THe FIC

Ohh..I like this idea..maybe even make it a feted costume fete..err..ball..or whatever. But don't post it in events. Just word of mouth, so folks can feel left out and pissed and envious when they find out about it after it's all over! Just the young and beautiful and successful and..well..me..

You are welcome to have this at Midnight City, as long as you bring your own plastic bags for cleaning up and disposing of all the fete when the event is over.

The 4096 plots (square meters, by the way, not acres) have already been addressed by several people in this thread.

The other bit though - you've only heard half the story. Yes, you could own as much land as you wanted, and everyone paid the same monthly fee. But prims were not linked to land as they are now - and as such, a person could own a 16sqm square and pile onto it all 10,000 prims that were allowed in a simulator at that point. Anyone else in the sim simply could not build anything until these prims were voluntarily de-rezzed by the owner, which may not ever happen.

This was changed so that prims are linked to land and land is linked to tier, so that the amount of sim resources you're using, you're paying for, and no one ends up in a position where they own land but cannot build on it because one build is using up 85% of the sim's prims. It was a change designed to stop aggressive and selfish people from oppressing their neighbors and holding an entire sim hostage.

Yes, it has some issues. And it may not be the ultimate solution.

But I do not yearn for 'the good old days' of SL. It was a lot harder to get your feet under you when you were being taxed senseless and charged to rez your prims - if you were fortunate enough to be in a sim that was not at 100% prim useage. You were lucky if you broke even at the end of the week, back then. It was not a priviledged time. It was no rivers of milk and honey and streets paved with gold. And anyone telling you that it was, was either not there, was extremely lucky, or is lying through their teeth.

Blaze is correct. I had to think about it today, lord knows his given us a bible to digest. What was said was along the lines of, if second life continues on it's current path, it won't survive half as long as it already has. Being that SL opened at the end of June '03, that calculates out to 10.5 months from now. So if it's still around come mid January of '06, his prediction will have been erroneous. The bet offer still stands, at 10.5 months though this time.

Coco, those are valid points, and I'd like to address them by pointing you to my blog, where I talked about my own experiences as a newb in Sept 2003. It's true that most of the difficult rules that newbies start under today didn't exist back then -- there was an entirely different set of difficult rules.

Link:
http://www.cubeyterra.com/2005_02_01_archive.php#110884462620804663

I hope this helps give another perspective on it.

Thank you, everyone, for going into detail about this for me. And Cubey, for that informative article. I wish I had been able to get that lifetime account with the free land; I'm certain it will pay for itself for those who got it, if it hasn't already. I still think you come out way ahead with that deal.

I definitely would HATE to have to pay for every prim I rezzed. I love doing this, and the fact that it is free to experiment all you want and MAKE whatEVER you want is probably the single best thing about the whole game. I would also hate to be taxed on what I have. I hate that. Taxing irl is sucky enough, without inflicting it on ANY game you supposedly play for FUN.

Cubey, I do believe some of your builds were what I showed my husband the other night. Now this is remarkable for the sheer reason that he pointedly takes no interest in any of my games. But he happened to be around when I encountered a building with three or so submersible planes in it, one of which was called the "Orca." So I called him in and showed him those, and told him how you can actually fly AROUND in those things, parachute from them, etc. (or go underwater, I suppose, in the case of the submersibles) and that regular people (in this case you), actually make all of these.

He managed to evince a small amount of interest, which, if you know my husband and his attitude toward games (and toward most things, actually), is tantamount to a huge display of enthusiasm from anyone else.

So . . . I'd much rather have to pay tier for land (which I don't) than have to pay for making things, so I would rather have the current situation than the way it used to be.

My essential criticism remains, however - that there needs to be more incentive for doing things in the game other than making and selling things and dabbling in real estate. It is of very limited scope at the moment - and appears extraordinarily daunting and rather pointless to many newcomers - and don't you all want to see the population grow?

Those who have "made it" already seem to continually argue that things are perfect as they are, and no new ways of making money are needed, and no new outlets for other types of creativity are needed; new players don't need anything different or lucrative to do, etc.; and I think that's wrong. No amount of telling me to "open my mind" or "travel about and learn from people" or any of that sort of sop (what do you think I do already?) is going to address the problem I've been trying to address, because that problem is in the structure of the game itself.

If the things I want were added somehow, SL would be better, not worse; appeal to more people, and retain more players. The only reason I can see NOT to want those things would be a desire not to rock one's own well-lined boat.

coco

SPECIFIC examples, Dork. You just told us absolutely nothing.

Take a real close look at your feet. They are NOT cute. Everybody in SL has hideous looking feet.

Tell you something? I'm nearly in the same boat you are.. Though I have the 4096 tax free land it cost me 33k L$ to purchase it. I didn't have 33k or an easy in world way of earning it... I did what many have by purchasing those L$. I still don't have a way to recoup that cost in L$ currently. Lucky for me though I have that free tier, but most don't so I have the luxury of holding this land while I think of a way to find a return on my investment. You know what a new player has to do? They have to think of something first like most people do before they go spending their money... That's our difference... The land purchased before your "BIG IDEA" or after is still just as useless until its put to use.

Now, is it easier because I know more about Second Life? Sure, but i'll tell you Second Life is not impossible to grasp for a new player. I've met some truly new players who have just been waiting for a place like this to express themselves.


Second Life is NOT A GAME. Professionals make money in Second Life. Consumers must make money in real life, because that's where they have their jobs. If you want a place in Second Life, buy it however you can be that the purchase of L$ or whatever, but don't complain that you can't earn is Second Life.

A lot of people don't earn anything in the real world, and they are people you see on the sides of the streets, be it because of a failed business, mismanged funds, bad luck, or mental defect. Some would suggest that the state help these people... That's not an issue i'll get into, but in Second Life nobody is staving to death.. If they are, maybe they shouldnt be in Second Life(unless of course they are making money there).

If Second Life is important to you, budget it into your real life entertainment expenses... or even investment funds. If you budgeted lets say apox $5 on top of whatever premium memebership/land tier costs per month you would be able to purchase apox L$18k per month..

Nothing for nothing.... You don't expect handouts in your real life, why expect them in Second Life? If you think inflaction is no big deal, you're not really making money in Secnd Life.. You are not paying for your bills in Second Life like I know some are. You don't eat on what you earn in Second Life.

Second Life is not a closed system, and that means its part of this real world system.

So, do you have to get all 12 points? Or just one?

Take me for instance. I’m so not Feted that I had to actually ask to be invited into the FIC Group.

But I did get these points ....

4. Anyone in-world before Dec, 2003 - I’m Apr 03, though no one actually talked with me until after December.

5. Anyone that has been seen chatting with a Linden or dancing with a Linden or involved in a sexual act with a Linden. - Well, there was that time I stood in the Welcome Area and shouted at Philip about 1.2. He listened and then changed...uh...not a damn thing. They always listen to me.

6. Anyone that is really successful with an SL-based business. - Does the sitting on my butt losing money business count? Almost two years of successful lolly gagging

10. People that say they don't like AV sex. - Ok, got me here. AV sex creeps me out. Just something squicky about seeing animations gettin it ON repeating the same loops over and over again ... while realizing there’s some dude sitting in front of a computer at home wanking off all over the spacebar :-/

11. Anyone that complains about clubs. - I’ll stop complaining when they stop filling perfectly usable sims with dozens and dozens of silly people who get off watching animations repeat the same loops over and over for hours and hours.

12. People that never go to events, unless they are private parties or they are the host. - I don’t go because I’m extremely shy and don’t like going to events just for the social aspect. If there’s something going on, then I’ll be there. Does this make me FIC?

If so, then I think I should start getting a lot more attention! Right?

Where's my damn limo?

I don't know, but here is a gift certificate to Walmart. It's only usable at the one down the street from Prokofy's house though.

Oh my god
Becky, look at her butt
Its so big
She looks like one of those rap guys girlfriends
Who understands those rap guys
They only talk to her because she looks like a total prostitute
I mean her butt
It's just so big
I can't believe it's so round
It's just out there
I mean, it's gross
Look, she's just so black

*rap*
I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung
Wanna pull up tough
Cuz you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she's wearing
I'm hooked and I can't stop staring
Oh, baby I wanna get with ya
And take your picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But that butt you got
Make Me so horney
Ooh, rump of smooth skin
You say you wanna get in my benz
Well use me use me cuz you aint that average groupy

I've seen them dancin'
To hell with romancin'
She's Sweat,Wet, got it goin like a turbo vette

I'm tired of magazines
Saying flat butts are the thing
Take the average black man and ask him that
She gotta pack much back

So Fellas (yeah) Fellas(yeah)
Has your girlfriend got the butt (hell yeah)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake that healthy butt
Baby got back

(LA face with Oakland booty)

I like'em round and big
And when I'm throwin a gig
I just can't help myself
I'm actin like an animal
Now here's my scandal

I wanna get you home
And UH, double up UH UH
I aint talkin bout playboy
Cuz silicone parts were made for toys
I wannem real thick and juicy
So find that juicy double
Mixalot's in trouble
Beggin for a piece of that bubble
So I'm lookin' at rock videos
Knockin these bimbos walkin like hoes
You can have them bimbos
I'll keep my women like Flo Jo
A word to the thick soul sistas
I wanna get with ya
I won't cus or hit ya
But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna --
Til the break of dawn
Baby Got it goin on
Alot of pimps won't like this song
Cuz them punks lie to hit it and quit it
But I'd rather stay and play
Cuz I'm long and I'm strong
And I'm down to get the friction on

So ladies (yeah), Ladies (yeah)
Do you wanna roll in my Mercedes (yeah)
Then turn around
Stick it out
Even white boys got to shout
Baby got back

(LA face with the Oakland booty)

Yeah baby
When it comes to females
Cosmo ain't got nothin to do with my selection
36-24-36
Only if she's 5'3"

So your girlfriend throws a Honda
Playin workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none unless you've got buns hun
You can do side bends or sit-ups, but please don't lose that butt
Some brothers wanna play that hard role
And tell you that the butt ain't gold
So they toss it and leave it
And I pull up quick to retrieve it
So cosmo says you're fat
Well I ain't down with that
Cuz your waste is small and your curves are kickin
And I'm thinkin bout stickin
To the beanpole dames in the magazines
You aint it miss thing
Give me a sista I can't resist her
Red beans and rice did miss her
Some knucklehead tried to dis
Cuz his girls were on my list
He had game but he chose to hit 'em
And pulled up quick to get with 'em
So ladies if the butt is round
And you wanna triple X throw down
Dial 1-900-MIXALOT and kick them nasty thoughts
Baby got back
Baby got back
Little in tha middle but she got much back x4

Now see I would have gone with:


You're F...I....C and you're not like me,
You give away your shit for free.
Then you rez white cubes and you call them clubs,
Selling shit at telehubs.
I'm un-strung!
I think I'll write a post...
In it I will preen and boast..
But in reality I'm seethin'
So bad that I might stop breathin'...


You get the general idea.. anyways, I'm leavin work-feel free to carry on.

How do you know when you're definitely not a member of the FIC? When you didn't even know there was a FIC Group. *sigh*

~Ulrika~

Well Kathy, just one of the qualifications is enough to make you FIC, however some are able to resist the change for months. You strike me as FIC nobility that has cast aside the rich trappings to live amongst the peasants, working with them in the fields. And then, after a time..hunting them down one by one and taking their pelts as trophies.

So..you are FIC definitely, but play the old wolf-in-sheep's-clothing well.

Dev, can I see your stronger FIC? oh please oh please???

(Shhhh no one tell Mash about this, it's our secret...)

He already knows Baccara!

I don't think it'll die in 10.5 months, I just think unless certain corrective actions aren't taken it will.

Fortunately, I suspect with my wise guidance SL will right itself onto the path that is truly just and holy, and all will be well in the lands.

Blaze is learning the rules of Prophetizing the end of the world.

1. Never set a date.
2. If you do, always leave room for an "UNLESS...".

Its slightly sad to see this still going, but I might as well post to clear things up (well try) and stop the new members being confused into thinking the FIC exsist....


Right to start the FIC is not a group, its a whole lot of nothingness, its getting quite sad to see people who are friends be abused and labled as some sort of evil cult, I myself have been acused a few times of being FIC, and its getting sad.

It seems people are on a witch hunt for a group that is not there, but then again in some ways it is, there are many groups in SL that are picky abaout who they let in, I mean you could call the bedazzled team (just to mention one of the more well know gropus) the FIC because they seem to have hidden sims, cool builds and gifted people in it, yet it may have these things, but is far from being an evil mastermind cult that the FIC is suposed to be..

So can people give it a rest ?

People who generally claim that either FIC does not or exist or that FIC is not evil or whatever else that is not being claimed, generally have dellusions of self-importance as they are generally trying to defend a group that they think they're a part of.

Unfortunately, this is not a group anyone should want to be a part of. It's the group that plays politics with the truth. It's the group that is more interested in making friends than open and honest debate.

BTW, I hope no one is feeling that I am specifically pointing them out here. Because if you do, than you might want to re-evaluate where it is or how it is that you get your sense of validation.

Except for Aimee, for thy is the one on the right. The one, and the only truly FIC

But in the good way.

Aweee <3

Damn you for making it hard to hate you.

Nooooooooooooooooo one expects the FIC Inquisition!

Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: Blaze, Prok, David, an almost fanatical devotion to Philip, and nice red uniforms - Oh damn!

Can someone please poke me with the soft cushion?