Boycott SLExchange! Redux

For my part, it has nothing to do with keeping politics out of SL, or anything remotely close to that. It has to do with having a knee-jerk reaction to half-ass information, conjecture and rumor, and deliberately setting out to destroy someone's business based on that. It also has to do with taking someone else's problem and trying to throw yourself a parade using that as its theme, when they've specifically asked you not to do so.

i agree. i was directing that comment more towards those who take personal issue with anyone -ulrika- interested in the political aspect of this game. many players naively attack ulrika's political activity altogether rather than the problems in the over simplifications of her particular political intentions. this game is highly political. this forum is one of the highest expressions of secondlife politics. to ignore the politics, or to stifle it, is to maintain the status quo. sometimes this is done very disingeniously.

i too was out for crusading in merwans name and making unsubstatiated claims. but i'm entirely in for the boycott of unethical business practices - slexchange - until apotheus makes it clear that his business practices are ethical. apotheus has not been forthcoming about anything and i should not have to hunt down any information. it's his job to put it forth. if that hurts his business - sucks to be him!

we all live in countries where a person is innocent until proven guilty. but in todays business climate, or any business climate in fact, it is the onus of the business owners to convince the consumer of his/her service or product that it conforms to acceptable social values to earn their patronage.

oops. i posted the same thing twice! i'm a broken record player

I'm also not in a real big hurry to run out and ruin SLX while Merwan is still trying to come to some agreement with Apotheus about it. 40% ownership of nothing is nothing. I really hope Ulrika's rush to march for justice isn't in turn kicking Merwan in the ass.

haven't you suspended your sales until more information is made available? isn't that boycott?

This is a really interesting grey area. There are several content creators that, while their posts indicate they dont support the idea of a boycott, are pulling thier items anyway. It's an interesting question, is there any real difference?

I feel like there is, but its a difference that is hard to explain.
For myself, it's a case of "Yes, I am doing this, but not because anyone TOLD me to."
Incedentally, several content creators have also commented that they are willing to relist the items if a satisfactory resolution is achieved. So the ball is in the SLExchange's court on that. If they can work it out, some of thier lost business will probably come back. But that looks like a bigger and bigger IF. The whole situation makes me sad.

There's a very big difference between making a business decision not to trust a service with your money, and stomping around the streets trying to influence everyone to stop supporting the evil capitalist pigs.

I don't use IGE, does that mean I'm boycotting them? I also don't eat onions. Am I boycotting them?

"stomping around in the streets" is raising awareness. in this case you were also raising awareness. you didn't quitely choose to suspend your use of slExchange but declared your intentions on the forum and your reasoning. that is a political gesture. you are a well spoken and highly regarded member of the community. people read your posts and reflect on your reasoning. it is structurally the same as what ulrika proposed but less proactive yet still genuine leadership by example. more so perhaps because there was speculation in another thread about ulrika endorsing a competing model.

i think you are definitely boycotting IGE. i don't know about onions but it's highly unlikely your reason is socially or politically motivated and not just a taste preference so i would say no.

How do you figure I'm boycotting IGE? Simply not using a service is boycotting them?

So if a business closes its doors in an area because they are afraid of losing money or hurting their business this is considered boycotting? I think you have a business decision and boycotting mixed up. Boycotting is a means to coerce someone to stop doing something that you see as unacceptable. I don't remember hearing Jonquille Noir say anything about pulling business to try and change something with SLEXchange.

See what you guys did...you made Neph sad. To quote Baccara:
"Shame on you"

Please resolve the disputes and get back to the regularly scheduled SL.

I don't see that SLX can be saved. I mean, who in their right mind would ever trust Apo enough to do business with him again?

Posted today by Apotheus Silverman at 12.02am (GMT +10)

"Placement of new SL Exchange terminals has been halted until further notice."

Ooh the drahma! (Yes I have removed all my items btw)

http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=232

I saw that the terminals were no longer being distributed too. That's good news.

Does anyone have any more information on this? I'd like to continue educating people in world this weekend and want to make sure I have the latest facts.

~Ulrika~

What do you mean Aaron?

~Ulrika~

In what way have you ever been ripped off by Merwan, Aaron?

Why is this GOOD news?

Funny, that this continually gets brought up in one method or another. I prefer not to comment on Merwan's situation or SLExchange as I am not a participating member of the site.

I find it ironic that SL is such a carnivorous beast as it is. If a business or entity makes one mistake they are devoured and spit out like old refuse. Case in point would be several other attempts at commercialism.

SLvisions-Online Webstore for Licensed Trademarked Apparrel
Avalon's-Online Webstore for Licensed Tradmarked Apparrel
Now SLexhange

Albiet SLexhchanges is because of internal strife the manor in which people have vehemently opposed it is no different than something Both My Self and Fiziks did in the past. The Differences here are this.

SLVisions -RL out of individuals personal pocket expenditures to offer a Legitimate Product ...Failed ROI
Avalon's-Rl out out of RL business pocket expenditures to offer a Legitimate Product...Failed ROI

SLexchange-RL out of two individuals personal pocket expenditures to offer a Service....ROI recieved and was expanding past Failed ROI bought down by internal descention.

In either case each entity was chewed up by the forum populace and spit out like a bad stick of gum.

Sorry folks if another buisness trys to take off the best advice I can offer them is to have more ass than the forums got teeth and unfortunately there are a lot of Sharks in here.

So for all those entrepenures out there that are looking to build a business based on trust or selling any commercialised product. Best advice is run it by the forums first let them elevate you to stardom before you even spend the first dime to offer anything.

Sincerely, Shadow Weaver..The Ancient with more ass than the forum has teeth.

I'm a forum junkie and I don't recall any bad press on either SLVisions (not familiar with them) or Avalon (impressive group of folks). I'm actually quite sad to hear that Avalon might be having difficulties.

~Ulrika~

This was well before your existance Ulrika thus understandable that you are unaware of the situation.

Both SLVisions and Avalon offered and still offer to this point Real World Attire for those that Love Second Life.

Unfortunately when both pursued this venture they were both chewed up on the forums for thier actions. One because some thought it was greed and the other because it was a percieved impropriety. In either case both were very forthcomming and Legitimate in all dealings.

Consider my analogy that of burning both ends of the candle. SLVisions and Avalon only wanted to provide a Real World product for those that truly loved SL and were enjoying its dream.

SLexchange now seems to be on the opposite end of the same spectrum they wanted to provide a service but internal descention is killing it.

Either way the forums have those flip fold shark teeth and continualy tear things up that they have no true perception of other than to jump the gun.

<<Raises hand yes I am guilty of that at times and I will admit it.

But, I guarentee that 80% of the rest that do it dont have that honor or self understanding to be able to do so themselves.

I was merely bringing to light the fact of how self absorbed people can be when an Idea or issue so contradicts what they themselves percieve. Its unfortunate but true.

Sincerely, Shadow Weaver...The Ancient with more ass than the forums have Teeth.

Wise words, Shadow. Thanks for the history on those companies.

~Ulrika~

This would be a fine argument if we were not also part of this dispute. There are many artisans with products on SLEX and many more of use who were regular visitors. They have an obligation to keep us informed of ToS changes, problems within the company, and their current status. If they choose not to do this, they should remove the "SL" from their name and sell products to each other.

Demand ethical business practices in SL.

~Ulrika~

I have never felt that I was a "part of their dispute" nor have I been severely inconvenienced due to their internal problems. The only inconvenience I have experienced is that some products have been pulled by people jumping the gun. Unfortunately, those vendors who have pulled products may lose potential sales. Ii is my belief that they're internal disputes are none of my business as long as it does not affect my exprience doing business with SLExchange.