Voice Disapproval at the Convention

When Philip hits the stage, boo him for closing our forums!

~Ulrika~

Ulrika, i won't boo him, but i do plan on trying to talk to some Lindens about this decision and how it's affecting their user-base.

Who cares about a convention....

Just don't GO!

There is no community.

That's a great idea, Cybin. You know, if we wind up in different forums, I just want to let you know that I'll miss you. These past few years have been a lot of fun and you're definitely an SL character that I'll always remember. Take care.

~Ulrika~

I plan to vote with my feet. If LL does not care what I think then they obviously don't want me in their world. I can spend my $$$ elsewhere.

That sounds harsh - but between their recent history of poor decision after poor decision, their tacit approval of griefing and total indifference to requests for help.....

I had a lot of affection for SL - they have diligently eroded it.

It's the timing that confuses me.

Surely Linden Lab must have known that this decision would have drawn a lot of criticism from its most active community members (ie those of us who read the forums too).

So why make an announcement like this a week before the biggest opportunity of the year for its customers to meet the company and let them know their feelings? Surely common sense says save the bombshells until after these kind of events?

There are only a couple of options that spring to mind as to why this decision was made now.

1) SLCC attendance numbers are low, so they hope that the drama created will bring more people along, then they can say they changed their mind and how they listen to the community so much (probably also as a publicity stunt).

2) Nobody at Linden Lab actually understands the concept of "community" and how important forums are in an online environment such as Second Life.

3) My calendar is wrong and it's 1st April.

4) Forums are soooooooo last year, blogs are the future and because we're such a progressive company that's what we're moving to... the fact that you will only be able to discuss what we allow you, rather than starting your own threads of things that concern you is just an unfortunate sideline, but looking hip and cool is more important because it impresses investors; those who actually use the product don't really matter.

Lewis

Or maybe they are announcing it now so people will be able to discuss it and get more details from the lindens themselves for a much larger percentage of SL residence to hear.

well, i'm registered at both SLU and SC, and i think i remember seeing you at one of those.. so all won't be lost! but if by smoe reason we do end up different places.. thank you and the sentiment is returned in kind.

I will no longer be going so I won't be there to boo him. My sponsorship has already been paid for, and I would nver deny that obligation, but actions over the last two months have culminated in such a way that I see no reason to attend a community event sponsored by people who are essentially against the community.

I read the Blog entry, and it doesn't say that all the forums are closing, just the redundant or annoying ones.

I kind of agree with the Sandbox going down, along with things like the Poli science and the group forums: there are other ways to do those things. From what I can see, there are just too many discussion groups here: a little culling is definitely in order.

I love web forums, and I certainly don't want to see LL close this one altogether. As long as they don't go away entirely, I'd love to see the forums trimmed a little. It's about time.

I think it's a lil of all of this.... with this scheme added.... There are so many major problems with SL, however, now that they announced the forums closing, that will be the hot topic at the convention... and then LL reveals some kind of cool thing that are better than forums... some inworld forum, or some other feature..... meanwhile it is completely diverting everyones attention from complaining about real issues at the convention.
I cannot believe how similiar Phillip is to GW Bush. And that is so terribly shitty.

I emplore everyone attending the convention to come with clearly defined issues, and do not rest until you have some resolve with your issues. Remember, you're the ones paying for LLs service, you're also the ones paying for the convention. This is the place to have an actual face to face with the powers that be.

To all of you who will be at the convention.

Angry words usually get ignored. Whatever it is you want to talk about make sure you are calm and positive even if your statement is a negative. The more important your statement is, the more you have to keep anger out of the statement. Leave out the cuss words, keep your voice calm and professional. Remember, you want to be HEARD. Remember how you hated listening to your parents and teachers when they were yelling, that doesn't change with age. So when you do get to speak up, do it in a professional manner. Be cool, calm, collected, researched, and positive.

This won't get a good response: "&#%^ &$&## why did you close the #^#$$& forums, <insert conspiracy theory here>"

This will: "We believe the forums are an important part of the community as of this time and that closing it damages the community. What are all the reasons for the forums' closure and what structures are supposed to fulfill the role the forums have served?"

The way to get heard is not to yell, not to be angry, and to show you know what your talking about. In a situation like this, an emotionally driven statement will fall on deaf ears.

Don't waste the opportunity you have of getting good instant answers to the major issues we have.

Don't allow anyone around you to start yelling. 1 minute of his yelling is one minute of getting good answers wasted .

Also, if you get into an argument, argue with FACTS, not conspiracy theories, not emotions. Use FACTS.

Well said.

It's a shame that I can't go to it. I'd love to put my "view" forward to the lindens xD

I'm not going but if i was planning to I would cancel. LL is closing their community and their appearance of interest in our feedback. I certainly wouldn't go help make a success of their event that pretends they have community and want feedback after they prove they want neither.

From personal experience, I can say that rational arguments also get ignored. When LL's upper management has decided that something will happen, it *will* happen, logic and rational arguments be damned.

5.


-Ghoti

I am not going either.

Troy

Shockingly enough, I can't agree with this more. We all knew the forum closure was coming, it was just a matter of when. The announcement could have been held off for a couple of weeks.




Registration numbers are fine. We have over 300 people registered and comped. Judging by last years registration the final week of registration saw many additional registrants. Our cap is at 450 I believe.



I wouldn't say that they don't understand the concept of community, but a lot of people get hung up on the semantics and definitions of community. We are a community more or less of active users of Second Life. What I think you are implying is that as a community we don't have much of a voice.



I am not overly fond of blogging, but given that we have become a blog culture I can see SL moving towards this as a communicative and expressive outlet.

All in all, while I will miss the forums, I do support LL's decision to get rid of them. I would much rather they focus on more pertinent issues that babysitting the forums. Whille there has been some useful conversation and feedback provided it doesn't balance out the babysitting they have to do enforcing the TOS and all that jazz.

Regards,
Jennyfur

Excellent advice Aodhan. I would hate for there to be any incidents at the SLCC of verbal aggression and whatnot. While the forum closure is something we all are passionate about I would highly discourage harrassing the Lindens in an unprofessional and nasty manner. I am sure that they will be open to suggestions. If it is something that people feel strongly about, write emails to the Lindens and tell them how important the forums are etc.

woah

that is so not fucking fair!

Then why in the HELL was I allowed to sign up? I'm all about the whatnot.

Don't be a corporate apologist simply because you have financial ties to LL. If they're doing something in their own interest that hurts the community, it's just wrong.

~Ulrika

because you are Taco Rubio and there is no known cure.

Wish I could afford a trip to the convention, but a new computer was more important.

-Ghoti