Please, this has to stop

I was so ready to let this just go.

but I can't. . .

I'm getting really tired of this conversation:

SOME PERSON: Hi.
Oneironaut Escher: Highya
Oneironaut Escher: What can I do for ya?
SOME PERSON: I just wanted to let you know that I know the crap you pulled during the auction, how much time you stole and how much money you screwed others out of. I also know that you then had the nerve to whine and rat out everyone on the message boards.
Oneironaut Escher: rat out? hmm, whine. interesting. Go on. . . ?
Oneironaut Escher: I find this fascinating as I've never met you, you weren't involved and you don't know what you are talking about
SOME PERSON: I want you to know how absolutely low that was, and don't even try to deny or defend it because it's total crap, and that'sl all I have to say to you. You screwed over people I'm close to and I just want you to make SURE you realize that I know.
SOME PERSON: You may have never spoken to me but I know ever step that was made on your part and on the people I'm close to that you screwed over.
Oneironaut Escher: okay. I now know that a complete stranger to me knows what other people who barely know me told her
Oneironaut Escher: did you read the forum thread?
Oneironaut Escher: Water Rogers, who donated nearly half of the money
Oneironaut Escher: specifically said he wanted me to have the moeny
Oneironaut Escher: I went online to ask the donators what they wanted to have done with the money, not to "rat anyone out"
Oneironaut Escher: they nearly unanimously came back and said I should keep the money
Oneironaut Escher: I was all for giving the money back to the donators if they wanted
SOME PERSON: Nope, I'm done, that's all I needed. Goodbye.
SOME PERSON: Oh, actually, I was around enough to know that that is not literally the truth. Oh you were SO willing I'm sure. That's why you said on the forums that the organizers FORCED you to give it back.
SOME PERSON: And then we feel so GRATEFUL because you didn't mention who it was, like everyone wouldn't know anyway. Like you're a saint to have not "named" who it was.
Oneironaut Escher: I wasn't naming or not naming. I just related exactly what happened. I was approached, I gave back the money, then other plans started forming for what happens to the money.
Oneironaut Escher: now, do not IM me again, or I will file an abuse report. I imagine I'd like you if I ever met you, but that has been rendered impossible. I am sorry for that. Have a good Second Life

*****


I've had this conversation a few times now with complete strangers.

Really guys, I'm just a peace lovin hippie. I'm dumbfounded as to how all this auction stuff happened.

Okay, the auction was something that happened to me (I am very grateful yes) but it was still something that people other than me decided to do, orchestrated and carried out. So, if I can be blamed for anything, it's the usual hippie complaint: doing nothing.

I really wish none of this had happened. I so wish this could have just been remembered for what it was: An amazingly organised event that went off splendidly and was successful beyond anyone's imaginings.

It WAS a large sum of money. I can see how people would have been alarmed. I can see how the concerns of the group I was approached by came to be, they were completely valid in light of the erroneous leader board standing I suddenly had.

I gave back the money because I thought the donators were upset.

I then put it up to public opinion as to what should happen.

I did not "rat anyone out" I don't even under stand that.

There was nothing malicious here nothing to "rat out". I never said I was forced to give back the money, I said I was told I should give back the money while it could be decided what would be done with the money, which I did. I think that a scandal was anticipated innacurately, measures were taken to prevent the scandal - which I think is exactly what needed to have happened.

The public then conveyed that they didn't think it was a scandal for me to get the money, I was given the money promptly and politely.

There was no malicious intent on either side of this, just an unfortunate set of circumstances.

I do sincerely thank everyone who contributed.

I do not hold any ill will toward anyone.

Seriously. I'm not even sure I am capable of that

----


Regardless, the above type conversation is going to stop. I will not tolerate it past the first IM from someone who doesn't know me or hasn't even met me.


Seriously, please, come hang out with me. Chill. . .

then decide if you hate me or not

Ok, I posted this earlier today over on the original "possible sandal with charity auction" thread, but i think it will go better here:

"When Neil and I first started in SL, we bought our first plot of land near Onei's place. We picked that plot so that we could look out of the windows of the house and see Onei's giant bong rising triumphant over the landscape, a testimony to what can be done in SL. When we moved from Stanford, my chief regret was losing Onei as a nieghbor.
I remember clearly meeting Onei for the first time. He was my first friend in-game, the first person to take an interest in me as myself, not treat me like another stupid noob. I adore him for that, and he has been a loyal friend who i cherish deeply ever since.
Anyone with a contrary opinion, dont say it within 40m of me. you'll get your eyepixels clawed out.
Onei, pls cease feeling embarrased over the amount of money raised. You are loved, and you deserve every penny you receieved. Its a testament to your talent, kindness, and heart.
Congrats to you Onei, I am thrilled for you and wish you the best. You've been talking about the Escherland project for quite some time now, and I am thrilled to see it come to fruition. You deserve this utterly, you are an amazing person, and SL would benefit greatly from an OneiCloner.
Luv Luv Luv,
Neph"

In addition to this i would say that anyone b**ching about the money recieved at the auction is merely jealous that noone has been willing to extend such a kind gesture to them. Onei, you dont deserve this treatment, and I am willing to wager that right about now you are wishing it had never happened.
Thats just sad.
People do something out of kindness and encouragement for a fellow SLer, and this is how the object of thier kindness is treated?
That's shamefull. Shame, shame, shame on those of you out there treating Onei this way. I know for a FACT he never asked for this auction to take place, and was extremely uncomfortable with all the attention.
That kind of modesty touches me, and I cant help but feel sorry for those with such a hard heart that it does not touch them.
My apologies for the rant, all I can say is my loyalties are few but fierce. Onei if this post ahs caused you any further embarrasment, pls accept my sincere and humble apology for it...but I cannot stand by and watch this happen to you without speaking up.
A lot of us adore you, and screw the ones that dont.
That is all.

There are some genuinely cruel people out there in SL, Oneir: and the true villains hide behind the curtains. I'm sorry you have to play middle school games with children who can't play nice. Stop trying to steal my friend Oneir's lunch money, you brats. And get over the fact that you weren't given the auction, you weren't the one on stage being funded for--and most of all, quiet your greedy mouths. Oneir both doesn't deserve this and he CERTAINLY hasn't been malicious about this, from start to finish. And considering he could have been, and still hasn't... it really reflects on him. And, similarly, it reflects the middle school kids, too.

Yeah, really...I think the other thread speaks for itself if you bother to read through the entire thing and listen to what One said.

Jeez just leave One alone and stop instigating more problems. I don't understand people that seem to feel a need to create needless drama. Like it'll do any good...

Well spoken Regnar, hear hear!

Here's my problem with all of this.

OBVIOUSLY a few newbies IMing Oneir are NOT the people who actually are angry with him. There's got to be someone, or some few, from the auction who are bitter. I want those "big names" to step forward and admit they have a problem for once. Get it out in the open and stop playing these children's games. Grow the bleep up.

What a shame. People have to hide behind noob accounts to say something instead of doing it with their own. Cowards.

Really.
I would be impossible for me to be any more in agreement with the sentiments expressed here.

Oneironaut:

I don't know you that well, and I am not involved in this fundraiser to any extent, but you're getting support from folks I do know and whose judgement I trust - so my inclination is to support you.

Moreover, as we all know, there are plenty of folks who will take advantage of the relative anonymity provided by SL and become flaming a$$hol&s at the drop of a prim. Welcome to online reality...

So, in comment, I'd just like to say - hang in there, the storm will weather... there are plenty of good people here in the SL community. Don't get discoraged over the actions of an ignorant, boorish minority.

As for the money, I for the life of me can't tell from this thread where it's gone now - hopefully you still have it - and my advice is to graciously accept what was raised and use your best judgement on how to proceed. If you have donaters who want their donations back, so be it - but as long as you honor any refund requests and fulfill whatever committments (if any) you have made for these donations, then I don't understand why anyone would have further problems with that.

Geez folks, there aren't enough REAL problems out there?

Best of luck, Oneironaut...

=Sinclair

I definitely am not taking the bad examples of a few as indicators of the SL populous in general.

I very much believe and trust in the kindness and creativity of your average lifer.

Also, at this point, I do want to point out that I don't think this really has anything to do with the auction or people involved with it anymore.

I think these griefers are just people hopping on some twisted bandwagon after reading the forums.

Anyway, as always, thanks for the support