Possible Benefit Auction Scandle, please read

Okay, it's late for me, so please bear with me.

Tonight, there was a benefit auction held for me, Oneironaut Escher.

First off, I would love to thank everyone who came and bought items. I was amazed.

It was a very surreal situation. I feel I should explain some of how the auction came about for those who don't know.

A while ago, a former SL resident, Carrera LeFay stopped by my build in Stanford. She said she like my projects, and asked what I was working on. I showed her a picture of Escher's Relativity and said I wanted to build that, but it would be awhile before I would have funding for a project like that. She became excited about the project and said she would like to throw an event to raise money for it.

I was very flattered and a bit confused. She began planning the event, but unfortunately, before she could complete the planning, she had to leave SL. She passed the torch to Pituca Chang. Pituca came to me and said she and Baccara Rhodes would be spearheading the event. I expressed to both of them that this was becoming very strange for me and I wasn't sure how to respond.

Put yourself in my shoes. It's all very weird.

Now, the event was as much in memory of Carr as it was for me.

So, the auction was held tonight. Many people donated items and it went better than I had ever imagined possible.

I was horrified really. Now, this large sum of money was to be handed to me with all of these expectations.

Well, I hope to be able to live up to those expectations. I plan on putting the money into my EscherLand project in Stillman as I think that is best suited to what Carr would have wanted.

Now, to the Scandle issue hinted at in this post's title.

My taxes are all screwy in my account history. I bet yours are too. My land taxes are showing as being at $12,000. I went through and totalled my land tax and it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,500. The account history is wrong, I have reported the bug.

Whatever is going on has also made it so that I am now being listed as number four in land owned. This is totally erroneous.

I ABSOLUTELY am not number four for land owned. I did not take advantage of people with this benefit auction. The entire event was something outside of my control. I tried to stop it from my embarassment.

Believe me, I very much appreciate all of the work and time that was put into this, and thank everyone who helped.

I hope that I can do whatever is expected of me with the money. . .

Fancy that, a tax error! Sez here I am going to owe over four thousand in land taxes next week... kinda A LOT more than last week...

Shortly after my previous quote, I was approached by a group who informed me I should give the money back.

This is a relief to me to have to return the money.

I am glad to be done with this and to go back to my quiet life of building.

Woah! That really is a bug! No way I have that much!

I wonder if this has something to do with deeding land to a group.

Well, according to the leaders boards, I made about $17,000 last week last time I check... I wish I did.

I don't want to be unfair to anyone by being vague. I was approached by a group of people who definitely have an interest in tonight's events. They let me know that things had 'gotten out of hand' and that no one expected the amount of money donated at the auction for my builds to be as much as it was. Therefore, I should give them all of the money back, and let them decide what should be done.

Just wanted to not be unfair by inference.

Also, if it will help, I have a transcript of the event so that we can go through and figure out who donated what for what, try and give people their money back.

I feel kind of bad for the people who did understand what the event was for. However, some people feel that I in some way misrepresented who I was or what I was doing or something (I swear, I think this is all due to the very common tax bug) so I think it is best that all involved just get what they donated back. People can then decide what to do with that money. Seems like the only fair way at this point.

I really feel bad about this whole thing.

Wow, what a trip from being extremely happy, overwhelming grateful and astonished to being made to feel that I have somehow organised the scam of the century.

I seriously did nothing maliciously, have been misrepresented in the leader boards by a bug, and really was as much a spectator for this whole fiasco as anyone else.

I believe you, Oneir... i've been getting wierd reports too in my accounts histories and whatnot.

Too bad you want to give it all back.... but Frankie can't back out on me THAT easily <evil laugh>!

--Water

dearest Oneironaut..

I heard about the auction from my good friend Pituca, so I went and took a look at your builds. I thought, as does Pituca, that they are excellent.

So.. I donated a medieval chair I had made, a modest thing I know, but I wanted to help out. Nothing you have said here has changed my wish to help, and in fact it has shown you to be an entirely sensible human. Assuming the buyer is happy, I would certainly be happiest if you kept any money and used it as you see fit.

I feel that is was, from my perspective, always absolutely clear what the auction was for, and that it was entirely voluntary, and so I cannot see how anyone could complain.

Just my 2p worth. Build on..

Sounds like you've meant well from the get go Oneironaut. Pit and Bacc are great people as well as you appear to be (sorry, I don't know ya personally so it's appearances for now! :).

I'm sure once the tax headache is behind us your situation will be clear for anyone that might have doubts. I trust that you've been straightforward and honest and probably a bit embarrased and upset over this turn of events. I have no claim or concern over the money (I missed the auction), but wish I had made it cuz I'd force you, kindly, to take the L$.

Bos

I'm sorry, but there is NO WAY you should be asked to return the money because more was raised than expected. That's just wrong. And sounds a little fishy to me, unless I am misreading something here.

onei, i only wish i could have donated money too. i love your builds and those bullies... you should tell us their names

I would like to step forward and explain what happened after the auction. A tremendous amount of money was raised. No one dreamed so much would be gathered at one time due to the grand donations by others.

Many of us felt, that instead of giving such a huge sum to one person, that actually many could benefit from this one event. So that being said, a lump sum would go to Oneironaut, then a trust fund to be handed out to 8 other individuals who are new to Second Life. A date of November 7th has been selected for the 8 people but Oneironaut will be receiving his money today.

This was discussed with Oneironaut last night. He agreed and thought this was a wonderful idea. Also, it had stated repeatedly that no one thought there was a scam nor did anyone try to make him feel bad or force him into a decision. It was just a majority feeling that more than one individual should benefit from such generous donations.

This way, many people would be helped and encouraged to build and create wonderful things in our world.

I would agree that this is a "wonderful idea," but perhaps you should get the confirmation from all the people who donated items to the "Oneironaut Auction" that this is okay. I'm pretty good friends with Oneir, and I know he's modest--and probably wouldn't condone me writing this, actually--but he deserves the money rightfully because this was an event where people donated prizes for his benefit. It's great for the collaborators to now want to divide the money among new persons, which I agree is as generous as the initial auction, I just think it tampers with the initial intent of the project from the get-go. I'm in a hurry so I'm not able to expand on this much, but is there anyone who agrees or disagrees? I'd just like to see all of the people who donated money and items for the auction to take active role in deciding to split up the money if this is the case deemed so--because frankly, changing the intent after the fact changes the entire purpose of the initial auction, so people will ask: where did my money go?

I get where you're coming from Fey, but if this was the RL, that would NEVER fly. You just don't hold an auction benefit for someone, and then, when the funds surpass your wildest imagination say: "oh, wait. that's just too much for one person."

Now you've got yourselves tangled in a mess that really has no nice clean exit.

On another note, One.. best of luck to your project, I live near there and have been eagerly waiting its finalization.

Also, I think the idea of a benefit auction is great, especially for 'civic' projects.

Who will be deciding which 8 new citizens of Second Life this trust fund money goes to?

Looks to me the problem here is "Why did you dontate money to Oneir?". This whole "A group came up to me" thing doesn't fly with me at all and I'd be especially outraged if I had actually donated! I know for damn sure that if I donated money to Oneir's cause, it would be so that he could support his Second Life or so he could build more things, not so it can all be given away to some random newcommers who will just waste it all on booze and drugs!

Oneir there's a bug in the system, that's not your fault. Keep the money you raised and use it for what the people wanted you to use it for! That, in my opinion, is the only way to make people who donated their money to you happy. Unless there is some outstanding thing that every donater wants you to do with the money, I highly suggest you keep it and use it for what it's supposed to be used for. Supporting yourself and creating awesome stuff!!

I have to agree with Juro , the event was posted clearly on the events board. People who attended knew it was a benefit auction for Oneir's builds, or should have known. Some high ticket items were being offered. I'm not sure why it wasn't assumed that some very high bids could be presented.

Was this trust fund idea brought up with all who had the winning bids at the auction? I know I'd be a little upset if I found out afterwards the money I was putting towards Oneir's projects was going towards a new user trust fund.

I too don't believe it was a scam since I somewhat know some of the people who did the event. If Oneir is cool with it I'm cool with it. Just wanted to give my .000002 cents heh

Don't give the money back. If someone donated money for your project then they did it because they WANTED to, not because someone twisted their arm and forced them.

In real life I donate because I want to. I don't say to a group - well you raised $4million, not the $1million you said you wanted, so I want my $50 back. That would be stupid.

Seems to me people were jealous that your project generated that much interest.

As a donor (I'm not, couldn't make the event), I would be insulted that my money wasn't going where I thought it would.

Sorry, but asking for the money back because it was more than expected is just BOGUS! That money was raised for him, people who boguth stuff EXPECTED it to go to him. That was wrong. Sorry, but that was wrong, and in no way was it anyones decision but Oneir's.

How much was actually raised?

As we all want to do the right thing and help as many as we can here, I have something to say.
I see that many of you are wanting to speak up on behalf of One and say that he is so nice and deserving of all of this generosity on his behalf. I would agree that he is certainly obviously cared for by the SL community.

In that vein, however, wouldn't it behoove him to really want to pass on and help others and share in the bounty that has been so generously been shared with him? For isn't that just one of the wonderful parts of SL which has been so different of other online experiences? We help each other? And we are so less selfish? We make it easier for everyone to grow?

In addition, I would think since the whole idea of the auction was brought on by our dear Carrera in the first place, the first order of business should be some fitting tribute to her since she is so missed by all and I am sure that One would like to be sure that this project is carried out in an appropriate fashion. In this manner he can construct a wonderful build of his choosing but dedicate it to her.

No discussion was held without One's knowledge nor participation. Please let that be known. He agreed that the amount of money raised was rather excessive and that could and should easily be shared and was in full agreement with an alternate plan, and so I believe that the organizers (a full group) are rather shocked at the turnabout in sentiment this morning. Please understand our genuine intentions and interest in making as many people satisfied as possible.

Those of you who know the organizers of this event know that we have donated our time, our services, our event spaces and our energies to this cause with all of the best intentions with no thoughts of malice nor personal gain.

Best Regards, Baccara

In asnwer to your question Jai ... 50,000 was raised
A good question to be asked

The right thing would be to give him the money to work on his project, regardless of how much was raised.
If it had been less than you expected, would you have added money to make up for it?

The event was for his project, not for all the other worthy projects in SL. If you want money for other projects than hold other fund raisers.

Did you mention to people that this was to be a tribute to Carrera and that some of the money would be used for a tribute to Carrera? Would they be upset to know that their money isn't going where they thought it would?

Or can you just not get over the fact that so many people like One's idea and wanted to contribute? Just think with the new taxes, that money would probably get used up in a week! LOL

I have to agree with the 'Onei gets all the cash' camp. That's where ya'll said the dontaions were going... that's where they should go. If you want to change the rules you should clear it with each donator first. I think it's great that you want to spread the wealth and help the noobs but you can't raise money for one cause and give it to another. In fact, giving it back would be more proper than spreading it around without permission. If the donators want it spread, they'll donate to the 'spread the wealth' fund.

[edit] Answered question about hoe much money while I was typing.

How much is being taken from oneir? [/edit]

I too believe that independant of how much money was raised, if it was advertised as a benefit for oneir then he should get the money. He should also be able to do as he sees fit. Most appropriate I think would be some really spectacular builds, however if he wants to give some away that is fine too. However it is his money to give away, not anyone elses.

For the organisers and people who want to take oneirs money away because it was so much there is something to learn - apparently benefit auctions work, they not only work, they work well. Hold another one for a group or theme you want to support. Create your trust fund group and layout the guidelines of how things are done with trust money - be the first charity group. Then hold a benefit auction for yourselfs. Don't take away the money donated to oneir.