Who is the blonde chick?

Its not only not a bad thing, I'm not sure where it said when one signed up for Second Life that everyone was going to be a "cool kid".


Do what you do because you love it, not because it might get you recognition from some arbitrary group of people, most of whom probably don't see themselves as the "cool kids" in the first place.


Its really amazing how people project popularity and status onto others. I don't say that only in reference to you Dianne - I mean everyone does it to everyone else, in SL and RL. Its a game with no rules and everyone has their own idea of what winning constitutes, so why bother trying to play it? You said yourself you might be "overlaying my high school experience on things" - you're out of high school now, and for me one of the best things about being out of high school was no longer having to skirt around who is popular/what is popular, and just being able to do my own thing without some fake societal pressure.

Since when? The devils greatest trick was convincing people that high school behavior ended with high school.

Oh, I'm not saying that a number of people don't carry it over with them - its just:

A) Easier to ignore them
B) A more level (or skill-based) playing field than high school in terms of what makes you popular
C) You're no longer stuck in the same society day in and day out. You can change jobs, change social circles, move and change your life entirely.

The pics look great. They chose some very interesting & appealing AVs. I recognize a couple, most I don't, and it doesn't make a difference either way. Congrats to them! (Or condolences, depending on how you look at it.)

If it's any consolation, Diane, I've never been on the page either. I've also never won any sort of Linden Lottery or contest, or had contributions used for anything that I'm aware of. And I'm on very friendly terms with a couple Lindens, so if they were hand-picking friends for this stuff, I think I'd have heard about it at least a couple times. (A'course, they could really dislike me and they're just playing nice. Bastards!) My guess is they just go with what's interesting, and those people have interesting looking AVs.

Good insight.

Don't misunderstand me though, I am not seriously lamenting not being a "cool kid" to the degree that you might think, it would be nice if that happened "naturally" or whatever but I am not foolish enough to think that my talents stack up against (some) of the people we are talking about here . I just think the whole practice is wrong, (having had experiences that way in the past) and am trying to point out what I see as a real inequity.

The most likely explanation for why I am not in the "in crowd" in my view is because I dont really try to hang out with those people and pointedly refuse to turn into a lapdog when a Linden walks through the door. As I said that kind of behaviour is sort of a pet peeve of mine anyway.

What I have noticed however, is that folks who started the game long after I did and chose to ingratiate themselves with the "FIC tpes" (for lack of a better term), or pester the Lindens about every little problem they have, *have* suceeded or become a part of that "in" group. Others with greater talents and more to offer (and I am not talking about me here but other people I know), are just not invited to the never-ending Linden party, again primarily because they also dont operate that way. Likely they also find tht sort of thing distasteful.

It's a nice dream to think that people suceed or fail on their merits or talent alone, but it really is that. A dream only.

Even though this dream has never been true of RL, I think my mistake is that I had assumed or perhaps hoped, that SL would be different in that respect. It is a community of creative and intelligent people where great emphasis is given to talent for talents sake. It reminded me when I started of being in Art School and all the exciting camaraderie and cross pollination of ideas that that implies.

I guess really I am just kind of dissillusioned to find out that SL is again, very much like RL in that it's really who you know, and who you hang out with that determines your ultimate sucess. At least in the sense of monetary sucess or "Second Life fame" (whatever that is). The more I write about this the more I htink that perhaps I dont even have a coherent argument here, but its all so damn dreary and depressing to read all the back slapping and name dropping that goes on on these forums. And then if you mention the FIC you get all that crap about "OMG! she said FIC lol!"

I would repeat my earlier criticism of the Lindens themselves though in that ethically, they should be doing everything in their power to fight against this being the case or even the perception of this being the case. I don't think as professional people they should be engaging in that kind of cliquism, but currently they still do.

I think its clearly true that the Lindens still enjoy "schmoosing" with the cool players and the "cred" or fame or worship or whatever it gets them, and the players lap it up like milk from a saucer. I just find it distasteful overall lately.

On the other hand if my GF was in town I would be in a better mood and probably not be writing this at all because I would have way better things to do with my time.

Yes! Just ask Paolo what he thinks of my moobs.

That's a fuzzy wuzzy avatar made by Starax. Dunno who's in it though or who it just ate.

Edit: Noticed Kris' question was answered already. I'll just wave to Kris then. *waves*

I think there was a group you could join in, so you'd be "on call" whenever Bub needed to take some pictures. I joined it a long time ago but had to leave to join other projects. Dunno if that group is still present. And it's luck too, if you're in the same sim the Bub is, etc.

I'm just all giddy that people are wearing hair I made. *puffs chests out proudly* It's like saying my thumb is in the pic, only better. Hehehe.

Who cares who the blonde chick is. Who's that sexy hairy guy?

I'd definitely buy one if it (or an altered version) was being sold again. If I knew about it that is...

Even the scavenger hunt would be nice, though I suck at that kinda thing so I dunno if i'd get one in that case...

Dianne, there IS no cool crowd or in crowd involved in the choosing of avatars for these pictures. I'm not part of it, anyway, if there is one, and I'm there. Sure I've interacted with a couple of Lindens, who hasn't? I can't speak for anyone else who got on there, but for me it was just a matter of luck - and what fairer criterion is there than that?

It has nothing to do with who I hang out with, either. Was someone supposed to have put a good word in for me? Presumably someone who didn't make it on there?

I honestly think you've got the wrong end of the stick here, I'm not FIC or a Linden shoe-licker and I don't hang out with famous people (unless you count ma sister, but I've known her forever and ever).

If you particularly want to be on that page, which you seem to, why not IM Bub and put in a request to be included in the next shoot?

Well, there's always another side to any assumption. Like I said, I'm sure every one of these "cool kids" don't think that they're cool at all. They just get along with certain people, have made friendships along the way, and if they happen to include Lindens, well shit, Lindens are people too - which a lot of people gloss over.

If the people you're currently friends with right now suddenly overnight became the "cool clique", would that mean any of the generalizations that you're applying now would be applicable to you?







Again, I have to say I think you're making some rather hurtful assumptions. Not only is this "in crowd" a fluid and completely subjective list, but how can you say that each one of them is where they are because they ingratiated themselves or because they forced themselves upon Lindens in order to be noticed? Was there an original "cool kid" that everyone had to be friends with in order to be cool themselves? While accusing others of forming friendships with the sole intent of social climbing is easy from the outside, I really doubt that each one of these "cool kids" is operating completely on a "how can I be more popular" basis. Its highly unrealistic.




I can state with absolute certainty that your statement is untrue. I have met people in SL that work their tails off and make ungodly amounts of money - on the scale of $400-$600US per week - but you've probably never heard of them unless you buy their items on the regular. I also know a few people that most people would put in the "cool kids" category that don't make squat. In that sense, SL really is similar to RL, where chances are if you keep your head down and work your ass off, you'll be successful.

In terms of "Second Life fame" - I personally think it comes down to personality as much as anything else. And one thing that Second Life does make easier is it lets peoples' true personality shine through, without the baggage of RL appearance or financial status or material goods.

Beautifully put, Cory

i think there are too many different "in crowds" to be one particular "fic" one....i mean, there is the lovely sl00tsville crowd, and all wonderfully talented and edgy on their own, and then there is the midnight city crowd, and the phobos crowd, and the scripting crowd, omg i cant keep up...as for willow c, i think gettin on the front page was just luck of the draw no special kissin tail by ANYONE for that particular honor

*cries and waves to the crowd* Id like to thank my mom, all of my friends, and of course God... This thread, as compelling as it is, has me laughing my big ol booty off. I think its a kick to be on the front page (im the less noticed blonde). *wipes away my tears of joy and retreats to my hole in the ground*

what if you had to only look in 1 sim and you had 48 hours to look?

I wanna add that I know the girls that this thread was started about and they are two of the sweetest peoplrl I have ever meet. 'popularity' and 'social climbing'? its a freakin game and I know thats the way they feel. Yes, it was luck that got them there, but they deserve to be there either way. I feel that anyone that questions that has no idea wot they are talkin about. Anyone who thinks that there is a 'special in crowd' and you ahve to be in it to get on the website is twisted. All this talk about highschool and 'popular kids' is twisted. I also wanan thank Cory for her great retort to the claims. I really dont understand why in the world someone should be made to feel bad cause they were in a cute picture that was selected to be on the website. Maybe there is a reason why you are always on the outside looking in. Start living your lives instead of judging others and making assumptions why they are places where you want to be and cant get to. Is it these girls faults that you feel inadiquate? I dont beleive it is. Stop worring what other peopel are doing and start worring about what you are doing and maybe you wont feeel so inadiuate. The people that you call 'popular' or the 'in crowd' dont even think aobut things liek that. They arent trying to be popular. Maybe if you start being true to yourself and stop worrying about 'incrowds' then you might find yourself in a morepleasnat situation.

Would there be a limited number available to find?

Forget the hot chix, bring on the hot dix!

But Hank, I'm already on there!

OMG! Jealous much? Is your avitar green? You absolutely do not have the right to be asked to pose. It is his decision to chose who he wants and based on his criteria. If he wants it to be only hairy fat guys that have sucked him off then thats his choice. I have to say that you attempt to make other people look bad has only made yourself look bad

I would like, in an amusingly FIC and Oscar-like way, to thank you guys who've stuck up for us And in an honest way, too

I guess now we ARE famous.

Okay, I think my own insight from my last post about how I "possibly don't have a coherent argument" is kind of staring me in the face this morning.

I would also like to say didn't mean to paste anyone or insinuate that any particular person involved in this shoot was the kind of sycophant I was referring to in my posts.

It seems that a lot of people took my remarks as applying specifically to the girls that were in this shoot, which, by the time it had devolved into the generalities of my third post or so, were not intended to be such. That's my fault for not making that clear. It did obviously start off as a thread about those girls and the selection process. Perhaps this particular example of the photo shoot was a bad example to use as a platform for this kind of commentary but the same things it led me to think about *do* actually happen.
This is just what "set me off" I suppose.

Maybe your all right, (I hope you are) and maybe it's my twisted psychology applied over the top of events like this that's the problem.

All I can say is it's really, really, fucking depressing to hear all this name dropping back-slapping linden ass-kissing commentary, and even if it's not true, the perception that it's true is *rampant* and huge numbers of people see it the same way I do.

Only this morning we have yet another popularity thread with all (various?) in-crowds passing each others names back and forth. Predictably a couple of people seeing it the way I do, complain about the bias and the way it looks, and are then criticised or ridiculed by the same crowd that they even brought it up.

One of the comments that really hit home to me is what would I do if all of a sudden I *was* in the in-crowd (or one of the in-crowds), and that is perhaps the most telling of all. I suspect I might be as hypocritical as anyone else about it, but I hope I wouldn't. Who knows? That again was a very good insight.

I really appreciate Cory Edo's comments (who I never knew could think like that ), nice surprise there.

However, I dont think any of my arguments (such as they are) have been seriously refuted, so all the congratulations and hand shaking are premature in my view.

Most importantly, I think that the Lindens should seriously review their ethical guidelines for player/employee interactions. Especially the IRC thing and especially with regards to percieved favoritism. I have worked at many large companies, corporations, universities etc. and a some of the things that Lindens do are very much against basic ethical guidelines.

Anyway, nuff said.

Not going to post on this anymore, dont want to turn into an "anti-FIC" haranguer anyway. An honest thank you for the really high level of discussion on this thread, it was amazing.

I've worked for a handful of different companies. All had/have the same sort of policies, regarding relationships with coworkers, with internal or external vendors or 3rd parties, ect,ect... And I honestly can't say I've worked anywhere that it's genuinely followed to the letter of the law - this used to really upset me, but when it comes down to it, the world is full of double-standards and things like this, and I guess I'm just anesthetised to it...

I just see it as "the way the world is" and while LL isn't perfect, I think they do a pretty fair job in most areas I've seen. If their employees are going to fraternize with customers via IRC, or through any medium, it's going to happen regardless of what the coorporate policy is - they'll just go home and do it, do it under a different name, ect... I'm more concerned about the customer service inconsistancies (I.E. One person posts that they were able to have a character that was accidentally created with the wrong name uncreated and refunded, others say they asked and didn't get the same results, people suggesting that if you talk to the right Linden you can get your island moved without the fee, ect...)