A simple request of the SL forum community

Please folks, read through this and consider.

There are a lot of reasons why I like SL. One of them is the wonderful atmosphere on the forums. I'm sure everyone who frequents gaming boards knows what I mean when I say almost ALL the gaming boards are pretty viscious places. It always seems somebodies bitching about the game or someone esle. The tone of these other boards are definately adversarial(sp?) and attacks or just plain rudeness is the rule, not the exception.

I don't have to point anyone to any examples, you all know what I mean by that I'm sure.

So I want to say some things to both the newcomers and the old-timers.

New folks, this community is not one of strife and competition. This just isn't that type of game. SL is very laid back and casual compared to just about anything I know of. It's natural to come into here and start playing the game as you would say an RPG or FPS game. Very l33t and all.

Please, step back a moment and realize no one here is walking around with chips on their shoulders (ok, a few might, but not the majority) ready to start a fight and have the type of flaming you see elsewhere.

And it doens't matter if someone else started it either, it takes at least 2 to start a flame war, never just one. Folks, that just isn't SL.

To the old-timers; come on, we should know better than this, shouldn't we? I only started in august, so I suppose I can't really include myself in the old-timer category, but I feel that way. We know better, we know what a flame post is. We all do. We all know what a particular post will do, what a choice of words will cause. We all know that this board has never really sported the kind of in-fighting we have ALL seen elsewhere.

So why start a flame war? It's a choice made when posting. People can say whatever they want about what they're trying to say or do, but come on! Be realistic and truthful, at least with yourselves. You know what it takes to bring this forum down to the level of so many other anger and hate filled game boards.

Just say no. Don't do it. Respect and consideration, that's all it takes. Respect for the others, and consideration for your actions and words and consideration for how others feel.

PLEASE, new-comers and old-timers, let's keep this board civil. No one should say "He/She started it". Step back, think about it, and say NO I won't do this to SL.

Personal issues and dirty laundry does not need to be aired in this forum. Finger-pointing and name-calling only hurts us all ultimately. It leaves stains that linger. It does no good, and everyone who reads this must know that.

Dammit, we're better than that aren't we?

What he said!

Nicely written Jellin.

Personally, every post I make here is preceded by the thought that I am representing SecondLife publicly.
I don't want to stop anyone from posting their opinions, but man, all this airing of dirty laundry lately really puts me off this forum.

I agree with you Jellin, up to a point I think there's a big difference between dirty laundry and personal disagreements being aired, and threads that are just heated discussions of a more philosophical nature. The thread that Bri started about tiered taxes to help reduce prim usage is a great example. There are a few posts in there that are personal in nature but the vast majority are purely philosophical (even if stated in strong language). It's important that people know the difference. Someone disagreeing with your point of view in a strong way is not the same as a personal attack.We're building a new society from the ground up here and this kind of discourse is part of the process. As long as we're talking about ideas and points of view and not attacking people on a personal level then we should be just fine. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. The second thread about the hawthorne situation was definitely over the line.

I agree Chip, I'm only hoping to bring things up to an objective level and try to put an end to the dirty fighting and personal atacks and name-calling.

For instance, I am in favor of a tiered tax system for prims. I can't imagine how it would be put in place, I know nothing about programming, but I imagine it could be done.

I think, and this is just how -I- see things, paying progressively higher taxes for prim count as a build grows larger and larger would be the best and fairest way to hold us to a sim limit. People could build the biggest skyscraper or incrediably detailed builds (which btw I have nothing but admiration for, super detailed works of art in SL are amazing) but the if the prims get progressively more expensive tax-wise, it's takes a definate decision to go that route.

I know a lot of people disagree and feel others ways are better to share resources. OK, that's cool, but I would be offended if people started calling me names, posting pictures of my builds and calling me a hypocrite or otherwise frame me in a negative light because of my opinions.

I can discuss these things objectively, I would hope others can too. I can also refrain from getting crazy if others don't agree with me.

i don't agree with you.

marilyn murphy

That's because you're a big meanie hehe

i am not that big.

marilyn murphy

lol

LOL OMG you're making me crazy by not agreeing with me!

I thought you were already crazy.