Message to the Past.

Thanks Czari. So sorry to hear about your uncle.

Not sure why I went public with my situation today, but from the PMs I've received, I think it was worth the disclosure.

I can not speak from the side that yours sounds like it is, I can only speak from the side that fell in love with someone in SL

yes my marriage was dead, I just did not want to face it and neither did my ex.
When I met my husband (the one I am with now, the one I met in SL) my whole life has changed and much much for the better.

I hate to think what would have happened to me if I had not met him, or found SL. Scares me to even think of it.

And facebook, as I said has brought me connections I had thought long lost, family, friends, some friends I have not seen in almost 30 years, some family I have never met yet.

It is not the product/software that is bad, or causes the problems, it is the way the individuals choose to use them. And speaking from experience, those who seek something in SL beyond mere friendship, is looking for something that is lacking in their real life relationship. Sometimes they do not know it until they look back and see it, could be loneliness, could be love, could be anything, sometimes just someone looking for a companion that becomes much more.

Don't blame SL or Facebook for a marriage ending, it is not those that caused the problems... in some cases they might open a door though.

I am sorry you went through what you did, but... do you really want to be with someone who doesn't want to be with you?

Just ignore and let this one die.

That is not true at all. I read every word. I just didn't feel qualified to comment.

I just had to grin and chuckle here.

I am glad Ray quoted it. As much as many want to keep RL and SL totally separate, I love hearing things about our RL, cuz everyone here is very real to me. And it helps to hear stories similar to what I am experiencing. I thank you for sharing. You and Ray both have actually helped me a lot with your posts in this thread.

can i have the name of HER lawyer?

No lawyer needed. Just move to California. They will put the screws to your spouse for free.

the way I understand it, doesn't even have to be your child in cali... they'll come after any adult that lives in the same house o.O

Oh, an a couple more...

Mid 2006
Ya, this is Starax's store. Go there. Get some Lindens first. You'll want that wand you saw. Also, grab some of those animals. They're cool. I don't care how much those cost. Trust me, you can sell them next year.

1st January, 2007
Enjoy your family time now: It's going to be a really great year, but not much more than that.

1st July, 2007
Now is probably a really good time to get that money out of your Ginko account. I don't care how much interest you are getting. Just go now. Also, that other thing? No, don't. You'll only lose a friend.

15th June, 2009
I know yer having fun dancing with friends in Mosh, but really: time to head out of the new sims. Just head on home. You have to log anyway. You so don't want to see what happens next.

200-I don't remember: Don't delete ALL traces of this SL account you made way back when (even if you found the game-program-activity-whatever-the-heck-it-was pointless): apparently an early join date has some street cred. Even if you think SL is idiotic, don't wipe ALL traces of your first account from your system. Really.

2008: Those L$? They are actually real money. Stop spending them like a crazy person. Your PP account hurts. And that land you think you need? Um no. Stop buying it. It will be worthless very, VERY soon. And if you get some bright idea about Open Space Sims...really: log off and get some sleep. Keep that really nice Caledon plot you lucked into.

2009: Re-read 2008.

2010: My guess is the same as 2009.

yes it has not gone unnoticed the number of people implying a 'lost' 2003 join date.
ironic yes?

2003 -"It's the Matrix without the Evil Machines!" is a lie and there is no spoon.

2004 - You aren't meeting new people, you're meeting the same half dozen people's various personality disorders.

2005 - Stop struggling, resistance is futile.

2006 - Remember the passwords to all those alts you made, they'll fund the rest of your SL for years.

2007 - There still is no spoon. Get yourself some Evil Machines.

2008 - Learn the term "Disinification" and it's implications.

2009 - SELL!!

lost? or missed out on?

my own original was 2004 and late at that. if I'd been smart I'd have kept that one, but then I didn't expect the flood of free accounts in... when was it... late 05? or the dropping of stipend that went with it =/

Jan 2007: "I know there's a blizzard out there. But you have a new 4WD SUV in the driveway. Take up that guy's invitation to go to the mountains. It doesn't matter that you don't ski.Do you really need to do more computer shopping?

"Wait. What are you looking at? You don't play computer games. Why don't you read a book, instead. Perhaps 'War and Peace'."

June 2006 was when they opened things up to NPIOF.

The BusinessWeek article came out in May 2006, opening up the floodgates. But the stipend was still L$500 for a good while after that. And first land was still available too.

2004

Buy a copy of Poser. Practice at it until you get REALLY good and can make great sex animations. Oh, and don't bother buying any more shoes. You won't be wearing them in the future.

Oh, any Raymond.....hugs.

1970. Start now learning to be a good saver.


2008. Stop spending ALL your time studying and doing technique experiments. Balance that time with more production. Socialize more as well.


Brilliant thread Desmond!
This long range past perspective thread is like a virtual truth machine.

I lost about three or four of them. The problem was, they had that trial thing going on, and friends over on another service kept saying 'Come On Over!'

So I come over, my friends aren't on, a week goes by and then they say to come over again. But of course, Trial Period Expired!!! Make a new account or pay for something seen only for 10 minutes...

Though perhaps it's a moot point because the join date was NOT the date you signed up (like now), it was the *actual* join date. Or rather, when the 'join' processed.

People forget how bad SL was, in the beginning. As in: reaaally bad, "omg what is this for and why am I so ugly" bad. By 2003, the avatars in gaming, other services like there.com and so forth were lightyears better in terms of polished professionalism (even if they were just cartoons). SL avatars had about *the* most creepy aspect on the internet, in 2003. We've come a long way. I absolutely confess, I did not see how successful this platform was going to become.

On the one hand, an early join date means little more than "I was ridiculously bored on the internet in 2002/2003"... and on the other hand, it could imply a bit of vision. Sort of like being the first person to listen to an incredibly good new band. With enough vision, anyone could have been Anshe Chung I guess...

On the other hand, a 2003 join date and an unfulfilling experience might say something else... especially after all these years! I suppose it completely depends on a) the person, b) their goals, and c) the view of the observer. No right answers I suppose.

Successful, later born alt 4TW

* * * * *

With regard to some of the life events mentioned in this thread, I pointedly did not comment here and instead sent a PM.

Life can be tough sometimes, and if we can brighten it up for others, that's a 'win.'

Every day is a gift, and I am thankful for what things I have.

I didn't get one

1993: Kiss that French girl. She liked you. A LOT.

1998: Take out the loan for full shares in the company. Do NOT let your friend lend you the money for the buy-in in return for shares.
Oh, and back up your files.

2000: Demand 10x more for the shares you do have. They won't pay. It's ok. Don't sell ANYway. For ANY price. They'll be worth even more...

2001: ...Right now.
Oh. And back up your files.

2002: BACK UP YOUR FILES!

2003: Back. Up. Your. Files.

Oh, and don't open that email... you'll know the one. Just... don't open it.

OH! This one's important! MAKE SURE YOUR DOMAINS ARE PAID FOR AND UP TO DATE!
God forbid some vulture scumbag swoops in 3 minutes after it runs out!
In fact, just spend the money and get them for 10 years. Longer if you can...

2004: spend that money. What you think you SHOULD spend it on isn't worth it and what you WANT to spend it on will make you WAY happier in the long run.

2005: Tell her that her marriage is failing NOW. It'll save heartache in the long run.
Oh, and don't eat that last canape. In fact, don't eat any hors d'oevres this year.

2006: You know that three months you wasted on WoW? You could have been making money on SL. Yes, I know you realize this after the fact. I'm just telling you now. Oh, and you'll enjoy it more.

oh, and around mid-summer? BACK UP YOUR DAMN FILES!

2007: Just do your do. Things are good.

2008: Work just a little bit harder. It'll be worth it. Oh, and tape rehearsals. You'll thank me for that one.

2009: Keep your mouth shut when you think you should.

Oh. And back up your damn files for chrissakes!

I saw your post; well, the removal of it, and there still seemed to be a bit of it in a quote.

I was about thiiiiiis close to saying something, but after many years I have learned to judge my own "inner helpfulness factor" ~ and that self moderation kicked in. Honestly, I've often made people feel *worse* by saying something, though the intent was quite the opposite. You'll quickly discover that you are far more socially intelligent than I am... most people do. And as such I am rather poor comfort.

The other problem is that I am a bit... how to say? Too easily personal? This is often mistaken for any number of things, such as naughty motives, or whatnot. But no, really, I'm the sort of person that has a *lot* of female friends without secret dark fantasies about them, and is 'just nice' toward most people. But I'm often interpreted quite differently, hence the extreme caution. I have the same issue in first life as well.

As such... I offer a hug, and wish you the very best ~ simply and honestly. I wish I had the key to problems far bigger than myself... but unfortunately I'm just one silly man in a sea of humanity.

* * * * *

Note to Raymond: just to be totally clear, my sympathetic PM to you was precisely that, and not a sly, alternative lifestyle come~on. Not that I wouldn't like you, if I pitched for the other team. But ah, no, I'm boringly straight.

Nor would any revelation that you were in fact lying about being a middle aged man and were in reality a hot, wealthy 23 year old starlet who just completed a multimillion dollar music video. It wouldn't matter a bit. Well, at least, I'd not ever let on. Okay, this post is getting beyond weird, and I am going to sign out of it.

19 July 09: Stay out of forums!

grin

no doubt you just broke a thousand hearts with that one little paragraph. we're still gonna flirt, so you better double up on the armor!

.oO(some of us will flirt with anyone, don't get all ascared n stuffs)