Bhodi Tree Gallery Proposal - Jessians please read/comment

Okay, here is my proposal for how the Bhodi Tree Gallery can continue to exist in Jessie without disrupting/disrespecting the theme.

First, though, a word on why I don't just pick up and move to another Sim. (Yet, that is... if the overwhelming number of Jessians were to ask me to move, that might be a different matter.) My understanding of Jessie is that it is a war zone - meaning that a war is being waged there. This is different from a battlefield, in that war zones tend to be occupied areas and battlefields do not. (If it were a battlefield by design, I assume it would be a sandbox.)

In war games, the biggest disconnect from reality IMHO is that there are no civilians. In fact, civilians play a big part in wars fought on their home territory. Aid groups, for instance, often inadvertently determine the outcome of wars in Africa through the economics of food distribution. Additionally, tactitions plan their actions either to avoid civilian targets - or, as we've seen with great sadness around the world - to hit civilian targets with symblic meaning. ONE of the many reasons we're in Jessie is because I believe that having civilian presences ads to the depth of the sim and, in the end, will be good for it.

That said, I don't believe that we have a right - and we don't have any desire - to change the basic nature of the sim. So, here is my suggestion for appropriate interaction between civilians and combatants in Jessie. I am anxious for feedback. Please don't read this as a directive post, but as a first attempt at defining a shared concept of how the two groups should interact.

Civilians at the Gallery:
1. Remember you are in a war zone. Feel free to arm yourselves for protection. Please do not immediately assume that being attacked is the same as being harrassed. Be prepared either to attack back, or to resist through peaceful means.
2. Don't want to die? Sit. Keep a block handy, and sit on it whenever you're at a show or event at the Gallery, and you won't be killed. But, in keeping with the theme of the sim, if we are attacked and you survive by sitting, you should consider yourself a hostage and act accordingly. You are free to leave, of course, by teleporting elsewhere. But if you stay, recognize that the interaction with combatants is part of why the Gallery is where it is.
3. Don't mind dying? Remember that it's your responsibility to decide if you want to temporarily move your home point to the Gallery so you respawn there on death, or if you want to die once and respawn elsewhere. Please think about this and decide when you arrive, so you won't have to spend your whole evening flying back and forth.

Combatants
1. Think of us as civilians, and attack us or not with that in mind. We aren't here to drive you out, and there are many clever and interesting ways you can interact with us in our role as civilians. Be creative - we're trying to be. Or just ignore us.
2. It would be lovely if you would attack at the very end of events, so that we can continue to hold them. This, of course, is just a request.
3. If you take hostages or attack, it would also be lovely if you had a reason for doing so and some conditions that - when met - would cause you to release the hostages and cease hostilities.


Now, again, I'm submitting this for FEEDBACK, not to try and say "this is the way it should be." I want other Jessians to tell me where I"m right, where I'm wrong, and what I haven't taken into account.

Bhodi and the too much time she has on her hands

well first off atleast at the moment there is no theme in jessie.

it would be nice,but too many people have built too many different things.your gallery isnt disturbing anything unless there is a unanimous decision to change jessie into a themed sim.

there have been plenty of more intrusive out of place things built in jessie,so i see no issue with yours.

but you cant expect special treatment is all.

all you can do is ask that people try not to mess up your events,amybe put up signs or something when its going on.

but i would suggest you instead get creative,which would inturn actually put you more in the "theme" of jessie in a sense.

for instance maybe a system which locks up your gallery at the push of a button so that bullets cant get in.

or maybe an automated defense system activated hile you are having an event.

perhaps hired thugs to gaurd the premesis during an event to at the very least drraw the fight away from it.

things like this could make things far more interesting for all people involved i think rather then just asking please dont shoot us.

if you want some suggestions on defensive solutions let me know

Chauncey -

Thank you for at least taking the time to reply. We're not here to be disruptive, we're here to participate. The way in which we participate may not be expected - but that's part of the point.

Let me make one thing very clear - we DO NOT believe that any resident of Jessie should expect to be able to their land safe by proclamation. If that was the intent, you could turn safely ON in the land edit menu.

We have nothing against being engaged with our neighbors - either in alliance or opposition. And we support the JLA.

The hope is, rather, that our presence will add some depth to what (to me at least) seems mostly to be a game of script jockeying. Where is the strategy? Where are the agendas? Where are the battle ethics? Do ALL groups in Jessie support the killing of civilians? Surely there are some that would consider defense of civilians a part of the soldier's creed?

It is my policy never to send "harassment" reports to the Lindens for any behavior in Jessie that could be considered combat. ( To date I haven't sent any - although there are other forms of harassment that could generate one from me. ) Harrassment isn't the issue.

In fact, at this point the issue has gotten a little blurry, so in a nutshell here it is:

Jessie is a war zone.
Some people live in Jessie who aren't combatants.
Therefore, like it or not, there are civilians in Jessie.
So, what ethical responsibilities do combatants have towards these civilians?
What rights and privelages do civilians lose when they are in a militarized area?
I don't expect there to be any monolithic answers to these questions - but it does seem like there should be an ongoing discussion about them.

Bhodi - the civilian who has reluctantly armed herself

I'm much less likely to visit your gallery and spend some time there now that I know I might encounter hostilities.

I fully recongize that some people may decide not to visit the Gallery because they may encounter hostilities. Still, I elect to remain in Jessie because it breeds better art to have it there. Conflict has proven to be a powerful force in the creativie process!

-Bhodi

Yes but that usually applies to the artist, doesn't it? Us wimpy patrons of the arts want to experience that "catharsis of pity and fear" Aristotle talks about from the relative safety of our own living rooms!

No but seriously this is an interesting issue, I've got a small gallery of my own and have been meaning to stop by and talk shop, hope to do so soon.

Kelwyn

Some residents of Jessie apparently like the gallery. Many thanks to Antagonistic Protagonist who offered a friendly hello rather than a barrage of cruise missles when I visited last night.

If you haven't been to this gallery yet it's definitely worth a visit. I liked Eggy Lippmann's fanciful design for the building, Nicko Snow's enigmatic sculptures, and the haunting figure studies by Jemma Flora.

But I didn't see a bhodi tree -- much less the Bhodisattva -- anywhere!

Kelwyn

"What's so funny about peace love and understanding?"
-- Elvis Costello

As a Jessie resident in exile (RL circumstances have left me without HS-IP for a week or so). I support the bhodi tree gallery and cant wait to see what else is on display when i get back to SL.

Jack O

Hey bhodester you know that if anyone's giving you trouble, as long as they are on your land you can instakill them (teleport them home) or merely eject them from your land. I can give you a little scripted cube I made for that.

i see what you're saying bhodi,and you're not the first either,in beta there was someone who created a little peaceful spot in jesie aswell,knowing full well what could happen.

sure there can be some depth added by doing it,that's why i'm simply throwing in some suggestions on how to keep doing what you're doing and maybe at the same time defend yourself somewhat heh.

personally you wont see me attacking your gallery,i've NEVER shot an unarmed civilian who was't causing trouble.

Thanks for the support everyone! And don't forget to stop by for Wed. Night's Erotic Art show. It should be a good one!

What time Wed night? I swear my curiosity has nothing to do with upcoming tests for my Event Buster Mark I cruise missiles.

-AP

5pm PST - it's on the calendar, so ensure that anyone who needs time to plan an attack - OOPS - I mean create an entry has time to do so!