Hypocrisy or Overreaction to an RP Region?

The other shoe has dropped.

LOL!

And you have a somewhat distorted perception of events, Miss. You are moreover misrepresenting the conversation, and shedding it in a different light. I will admit that my witticisms regarding the contradiction of behaviour displayed by the residents and your method of "policing" were unnecessary, and yes, I shared some personal information, but I did not quite say the things in the light you claim I did. Tsk tsk.

Our friend had tried to explain we were brief visitors under her wing, and quite frankly, your inflexible and from OUR perspective, rude, behaviour, was deserving of a little "pointing out that such was not appreciated".

Since it's all coming out in the open now (I did honestly try to keep this simple -- LOL), I would like to add that our friend was in a very long conversation with Jo afterwards, so I really see no evidence of her purported "if there is a problem, let me know, and I'll rectify it".

In the end, it comes down to words on a screen, open to interpretation and misinterpretation.

In any event, I actually do have something more serious and thoughtful to add to this conversation, but will do so in another comment.

I got the popcorn popping. Who wants extra butter?

Briana - where did you get those shoes? Pleeeeeease -I want some!

Lady Fiddlesticks' very apropos comment (for those of you not reading for the blood bath and drama), prompted me to ponder the following.

As much as we do not wish it so quite often, first impressions are everything, and in SL, they are moreso. Time and events move quickly -- relations occur faster, experiences can be more intense etc. Good lord, we shop faster in SL than we ever have even online sometimes. It's a quick fix environment and we know this powerful drug intimately. We are a little wired once we connect, and it's not just the coffee. It's simply the nature of the environment.

How many of us actually take the time to contact owners of regions when they come across a vendor that isn't working, or an item's script not functioning (thereby causing the interactiveness of the scene to be grossly disappointing), or even when there are griefers or others deemed undesirable in our midst? Unless we really wish to buy that item or have that experience, we move on.

Why?

Because there is always something more to buy, to engage, to experience or enjoy. And also because most of us are plain lazy and can't be arsed to spend the five minutes it takes to contact the owner. The point is, the first impression was made, we didn't get what we want, and we move on. That is the way it normally is.

I think I can count on one hand the number of times I actually take the time to alert an owner that a vendor is down or a script needs restarting and I'm someone who actually spends a great deal of time sending compliments and thank yous to various creators and owners of regions for such incredible work. Rather than whingeing about something, I am driven to sending out praise whenever possible because I know and respect how much effort is put into creations and scenes.

But I digress. First Impressions.

The idea that "oh well, just let me know if something is the matter and I'll rectify it" is a cop out. I'm sorry, but it's NOT good enough, especially, as Lady Fiddlesticks pointed out, in what is intended to be an educational experience. And honestly, bringing things back full circle to the region in question, after the barrage of "do nots and verboten" I really had no idea what the region's purpose was or if it had one.

In SL, people, regardless of intent (play, education, shopping addiction, music) want to simply sign in, and get to it. If they cannot (infamous lag or SL acting up, vendor broken etc.) they move on. The first impression was made. And that first impression was "man, that kinda sucked". I remember when SL was so horrid for a time that creators saw a dip in sales becuase nothing was rezzing in at a decent rate -- potential customers would TP in, wait the usual amount of time for the world to appear, see nothing but walls, and leave (eventually most shoppers realized what was happening).

But we're like squirrels (no disrespect to squirrels) -- we quickly chitter off to the next thing that will hold our attention. That is the environment and that is who we are (well, not squirrels).

BUT, on the other hand, IF we have a positive experience, and we like what we were engaged in, we return, we compliment, we support, we donate, we buy more and most importantly, we tell others. Nothing will boost or kill popularity and sales (apart from bot and camping policies) than word of mouth.

First impressions do matter. The "fix it later" mentality does no credit or service in this environment. The damage has been done. The impression made. End of story.

Yes, we are all learning as we go along. No one is perfect. We have bad days. Text is an imperfect medium or carrier for our thoughts and intentions. But most serious creators and presenters in SL know that it's important to put the best foot forward, and do all that one can to prevent consumers/visitors from HAVING to write and ask questions or delay (and even negate) the experience.

And I think I'm done.

Cheers, everyone.

And as I said, apart from the all the "do nots", it was rather unclear what was important or what the experience was intended to being. I admit that I made an incorrect assumption, and that I was wrong to perceive things the way I did -- but only in hindsight. Such was not clear to me at the time -- even with all the profile reading and notecard reading I did BEFORE I went in.

People learn quickly that if you don't move, you'll soon have someone else rezzing on your head. Indeed, I vaguely recall that somewhere, someplace, some piece of advice for newcomers was to move out of the way immediately, as a courtesy to others.

It may be unnecessary most of the time, but anyone who relies on the Showcase to pick places to visit is likely to maintain the habit.

Oh shoot!

If only we could just walk away at the right time! It's difficult.

I guess I won't be able to visit Berlin....because I don't care to read a lengthy list of rules. No matter what the rules.....every rule on a list implies (key word - implies) that someone will not be welcome or accepted, in some form or fashion......and that's not how I would like to perceive SL.....quite the contrary.

Would also like to know that I can visit a venue as myself, in jeans and flip flops, and not have to conform to someone else's fantasy.....but to be able to mesh the two...mine and theirs.

There is something really cool about visiting a theme sim, and watching the variety of types of people that chose to come explore, and knowing that there are so many different types of people with so many different personalities and backgrounds floating about the world here.....and that with a click of a button, I can meet one of those people. We must have at least one thing in common, if we chose to explore that sim. Again.....that's the way I want to experience SL.

And then there's the fact that I don't know when to walk away.

Considering both sides.....sounds like you all did quite well under the circumstances. I would not.....because that encounter would destroy my vision of SL, and what we all have to offer each other, regardless of our presentation, background, or personalities....and regardless of the backdrop or setting.....and I would fight to hang on to that concept.

Well, yes... but there's 'move a few steps off the landing point' and then there's 'start walking in a random direction - if you don't see anything/anyone, there must not be anything/anyone there'.

I wholly resent the implication that Mr. Anatine and I are lying to the people here in this forum. Miss Edleman, you were rude and patronizing to me personally. In fact, since we are paraphrasing here, your initial contact with me was, "Um..Pipsqueak Dear..." I do not appreciate being called Dear or Hun or Sweetie by people completely unknown to me for one thing and for another I find censure hard to take from a person who was only moments before behaving as though she was playing in an open sandbox with her friends.

When I told you that I was with one of your fellow Berlin resident and that my attire was appropriate for the visit (since my mind was closed to the idea of conversing with you further), you proceeded to openly engage my friend who tried to persuade you to leave us alone so she could show us the work there. Paraphrasing now: You sarcastically said, "Oh I am so mean and I am ruining your life. Well, I'm so sorry." As we left, you and she were still going at it in open chat. My friend Anya handled herself brilliantly and really tried to keep you calm as Mr. Anatine and I extricated ourselves from the situation.

I am not aware of what passed between you and my partner in IM but I can say that I never at any point accused you of emulating the Nazis nor did I make any comment at all about your behavior. You and I exchanged four brief lines of text. I am sure Mr. Anatine didn't insult you either. If he did, I have to say that you deserved a setting down for behaving so unprofessionally in a place that is supposed to be "educational."

As to the collective "we" that you reference in making the decision about our attire, I did not see a group of people there greeting/inspecting visitors, I saw you and a group of other avatars running one another over with vehicles and using language that was not conceived of in the 1920's.

My impression of you and, by extension, the owner of the build is that you seem to enjoy this sort of confrontation. You seemed gleeful which pushed me further away from complying with you. Also, it seems you are too deeply immersed in your work to tolerate anyone who does not fit into the very specific vision of what you wanted your build to be. It is understandable to fall in love with our work in SL and to want people to enjoy it in keeping with our personal vision. These expectations are unrealistic, though, and I suppose it takes a level of maturity you have not yet acquired to enforce rules in a way that does not alienate visitors. I am sure that the staff of 1920's Berlin will change their attitudes toward future visitors to the sim if only to prove my partner and I wrong. I challenge you to do so and wish you luck with the post-Showcase future of your work.

Pip Fiddlesticks

The shoes are Shiny Things - Sling back Spring Stilleto's. They are on the main wall to left of the entrance at the end!

Yep! Over-emotional over-reaction.

Pep ("I've chosen my outfit and I'm not changing it for any whipper-snapper of a servant. Sort her out Elric!"

PS Where is Anya's deposition? We need *all* the evidence!

Thanks Briana - must keep sense of proportion here. Shoes are vital!

I've just experienced the "head in the but" bug twice!!!!!!! Oh that took me back to December 2006! LL are just ace at recovering old software bugs - you could hardly credit it!

If one must spend so much time looking down at your avatar's feet.... well I want new shoes.

Just give Mila the permission to post the chat logs - that will settle everything.

The best thing about THEMED sims is the immersion and being there and watching everyone walk around or just the builds that help bring you into the theme itself.

Kinda lame to destroy the theme visually by breaking the dress code rules which are there simply to help everyone have a fully immersing experience.

Who wants to be in a Space Theme sim and then watch Goreans with slaves in tow dressed all caveman style walk by??

If you can't visit the sim and comply with the rules, then don't go, you're presence will ~never~ be missed.

It amazes me how so many people think they have a right to dictate to a sim owner what their rules should be, how their rules should be changed or why they think the rules are wrong. Or complain about how many rules there are or it being too much to read - and they haven't even been there.

The rules are simple, short, and posted at the arrival point.

The sim owner is ponying up $295+ usd/month - therefore they get to play god in the realm they create.

I initially thought the sim would be all kinds of drama upon arrival - but, if you just do you are asked and do not challenge them and try and dig up pics of the past that prove you are right regardless of what their moderators say - then you are not there to have any sort of experience beyond drama. Go elsewhere. They were polite, and inundated with people just walking without reading. What a job they have to keep things in theme and i commend them for that.

Now now, Pep... I haven't warned Lady about you, so don't you go inciting riot.

And for god's sake, this horse is done, it's cooked! LOL

My only genuine hope is that we have all learned something here (sounds a wee bit condescending, doesn't it?). I was reminded that "assume" is still a "bad thing"... and to listen to my first instincts

AND, most importantly, I learned that people believe Des is better dressed than I am!

Ain't that the truth!

Mr Anatine, if it soothes you any (and don't anyone quote me please), but I think Des looks a bit like Harry Potter.

There is a lot we do not know here and are not likely to know. It is interesting that those defending the sim seem to ignore the point about the policewomen and other residents driving over each other with cars and using out of period language.

It is true that the sim owner can do as they please and set rules as they please but if the rules are hypocritical, then they can't expect anyone from outside to be interested in even considering compliance.

That said, simply telling a sim representative that you are dressed appropriately or overreacting to 'dear' is really a non-starter. It is their sim and their rules. They do get to decide what is appropriate, and 'dear' as 'unendearing' as it can be as a greeting is still a perfectly legitimate greeting in such a session.

Well, I think your original question has been answered, even if it was just gentlemanly support you were offering to a companion rather than yourself over-reacting.

Pep (*Almost* everybody has learned something, from your companion's postings.)

Acknowledged. That's Clear.



Acknowledged. It's a wee bit confusing though, if the sim owner actively promotes to the public to come visit. But that was made clear above. No confusion.

I have learned a couple of things in this thread.

1. There's a reason why "naming and shaming" was against the rules of this forum, back when they were enforced.

2. The name "Pipsqueak Fiddlesticks" is expected to be known grid-wide as a moniker requiring the most exquisite courtesy in address, despite the fact that it's playful enough to be used for a five-year-old's stuffed rabbit. Who knew.

For Jo, let me reinforce two things others have said:

1. It IS unusual to have a sim with a dress code that is not RP, so that needs to be very clear.

2. You might ask sim staff who are hanging out around the rez-in point (and thus are effectively greeters) to not engage in boisterous non-period behavior. In fact, if possible it would be great if they used light RP with visitors when interacting with them. Sets a nice tone.
.

Wonderful sim, wonderful hosts. They were polite, patient and had a great sense of humor.

There is a landing point that is enclosed, and the rules are right there on the walls in big letters. You also get a note card with rules on it. I accidentally closed mine so I asked for a new one and the policeman cheerfully gave me one.

There are several freebies - two dresses for women, a suit and hat for men, and other fun things.

The sim is a whole lot of fun, it is very well built and again the people there as hosts, which included Frau Edelman and Frau Yardley were wonderful. Humble, and very patient with one visitor after the next who just ran around ignoring their very politely worded requests to please wear era-appropriate attire.

As Briana noted, that the hosts keep their even tone after probably repeating the request all day long is to be noted in itself. I saw a goth vampiress in Victorian gown, a Vegas magician (I think), a mini skirted woman in blinging modern freebie mall stuff, a woman in jeans and dreadlocks...and these were people who stood in the landing area for some time first. Then ran all over the sim. Still, the people there to act as staff/hosts never were rude to anyone there.

Once I was in the bar area (happy hour!) and everyone there was suited appropriately, it added a lot to the milieu. And the fact that no conversational imposition was made, meant it was relaxed and fun as well.

That was my own experience. I commend the sim owners for their idea and implementation as well as hospitality.

Well of Course, Pep!

How about you, would you have stood up for her, or just put your tail between your legs?

What's a lady got to do... would you man up and be a proper companion for the evening, or Not?

Might as well have taken her to boxing, or perhaps the dog races, if you aren't going to bother!

A kajira once gave a ladyfriend of mine some trouble, and came thiiiis close to being bought, boxed up and given as a gift to FurNation...

grins



...and now, a little music to accompany the drama playing out before you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV-8bCl8erY