Why *edited* is right about this community

If you have an opinion that is either from the perspective of a new person or contrary to what the forum elite think is the status quo, you will be endlessly persecuted by a lynch mob.

Speak your mind, and the forum royals (and the wannabes) will line up for a chance to slap each other on the back and say how right they are and how dumb you are.

It's a sad ass example of group think and people protecting what they think are their exalted positions in the pecking order.

They will talk about lurking. I'm sorry, this forum should be for making new users FEEL WELCOME not for freaking them out and pissing them off.

They will talk about how long they've been around or all the things they've done.

Well sorry folks, but SL has got to adapt into something else if it is going to grow. So what you know and what you're doing is not getting us anywhere.

My suggestion: leave off with the negativity. Stop making new users feel like idiots simply because they haven't spent the last 8 months in SL 12 hours a day.

Make them feel welcome. Answer the same question over and over. Try to be inspired by the fresh energy rather than threatened.

this reminds me of the time sl was a dogs breakfast or something

blaze, are you purposely neglecting that your new pet's mission was inspired by warnings he recieved for libeling anshe in the general forum for profiteering from the supply and demand conspiracy.

Why blaze is right about DogSpot being right about these forums:

I agree with Blaze..

coco

Thanks Huns, I rather appreciate it.

i did. i was trying to limit my exposure to you but i acted too slow. now i gave you another chance to blah blah blah.

yeah... i'm having a private affair with jeska. add that to your list of conspiracies.

FIC!!!!!

*sidenote: why dont we have a shocked-face emoticon? i bet that would get a lot of use around here*

AHA! ty

back to the regularly scheduled foruming now. apologies to everyone but jau for the sidetrack

Did they have a special "persecution complex forum account" promotion that I didn't hear about or is the original poster simply making more alts so that he can find someone banter with?

And, on an unrelated note, why is "Add Buddy" (which does nothing of value) on the Poster Name menu and "Ignore Poster" not?

Dunno. Seems to me if Jauani knows then it's pretty clear who ARed me. FWIW, I have no idea what post it was.

If there were ever a change to the forum rules regarding warnings, I'd love to have the ability to face my accuser.

LL has stated it's intention of becoming a platform more than a game and to increase it's membership to the point where it can be a serious contender in future internet expansion. To do so future user base will have to include wider range than currently exists. Hopefully it will also include users amenable to spending real money. This general forum is the one most likely entered by a new player. New people may include those interested in utilizing this service for broader applications such as education, social special interest groups, or as a new venue within which to interact with RL businesses. Those interested in supporting LL's goals could help by providing a welcoming environment. This forum could be utilized as a communication for many or for a few.

This may not coincide with the interests of everyone and in fact may stand in opposition to some people's ideal usage for this venue. So the deciding factor should be LL as they own it and it is their business that is at stake.

We certainly don't have complete free speech in here, but we accept a certain amount of negativity to try to get closer to that concept. Nor can the LL moderators catch every indiscretion or go running around picking up after the children every minute of the day. There is NO consensus at all when it comes to forum behavior -- some say free speech at all costs, some say only nice posts allowed. We end up in a messy middle ground.

Certain forum areas require that you do not take everything personally, that you accept that an argument can get heated, and that you try to keep of a sense of humor or at least some detachment about people's silliness or angry outbursts.

It can be really hard (and lord knows I fail sometimes), but you don't have to answer ever negative post, you don't have to get down in the mud yourself, and you don't have to stay in a thread that turns unpleasant.

Just move on to something more interesting. No need to play the martyr or mother theresa.

I'll keep this one short, basically regardless of whatever the locals are going to bicker about again in this thread and what mud they sling (and you all know they will) the truth of the matter is that this forum is unpleasant and downright hostile to new folks. Hell, I'd be hard pressed to not apply the words "rampant xenophobia" here.

Of course, it's not just the fault of some of the regulars in this forum, it's also LL's fault for doing the shoddiest job of moderating a forum I've ever seen. And I've seen some pretty badly moderated forums in my time.

I wonder if they know how much potential revenue this place scares off, and how badly the current state of affairs reflects on them and their product as a whole.

But what do I know, I'm just a stupid noob. As far as I'm concerned LL needs to outsource a full time moderator, maybe two or three, for this forum and tighten the leash, so to speak. Wishywashy moderation is what leads to these kinda things, and again, it's not good for their business.

Plus I think anyone online, regardless of age, position in real life and other things should be treated like a dumb kid and that online communities need babysitters. Oh and that includes yours truly, before anyone claims I don't include myself in this blanket statement.

And I for one and happy to go along for the ride.

Remember too, we all had white shirts and jeans once upon a time.

Martyrdom and Theresadom, unfortunately, are what a lot of people around here find "interesting".

You also dont have to enter every thread with a negative post or to fling mud. There is room for everyone. Make the focus about coexistence not rules for assimulation.

(Adopting the whispery 'narrator from the sidelines' voice)

Oh look! The troll, freshly energized by the chum in the water, spasms as he launches yet another series of foam-laced threads into the forums.

Contrary to popular belief, this rare breed of troll prefers to lay in wait and pass time by bumping web-encrusted threads to stir up forum furor... emerging to mark his territory and posture for the 'no no, stop looking at him and pay attention to ME' rut whenever a new troll emerges in the area.....

(going silent, both narrator and camera return to watching the natural display of the troll continue...)

Is that kind of commentary really necessary?

Or are you intentionally poking someone to get a reaction?

The assumption that the troll was waiting instead being unwilling to place 2nd life drama before 1st life concerns. My opinions are valid, not earth shattering.

I don't find it interesting, I want it to STOP.

Do any of you understand that? YES YOU DO. You just DON'T want it to stop. So rather than adding your voices to the calls (the many calls, on my part, in the form of posts, campaigns, and polls) to do something about it, you decide to label me with stuff like St. Coco and martyr complex and all that TOTAL CRAP.

I'll have you know that nobody anywhere ever in my whole life accused me of anything even REMOTELY close to any of those things. Nobody. Ever. There just isn't anything in my personality or anything I have ever done that EVER caused anyone to think anything like that anywhere.

It's just the stock response to anyone bringing it up, because a bunch of people really don't want it to change. Maybe they want to participate in it. Maybe they want to keep it going so they can feel above it by neither participating in it nor complaining about it. I don't know.

If it would STOP, I would stop TALKING about it.

By the same token, it's grossly unfair to do it to people then tell them to stop crying. "Stop crying or I'll beat you some more."

This thick skin business is absurd as well. It's not like we have a choice as to where to go for the official forums for SL. A thick skin shouldn't be REQUIRED here. Having to be tough and used to uncivil discourse should NOT be a prerequisite for coming on to the forums to discuss a new game you got and are excited about.

coco

P.S. This "it's not all about you" tactic is another tactic like the martyr thing. You treat someone like total crap, like a DOG, then when they complain, or when they complain about you doing it to others as well as them, and point to previous instances, you accuse them of wanting things to be all about them, as if they are merely childish attention hogs. Yet ANOTHER insult, heaped on top of the original insults being protested against.

Which is also NOT TRUE. AGAIN - no where in my life, ever, anywhere, on forums, in real games, you name it - has anyone ever accused me of that except in these forums WHEN I speak out against horrible crappy treatment of other posters, including myself. I have NEVER made it all about me, anywhere. Ask anyone who knows me. Either in games or irl. They would tell you that just isn't in my character. So kindly cut it out.

Meh, blanket statement. Some people are just more able to play nice with the rest of the kids than others, regardless of what their post count is.

haha, brilliant. I've been wondering the same thing!

I will add for those new to the forums, if you complain about this sort of thing, they also accuse you of being an alt. Therefore other people don't really think what they don't want them to think - it's all one person; maybe two at most.

coco