Stipend Clarification!

Okay, so I posted about 30 times last night on the Economics issues - and by the time I woke up this morning, those threads were already down on Page 2 & 3... Jeez!

So let me repeat what Robin Linden has posted - because this is something that NEEDS to be clarified!!!

Robin Linden:
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The adjustments that are causing so much commotion are solely to the in-world economy and effect events (eliminating support for most events) and to the ratings system. There's no change to the basic stipends (the L$ you get weekly).

There is no change to real world pricing for either land, land fees, or membership.
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So everyone needs to take a step back and breathe a little. You are ONLY losing out on 1/2 of your Ratings Bonus. YOUR BASE STIPEND WILL STAY THE SAME.

This is not "all of us suddenly becoming poverty-stricken by a cruel God".

This is LL trying to balance the economy. Because a balanced economy is much much better than an un-balanced one! And, as myself and a few others have pointed out over the last 12 hours, this also may be about LL trying to make sure that paying customers retain an advantage in the game. Why? Because paying customers are what keep LL alive! If there's no incentive to pay for an account, there's no reason for people to do anything but get a $10 Basic Account. Which in a nutshell (without repeating many other posts in this small space) is a "loss-leader" for LL; and is designed solely to pump up the user-base and provide an "upgrade path" for people to TRY SecondLife. Land is one benefit to being a paying customer - but not everyone wants land; so tangible economic benefits (through larger stipends) are a more "universal" benefit. And the more paying customers LL has, the longer SL will be around! If you turn that formula upside-down by making it easier/better to be a Basic Account holder (i.e. being able to earn an equivalent Stipend while on a "free ride", then LL loses tons of money and will shut SL down in a short time-frame.

EVERY OTHER MMO out there provides less creative freedom and charges US$10 - $15 per month. With that US$10 amount, you can buy a decent SL account with a good stipend; or pay for a nice chunk of L$ on GOM/IGE. Folks, we're talking about the equivalent of 1 or 2 meals at McDonald's - this isn't a lot of money! That same US$ amount will buy you a L$1000 grant and L$500 weekly (that's another L$2000 EVERY month) with a premium account. OR, go to GOM/IGE and get about L$2500 EVERY MONTH, at the current trading prices. L$2500 per month is enough to buy some land, or rent a decent place, buy a few sets of clothes/jewelry; and heck - for a REAL change - MAYBE pay/tip your event Hosts for putting their time and effort into things!

Just some food for thought...

Take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade
(Tread Whiplash)

How dare you confuse us with your fancy pants clear headed thinking!

Thats too much Rocket Science Knowledge for the Rainbow Coalition to understand.

I think you missed the part where stipend will be cut back gradually?

Silence Infidel.. Do not question the smart people... Accept the answer without question.

Minding quoting and linking to this being said directly by a Linden, Blake?

Stop confusing the issue with facts and logic.

LOL. You're ruining everyone's day, Tread!

My Mom taught me it hurts more & longer to take a bandaide off slowly that to just rip it off & be done with it.

There.

Yeah what Misnomer said..

lol Blake, you made me waste time by going back and re-reading PL's post. Did not see where this can be inferred.

LOL trying to extend the drama by sowing misinformation?

Yes, Blake, your quote says RATING BONUSES... NOT STIPEND

The Protesters are in denial...


The twelve steps for those who are against the new LL Economic Policy:

1) Admit your a dummy and don't grasp the concept of how this is better
2) Agree with everything Alby says...
3) Repeat Step 1

Well I mean't Bonuses then if you want to be specific.

Blake...ratings bonus is the Stipend Delta...the Base Stipend isnt going anywhere.

Ratings Bonus...=Stipend Delta
Stipend............=Stipend Base

Don't go getting confused on us now...two seperate entities there.

Either way, it's my income.

I protest because its still NOT ENOUGH....

It doesnt solve the problem it only minimalizes it thats what I have been saying all day...

Shadow

Is it income or is it welfair? That is the actual question is it not?

Shadow

heh, well this thread is worth bumping, because the point was to make sure people knew that the base stipend was left intact -- it is only bonuses that are shrinking.

If its not broke don't fix it

Yeah Blake. Just so y'know -- 'cause I'm not sure if you do -- the ratings, which are bonuses, increase your weekly BASE stipend somewhat depending on how many ratings you get.

The Base stipend amount does not change over time, and will not. Now, Robin said that the ratings bonuses will be decreased over time, NOT the base stipend. There IS a difference and it's important.

It doesn't mean you aren't getting anymore stipend stuff ... it just means that the ratings bonuses won't be as apparent. Hope ya understand!

Blake -

Yes, its a major source of income for a lot of people. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. You have a money-source that you get "for free". Meanwhile, some users are paying for their money-source! And ONLY those paying users are currently helping LL pay the bills that it takes to run SL.

For SL to be stable and functional, enough users need to pay for their accounts. Owning land and having a better stipend are incentives to do so. Taking away insanely big ratings bonuses RESTORES the balance between the base stipend levels.

Plus, SL provides MORE WAYS to make money than any other MMO! "Startup" costs are next to nothing, "Manufacturing" costs are nil, "R&D" costs are only your time and the occassional texture/sound upload. In the end, one SMALL investment in L$ and your time can result in sales of many copies of your Prim-Object/Script/Texture/Clothing/Animation, etc. Or you can barter your services / creations in return for other people's. Or you can put on events and charge people to attend (or at LEAST make some money in tips!).

The power to change your "socio-economic status" in SL far exceeds that of Real-Life; and its far easier than in Real-Life! And if you don't want to put your time and effort into making things, then you can open up your wallet and give LL the equivalent of 2 Big-Mac Meals once a month; and not have to create/sell anything!

Every SECOND that you spend online with SecondLife, you are costing LL real US$ in bandwidth, server-resources, salaries, electricity, office-rent, etc. The $10 you pay to "get in" to SL doesn't even begin to cover their costs. There's no such thing as a free lunch, folks - LL is not evil; they just have to be able to pay off their bills and investors! So either pay them for the use of their systems; or put your own time & effort into making the system better - and be rewarded with items, land, and the almighty L$.

Take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade
(Tread Whiplash)
...Who is crazy to still be using Logic - but is known for being Stubborn.

P.S. Not Broke? NOT BROKE? Basic Account People are making more than L$500 weekly in ratings bonuses (that kind of money should be gotten from a paid-account). LL recently had to get more investment capital. Sorry, but it ain't "fixed" until LL says its profitable and SL is paying for itself every month!

Better add the increase in the ratings now being L$25 per point. When your stippened is 500 a week and your bonus is now 50, it will also cost you L$75 to triple rate anyone. Now for someone who makes this amount it will definatly affect them. Now add to that they no longer get LL support for their events. Again minus more L$.

Moreso now that LL is not giving support ppl wont be giving out as much money or prizes. Again trickle down affect. Giving the player who now makes the least even less.

I just love it how some are picking apart all the statements so they dont sound so bad. This is bad all around folks and in the next month it will be even more apparent.

Sure, then tell me when they fixed the (No Copy) Bug?