A Good Ol' Fashioned Shunning!

Yep. Not always secret- though you do have a point on common usage. However, comon usage changes depending on where you are because some people are willfully ignorant about the plots of others or refuse to take them seriously as plots. I think that's why there is the second definition of "acting in harmony toward a common end."
examples:
A lot of people won't even discuss or think about a "Jewish conspiracy" for Israel to be masters of their region, even though Israel is a Jewish state, simply because of the word "Jewish." --but it's pretty out in the open. We have a Christian America (what, 95% of America?), but talking about a "Christian conspiracy" to change laws in their favor might provoke a similar reaction of angry skepticism from P.C.'ers even though the conspiracy is pretty out in the open if you listen to the most vocal religous leaders.

You have a point in arguing common usage, but things can be open and denied just as people will deny that plotting in harmony to silence Avatar P is a conspiracy.

Christ, I better get off this topic before I provide fodder for his future Manifestos.

::Re-reads my post:: Damn, that was clumsy. Whatever. I plead the "I'm at work" defense.

I was thinking on my way back from lunch that this is one of the few in-world forum protests that I've seen. It's a short-term walk out, organized at the grass-roots level. It's a nonconfrontational protest that makes a public statement about something that is adversely affecting the quality of our SL experience. Free speech in action.

Hopefully, this message will be heard by not just those who are affecting the quality of our gaming experience but by the forum moderators as well.

~Ulrika~

As much as I don't like some peoples posts I like what you're saying in this line from your post even less... it sounds very orwellian.... Lets all conform now ....lets put on our jumpsuits and look alike and post alike and agree with one another.....fuck that.

A demonstration gets its power from individuals temporarily acting together as a unit. After the protest or boycott is over, it's business as usual. It's not a call for permanent conformity.

~Ulrika~

what he said.


what he said too.

Sorry Ulrika but thats bullshit because there are those acting with an agenda ...anyone that truly wanted to ignore someone would have just done it and not made a public display about getting more people to do it.

I remember a time when a well know Second Life Political Activist Within these forums was treated in much the same fashion....I didn't like it then and I don't like it now......Same torch different Frankenstein.

That's not at all what any of this is about Talen. No one is trying to stamp out disagreement. What we're asking for is a return to civility. The alarmist responses to this are completely misplaced in my opinion. To me, personally, this is not just about trying to send a message to someone, but also admitting my own culpability. It's a way of saying "rather than keep fighting with you I'm going to butt out of your space and keep you out of mine." If the tone changes and the hyperbole and vitriol are left behind I'll happily reengage the person.

I don't think he can hear that part, Chip. It would mean revising his opinion and losing the bile and it would seem he likes that part. -shrug-

Really? Chip, I usually always agree with your posts but this time I can't...of course this is exactly what this is all about...otherwise why would anyone feel the need to post about it ...they would just do it. Its not just about ignoring this person its letting them know publicly that you are shunning them....if there was no intent why the need? why didn't eveyone just do it instead of talk about it....why?...because now people want to pile on and get in those jabs and call on more people to join the club......take a step back and take an objective look at this thread......reminds me of third grade...." lets all not talk to jimmy" but to make it even worse lets all tell him were not talking to him"

If you want to ignore someone do it....making a show of it is more than ignoring them....much more.

Yes. I agree. I didn't say it's not about that, I said it's not just about that. Sending a message is very much a part of it. My point is that it's not in the orwellian way you're characterizing it. If it works, I suspect we'll all be happier for it... even Prok. It it doesn't then it was an interesting social experiment.

Forum Description - General

This thread does not belong here.

I'm moving this thread to Off-Topic for further (meta) discussion. Also, wanted to remind everyone to refrain from personally attacking those you don't agree with in the forums.

You are, of course, quite right Buster. Though much of the fighting which I was hoping to renounce occurs in the general forum, this is truly the right place for this thread. My apologies.

As for Talen's concerns: ignoring someone is fine as a means of protecting one's self from irritation. However, it's perfectly inaffective as a corrective action. The person being ignored has no idea that his actions have been negative, and so he has no opportunity to change. Though you view this conformity as a negative, Orwellian concept I don't think it's quite the same. I have no problem with dissent, so long as it takes a cogent, logical form. A lot of the arguments have been anything but. For the most part, it's consisted of one person arriving at a conclusion, assuming it's true, and insulting anyone who disagrees. I don't believe that is productive, and so I wish to dissuade such behavior.

To be honest, I publicly announced this action more for my own sake than anyone else. Were I to go back on my word, and participate in these arguments, then the entire forum would bear witness to my hypocrisy. It's an added motivation not to participate.

I agree with you. This is quite scary and sad.

And for those that have convinced themselves that PN has a mental illness (and have posted their belief of this over and over again) and continue to attack/admonish him, I have a question for you. Do you also go beat up people with physical handicaps?

Nobody is forcing anyone to shun nutjobs. If you do, great. If not, then I suggest you buy another mouse, as your scrollwheel will be worn out in short order.

I've not put anyone on ignore.

I know how to not speak and how to not read.

I don't think Prok has a mental illness, I just think he's a complete ass and knows full well he's an ass. I think he came here with the intention of being an ass, trying to divide the community and convince the uninformed that they're part of some underclass so that he could be seen as their beloved freedom fighter. There simply are no excuses for that kind of behavior when it's expressed in 10000 words a day, every day, for six months. Thanks to this poor poor aggreived player we have not one but two new hatefuly imagined categories of people complete with sneering labels... FIC, Techi-Wiki, blah blah blah. Freedom of speech is one thing... someone standing in your yard yelling "your mother's a whore! Your mother's a whore!" every day at the top of their lungs is quite another. You can't blame people for finally reaching the end of their ropes. Being a constant fountain of self serving vitriol should have consequences. I'm a very anti-censorship pro free speech kind of person, but enough is enough.

Back when the Something Awful people came en masse with the sole intention of causing problems, strife, and grief, no one complained that their free speech was being stepped on when LL started banning first and asking questions later. Prokofy's campaign to try and create divisions in the community and turn people against each other has been no less destructive, self serving, and asshole-ish.

You forgot "Scripterati" and "The 20-something techies".

Oh yeah, and "fuck you hedonists." I forgot that one too.

And wasn't there one where we were hectoring?

Jeska you so rock!

I think that was the hectoring 20 year olds.

I wasn't thinking of you when I was writing that. Chip, I think you are one of the most thoughtful people in SL. I think you have been civil in reaction to PN; others have not. Going along with your "your mother's a whore" analogy, if someone were doing that in my yard, I wouldn't pay much attention to it because I know it's not true and the neighbors know it's not true (she's practically Mother Theresa). Along those lines, I am not too worried about PN and others like him to be a threat to the SL community because I know that this community is stronger than that and can weather such "attacks." Idealistic? yeah. Naive? maybe.

Besides, these people come and go. Sometimes, they become forum darlings after they have apologized to the community, which makes me cringe a little because I believe that there are actions and words that you can never take back.

What worries me is the mob mentality and the need to punish...

In this particular case I'm all for the need to punish But I agree with the spirit of what you're saying. While this has the appearance of being some kind of organized mob mentality I really don't believe that's what's going on at all. There really was no conspiracy at work here, or even any kind of organized effort (aside from a few people going a bit overboard with trying to recruit others to ignore him). It was just a matter of Ardith making a suggestion that struck a chord with a lot of people who were feeling the same way and were frustrated to their wit's end. The fact that a sort of spontaneous mob formed is just testament to the mass level of frustration this one person has caused. The people who threw their hat in the ring and said "great idea!" aren't part of any particular subset of the forum or of SL in general. In this extreme case I don't think it's unjustified. If people adopt this tactic on a regular basis simply to try and silence or discredit people who merely hold unpopular opinions and present them respectfully I'll be just as against it as anyone else.