11:32] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: а нах ты сюда кидаешь [[And why are you throwing it here?]]
[11:32] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: тут запрещено кидать русскую рекламу [[It is forbidden to throw Russian ads here]]

Yeah, I'm with Mr. M, here.

[11:32] Sxxxxxxxx: [location of said whatever]
[11:33] Sxxxxxxxx: ок
[11:33] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: дура сука пхаха [[stupid {b*tch} hahaha]]
[11:33] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: тебя щас забанят [[you will be banned right now]]

Don't I wish.

[11:33] Sxxxxxxxx: да они надоели уже со своей рекламой [[yes they are already tired of their advertising]]

Wait, who's tired? Ms. S. is tired? We're ALL tired of Ms. S. spewing this nonsense in the group, but--that phrasing is odd, even through GT.

[11:33] Sxxxxxxxx: Привет Вов [[Hi Vov]]

Who's Vov?

[11:33] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: нахуй мне твой привет? [[F*ck me your hello]]

So, Ms. S. thinks Mr. M is Vov??

[11:33] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: я не забываю хуеты [[I don't forget f+cking]]

Well, who does, really, but--rude.

[11:33] Sxxxxxxxx: )))) [[???]]
[11:34] Sxxxxxxxx: повопи какой ты несчастный [[cry how unhappy you are]]

Wau, what a troll.

[11:34] Sxxxxxxxx: поной [[well]]
[11:34] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: слейся кикимора ты старая [[go kikimora you are old]]

This one I had to look up. Apparently a Kikimora is a hag spirit in Russian folklore?

[11:34] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: на твой голос даже дрочить стремно [[even jerking off to your voice is dumb]]

Ooh, snap.

[11:34] Sxxxxxxxx: школота)))) [[She's basically calling him a child]]
[11:35] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: ну да [[well yes]]
[11:35] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: мне не 60 [[I'm not sixty]]
[11:35] Sxxxx Mxxxxxxxx: как те старая пизда [[like those old...uh, let's just say 'women']]
[11:35] Sxxxxxxxx: ммм. как прикольно.. 60 тебе? и ты девочка? [[mmm. how cool .. 60 for you? and are you a girl?]]

I don't even get this one. So he just said, fine, call me a schoolboy, I'm not an old git, and she's saying...so you're a 60-year-old-girl? That was the best insult she could come up with? What is she, five?

[11:40] Pxxx Fxxxxx: This is not the group for it [Sxxxxxxxx]

Damn straight it's not.

[11:41] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Wow, I see someone getting kicked out of the group in future...

And apparently, she was summarily kicked, because group chat fell silent.


And everybody clapped. Probably literally.

I won't let this pull me overboard (part II)

(Continued from the first part.)

And the rest of the conversation:

[10:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Threatening behavior IS enough, Mr. Ronin. Have you not figured that out yet?
[10:20] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Have fun isolated to your own parcel.
[10:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ah, our sweet Guv'nah will rent to anyone...but your actions will make you accepted, or not.
[10:21] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): bieng there.. done that..smile

"Been there".

[10:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Bored now.
[10:21] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) wanders off.
10:21] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: Duchess...perhaps we should let Mr. Ronin unleash his plans on the Commonwealth...it would be amusing to see what his ideas of not boring are...
[10:21] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Or in library in Oxbridge until I can convince Deans to band you from there as well.
[10:21] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: watches the troll line being crossed and heads off in the same general direction as the Duchess.
[10:21] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident) hands a box of popcorn I found
[10:22] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): nehh all this is a getting to know ye conversation

If he truly means that, then he's a terrible conversationalist.

[10:22] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oxbridge bans trolls.
[10:23] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: snatches his popcrom back from the troll and hands him a ticket to Mondrago...
[10:23] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): in all the 9yrs I came to this.. never got banned for this kind of conversation
[10:23] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx wonders when Mondrago bans him
[10:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Then we shall surprise you, indeed.
[10:24] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but I am pretty sure The Gov hears this.. so lets wait and see.

"Let's". And as I've said, Des won't ban anyone from Caledon, estate-wide, unless they are very bad indeed, on the level of constant griefing, harassment, shouting objects rezzed on Commonwealth land...but once more, that doesn't mean that individuals in Caledon can't ban him from their own parcels.

[10:24] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): at least we got the welcome talk sorted..
[10:25] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): glad to see you all. and more in time
[10:25] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You won't
[10:25] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): that is stil up for grabs

"Still".

[10:25] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: Yells from upstairs...Honey...did you move my Jackalope Furry Suit...
[10:26] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: oh no do you think that pervert stole it?
[10:26] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but I am glad to see the welcome mat to this region remains the same..
[10:26] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): missed it.. and one reason for the return of Me..
[10:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, he's welcome to it.
[10:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And I am *VERY* sure Des will be informed, yes.

Probably by multiple gentles, considering how this went.

[10:27] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I failed furry classes.. epic
[10:27] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): so don't worry about furry suits
[10:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): "return of Me". So not just a petty thief, but a petty thief with delusions of grandeur.
[10:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) makes a note.
[10:28] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx has dealt with returning trolls before.
[10:28] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): neh.. just know how to Me a entance and known..

This was harder to parse. I think he's saying "just know how to make an entrance and [be] known"?

[10:28] Hxxx Sxxxxxx whispers..."who is he"
[10:28] Hxxx Sxxxxxx quakes...
[10:28] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): No one of consequence, apparently.
[10:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And that would be "make an entrance"
[10:29] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): once I settle at kitty and get My stuffed shipped over in some days/week..then we get "busy"

"Stuff". And we don't care.

[10:29] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Good for you.
[10:30] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: look forward to it, mate...
[10:30] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): the rent is sorted.. so squating is out

"Squatting".

[10:31] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) makes a note in the Gearhaven files, as well, before moving on to far more entertaining things.

And it was here, Constant Reader, that Emilly Orr entered her very first ban on Gearhaven's ground.

[10:31] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I got a coptor . I can move arround..

"Around". And great, not only a troll, but an anachronist. Just what we need.

[10:32] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): and sins I hardly sleep.. like any good criminal.. pretty sure I meet all in time

"Since" And possibly "[will] meet all in time".

The conversation trailed off at this point; I certainly had better things to do, and I stopped paying attention. Then, around forty minutes later...

[12:14] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): greetings folk.. I hate to say it. but it looks like I got the place sorted and paid
[12:15] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): [Mxxx Mxxxxxxx] was very helpfull.. thanks

"Helpful". And that's her job as an estate manager. It doesn't mean she trusts you implicitly either, you nitwit.

[12:26] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: yea! welcome..
[12:28] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): any heartclock fixer arround?

"Around".

[12:37] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): ok. its not much.. tent and suplies.. but lets call it home for now

"Supplies". And again, "let's".

[12:39] Fxxxx Lxxxxxx: does supplies include ice cream? chocolate?
[12:39] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: sea urchin?
[12:40] Fxxxx Lxxxxxx: *makes a face*
[12:40] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): neh.. just oil and stuff to keep Me in the air...
[12:41] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): after I get the turkey stripped .. I can even eat
[13:08] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident) almost started to sing "I am in heaven"
[13:09] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I thought you died Soaron, welcome back?
[13:11] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): well I do have a heartclock now..
[13:11] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but still good
[13:11] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): at being bad

At this point, this is just tiresome.

[13:12] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): and now we got the place sorted and paid.. I time to ship My stuff over

I think he means "in time to ship" here?

[13:13] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but I do need help whit the heartclock soon.. any good at that?

"With". And possibly, "anyone good at that".

[13:15] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not for you
[13:15] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): hehehehhe of course not
[13:22] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): you can't good at being bad and loved all over

You mean, "you can't [be] good at". And yes, you can, that's the main issue--we've had madmen and mad scientists and evil geniuses, vampires and werewolves and fire-breathing dragons, world-wreckers and world dominators and the darkest of dark fae in Caledon, and to a person, they've been polite. YOU are not polite. YOU are an irritant. So it doesn't matter if you're good, bad, or functionally impaired, it's your behavior in this case, not your morality.

[13:23] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Sounds like you have a history with this...person, Mm. [Sxxx].
[13:23] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not personal Emilly
[13:23] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): lets put it this way. I come to this region close to 9 yrs now

"Let's".

[13:23] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): and like I say. I am good
[13:23] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): in bieng bad

"Being". And possibly even "[at] being bad".

[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Still don't care.
[13:24] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but since this alt of his has not been blocked by LL yet, nor Caledon yet as others have, I am blocking him so I do not have to listen to his rudeness, crudeness and lies

That is a truly excellent idea.

[13:24] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but a reputation is not bad
[13:24] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Oh, some in Caledon have.
[13:27] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): well if only one blocks Me.. I am slacking
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): And you're bad at math. "Some" is more than one.
[13:28] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): prolly due to heartclock failure and new settling
[13:29] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but at babbage there are still heartclock fixers.. but they do cost a lot,.

Again, conversation trailed off, and I stopped reading, but as my personal affairs had tied up, I had the chance to meander to our manse in Caledon II. And tried to pull up parcel information, and...utterly failed. So, stymied, I decided to ask chat.

[13:36] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Here's a question for Caledon at large--if About Land won't come up, does that mean I need to restart, or that sim does?
[13:36] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you reboot
[13:36] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: SL has been off the charts lately
[13:36] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): reboot is the better option yes
[13:39] Exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yeah, try a relog first. Sometimes the sims get stuck in odd places, but a reboot can clear local issues
[13:39] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods.

I logged out, logged back in, and was able to pull the land information up with no further issue. So Gearhaven's estate in Caledon II has also banned Mr. Ronin, now.

[13:45] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ah, much better. Land issue solved. Thanks!
[13:46] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yw

During this, there was an IM sent me by Ms. [Sxxx] who apparently has had experience with the troll in question prior:

[13:25] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: everyone figued he had not really died but were so relieved he was gone
[13:26] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So, I've never run across this moron before, but Lady [Axxxx] said that he's been at this 'ooh I'm a huge thief you'll never see me coming I'm so baaad' nonsense since six this morning.
[13:27] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah he will be around for months or longer unless Des bans him for something, it is so not right for people in this group to have to hear his crap.
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) nods
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Well, Des apparently rented to him again, he's in Kittywickshire
[13:27] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Gods help Kittywickshire
[13:29] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah
[13:32] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: He will continue to dominate the conversation as long as anyone is talking with him or is talking in the chat
[13:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I keep trying to let it go. I managed about an hour. :)
[13:33] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: he is good at it
[13:33] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): I should just mute him now, he's not going to say anything I'm interested in hearing.
[13:33] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes
[13:34] axxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it is horrible for ISC as a whole and he is thrilled with that

I bet.

So, that is what I did. He's done nothing AR-worthy, true, by my standards. But he's banned on both parcels I have control over, and he is blocked and muted for me personally, so I never have to worry about feeding the troll again. Thoroughly objectionable troglodyte. I hope he departs our shores soon.

I won't let this pull me overboard (part I)

So, this one's slightly different from my usual. For one, it's only partially anonymized, as the name of the troll in question I'm leaving in full view. Second, it may be longer than usual, to capture the whole of it, so it may turn into multiple parts.

[10:05] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident) wonders around the new region, looking for "Opportunities"

Meet the maledictor in question, Mr. Ronin.

[10:05] Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exxxx hides the heirlooms
[10:06] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): don't worry. if they are tide down.. I would get them

"Tied".

[10:06] gxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: A new region in Caledon?
[10:06] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): for Me,. aye
[10:06] Dxxxxxxxxxxxxx Exxxx: a new resident
[10:06] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Which?
[10:06] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): lets put it this way.. Old / new resident

So, what I'm getting from this is, he's had other names before this one.

[10:06] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): New region, or new resident?
[10:07] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): can't say that after 11 yrs.. I am new
[10:07] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) stares fixedly at the profile that says "six months old"

Yes, I know alts exist. Yes, it's clear he is one. I'm just making the point that this particular avatar, with this particular name, is only six months old.

[10:07] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Returnee?
[10:07] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): aye.. but this can be easy changed .. if you want
[10:07] gxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: New to Caledon
[10:08] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): more of a new (criminal) element at Caledon

And this was when the mood of chat began to sour. He was so insistent that he was a big, bad, criminal who would never be caught, an all-around evildoer on the loose, muahahahaha. Right. Whereas most of us listened to him and concluded 'troll'.

Also around this time, Lady A IMed me and mentioned he'd been playing this game since six am this morning. So...four hours of his nonsense. Hardly surprising people were tired of it.

[10:08] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx turns his gaze
[10:08] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: "oh really."
[10:08] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): just tie things down and lock/bolt doors and your good

"You're".

[10:09] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): then I can look at your neighbors
[10:09] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: AR-worthy person?
[10:09] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Not if he's a tenant.

Though at this point, post-conversation, I'm wondering if I should change that conclusion. True, he hasn't done anything to me yet that would earn a direct abuse report from me to the Lindens, but...there's nothing saying he couldn't do something that would get me to send in an AR to the Lindens. I'll just have to stand back and observe.

[10:09] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): well at My age.. I am known and skilled...

Oh, and that's another thing that makes me think he's just a troll. Reading through his profile--and this chat--tells me he's a wannabe dom. He constantly refers to himself as 'Me' and 'My', which tells me he expects anyone not dominant to immediately kneel in supplication at his feet.

I've met this type before. I am not impressed. Respect must be earned, and with the way he started out, that's just another checkmark on the 'person to avoid like the plague' list.

[10:10] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I am renting. so does the Gov demands
[10:10] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Tenant may still be abusive.
[10:10] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: Known by whom?
[10:10] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: criminals...in Caledon?
[10:10] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): none.. sins I didt give you My name

"Didn't", again, and I am ashamed to admit, it took me some time to catch on to what he meant. I thought he was just putting on airs.

[10:10] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx narrows his eyes.
[10:10] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): yet
[10:10] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: I thought we shipped all the degenerates off to one of the islands...
[10:10] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: So you are Known By None and Skilled at?

Nothing, apparently.

[10:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ah, now see, you're treading perilously close to "Why do we care" territory, Mr. Ronin.
[ 0:11] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I don't know criminals but at least 1 now
[10:11] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: do we care?
[10:11] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): don't know yet.. but time will tell..
[10:11] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: I think we are seeing the establishment of some RP, perhaps.
[10:11] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr) smiles. Pretty sure we're still figuring that out.
[10:11] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Mad scientists are one thing but threatening people?

I know. It's just not done.

[10:12] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I don't hunt ppl.. not My thing.. more anything not tied down or bolted..
[10:12] Hxxx Sxxxxxx looks for the popcorn...
[10:12] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Mmhmm. It may help, Mr. Ronin, in case you've forgotten this about ISC chat--it is as frequently IC as OOC.
[10:13] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): aye.. that may be its use..but I prefert to stick to RP

"Prefer". And that's fine, I know people in and out of Caledon who never break character, and that's acceptable--IF the character is interesting on its own. If it's not--if the character one is attempting to play is abhorrent to the core--then it truly doesn't matter if they never break character, because no one with half a brain is going to care enough to interact.

[10:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): But wandering around openly saying you're going to steal everything is not exciting, innovative, or shockingly new.
[10:13] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): and I still didt tell My name

Again, "didn't".

[10:13] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Also, it makes you a fairly bad thief.

It does. It's equivalent to walking into a bank without mask or weapon and standing in front of a security guard, screaming "I am here to rob this bank!"

[10:13] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx tells all his automatons to hunt potential self-proclaimed thief down with extreme prejudice.
[10:13] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): just good in bieng bad

"Being". And possibly even "good [at] being".

[10:14] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx sharpens a wing claw.
[10:14] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): ha. only if your fast.

"You're".

[10:14] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx digs up old blueprints based of Kafka's story Penal Colony.
[10:14] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident) grins
[10:15] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You keep threatening us with revealing your real name. I'll ask again, sir--why are we interested in knowing who you were before who you are now?
[10:15] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: maybe it is a clue?
[10:15] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): don't know why you think that way.. I never met you all before..
[ 10:16] Hxxx Sxxxxxx: well mr. ronin...nice to meet you...
[10:16] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: Yes, well, Mr. Not-Soaron-Ronin-nor-hoffMastersr-apparently, if I catch you.. RP or otherwise.. skulking about peoples homes or businesses - and in particular my friends, it may go. Poorly for you. They will drown you in a tea and shower you with ambiguous compliments.
[10:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Ohhh, no, my apologies, the penny dropped.

Because I suddenly caught on to all this folderol about 'you don't know my name'.

[10:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): He's not saying he had another name, gentles--he's saying we don't know his name because we haven't seen him. Because of course that's how this works.

Here's the thing. I get how, if you're that hard-core for character living, you can walk around amongst other avatars and insist that no one knows your name if you haven't formally introduced yourself. Fine. Occasionally ridiculously stupid with SL's culture and conventions, but fine.

But in ISC chat? In any group chat? We are reduced solely to the text-based environment. And in that text-based environment, names are given. Names cannot be avoided. And only an utter fool, or a malicious primitive, would ever think that people seeing printed names are not going to see printed names. I'm not sure which Mr. Ronin is yet, but it's entirely possible he's both.

[10:16] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): I do know My meal today is a turkey I found at kitty
[10:16] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx adjusts the frequency of Elder Signs in Caledon to repel Lovecraftian ronins.
[10:16] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You might not want to eat that--or, at least, take care. Turkeys have a tendency to explode...
[10:17] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: ah yes
[10:17] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: The Turkeys
[10:17] Soaron Ronin (hoffmastersr): I know.. I met one that kicked Me..
[10:17] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx adds account to list of people to be ejected from Oxbridge.

It could well be a good idea. Best for Oxbridge, in fact, and their collective student body.

[10:18] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): for the record. I am that guy you mother doest like. but I do not lie..not about that .. or anything else

"Doesn't".

[10:18] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: I just don't want him disappointed that most of us aren't going to RP that eek a thief stole my hatpin collection and will rather ask him to a dance or offer helpful suggestions for adjusting his ascot.
[10:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): You keep this up, you know you're going to be bounced from a great many places in Caledon...
[10:19] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): only if you get proof of Me doing anything illegal

Oh, no, not at all, and you're massively deluded if he believes that. Ban lines are considered beyond the pale in Caledon, but individual bans can happen on any parcel, on any sim, at any time.

[10:19] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): that stil didt happen

Again, "didn't".

[10:19] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Threatening behavior is enough
[10:19] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): boring RP aswel

"As well".

[10:19] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): smile
[10:20] Ixxxxxx Dxxxxx: You DO know that many of us even in our "light RP" guise have no great law enforcement role or even many qualms of bending any such "laws" if they existed, right?
[10:20] Soaron Ronin (hoffMastersr Resident): but if Gov gets Me a parcel.. pretty I am trusted

No, all that means is you have the Lindens to rent a parcel.

Here's the thing. Desmond Shang is very forgiving for an estate owner, perhaps more forgiving than he needs to be at times. But he is very willing to help, and willing to rent to anyone who's interested. He does not judge potential residents of Caledon, but that does not mean he automatically trusts every new resident deeply. And it is possible for residents to get banned, even if they own land in Caledon, because there are rules for behavior in Caledon, which are clearly posted in the Covenant. Which every new tenant is reminded to read, to understand, and to click the little box that says that new tenant has read the Covenant. It's not our fault, Caledon's fault, or Desmond's fault if Mr. Ronin just skimmed through it and hit accept at the bottom.

(And with that, we move the rest to the second entry.)

stop me if you've heard this one before: a man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor

Rosewood Hills is here...and if you really want to see it for yourself, well...don't say you weren't warned.

Speaking of madness, the Mad Circus is in town, and for once, it's not ours.



No, this is the Mad Circus sales event, where nearly every booth has a L$10 special gift, most have gachas for those interested, and the theme is decidedly bigtop macabre.

And the people are...strange...

[11:18] Txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: XXX Grams MAX of sugar A day, fights sexual addiction. There also Tetris effect Google it, 30 grams of sugar for 30 min of Gameplay but i go for 45 min. it cure it
[11:18] Second Life: Txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx has given you this texture: Sexual Rage2!!!!!!

I discarded the texture, preparing to walk into the event--I hadn't even walked through the gates yet!--when it happened again:

[11:18] Second Life: Txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx has given you this texture: Sexual Rage2!!!!!!
[11:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Excuse me?

He didn't answer, so I pulled the profile as I wandered in. Apparently Mr. T has this as the sum total of his SL bio:

love to use sleep fan App....


the socal bullying hasn't quiet stop tatolly for years



The Gays are handycap

Oh, a troll, then. Blocked and muted.

In other news, the Dark Style Fair is open, and oh, man, is it good. SO much arcane goodness packed into one cracked, lava-fissured landscape.

But that's not why I'm mentioning it. The Hotdog store has an attachment there called "Gutted"



This retails for L$350, if I recall correctly, and there's some up and down here. First, no alpha included, though most people with mesh bodies won't have an issue. It's also built to be unisex, which is awesome.

But...the viscera don't move. Alas. So I'm going to have to keep plugging away at figuring out mesh and animation to rebuild my Eviscera skirt. Still. One step closer!

I'm not sure what was your intention?

I was at the Pose Fair, of all places, when a short, distorted avatar started wandering about, complaining in voice that he couldn't find love. That he just wanted to be held, was that so much to ask? Then he came and stood next to me, perusing a static bellydance pose set in one of the shops. Still talking. I finally couldn't take it anymore and IMed him, which...in retrospect, was probably not bright.

[12:12] Emilly Orr: Dude, ask someone else. I charge.
[12:13] ForeignRufus: How much?

He wasn't serious, I could tell that. From his name, from his avatar, from the fact that he was less than a day old. But any port in a storm...or maybe I was just bored.

[12:13] ForeignRufus: Do you take v-bucks?
[12:13] Emilly Orr: L$2500 per half hour, L$4000 per full, and no.
[12:14] ForeignRufus: Damn, I like the sound of that

A prime case of "r/sarcasm".

[12:14] Emilly Orr: Really?

Not that text shows this, but this was also typed sarcastically, because he wasn't serious.

[12:15] ForeignRufus: Yes, so how does it work?
[12:15] Emilly Orr: Payment in advance. I can take you to my studio.
[12:15] ForeignRufus: How come I should trust that you wont just take my v-bucks and ruin?

Fairly sure he means "run" here.

[12:17] Emilly Orr: Why would I run? I honor all hires.

Even those from odd little troll avatars. And yes, this was the best picture I could get; the event was slightly lag-packed, but he never rezzed in. I'm fairly sure he was wearing pants, and of course the hat, but fairly sure he wasn't wearing anything else.

And no, only this one picture. I took one from the front, but...trust me, you don't want to know. It was...repellent.

[12:16] Emilly Orr: Okay, I need a term defined. What in the world are v-bucks? We deal in Lindens here.
[12:16] ForeignRufus: You play Madden'08?
[12:17] Emilly Orr: No.

So I looked it up. V-bucks are apparently the Fortnite currency? Never played Fortnite; the closest I've come to cooperative killing games was some pseudo-historical Roman game with destructible terrain features, and that so long ago I can't even remember the name. I'm not the PvP sort.

[12:17] ForeignRufus: Gotcha, so I have like a bunch of monies to spend, think you could tongue punch my meat ring?

That...is a line I've never heard before.

[12:18] Emilly Orr: Not sure my current bed offers rimming, but I could see what else I have.
[12:18] ForeignRufus: Please do, full list. Lemme know what animals you have in stock
[12:19] Emilly Orr: The House of Sakura does not offer bestiality. Though we do interact with furs happily.

It's true. The Duchess won't hire furs as Blossoms, but we're happy to have them as guests or patrons.

[12:19] Emilly Orr: If that's really something you want, there are sims for that.
[12:19] ForeignRufus: So like you cant gimme horse play, but you can gimme a dude in a furry suit? Thats [f**kin] lit fam
[12:19] ForeignRufus: yeet

So I figured the conversation was over, I'd just answer the last bit and be on my way...only, no, apparently.

[12:20] Emilly Orr: No, we don't have anyone non-human on staff currently.
[12:20] ForeignRufus: I follow you.... you dont have any ALIVE non-human staff.... Im cool with that

When...did I say that? I did not say that. What?

[12:21] Emilly Orr: No, no dead girls either.

Part of the problem, I think, is I was treating each statement seriously, and he clearly was not.

[12:22] ForeignRufus: Man... This blows

He wanted necrophilia?

[12:22] ForeignRufus: This is bad news bears
[12:23] Emilly Orr: SL, or the offer?
[12:25] ForeignRufus: What is SL?
[12:25] ForeignRufus: Sex lesbians?

Really? That's your best guess?

[12:25] Emilly Orr: You're in SL. Second Life?
[12:26] Emilly Orr: Second Life is the grid you're in.
[12:28] ForeignRufus: I thought I escaped the grid three years ago, [f**k]
[12:28] Emilly Orr: Mm, should have looked at the fine print.
[12:32] ForeignRufus: I feel super gay right now
[12:32] Emilly Orr: Hmm. We only have girls, but there are all-male sims.

He didn't say anything after that, not that I expected him to, but still. What sort of troll logs onto the grid only to be dissatisfied from go? Seriously, what is the point?

yells with my voice, tears with my hands

Well, this is someone irritating.

[11:40] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: If someone seens Travesty87 in the Village, he seems to have griefing tools

So, this isn't exactly a new policy, but since this is the second time using it in the past week, I will explain: griefers do not get anonymity. Griefers get named.

[11:47] Emilly Orr: This is very strange. From his bio: "I am a beginning builder and hoping to learn how to script. I am usually social in second life, but sometimes I get sick of drama and chat places." Year old, RL pic as his SL profile pic, but actually seems like he has a working brain. Why would he be a griefer?
[11:54] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Misbehaved in the writers' meeting, Apparently he had a cage gun
[11:54] Emilly Orr: That's really dumb of him, then.
[11:54] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Out of my range at the moment

I thought about it, and thought, based on the fact that his bio does paint him as a relatively earnest soul...I IMed him. As the conversation below will prove, this was a mistake.

[11:55] Emilly Orr: So, just a tip for future Caledon relations: you've already damaged your name. You are being termed a griefer. Caledon does not deal with griefers in any way. I don't know what happened at the writers' meeting, but if you want to do *anything* else in Caledon Oxbridge Village, you might want to never use that cage gun again.

He didn't answer for a very long time, and in the meantime, the conversation in ISC chat continued.

[11:56] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I had to eject him from the meeting
[11:57] Bxxx Gxxxxxxxxx: what's a cage gun?
[11:58] Emilly Orr: Well, the elder tech was simply, rez a cage, move it over an avatar, avatar was trapped. The 'newer' variation was a gun that fired at an avatar, rezzing the cage that then trapped the avatar.
[11:59] Bxxx Gxxxxxxxxx: ah
[11:59] Bxxx Gxxxxxxxxx: but couldn't the avatar just tp away?
[11:59] Emilly Orr: Cages are still very annoying. And yes, the avatar can, now, but when they were first developed, part of why they were so frustrating is that they stuck to the avatar. Even porting away wouldn't help.
[12:00] Bxxx Gxxxxxxxxx: oh yuck
[12:02] Emilly Orr: Early days of SL, a lot of the early "self-defense" huds would be termed griefing tools now. For example, I had one that I would type someone's name into, in the same region, and it would crumple them into a small spiky ball, set them on fire, and force-log them off.
[12:02] Emilly Orr: Granted, I only *used* that when people were shooting at me, or launching cages, but it was still just as annoying.

And then Travesty wrote back.

[12:02] Travesty87: i dont give a [f*ck] what you think my reputation is
[12:02] Travesty87: i dont
[12:02] Travesty87: did i grrief there?
[12:02] Travesty87: no
[12:03] Emilly Orr: You used a cage gun at the writers' meeting. The man running that meeting ejected you from the parcel.
[12:03] Travesty87: proove it
[12:03] Travesty87: i did not
[12:03] Travesty87: thats a lie
[12:03] Travesty87: lie
[12:03] Travesty87: lie
[12:03] Travesty87: lie
[12:03] Emilly Orr: I don't have to, but I will ask.
[12:03] Travesty87: lie

I didn't bother to respond, I just went back to ISC chat.

[12:03] Emilly Orr: And my, he is an aggressive little troglodyte. He's telling me he didn't do anything wrong. I am dubious.
[12:04] lxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Holy cow.
[12:04] Emilly Orr: And, based on his language, I would definitely agree with Mr. [Sxxxxxxx]. I have banned him from my parcel just in case.

Not that he had plans to come here, but always better safe.

[12:04] Travesty87: i was going to talk to yall about mycerial killer porta potty idea
[12:04] Travesty87: but no
[12:04] Travesty87: you gonna be snops

I was done with him. He'd amply proven that Mr. S was entirely correct in terming him a griefer. I hope he's banned throughout the Caledon estates.

[12:05] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Good.

Indeed.

[12:07] exxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Insulting behavior in the meeting was bad enough.then he tried to use [Axxxxx]'s mics
[12:14] Kxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Not very good behavior.
[12:15] Emilly Orr: Oh, that's not good at all.

Let's hope he doesn't hurt anyone else in Caledon.

you're just like everybody else

So, yesterday was a friend of mine's birthday, and he spent it as he does many Saturdays, playing excellent music in an all-ages club. Just to note: there is nothing wrong with this. That isn't what this post is about.

This is:

[15:17] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: um
[15:17] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: is this a childrens disco?

So remember when I said it was an all-ages club? It's an all-ages club that generally caters to the under-four-foot set, but the kids are friendly and the music is good. I'm usually tied up on Saturdays when he does his set, so I've missed a lot of his DJing, but like I said, this time he personally invited me, and it was his birthday, and I wasn't about to say no.

[15:17] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: everyone is welcome!
[15:17] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this is the [name of club]
[15:17] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: YESH
[15:17] Emilly Orr: Yep.
[15:17] Emilly Orr: So if you can't size down, at least dress PG

I didn't think saying that was unreasonable. It is an all-ages club.

[15:17] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: Where kids rule, but adults are cool too
[15:17] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: :|

Enter Idiot J. Idiot J didn't seem to like the fact that it was an all-ages club.

[15:18] Emilly Orr: First time I came, a friend brought me. We were both older.
[15:18] Emilly Orr: [Jxxxxxx], if it really bothers you, this is also a charity event. All bodies welcome to give to charity.
[15:19] Wxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I have a white van, and some candy. Any kids want some candy?

Enter Idiot W. You know that adage, there's always one more idiot? We seemed to get a lot of them in the last half hour of the set.

[15:20] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: Someone wants a ban from here.

Yes, yes, they're begging for it.

[15:20] Emilly Orr: [Wxxxxxx], these are savvy kids, they're not interested.
[15:21] xxxxxxx Txxxx: Where's van? I like to bite into snack vans. :3

Rawr!

[15:22] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: we have a giant cat on standby and we're not afraid to use it :)
[15:22] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: *giggles*
[15:22] xxxxxxx Txxxx: Cat? Where?
[15:22] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sorry, no cats here
[15:22] xxxxxxx Txxxx: Well I suppose a fox is a dog running on cat software.
[15:22] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: at least no non-disguised ones :D
[15:23] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: oops fox my bad :D
[15:23] Emilly Orr ponders. Well, catlike?

Because to go dance in the club, I'd taken off the human guise, and climbed into a much shorter Kemono with the anime Venus head. But with tail and ears, so I was definitely cat-esque, if not exactly cat.

[15:24] xxxxxxx Txxxx: I'ma silver fox but I came here red to not be called a wolf and now I'm a cat. lol
[15:24] xxxxxxx Txxxx: *mews*
[15:24] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx: These things happen
[15:24] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: [Txxxx]'s a cool cat
[15:24] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx nods
[15:24] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sorry [txxxx], its the DJs poor eyesight

It's not always easy to determine species in a dance club with a lot of flashing lights.

[15:29] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why are we still here
[15:29] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this is like
[15:29] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: club peed

Because you're an idiot?

About this time I sent a private IM to Idiot J:

[15:30] Emilly Orr: Listen. You don't like it, you can go.
[15:30] Emilly Orr: But it's the DJ's birthday, so don't make a fuss here.
[15:30] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sorry
[15:31] Emilly Orr: The music is good, the people are friendly, you don't have to date anyone on the dance floor.

Why is this hard to understand? It's not hard.

And then...

[15:32] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: AH!! :o!
[15:32] mxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: EEEeeeeekkkk!!!!
[15:32] Emilly Orr: Uhhh...
[15:32] Emilly Orr: Is this from one of our two troublemakers?

Because I only knew of the two idiots at this point. So what's happening--that no one is seeing, because I couldn't even get the photo function to open--is someone bombed the center of the dance floor with a griefing object, that spawned zombies and thundering shards of brightly glowing glass. It went off three times, and each time pushed us farther and farther off the dance floor, until all of us were literally pressed flat against the walls of the club.

[15:33] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: omggg
[15:33] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx: Its a generic off the shelf grief tool attack!
[15:33] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx sighs
[15:33] Emilly Orr: Yeah, but why?
[15:33] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx: I don't think there needs to be a why...

I always think there needs to be a why, because it's both more baffling, and more contentious, thinking people are just doing this with zero thought whatsoever.

[15:33] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: who was that
[15:33] oxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: wtf
[15:34] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Its bibble
[15:34] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: she's outside

Just outside of the club, where Mistah G with the banhammer couldn't reach her. And since Bibble (full name given later) was the griefer who owned the object, Bibble does not get anonymity.

[15:34] lxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: laggg
[15:34] xxxxxxx Txxxx: who is doing this?
[15:34] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: swat

Or Bibble, AKA, Idiot B, who came with Idiot J and Idiot W and stayed outside. Which meant they planned this.

[15:35] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: banned
[15:35] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thx [gxxxxx]
[15:35] mxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thank you, [gxxxxx]
[15:35] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: it was ilbrendenli (Bibble)

AKA, Idiot B, the owner of the griefing object that lagged out the club for no good damn reason.

[15:36] bxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yes my eyes and ears thank you
[15:36] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: he he
[15:36] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: I don't even bother talking to those people anymore
[15:36] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx: Its never worth talking to them
[15:37] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: lift my axe and they're gone
[15:37] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thumbs up
[15:37] mxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Go go [Gxxxxx]!
[15:37] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: they need the attention, feed the monster, watch it grow
[15:37] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: What'd I miss?
[15:37] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Zombies
[15:37] Bxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxxx: ah, ok
[15:37] Nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: make a big spoffer and they think em are hack gods
[15:37] Nxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: o m g!
[15:37] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: just another day in SL :D
[15:37] Axxxxxx Fxxxxx: A generic off the shelf grief attack tool

Not even a particularly creative one.

[15:38] xxxxxxx Txxxx: lol so 2004
[15:38] Emilly Orr: Thank you, [Gxxxxx].
[15:38] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: this is a generic off the shelf pedo convention

SHUT UP.

[15:38] Emilly Orr: Will you STOP, [Jxxxxxx]? For the love of all things. No one is interested in dating you.
[15:38] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I reported you all

I doubt that.

[15:38] dxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: the axe is poised [gxx]?
[15:39] Emilly Orr: Please do tell me it is
[15:39] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx whispers: [N*gga] why this sim full of pedophiles
[15:39] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: how did all you pedo's meet up
[15:39] Emilly Orr: You're a jerk

He really was. They both were. I despair of any troll who proves out to be a being capable of rational thought.

[15:39] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: it's very sharp [Dxxx] :D
[15:39] Sxxxxx Axxxxxx: Hello everyone..
[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I don't want to date none of this children
[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: who do you think i am

An idiot?

[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you silly mare

Cat, thank you.

[15:39] Emilly Orr: Good, then stop complaining
[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i don't have a van parked round the corner
[15:39] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: emily here trying to date kids

You can shut the hell up, too.

[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: like all these other people
[15:39] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: sick [f*ck]
[15:39] Dilly the Swear Llama: [axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx] has just said a badword, they need to pay the swear jar L$10!!

Bet they won't.

[15:39] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: emily why u wanna date kids
[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: do you all take names out of a raffle
[15:39] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: at the end of the night
[15:39] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: another one bites the dust

Mistah G was doing what he could, but apparently it takes more now to set up and execute bans now.

[15:40] Emilly Orr shakes her head and gives up
[15:40] Emilly Orr: Not worth the drama
[15:40] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and you select them that way
[15:40] Emilly Orr: But keep going, [Jxxxxxx] you'll be next
[15:40] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: next for what
[15:40] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: van loving?
[15:41] xxxxxxx Txxxx: I'm Glad [Gxxxxxx] is here when the mentally ill show up to spice it up :3
[15:41] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: smell my hankey
[15:41] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: it's magical

Like I said, no rational thought.

[15:41] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: there is plenty of room on the ban list
[15:41] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx:
[15:42] Emilly Orr: [Gxxxxxx], I'll enthusiastically volunteer [Jxxxxxxx] for your ban list
[15:42] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i'm fine where i am

Far from.

[15:42] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx tosses [Gxxxxx] the "Banhammer'
[15:42] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: no neeed to ban

Every need to ban.

[15:42] Emilly Orr: Then behave.
[15:43] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: is that what you tell the kids
[15:43] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: before you towelflick them into the van

I don't even know what that means.

[15:43] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: executed
[15:43] Emilly Orr: THANK you
[15:43] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: :D

And with that, Idiot J was gone.

[15:43] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: any more volunteers?
[15:43] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: he he
[15:44] sxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Thats was a nice headshot [Gxxxxx]
[15:44] Gxxxxx Exxxxxx: he he
[15:44] Emilly Orr: Indeed.
[15:44] Sxxxxx Axxxxxx: Sorry all we aren't welcome i guess

Not if you're part of Idiot J, Idiot W, and Idiot B.

[15:44] Sxxxxx Axxxxxx: [15:41] [axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx]: why u got a sim full of kids
[15:41] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: are you sleeping with em all
[15:42] sxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: excuse me? ain't my sim
[15:42] sxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: thanks!
[15:42] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Why u hanging out with children
[15:42] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: u sick [f*ck]
[15:44] Dilly the Swear Llama: [Sxxxxx Axxxxxx] has just said a badword, they need to pay the swear jar L$10!!
[15:44] Emilly Orr: Nope, one doofus still here

Then Idiot J IMed me back:

[15:45] Jxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: why did you ban me
[15:46] Emilly Orr: I didn't, I'm not a mod here, but you were being rude.

So I started yesterday getting bounced from a group, while Peppah asked for any more volunteers, and ended the day encouraging someone else to ban people, while they asked for more volunteers.

Synchronicity is odd at times.

the lower you go the less that you'll know

Inspirobot is my life. That is all.

Received out of the blue by a friend today:

[23:40] RavenglassGreeter4: Rent from Prokofy Neva's Ravenglass Rentals today! We're in business in 13th year. Total freedom! Build! Media ennabled! Weekly senior club! Artificial chicken farm! We're a proud #MAGA community and guarantee a safe & conservative environment. Liberals, muslims and other hecklers aren't welcome! Your abusive message is permission to publish your chat! Contact Prokofy Neva to make Second Life great again and get your very own CHEAP cottage from only 1000L/week!

I have several questions.

Chiefly, is Ms. Neva a Trump supporter? More to the point, is "RavenglassGreeter4" a bot of hers, or is it a trollbot spawned to cause trouble? I literally cannot tell, save for misspelling "Prokofy"...though now I'm wondering if I'm misspelling her name by saying it's spelled "Prokovy". Now I don't know.

she has hairy legs, and she eats raw meat

OH, man. This is the weirdest thing that's happened in a while. So, there's an event called Kink(y) Monthly, and usually, there's a lot of interesting Adult-themed items--common features are lingerie, collars, leashes, spanking benches...you get the idea. It's occasionally laggy, because many folks (I'm ashamed to admit, I'm among them) go in full mesh with scripted HUDS on, and y'know, that increases the lag at busy shopping events.

There are many ways to deal with this problem. The most common include lowering your graphics settings, or setting everyone but you to impostor status. Recently, there's been a couple advancements, including jellydolls (Firestorm allows you to set how complex the avatars you're trying to render are), friends only (another Firestorm setting which renders only people on your friendslist), and derendering all avatars temporarily. While some of these are less well known, they are all useful techniques for events with lots of active scripts, vendors, and people.

Now, by the time this occurred, I had left due to lag. I'd seen all the offerings, picked up a few demos for outfits to try on later, and poofed away to a far less laggier locale. But my friends stayed, and...that's when this happened:

[23:39] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: fawkes you better get the [f*ck] away from me
[23:39] Fawkes Allen: I can't even see you! I have Avatars disabled due to lag
[23:39] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i will harass you if you keep bumping me

Keep in mind, this is not in IM. She is saying this IN OPEN CHAT.

[23:40] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I don't giva [shh*t]
[23:40] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: poof away, nothing here for you
[23:40] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You are here just to bother others
[23:40]Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so just log off or tp out
[23:40] Fawkes Allen: I am here to shop, same as you.

The arrogant assumptions in her statements are galling. Mm. Allen, due to having derendered everyone, had, near as we can figure, bumped this aggressive little trash fire ONCE. After that SINGLE bump--to which all that was really required was "Hey! Don't bump me!" followed by an apology from Mm. Allen--she made it her mission in life to ruin everyones' night.

[23:40] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Oh yeah? Shopping for female panties you idiot?
[23:41] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you are standing in the wrong spot

Yeah, so...it's known that Mm. Allen--and many others in SL--are genderfluid. Sometimes he's male, sometime's she's female, sometimes it's a robot--because Mm. Allen frequently roleplays in various communities. Shopping for panties is not at all uncommon, but more than that, what's wrong with any male-identified avatar shopping for lingerie? They could have a wife, a girlfriend, a mistress. Maybe they're shopping for a friend who can't make the event. Maybe there's a birthday or anniversary coming up, and they're wondering if their partner(s) or friend(s) would like something like it. Or maybe, just maybe, they want to wear it themselves.

[23:41] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I saw you bumping everyone here and standing on that girl's head

The phrase "standing on that girl's head" is especially telling here. I won't lie, we often shop in a clump, and when we do, we generally select one person to port us places. Which she does by standing in place and sending out ports. This often results in us arriving before the last person has moved off the port point, so it's not at all uncommon that we will--briefly--find ourselves standing on someone's head.

But--and this is key--this happens in general outside the venues, or if inside, to the side of where the most people might aggregate. This tells me that this rampaging loony was considering Mm. Allen bumping us while getting untangled from the teleport clump as "bumping everyone here".

Thanks for being offended on our behalf, you knuckle-dragging Visigoth, but really, we're fine. Ask first before assuming someone else is completely in the wrong.

[23:41] Fawkes Allen: Yes? Beyond the fact I have multiple characters, It's nice to see what might be interesting to suggest to people I know.
[23:41] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: So go [F*CK] YOURSELF
[23:41] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You are not that clever lol
[23:41] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: leave
[23:42] Fawkes Allen: No, now stop being so rude, I'll stand still if that'll make you happier and Cam
[23:42] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok,

And then she did--something--which shotput Fawkes out of the building and near the edge of the sim. After Mm. Allen flew back, confused, the conversation continued. Again, IN MAIN CHAT:

[23:44] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: you want more?
[23:45] Fawkes Allen: You're the one Griefing me?
[23:45] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yeah so?

Open admission of griefing tactics used on another SL avatar in main chat. Abuse reports began to be filed. From IMs in a group conference we were using:

[23:46] Fawkes Allen: Assault or Harassment?
[23:47] Fawkes Allen: What's the category for Griefing?
[23:47] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: Hmm, I don't know actually, I've never reported anyone before, I thought Griefing was it's own thing
[23:48] Emilly Orr: Assault.
[23:48] Emilly Orr: Bumping, pushing, or shoving someone--deliberately--in a safe area
[23:49] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: Yah, I'm glad I walked over, this is great
[23:50] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: Wish I had popcorn
[23:50] Emilly Orr: It went on?
[23:50] Emilly Orr: Oh dear gods, she's saying all this in OPEN CHAT??
[23:50] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: It's still going, and yep

Another friend had walked over at this point, trying to keep the peace.

[23:47] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You're not making any sense, [Jxxx]. He's clearly just trying to shop like the rest of us.
[23:47] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Shut up idiot, no one is talking to you
[23:47] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: what are you his alt?
[23:47] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: [f*ck] off
[23:47] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: What a pleasant personality.

Yeah, really. And apparently she's proud of being her objectionable little self:

[23:47] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yeah, I am not so shut the [f*ck] up ok?
[23:47] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: No one is talking or dealing with you
[23:48] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: i am talking to fawkes not you
[23:48] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And did he get to choose to talk to you or not?
[23:48] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You want to suck his lil [d*ck] go right ahead, but I am not talking to you at all
[23:48] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Why would you get to choose who to talk to at will, but other people don't get to choose to talk to you if they want to?
[23:48] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: He bumped me and everyone else if you have to know lol

Yeah, at this point I'm calling shenanigans on this assertion. I know I wasn't there, personally, but I have verification of three other people who were there with Mm. Allen, and they saw him bump her once, period. Once. Only.

[23:48] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Ok you are his alt I get it
[23:48] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: This is a lagfest.
[23:49] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Lotsa people will bump into people.

As is the nature of many large shopping events. Decent people apologize when we can--when we catch it--and if not, for most people, it's a momentary flare of irritation, and then, guess what, they go on with their day. Like rational adults do. Instead of spoiled children, like Ms. [Jxxx] here:

[23:49] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: fawkes, your computer is getting hot isn't it with 2 avatars?
[23:49] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: lol
[23:49] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It's not like we get physically hurt by it.
[23:49] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: at least make a real "woman" as an alt ffs
[23:49] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: not a monkey

I don't understand the "monkey" thing at all. [Txxxxxxxx] is an elemental female, with ears that are roughly cat-shaped, and a tail made of bubbles. She is alternately composed of water, earth, air or lava, depending on her mood. How does that equate to "monkey"?

[23:50] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I'm nobody's alt. I am his friend though. See, people with decent personalities get to have friends.
[23:50] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: It's kind've a neat perk.
[23:51] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: blah blah blah......take ur monkey tail and your friend elsewhere then
[23:51] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: No.
[23:51] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: We're shopping.
[23:51] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Which I'm gonna get back to doing now.
[23:51] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Cheers!

And when this particular elemental decides to walk away from a peacekeeping effort, you have definitely done something wrong, because she's just about the calmest, most peaceful person I know.

[23:51] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: ok
[23:51] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: "sheds a tear"

Normally--or at least, these days--I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she had a bad day. Maybe she's under a lot of work or relationship stress. But all that changed when I pulled up her profile.

Turns out she's all of five months old. This is her SL bio:

All I gotta say is play cool with me and we'll be cool! Be a [f*cking] bitch and I will be a bigger [f*cking] bitch....;)...test me! I will own you, so back the [f*ck] off unless you're willing to look stupid ;)

Ooookay. Though I'm fairly sure the only one looking stupid here is her.

Her first life bio?

Only people with a "need to know" criteria will know, otherwise all you need to know is that I don't know what to tell ya!

So she's not smart enough to come up with a bio, she's barely smart enough to spell simple words in main chat at a highly populated event, and she has no picks.

What a total waste of oxygen.

But that wasn't the end of things. She was still ranting, only now, she'd moved to IMing Mm. Allen directly:

[00:04] [00:04] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so that's ur alt?
[00:04] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: monkey tailed chick lol
[00:04] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: that is the best you got for me?
[00:04] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: A noobish looking avatar talking big in local?

What's "talking big" in local? Seriously, I want to know how trying to mediate equates to a threatening gesture. Does she view any form of conversation as verbal assault?

[00:05] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That is the best you got?
[00:05] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: 3713 days and that is the best you got for me huh?
[00:05] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You do need better friends you know? Lol
[00:05] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: That [sh*t] is no help to you lol
[00:06] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I can help her look half way decent if you need, let me know lol
[00:06] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: As of now, she looks like death lol

Given the choice between my friend's elemental structure, which is original and fascinating, and Ms. [Jxxx]'s spraddle hips, spray-tanned skin, and a thigh gap you could drive a tank through...well, I know which one I'd pick for fashion advice.

[00:06] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I mean wtf is with the tail and the ears? Lol
[00:06] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Is she a monkey?
[00:07] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: tell her to go get a body, a head, and a skin
[00:07] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: and get rid of that tail shit deal lol

She's never seen any neko on the grid? She's associated solely with humans her entire five months of experience?

Oh, who am I kidding, she probably has. Probably has no idea that the grid is larger than her filth-filled head.

[00:08] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I won't tell ehr that so I won't be too rude

No, of course not, because you're respectful of other avatars' feelings. Cue my massive, nigh crushing sensation of disbelief.

[00:08] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: but you know better with all the years you got here
[00:08] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: And next time you want to come and [f*ck] around with people, make sure you look at the avatars and read their profiles ok?
[00:09] Jxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Some of us know a lot actually

Some people, sure. Not you, clearly. You're stone-stick stupid, and it looks like you won't be improving any time soon.

[00:14] Fawkes Allen: I do like her 'I don't want to be rude'
[00:14] Fawkes Allen: Like...no

Yeah. Because she passed rude a long time back.

[00:15] Txxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Yeah, do not engage with toxic personalities, generally.

Yeah. Ever. It never turns out well.

[00:16] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: Honestly, I don't think she would care, it didn't really seem like she was reading what you were saying
[00:18] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: People like her are why I hate people
[00:19] Emilly Orr nodnods
[00:20] Axxxxxxxx Axxxxx: Ah well, at least her stupidity was hilarious

And saved. More than willing on this one, to give the name to anyone who asks. Just in case y'all want to ban the stupid from your lands or events. I know I'm preemptively banning her from any lands that I own.

And after that lovely bit of strangeness, have some religious nightmare fuel. I don't even. Also, I don't want to be glared at by a robot in diamond-plate armor speaking about God. Thanks, but no.

the filthy streets and the calloused feet and bloodshot Irish eyes

[21:47] MystiTool HUD 2.0.2: Entering chat range: Daenerysss (16m)

But of course you are. Because "Daenerys" and "Daeneryss" were already taken. *facepalms*

[21:37] Jxxxxxxx Mxxxx: EM's needed in [sim name redacted] for Griefing ...Avatars are coming and going who are wearing griefing items. Please and Thank you.
[21:38] Mxxx Mxxxxxxx: I'm here, who are they
[21:39] Jxxxxxxx Mxxxx: [redacted]
[21:39] Mxxx Mxxxxxxx: not showing on radar
[21:40] Emilly Orr: Wearing griefing items? That's new.
[21:41] Gxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx: it's the new fad to say they never rezzed anything someone could get a name to AR

So, this is something I hadn't heard about before. Confirmed with an EM from another estate, btw--this seems to be the new thing. Not only because they can claim they didn't rez anything out on the sim, but because this makes even sims that disallow rezzing things vulnerable. While most rez-on-movement attachments (things like flower bursts, Mystitool rezzers, or pawprints for the most part) will be defeated in no-rez sims, something about these specific attachments allow them to spew everything from particles to actual prims at random. I'm hoping whatever makes these work is tracked down in the code soon, and fixed.

In the meantime, a friend passed along a tip on a new L$1 outfit at LC's World of Fashion:

(from the fashion album; this outfit is named "Mooz". Yes, really.)

Err...no. Come on now. That is not an outfit. That is rolling out of bed the morning after in the same clothes and being too hungover to change. Seriously? I mean, at this point, why bother wearing jeans?!

But wait, there's more. This is the "Sissy" outfit on the sale wall:

(from the fashion album; this one's called "Sissy", and nope, that's not a fabric tear, that's a deliberate modification.)

This one's going for L$55, and near as I can tell (from staring at it), the waistband was made to wear that way. This is not a case of jeans slipping off one's frame, oh no--this is a pair of jeans that are sitting (somewhat) comfortably around the lower hips, which then...for inexplicable reasons known only to the designer...are cut and hemmed to allow that triangular section of hip and belly to be revealed.

Why would you want these, again?

I think the same shop, but in a different location, is also offering a freebie "mini dress":

(from the fashion album, and the cocktail-length half-dress is revealed.)

I...do not understand. From the notecard sent to me: "If you're on your way to a ball, candle-light-dinner or a romantic evening, you will find your perfect fitting dress." Uh...lady, I think your idea of "perfect fitting" and my idea of perfect-fitting are radically different ideas.

At any rate, these are all L$1 outfits, or free, and there's a lot of other under-L$99 sale offers in both stores, so...yay? If you like clothes designed to fall off your hips, at least.

you'll never hear the message I give

Explore the world of reverse graffiti. Basically, instead of arming themselves with cans of spray pain and stencils, street artists are turning the tables and instead, removing accumulated dirt, smog, mold, whatever, to reveal artistically-arranged clean surfaces. Personally, I'm among those who think that graffiti, executed with style and grace, is as much of an art form as anything hanging in art galleries, but this particular form goes that one step further into actual restoration, which I find very intriguing.

In more baffling news, Dr. Pepper thought it would be a great idea for people to invent their own catchphrase T-shirts--the end assumption is that consumers will create branded shirts they want to wear, and will be overjoyed to pay $15 per shirt to buy them.

This...didn't work out exactly as planned:

• "I'm A...banana!"
• "I'm A...bit tired of Dr. Pepper"
• "I'm A...-dverse to drinking Dr. Pepper"
• "I'm A...-ctually not a fan of Dr. Pepper"
• "I'm A...diabetic thanks to Dr. Pepper"

Some enterprising young idiot discovered symbols could be used on the shirts--you can imagine how well that went. And more than one person discovered "curse words" weren't allowed--but apparently (or at least, according to Dr. Pepper), that also includes Coca Cola (but mysteriously, not any other soft drink brand names).

Someone else discovered that while "corporate whore" hits their profanity filters, "lemon stealing whore" does not, so Dr. Pepper's standards are bizarre, to say the least.

And two shirts already bought and delivered--one says "I'm a Mr. Pibb drinker", and the other one says "I'm a Holocaust denier!". Wau. Just wau.

Someone else had the same text problem on CoolVL that I had! They even tossed up a picture so Henri Beauchamp can see exactly what's going on. After (likely minimal) evaluation of the problem, Beauchamp's answer was to blame the graphics card, with the suggestion to revert to an earlier driver--or to buy a new NVidia card, instead.

Here's my problem with that: if the only viewer I have this issue with is CoolVL, and no other viewer (including SL's official Viewer 3) has this invisible text issue...why would I revert to an earlier driver set? I can just choose not to use Beauchamp's buggy viewer.

I was given an entirely new reason not to go back when I first logged in on Catznip, also: because inexplicably, I was suddenly wearing three complete outfits--three wigs, three skirts, three pairs of shoes, three pairs of prim eyes--et cetera. It look me fifteen minutes of hitting "Detach all" and "Take off all clothing" before finally, everything (from six DIFFERENT outfit folders, even!) was off, and I could start with new hair, new outfit and new eyes.

I think this was CoolVL's death knell for me. Between the utter lack of end user support and the bugs in the code inherent to Beauchamp's code build, plus the fact that getting him to implement new features he didn't personally use himself--whether or not they were in the official SL viewer code--was nigh impossible, even if the requests came from a male...I don't see any reason to continue to use the Cool VL Viewer.

Other news. I don't, as a rule, give much thought to Prokovy Neva, but last week I was trying to track down more on Oskar Linden's departure from LL, and ran across this. What I find most compelling is this passage, near the end of the entry:

[23:20] Axxxxx Wxxxxxxx: I went ahead and picked up my belongings... and got my 329L back. Thank you for that. Also, just so you are aware... I do plan to write up an entire blog posting on a very popular SL blog about your exceptional customer service, urging all of my friends and blog followers (there is a lot...) to rent from you and to spread the word. In addition I will make sure all of my friends post on their SL Facebooks and Plurks about how everyone should rent from your land. You're welcome. :)

BTW, if you can't tell what sarcasm is... that was my way of letting you know, I'm going to be sure the word gets out about how fucking unprofessional and rude you are.... among a few other things I'll add. Good luck with all your nookie tenants. LOL

So, I punched in her name on a general blog search and found this. It's fairly self-explanatory, but I'd like to point out two distinct--but I think, personally, related--things:

1. The woman relating this tale of woe in quotes goes by "αℓℓι вяєєη cυℓℓєη".
2. The woman posting this tale of woe on behalf of Miss "cυℓℓєη" is going by (at least on the blog) "Fαšhï♡ηʍαdεƐαšψ".

I'm thinking I have a developing prejudice that is slowly settling into hard and obdurate place: that of substantially revising the intelligence level downward of anyone who uses Unicode characters in place of an actual name, who doesn't actually need those characters to spell OUT the name in question.

Well, that and continuing the prejudicial conception of idiots who want to be part of the Cullen family. Because those were abysmal, poorly written books, that were then turned into abysmal, poorly-scripted, poorly-filmed, poorly-plotted movies.

But also, this seems like prime self-delusion on steroids, on the part of Miss "cυℓℓєη". Like or loathe Neva, I'm not seeing anything particularly wrong in what was said in the first place. While it was blunt, it was not disrespectful, and had the codicil that if nothing truly was going wrong, then the cautions didn't apply.

And, as leery as I am about naming what is and isn't a child avatar, even I look at this and see a damaged--and possibly sexualized--child-height figure, if nothing else.

Running down her profile, there's a comment that terms Miss Ordinary an "aunt" of some sort, and she also has a shop offering what seems like quality fantasy (and seaside) prefabs, so...a case could be made that she's not normally the size of an adolescent. I will firmly and without hesitation raise my hand to support short people in SL; we are frequently accosted if we're under six feet as being pedophiles, perverts, or outright evil; and gods help those of us who go out actually in child forms--even if we ourselves keep ourselves restricted solely to PG zones.

But that having been said, if we take the image solely as the image--that is, if we discount what we may know about her business, her friends, and her personal RL age (let alone her SL age, which puts her clearly in the 2009 decantees)--then we have an avatar who looks very much like a child with artificially puffy lips, clawed feet, spattered in blood, wearing a severed hand. With more blood streaking her hair and clothing.

I'm all for keeping the spirit of the season--in this case, Samhain--alive all year; I have on frequent occasion set out onto the grid in some terrifying form or other, simply because I feel like creeping people out that day. How'ver, while I might be short when doing so, there is never a chance where I am presenting myself as a psychotic schoolgirl murderer, or...whatever the blood layers were supposed to indicate in Miss Ordinary's case.

Given the same information as Mm. Neva had, and valuing people who can obey my estate's covenant over just anyone who can pay the rent, I might have done exactly the same thing, and came to the same conclusion regarding both Miss Ordinary's outfit, and what may have been going on to cause the neighbor's complaint in the first place.

The one thing I find morbidly ironic in all of this? The fact that Miss "cυℓℓєη" told Neva, outright, that she was going to publish an account of these terrible misdeeds on a "very popular SL blog". Yet not only have I never heard of that blog, there are only four comments to that entry--and one of them is from the group owner.

Sure, Miss "cυℓℓєη", winning the popularity contest there...you may well have induced two turtles and a piece of dryer lint to never rent from Neva again, but...I doubt you influenced anyone else.

you never listened, that's just too bad, because I'm moving on

All I wanted was to go to a sandbox in piece and rez out some things, since I'd been having problems rezzing things out in my (donated, and don't mistake me, I'm grateful for it) skybox.

What happened? What usually happens. Glidden got griefed.

(from the bizarre album)

I've never been sure why Glidden in particular, but sandboxen in general, are so much fun for idiots to grief. Is it just that they can rez things out there? Because in all seriousness, the only people going to sandboxen (at least, regularly) are newcomers, who the griefers are just going to irritate. For the rest of us, all we want to do is rez things out, or build, in private. And the griefers are really going to irritate us.

I've never understood why anger and irritation are the goals griefers are going for; but then, I really don't understand the mindset, and don't care to.

When I got to Glidden, and tried to rez something out, it said the parcel was full. That's when I turned and saw these glowing aqua orbs placed randomly around the wall. Not thinking, I clicked one, trying to find out who owned them. And things went sideways for a while.

(from the bizarre album)

Literally.

(from the bizarre album)

Then I got to sit and watch myself spin for several minutes. Only trust me, this compilation of random images doesn't come even close to how fast I was going. This makes it look sedate. Instead, it was like watching a gyroscope, or a child's top, right after release, when it's spinning fast enough to blur. And about every nine rotations or so, it would pause just long enough for the "Stand up" button to flash on the screen. One microsecond later, I was off again.

I'm not kidding when I say it took me ten minutes to get the timing right, and then I was dumped off the sim entirely, in the ocean.

(from the bizarre album)

Of the 1,054 objects allowed to be in the Glidden sandbox, currently 1,225 of them are all scripted teleporting cylinders, overlapping in patches, making it impossible to do practically anything in the sim, at all. The objects are owned by "Punkcakeyummi", who was decanted yesterday. Good to know idiots can grief right out of the box.

So I tracked down a sandbox called Shiromani. Seemed a quiet enough place. I found a secluded corner, free from major builds, and started rezzing out hunt gifts. (Because literally, that's all I wanted to do.)

Then...this guy walked up:

(from the bizarre album)

Chippendale's collar, cuffs, and tuxedo thong: check. Pizza box: check. Brown leather loafers: check. The hell.

When I say "walked up", I don't mean "walked up and said hi". I mean, "walked up until he bumped into me and I turned around, at which point he didn't back up and spoke to me from a distance of one and a half inches". So I backed up, because the main goal of coming to Shiromani had effectively been derailed by this yahoo.

[20:09] Emilly Orr: Please be kidding.
[20:09] Cxxxxx Hxx: PuRrRrRrRrRrRr
[20:09] Cxxxxx Hxx: What?
[20:10] Emilly Orr erases the sandbox link and finds another.
[20:10] Cxxxxx Hxx: Something wrong?

And I left. He had the temerity to IM me after this incident, too:

[20:24] Cxxxxx Hxx: Hi. Whats wrong?
[20:44] Emilly Orr: Maybe I don't have the best sense of humor today, but walking up close enough to bump my avatar wearing practically nothing doesn't *even* give you a pass to ask "What's wrong"? You should KNOW what's wrong.

Needless to say, he hasn't said anything since. But it's just baffling.

So I'm now on the lookout for another sandbox. Honestly. And I still can't rez things out today where the skybox is. The hell.

and in a dimly lit room where you've got nothing to hide, say your goodbyes

There's a rather ruthless level of arrogance in the latest Phoenix viewer post. Let me distill down the main points:

• V1 viewers cannot support mesh.
• Henri Beauchamp made it work for CoolVL, damn him.
• People are switching from Phoenix to CoolVL. We purely can't have that.
• I never wanted Phoenix to have mesh. We're DONE with Phoenix. It's OVER, people.
• But one of our coders whined, and built up a database of patches anyway...so, fine, I caved--AGAINST my better judgement, mind you--and now Phoenix will have mesh.
• It will be buggy, it will crash, it will do other weird things, because I don't care what Henri says, mesh just doesn't WORK with v1.
• Even though we said we'll never update Phoenix again, now we're going to, though as I said, I'm profoundly against it.
• Also, you idiots should upgrade your machines. I mean, my god, some of you can't even run SSE2-enabled viewers. What are you, five? Grow up and upgrade, damn it!
• We've also installed RLV coding into Phoenix, even though I was also against that, because really, you people need to get better hobbies than deviant sex.
• But get this through your thick heads, people--we won't update Phoenix again. This is it. This is all you get, and you should be goddamn thankful that anyone bothered with a stupid v1 viewer structure in the first place.

That sums up the major points pretty well, I think. I'm sure Miss Lyon could have been more dismissive if she tried, but she's not far from utter contempt now. It's darkly amusing coming from the former champion of V1 over everything else, this "get v2 or get out" attitude. Wonder what happened in the background to force her hand like this?

You know, other than Henri getting mesh to work in a V2 structure that has a V1 interface. Which she of course said couldn't be done.

[Insert from the Editrix: Henri's responded to the allegations in a calm, unruffled, and rational manner, pretty much striking down Lyon's raving point by point. It's a refreshing breath of logical air. Also, tip of the hat to friend Alex, for finding me the link.]

In a move that will surprise no one following the Google debacle, Google has now "streamlined" their appeals process--to make it even more likely to catch innocents and "guilty" (note, Google's definitions of guilt, there) alike:

"Apparently there's no limitation on the number of times Google might decide to take a disliking to your name, even if Google previously approved it, and you showed it government ID with that name on it."

Miss Tateru Nino said that, and she's absolutely right--Google has moved from evil with a side of baffling into supervillain status with this. And there's been no further resolution on how these "inappropriate" names are found; the amount of like or dislike generated in any particular Google employee seems fairly random. That hasn't really altered since July; they've just gotten a lot more harsh on things.

Another quote (from the second linked article):

We don't support pseudonymous use in Google+: we support the use of whatever name you use in your life.

On paper, at least, Google is maintaining a contradictory stance to begin with, because take cases like me. I use my real name with my bank and with government offices. Everyone else--and I mean that, just about everyone else, including family, close friends, the theatre we mainly go to, occasional acquaintances, catalogs, online purchases through Amazon and other entities, my insurance company, the clinics and hospitals I've attended, and most of my blogs--gets Emilly Orr.

In point of fact, not a few people closest to me, call me by that name and no other. Or they switch fluidly back and forth between Emilly and my "real" name. So "whatever name I use in my life"? That's Emilly, for the most part.

Yet that's the name Google doesn't want. I'm more than past glad I severed my Google+ profile when I did; my only fear now is that somehow, at some point, Google's going to make use of it mandatory for everyone.

And then...there's the ongoing JLU scandal. Now, I did say I was going to stop going through the SLUniverse threads and pulling out quotable bits, and I'm holding to that. But more has surfaced in the meantime, and Axi Kurmin is hot on the trail of the new revelations. She's even got the second part of the series up, and one of the first things she does is challenges everyone involved in the debate--on any side--to be clear on the terminology they're using. I quote:

"Defining your terms is important. It allows everyone to speak about a thing and actually be communicating the same ideas. When you don't define them, you wind up arguing over what they mean.

"I have also found that people like to change what things mean to suit themselves, particularly when they feel like calling someone nasty names. Whilst watching this story unfold, many people (self included) have noticed that the JLU (and their supporters) apparently aren't quite sure what the word 'griefer' means, because they keep stretching its boundaries farther and farther, even to include anyone who doesn't support them and says so in a public forum, and nothing more. Let us review:

"A griefer is a player in a multiplayer video game that deliberately irritates and harasses other players."

I took all of that, because I think all of that is important. Throughout everything on SLUniverse, and through both entries so far--and in the comments--on Search Engine Watch, she's remained clear, concise, and level-headed. She's not sinking to anyone's level; she's holding her own, and asking--nay, on occasion demanding--that we do the same. Civil discourse demands no less.

The problem is, as I've stated before, neither side seems interested in that. The few members who've come forward to support the JLU have either dissolved into hysterics, insisted that they're trustworthy simply because they are (recursive logic at its best), or flounced off under the "I just can't talk with you people" banner.

And the folks who stand against the JLU, most often, are descending into rabid over-emotionalism itself, because it's pretty difficult to remain calm and steadfast in the face of "we don't have to show you that" and "you can't HANDLE the truth!" proclamations.

At any rate, it will be an interesting series to watch.

In other news, this is just gorgeous, read all about decision fatigue, and afterwards, read about six fashion trends that actually killed people--including the crinoline skirt, and the corset. Fun!

And to wrap this up for you, I have four words: blood orange chocolate bat. That is all.