Are we human? Or, are we griefer?

I warn you a head of time. TL : DR...

To start: I am Immy. I am my own person, embodied in an avatar. I am the maker and keeper of all of my own decisions. That said, I have a big decision to make. In addition, I fear that this decision is a lose-lose situation.

I am a member of NCI. To expand, I am a Helper in the New Citizen's Inc. group, I am an Instructor and Land Officer in the NCI Land Holdings group, and I am a Mall Manager in the New Citizen's Mall group. I teach one class a night, every Thursday night at 6pm. I co-host a Question and Answer event every Saturday night at 6pm. I am currently substituting for the host of the Show and Tell event every Sunday night.

I am also the creator of the NCI Spam Central *NO ADVERTISEMENTS* conversation group that allows more idle group chat so that the main group can remain an effective support portal for new and old residents alike.

In addition, I spend my time in the Kuula sandbox mingling with the crowd, my friends, and new residents. I have over a year long history of helping people, befriending people, building, scripting, and I won't deny my fair share of drama. I don't pretend to be a good person. I don't believe I am one. But, if someone says I'm worth while, I'll take them at their word. Numerous people have said so. So, I don't believe I'm in a position do deny it.

I am a member of Second Life Mentors. In addition to my time spent in NCI; I frequent infohubs, welcome areas, and help the random strangers I meet. I find fun in gesturebating my way through the mob and if someone asks for help I'll gladly face them and offer what resources I can for their benefit. Honestly, this is my idea of fun.

*** I think I've done plenty in attempt to duct-tape a halo over my head...

I am a member of Woodbury University. For those of you who don't know, WU is a group that contains people with common connections to the *chan culture, SA forums, and I think even Ebaums World. Many of these communities are older than SL. A less than liberal mind would consider them to be the gutter of the internet. In some cases, proudly so.

I personally was an anonymous poster to 7chan for quite a few years. The spark to convince me to join SL was a screenshot of the Windlight First Look client posted on 7chan. I had made attempts to join SL since beta, but, never had the computer to do it. That screenshot combined with some disposable income at the time was enough to finally pull me inworld for a second time and finally make the account you see here today. I'm not sure if anyone remembers, but, up until SL5B I used to maintain the group tag over my head reading /cake/.

I'm in the group because it's an inworld contact to people that share my commonly twisted sense of humor. Group notices contain new gestures. Group chat is funny, random, insane and a good diversion from the 'normalcy' usually found in SL. I'll visit the group sandboxes once in a while and play with some gadgets that I normally can't play with anywhere else on the grid.

It's a diverse group. I know the reputation the group has due to the treatment of a certain mad blogger. I have been told details and history of some horrible events. So, I'm more than prepared to believe that there is a large number of A-holes and psychopaths in the group. My thing is, in my point of view, they don't make up the entire group.

For argument's sake, the Roman Catholic church knowingly has priests and volunteers that molest children. As a result, I believe in Association Fallacy and personally can't libel an entire group because of the activities of one portion of it's members, even if the group as a whole doesn't vilify these members for their behavior.

*** Now... Why bring all this up?

I have been blogged about in regards to my membership in both groups. In this blog, I have been both described as a sort of supergriefer/hacker who joins 'grief posses' in order to disrupt discussions. I'm apparently 'evading bans' using my 'hacker nature'. This blogger has stated that I repeatedly have been seen in 'posses' and made multiple attempts to disrupt events. This blogger has connected me to gangs of bobbing and weaving avatars dropping particles and self-replicating cubes.

Because of all this, the blogger considers me to be a liability to NCI. I am referred to as some sort of griefer/recruiter that puts a legitimizing face on an evil group that doesn't deserve daylight in many peoples' points of view.

The details can be found on this person's blog and my own. I have made attempts to comment on the blog with as much fact as I have available and nearly each response has been deleted. So, I'm having to resort to other outlets to keep the story straight. Nobody has to believe me, I don't ask for that.

To make my own statement here, and reiterate what I've already said in my blog and in responses to that person's blog:

I don't grief.

I didn't go to that person to disrupt. Two of the three times, that person came to me. One of the times, I was genuinely helping two other people navigate the Freebie Wall inside an NCI infonode. Honestly, the other bannings didn't bother me a bit. But, to ban me for helping others under the pretense that I'm in some griefing mob just doesn't fly with me.

*** On to my question:

I'm in Catch-22 now. I see three choices.

Choice 1: Leave Woodbury University.

Pros: It would sever my association with what people strongly believe to be a griefer group. It may lift some peoples' opinions of me in regard to my personality. It would “prove the blogger wrong” to a certain degree.

Cons: I don't think it will solve a thing. What's done is done. I have been vilified and the publicity of both groups will not change. I am who I am if I am in the group or not and with or without people may continue to assume that I am influenced by WU. In addition, people may believe I am influencing NCI in order to turn it into a griefer haven. Me leaving the group will not change this. At the same time, WU is diverse. I and many other people are examples that there are facets of *chan culture that are often overlooked. If I leave, I'll be letting the people that blatantly ignore this “win”.

Choice 2: Leave NCI.

Pros: It would sever the most visible 'legitimizing link' between WU and NCI. It will shift the opinions of detractors of both groups. It will allow the “good guys” to claim their “win”.

Cons: NCI will lose a volunteer, or two, or three, or more... In my wake. I have friends in all circles of NCI and they respect and support me. As a reaction to my exit, they may decide that the group has lost its sense of direction and also leave. If I am genuinely an asset to the group, my one exit alone will leave a dent. My exit may also bolster my falsely derived reputation of me being a griefer. The people who have decided to make up false stories about me would be able to pat themselves on the back in their own reward for 'separating the chaff'.

Choice 3: Ignore all of this and don't change a thing.

Pros: Things can be as they were two weeks ago. I can have my laugh in the WU group chat, help new residents in the NCI nodes and sandboxes, play with gadgets in the WU sandboxes, and teach lessons and host events that help new users get oriented into enjoying SL far better than any effort Linden Lab has ever paid someone to do.

Cons: NCI may still be a target of 'anti griefer' ramblings on blogs. People may decide to no longer direct new residents to the group for help. Advertisers and supporters may pull their funding into the group.

***So, what am I to do?

In the end, this mad blogger will still be a willing target of some of the most horrible harassment I've ever heard of in person. With or without the WU group. There will always be someone 'out to get this person' as long as this person is so very public and stubborn about controversial opinions. At the same time, this person exaggerates to a huge degree what people are actually doing. My own case, as an example. And, in my point of view, it detracts from this person's credibility to a very large degree. You can only cry wolf for so long.

I asked a question in a small meeting last night. “Who is the most important person to NCI?”

I was frankly quite shocked at the responses I got. The names given in reply were not all that surprising. But, in my point of view, that question is NOT supposed to be answered with any one person's name.

My answer to the question is in the name of the group itself: The New Citizen.

Do new citizens, residents, users, players (use any name you like) know anything about me? Do they know the groups I'm in? Should it matter at all?

I have suggested that the NCI group should be focused on the community that makes up the sandbox. That community is made up of new residents, older regulars, helpers new and old, and the supporting staff they need to stay productive. The most important part of the New User Experience is the new user. NCI is genuinely part of the NUE and I believe it to be a disservice to hold the group and anyone within the group (including myself) responsible for anything in regards to grid oldbie politics at large.

Thank you for reading, if you did.

I will not defend myself against any genuine claims of bad behaviour. But, I will not allow myself to be lied about.

I will not stake claim upon being a good person. But, I will not sit idly by while I'm slandered.

I want to see NCI and organizations like NCI succeed in helping the new resident. And, I do not want to see oldbie politics be the cause of any group's downfall.

Immy. (^_^)y

New citizens do not read that blog, or many other blogs and the new citizen you educate will appreciate you for that.

The blogger you talk of does indeed get griefed and seems to be a target, there really isn't any excuse for the griefing.

Carl doesn't consider you to be a liability and I assume none of the other fellow NCI members do.

Immah, first off, anybody who actually knows you-- knows you not a griefer. (Nice title btw, I totally got that, and it was kinda apropos considering the controversial thread of the week )

Secondly, everyone knows the mad blogger in question and that this person has some seriously crackpot ideas. Most of us do not take this person 100% seriously. Especially if you in it for the LOLz.

Thirdly, we are definitely human I don't think you should give up your contribution to NCI cause you do a lot of good for the newbies. Even the crackpot blogger should recognize that. And if they don't, screw 'em and keep being your wonderful sexy self no matter what.

Of FFS Immy.

Ignore that crap.

Don't even blog about it. You have made a statement on your blog. Leave it at that and don't update it constantly.

Your works will speak for themselves, your honesty and kindness will be echoed by those who have benefited from it.

Tell those haters to suck a fat baby's toe.

Why are people bothering you this way - gosh people can really suck. Jeebus, to be quite honest, it is easier to say ignore it than to actually do it and i personally probably would have quit everything. I already left one sim project because of the rumblings of certain people at SLU and i felt bad because i saw i really let someone down who wanted me to do something they believed only i could do...I hate that feeling.

Try not quit.

Try to ignore.

And definitely try to stay strong. Sorry you are going through this.

Don't run... when you run, that is when they really chase you. Best is to just totally ignore them. Member, those who are truly your friends will believe their eyes and feelings when they look at you, those who are just fair weather will believe any breeze that comes along.

*snugglehugs* And I don't think you are completely human.. you got a lot of Pixie in you..

Fuck 'em, Immy. Keep on keeping on.

Your deeds will speak for themselves to people who care. Those that don't aren't worth the trouble.

Before reading your blog, but just from your description of what you wrote here, I could easily gather who you were talking about..

If there's ONE blogger that you should ignore, then it has to be Prok, simple as that.
Amongst other idiotic assumption and vile spewing of nonsense, he's the same troll that blamed Mari for naming her avatar after Madeleine McCan, even if Mari's avatar age clearly pre-dates the time that this child disappeared, and the world had EVER heard of her. After pointing out this little fact, he has NEVER even CONSIDERED public appologies.
Prok simply has NO idea what he's talking about, he is NOT doing any background research whatsoever, he simply likes to pick up 2 lines, pull them out of context, think up a random conspiracy, and off he goes. Don't bother trying to prove him differently, he only listens to himself. He loves listening to himself. He loves all the attention he gets. He DOESN'T listen to anyone else. He's oblivious to facts.

So just *ignore* him. He's simply the biggest joke walking this planet earth since MJ died.

Option 3 Immy - ignore.

Some people have nothing at all worthwhile to blog about so they just invent a lot of nonsense.

If you feel very sensitive, you could stop showing those groups in your profile - but I don't see why you should. Ignore it, and it will rapidly become yesterday's nonsense.

Immy, I think you're not looking for advice here. You're an old hand at drama, and I think you're looking for support, for a flood of residents to go over to the blog you oh-so-carefully do not name, and post. So here's my first bit of advice: SLU is a better platform for summoning a rabble to support a friend without question.

Here's my second bit of advice: do exactly what Buyers Sellars does, who is inveighed against in the same post. I doubt you'll follow that advice, because I'm sure that he will do something very adult and boring, for example: respond minimally, possibly contact a few Linden friends to take their temperature and share his amusement.

You don't need our advice ... the bit I quote above proves that you have the political and rhetorical skills to navigate this situation.

I'm not sure you have the restraint to do so, though. It would be a shame if you allowed your own love of drama to interact with the blogger in question's love of drama and, between you, destroy the Immy character. But, as I'm sure you're aware, this could easily happen. The fact that you posted this, so closely skirting forum rules, indicates to me that you are willing to endanger Immy to "win" this conflict. Personally, I just wouldn't. Immy is valuable to you and to new residents.

Good luck, hon.
.

Deep.

Aw, I never make anyone's list

F* 'em and feed 'em fish heads. Don't ever change, Immy. Especially over the ramblings of an internet crackpot. Immy, people read blogs like that to laugh at the writers, not because they agre with them. Consider the source and then do not give it another thought.

Yes and no. Because this particular crackpot moves a LOT of cash through SL through a highly successful mainland rental business, s/he has in the past exerted a high degree of influence over Linden thinking.

So Immy's right to be worried ... it's a situation calling for maturity. Really, I think it's more important for Immy to rally support among the Lindens than among residents.
.

If Prok is associated with NCI, I'd leave NCI because it's a griefer organization.

Or just go on your own way and ignore it.

Ya, what they all said.

Certain mad bloggers *love* attention, and find the only way they get it is by making outlandish accusations. You're bigger than that, and your reputation precedes you -- much like mad blogger's reputation precedes them.

My advice? Keep doing what you are doing and don't give mad bloggers another moment of your time and concern. Those who cosider you a friend will be their for ya.

Mari
(Speaking from some experience)

Highly successful?

Which, of course, was what you were going to do no matter what the responses were. But at least you had party favors at the pity party.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3846122632_39431470f0_o.jpg
Your buddies vandalized Linden Lab's offices. But that's OK. Your a Mentor and a NCI Teacher.

And the Woodbury legacy
http://www.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2007/07/woodbury-univer.html

Stand on your on morals, you are a good person...dont stoop to their level and hold your head high. Truly i never heard of this blog, those new to sl probly not either. NCI is important, i love them. Keep up the good work, hold your head high...and enjoy your sl. If you coninue to respond to the blogger you just feed him..Same with griefers, mute and ignore is the best solution.

Ignore Ignore Ignore

You don't seem griefer-ish to me, Immy.

That's pretty much all I can say.

What does WU do for you?

I'm afraid I'm one of those people who consider your associates when I form an opinion of you. Now, I don't know anything about WU other than what that blogger has said about them, but if any of that group's activities are, in fact, unsavory, would it really be terrible of me to wonder why you like them?

99% of the people Having Fun and Enjoying SL do not read forums or blogs.

Key words = Having Fun = Enjoying. And sounds like those are the kind you want to reach.

If you read it on a blog, BEWARE! I think most rational, sane people know that what's written on blogs needs to be taken lightly. And if someone is naming names, especially when they appear to have an axe to grind, it becomes that less credible.

I recently came across a blog where the blogger is obsessed with a neighbor of mine, especially her teenage daughter. The blogger seems unstable, angry and makes all kinds of bizarre accusations. I don't know the neighbor and I'm reluctant to bring it to her attention because I don't want to upset the family. I don't believe anything she posts because she has some whacked agenda, but I do know that if that family saw this stuff, it would hurt them. It is very painful to read lies about yourself, and I don't care how tough someone pretends to be, it's still painful.

Cast my vote "yes" in the Immy is cool poll.

I agree with Briana & vote for #3. I'd add, "stop reading that other blog." Nothing you can say will ever convince that person he or she is wrong. Continuing to bring attention to it probably convinces him/her that he/she is right. As an NCI member, I think your value to that group far outweighs any potential harm, and you should be able to be in whatever other groups you want.

shaking my head

Are we talking RL here? If so you NEED to inform the family of this, immediately, who might in turn want to say... alert authorities.