Defining the FIC (Seriously)

Stop to sell FIC in boxes.

I have to confess, I was once FIC. Philip Linden himself rated me positively. For that minute I felt like this world was mine!!! I was KING!! Then shortly after, a newbie in the Cordova sandbox shot me in the side of my fat head with a watermelon. I tried to use my newfound FIC powers to squash this worthless fly. But a battle weary liason told me to STFU or she'd stick the watermelon down my throat.

So let this be a warning to you all - Power is fleeting.

Perhaps Philip needs to inform the rest of the Lindens who is FIC and who isn't! YES! THAT'S IT!! Maybe I am still FIC but the rest of the Lindens don't know it!! YES!!!!

YES!! THAT MUST BE IT!!!

POWER!!!!!

I agree.

But I also agree with the basic thrust of the OP's remarks, because like Lordfly points out, there is really nothing new about it.

It's pretty clear that there is an "FIC" of sorts and as for favors, I have seen a few myself but it's not a conspiracy, it's just natural human bias.

There is even an FIC "inner core" within the FIC, which is the Lindens themselves. Many if not all of them exist as players in world, some as alts, some as their "Linden selves," and you can bet that their voices carry greater weight at LL headquarters (as probably they should), and that they also get small "favors" from time to time if only in the sense of advance information about what is happening.

Not much you can do about that except wish that you yourself were a card-carrying FIC member.

My only serious complaint is that as a professional organisation, LL should realise that this *does* happen and actively examine their player interactions for such favoritism and bias on an ongoing basis. It doesn't look good when it happens and it's relatively easy to make sure that the rest of your customers don't get their noses out of joint because of some blatant favoritism occurring.

By pretending it doesn't happen and by not actively checking up on their staff on a regular basis, they just leave themselves open to these constant accusations of unprofessional behavior, (which are occasionally justified).

If I was Philip, I would bring a long bamboo cane to the weekly meetings, slap it on the table, and let some of those Lindens know who's in charge, dammit!

The closest definition I can find for feted that might apply is "to pay honor to". That's still a terribly vague term - its not a concrete favor or a perk by any stretch of the imagination. I follow what you're saying though in terms of a social analyzation.



LL does do that for completely inworld projects, like the infohubs or the instructors area bids. The problem with your analogy falls apart when you start talking about outside companies or organizations coming to LL that want projects done in SL.

LL has an obligation to their own business and to the business that's contacting them to direct them to the best possible workers that can do the work - not just talent, but people that have proven themselves able to work with other people professionally, in a business setting. To try and partner up an outside business with an inworld business using the free-for-all method used for inworld projects would be highly irresponsible and extremely risky for LL, for no other reason than to appease a base of people that view their business as a government.

I've found that the developer's list is probably the best way to get yourself on the list to be considered for such jobs - of course, you also have to have some experience and portfolio of work to back you up, and you have to take your business venture seriously.

There is no organized group. There is no conspiracy. There's really not even a lot of influencing. The people who fit the profile of what has been called the FIC are not generally closed to outsiders. They are slightly jaded in a lot of cases and won't waste time one someone with even a slightly poor attitude.

The profile of an FIC member is simply someone who's been around long enough to:
1) have a significant investment in world
2) know the ropes of the TOS and update/feature implementation
3) create a few time tested relationships with other members also fitting the affore mentioned description.

The actual time to attain the above items varies with each person and their interests in SL.

There are also a few things implied by the above list:
a) because these people have been around for a while, they remember a world were creating things was the primary focus, and it's what they value, even if they aren't dedicated creators themselves.
b) they know the Lindens because the Lindens that play SL fit the FIC description above.
c) because of item 2 above, the oldbies tend to make suggestions, know who to make them to, and what is feasible.

Some fallacies:
i) "FIC" type people are not vindictive, manipulative, mean, or xenophobic in general (exceptions exist of course as in any group).
ii) the suggestions they make aren't taken seriously because of favoritism, but because they make sense (as they should because of their knowledge of the working and history of SL).
iii) they can break the TOS with impunity and no fear of banning...

Most of them know enough not to break the TOS and have been here this long because they haven't and won't. There are a few noteable exceptions. in this regard, there are a few bad eggs that take advantage of thier status. These are individuals and not a function of the FIC group. Nor does LL participate willingly. It's just a tricky problem for LL. There are people who have a lot of money and resources in game and in spite of the TOS, LL might become liable should they remove the person from the game personally. They may also inconvienience a large number of players who use or want services provided by those players.

In conclusion, the evil empire does not exist. Go on about your business . Sorry I couldn't resist. It is worth acknowledging that no really serious thread can actually exist on this topic. To easy for anyone denying the existance of said group to fall under the cover up scenario among other things .

Your local bank infected with FIC intentions, film at 11.

Multi-billion contract given to long-standing business partners; cris of favoritism, only on News 4.

Conspiracy theories are what happen when you get early adopter players from another online world who realize they can never be as such here (projection, anyone?). The irony is palpable.

Athel, you're statements have been loaded here.

Your options basically boil down to:

Are they being unethical and are aware of it?

or:

Are they being unethical and don't realize it?

It seems to me that you've already arrived at your conclusion, so the existence of this thread is indeed puzzling to me.

Or so the FIC would have you believe...

"Ja, Ja, das stimmt", sagt Herr Simon Bar Sinister.

Wow. What an incredibly boring topic.

I really wish this would be allowed to die.

yes well i have a sneaking suspition that Phil isnt, i think he is The Master Control from tron

http://usuario.tiscalinet.es/hgctiscali/naflat/images/tron/490.jpg

There is only one way to expose the FIC.

First, a group of posers must *pretend* to be FIC and take on said viewpoints, secret handshakes and such. Perhaps get a Company contract to make a widget, and have some drama over it, over which there will be smiling denials.

And, they must do it badly.

With such a lack of style and class, that finally one of the *real* FIC snaps, and writes a tell-all expose' of all the dirty dealings, scandal, and sexual favours. With letters, photographs, and stained delicates as evidence.

"We were the REAL FIC!" the writer will gush, "Yes, yes, yeeees I confess, it was I!"

And it should be quite a read, too, if you are into that sort of thing.


- humble Desmond, clearly not FIC.

I see your creations ALL over the place, you MUST be FIC!

(and seriously folks, that's about the depth of thought involved in this garbage)

Well honestly I feel it is a valid topic, and yes I do have my opinion but I also have heard many other's opinions.

There is no reason to bash my bringing up of the topic itself, as I am not bashing any one in particular, I just wanted to hear some honest observations on the subject.

I am not trying to bring up another controversial topic for the sake of bringing it up, I am not trying flame, and I am not trying to attack anyone.

I simply brought up what I feel is a valid point, perhaps if I used another word than FIC and perhaps saying "Does SL have an entrenched veteran's group" you would not be criticizing the topic itself so much. But FIC has been, and is the word being used.

Though the creator of the word themself was definitely illogical and off the wall in many aspects, the term FIC has come into its own meaning, to refer to what I call a "collective conspiracy of favoritism".

I was simply questioning and pointing out if labeling the veterans group or groups in SL as an "collective conspiracy of favoritism" or "FIC" or as elitist was accurate, and simply perhaps labeling them as what they are as I pointed out, an veterans/major contributors group, an natural occurence in any community almost. An occurence that can lead to some questionable ethical circumstances if not handled correctly, but as I said I am not pointing fingers simply defining the issue.

<jealous>Doubtless a regular occurrence at the weekly hot'n'steamy meeting.</jealous>

But what about the members who do fall into the category defined, and they do exist. Like a member who has cyber sex with a Linden and then happens to receive benefits such as producing a Linden movie, or receiving a lucrative building contract that was not open to bids, and other favors. It could be a member who is partnered with a Linden and then receives special treatment and favors. These are situations where the special "intimate" relationship with a Linden employee leads to financial and related benefit to the members involved. Call it FIC, or call it oldies or veterans...wahtever you want. It's unethical, it's unprofessional, and it's overlooked by Linden Lab even when such conduct is brought to their attention. It may be denied, but I have been in SL a long time, and I have seen it. It does exist and I can prove it.

So what would you get if you cybered a Linden? Favors, a profitable building contract...yes, that and more.

I would be glad to discuss this in detail with you Weedy, or any other member, but not in SL since we are too censored her now. Add me, I am katykiwi on yahoo.

Time for this thread again already? The more things change the more they stay the same. The FIC myth has always and ever will be a case of the grass always being greener. Someone else must be getting something I'm not and since it can't possibly be me having some sort of unwarranted sense of entitlement then surely it must be some sort of nefarious collusion (possibly involving cybersex! clandestine meetings! secret handshakes!). It always boils down to the accuser believing they're entitled to something they're not getting. That's the seed from which the accusations grow. It's an inherently selfish phenomenon. The fingers are universally pointed in the wrong direction. They should point back at the accuser because chances are they're getting exactly the service they signed up for. What other people may or may not get is of no consequence.

Katy, even if what you claim did actually happen it doesn't take an advanced degree in ethics for any reasonable person to look at it and see "none of my damn business" written all over it.

Everything old is new again.

Chip, the situation does not personally affect me really, I am not a content creator or what not and do not feel like someone has got the upper hand over me personally because of Linde favoritism etc. I do see it as an issue that is brought up often in the community, and made my observations on it.

I do feel though that the comment,



in reply to Katy saying she heard that someone cybered with a Linden or had a close relationship with a Linden and received special favoritism in a project that led to RL monetary gain is wrong.

The individual issue does not affect me, I'm not even going to take a stab at it as it is not that important, but I feel that some people who it could affect or perceive unfairness in the process have a right to bring it up in the community if they wish.

You don't feel like it is wrong that talented people making valuable contributions to SL may not be receiving recognition or the chance to participate in community projects like others do simply because of something so arbitrary?

It hurts the community as a whole if a wider pool of talent is ignored, and only certain people are favored for certain projects "just because", and not on the basis of talent or ability.

I don't personally know the situation, but people with knowledge or proof I feel like should be able to say something about it.

My position is that when I signed up for Second Life I don't recall being told I would get to participate in special projects or anything of the kind. I get exactly what I pay for. If other people get special opportunities that I don't, good for them. Why should I care unless I believe that I'm somehow entitled to more than what was promised to me? Does someone else getting opportunites somehow entitle my to them? I think not. We're not in gradeschool and if someone wants to bring cookies they don't have to hand them out to the entire class. I certainly have no business prying into the personal lives of LL employees whether or not they involve SL residents. I can't even begin to comprehend the kind of entitlement mentality that would make someone not only feel they have the right to know but to also spread it around to everyone else as if we're all somehow cheated by something that's none of our business. I find that far more disgusting than the alleged incident it describes (sorry Katy).

Do you know of any organization of more than a dozen people that has existed for more than a year where favoritism doesn't exist? It is as human as breathing; we *gasp* seem to prefer interactions with people we have had favorable interactions in the past for some inscrutable reason.

As a trivial example, one of the Lindens recently held a rather chatty podcast with some SL players. The selection of players was completely unsurprising, rather selective and likely not an accident. In this instance it was also of no consequence at all.

There have also been Linden held events in-game that were invitation only. Someone accidentally teleported me to one even though I never would have gotten on the guest list. This was another instance of BFD, but again, the guest list was unsurprising.

Now, if you want to avoid the appearance of possible improper favoritism, you might wish to not take a cue from US presidents and whom they invite to stay in the Lincoln bedroom. Perhaps those White House stays were totally "innocent" and bore no correlation to more capitol influence than we expect within a democratic republic. Regardless of the significance of those visits, they looked lousy.

How can you find it boring if you both read it and contribute to it?

No, sorry, I have to disagree as strongly as possible. If such a thing did happen - and I know nothing about it - but *if* such a thing did happen, then it is corruption, and as such concerns every resident of Second Life.

I can't help but notice this thread has gone from passionately denying the existance of the FIC to arguing that its existance is inevitable. As I mentioned before, as far as I can tell the term FIC originally referred to exactly that same "natural favoritism" that Introvert was talking about. It was never a conspiracy theory - it was just misunderstood as such, probably because people do tend to freak out when called on natural social behaviour. I've seen the same thing happen before, especially in online communities; one of the most well-known and friendly ones I was in a while back was nearly torn apart because someone's desire to hang out with their friends was misconstrued as a conspiracy, and the currently believed meaning of the word "FIC" seems to reflect a similar misunderstanding.

But I think we have to bear in mind that even though favoritism might be considired inevitable, that doesn't make it a good thing.

LL have repeatedly stated they want SL to develop as a business platform. To attract businesses into SL, those businesses have to get a good shake. And no, I didn't say "fair" - it might be fair as well, but that's not the focus. If my business is doing badly, I'm not going to keep it running just because it's fair that it ought to do badly, nor because it's "natural" or anything like that.

Now you might say it's "fair" that a business that doesn't adapt should fail, but at the end of the day a failed business means removed content for SL, a lost tier payment for LL, and the person who ran that business telling others that SL's not such a great market after all.

Well, it's not always about getting less than someone else, or the "Grass is Always Greener" phenomenon. It can be about some people having contacts at LL so that they can have other regular members punished or to have LL take things away from regular members, in violation of the very rules of SL (yes, yes, the TOS says LL can do anything they want at anytime for any reason, but all corporate contacts say that). It's about power and the abuse of power, that's when special favors morph from just being included in special projects to an abuse of power and connections to the detriment of others.