What would you guys do if...

Ok. I have a situation, and while I'm certainly not going to let it rest, I'm not sure exactly where to go with it either.

So here's the situation... (Yes, I KNOW I've done some silly things, like trusting people at all... but the situation is what it is. I really don't need advice like 'ooh, you should have got money up front'... I KNOW!!!)

So I was asked to develop a private island for someone that I had previously even considered a friend, who wanted me because they 'love my work', and I even agreed to do it for a stupidly low rate because I actually loved the idea and plan for the theme myself.

I spent some of Saturday terraforming the land in preparation, and marked out the locations of each build, essentially completing the ground plan of the whole sim.

On Sunday, I spent the whole day working towards it. I spent several hours researching on the web, collecting reference pictures, making and uploading custom textures, built a number of builds for it and placed them all - I reckon I worked about 10 hours in all.

On Monday, I got notifications that I was kicked out of the project group, denied access to the island and one or two of my items returned - but not the builds, just my reference boards and markers - so she obviously picked and chose what she wanted.

I asked what was going on, and was essentially told the project was off. Not why, just that it 'wasnt to do with me'. I was also told I'd be compensated for what I'd done.

So I replied, with a figure I thought was reasonable for the work and wasted effort. That was Monday. My IM's have been ignored since then. I sent another yesterday reminding her that I required compensation. Nothing. And its not like she's not seen it - she's on SL right now. I looked.

So. Yes, I know all the obvious stuff like I should have got payment upfront. Some kind of written contract, or something better than an unrecorded verbal agreement between us etc, but the fact is, I wasted my weekend on this person, dropping everything including one of my own projects. And now I not only have nothing to show for it except a lost weekend, but she has my fscking builds! (Though I still own them at least, but they're set to her island group).

People have said 'oh get the Lindens involved, definitely!' but really I doubt there is anything here that is against the ToS or that the Lindens can enforce, and I don't really want to waste their time over what amounts to a disagreement between me and someone else.

So, apart from the obvious, like making sure that everyone knows who it is, and what a ripoff bitch she is, and generally destroying her reputation etc... anyone got any advice, ideas etc?

neg rate her?

even though you have turned on me and starting being mean to me i hate to see you hurt i am very sorry this happend to you. I would just mark it off as a learning expierance.. well no i wouildnt i would buy an island and do what they hired you to do on my own. =)

lol! thanks Chage. Cuz neg rates mean so much to people, ya know?

And it doesnt really make up for 10 hours of wasted work or the now lost promise of a much larger payment I put off other jobs for. Nono. I'm thinking FAR more than a neg.

I don't even mind getting a suspension over it, so if you've got some truly evil ideas, thats good too

Hmmm
This is where and alt or a friend with your perms would come in handy to be able to delete for you.

More seething than hurt in that 'fuck you bitch' kinda way

I'm definitely not going to let it rest. But you may be near the mark about doing her build - I decided already I'm going to utilise some of the work I'd already done for myself, since I liked the idea anyway. So yeah, at the very least I may steal her idea completely. lol

Except the island is now invisible and no one but her has access. Cuz otherwise, yeah, I'd have definitely gone back to delete my stuff at the very least.

I like this idea. Anyone you have a calling card for could do this for you, if they can get to the builds. Or, if you don't have copies of them, your agent could just take them into inventory. After all, they're still your items and you have every right to pick them back up.

[edit] Oop... you posted while I was writing. Hmm.. you need to find a clever spy that can wheedle their way onto her evil island lair...

who's idea? your idea? hehe riper off! fuck it

OMFG that sucks, how anyone could do that to anybody else is beyond me, especially those ppl that you consider 'friends'.

*gets her evil thinking cap on*

If the builds are yours, and not hers, surely it CAN be a Linden matter, you can always demand that they at least make her return your stuff. I know its no compensation for this fucktard behaviour, but pfft, its worth a try!

Send me the name and I'll get suspended too for relentlessly shooting her

Kris, that sucks. I suppose getting money upfront is really the only thing to compensate you, and it's late for that, yes.

As for them... just blow them off. Now, if that sim uses your design and becomes super-popular, totally blackmail them / report them for copyright abuse on your 3-D art that you provided and were not compensated for.

Will it always be invisible or could you bide your time and then you or an agent go reclaim/delete your builds?
That might make a bigger impact and make her think twice about screwing others over.
Or at the least make her scared you might do it and she might jump the gun and delete herself to avoid bigger problems later. (Problem solved)

Really though if I am Understanding the situation....
You created the objects, you own them but have only set the group affiliation. If thats correct then it doesnt matter who's property they are on if they are preventing you from retrieving them and they refuse to send them back to you, I would say that is stealing your creation.

I would politely ask her to return them to you, keep a record of the chat/IM and if it doesnt happen then ask the Lindens to retrieve them for you. There is no reason they should not take this as seriously as they do copyright issues.

The Lindens have retrieved a vehicle from land that had a bounce script that threw the driver out and the vehicle inside the property lines. I dont see this as any different.

Well it won't make up for the trust you put into this person nor the time you wasted, but you can give mod prmssions to an alt account (if you have one) or a friend and they can go in the island and take or delete the builds.

The island is now invisible sensual , So she can't do that unfortunately

yup I am reading that now hehe... bah thats what I get for posting before I read ALL the posts...

If you have been muted, she has not seen your messages. When your muted, you are never alerted to that fact, it just appears your being ignored. Which, you are, but dont base your stategy on thinking she has seen your full side of the story.

Report the situation to the Lindens and get your builds back. As for revenge, well, two wrongs dont make it right. Live and learn and let it go.

Oh Loki... how little you know me

sined,

the vindictive bitch.

I wouldn't let it go either, like I had somebody slating my name, and I am NEVER going to let it go till I get an apology, which I won't cos she's a tard.

It's not as simple as just letting it go, when you have been promised compensation and this git has taken it upon themselves to not only do a runner with Kris's builds and make them unobtainable, she has kicked and booted her from a project she spent alot of time on, its unethical, has no morals and stinks to high heaven.

I have a similar situation in reverse from yours, Kris - I had someone run out on me on a big project and leave me pants down (proverbially speaking) right before the release, screwing me and causing me lots of stress and extra work and ultimately what could have been a big RL money opportunity - in the same sense should I out this person? So far I've grinned and bore it.

Yeah. I would. But thats just me, maybe. Certainly I wouldnt want anyone I know being duped into providing services for people that behave like that, so I'm gonna tell it like it is. Obviously not on the forums, due to the naming names ruling, but I will certainly be doing my bit inworld

Well, what if this person was well known and had a number of friends?

Heck, that doesnt bother me at all! The person I'm referring to here is a major player.

Okay, my next question is - is it better to out them right away, or to wait to a critical moment where you are in a position of advantage, and have a chance to totally screw them down the road in cold, sweet revenge?

Okay, so I'm not that evil. But it sounds cool, right?

Yup, absolutely! When it has most impact is obviously best!

I mean, I really don't know. I could tell people, they could be totally indifferent and not care either way - but at least I can say 'I told you so' when they complain they got ripped off. lol!

Oooh, that's a good one... I suppose the best thing to do is let the person screw themself - which a-holes usually do - and then chuckle...

What's the Confucion saying? "Stand by a river long enough and you will watch your enemies floating down it." ?