Defining the FIC (Seriously)

I knew it

The problem is that the term FIC has gotten really confused, going between what it was originally meant to mean and what it has now been taken to mean - which was why I was interested in a thread that was trying to define it.

Humans by nature form cliques. It's inevitable: you start with a bunch of people who don't know each other, some of them get popular, and after that those people will tend to get more popular because others are attracted by the fact they have people around them.

The nature of SL amplifies that tendancy. A person who's been around for longer, and has more contacts, is more likely to have built a more impressive virtual sub-world, and they can grant others access to it. Get to know the right people, and you can get free housing or even custom stuff made for you for nothing - and chances are, the reason why those people have that available is either directly because they are popular, or because of something else which is also a reason why they are popular.

And Lindens are in this, too. Like, look at the following from Philip's blog:



This was written a long while back (2004), so it's possible that by "early adopters" he meant the entire population of SL at that time. I'd have to find someone who was here in 2004 to know if there was a visible newbie/oldbie split in the world at that time.

But even if this stuff does exist it doesn't mean that it has such an omg massively horrible devastating effect on the world like many people seem to claim it does. There's plenty of newbies who seems to be succeeding. Yes, there are even some that I'm bitter about but I can say with 100% certainty that it isn't anything to do with being "FIC".

I know a few people who have made it to the developers list not because they are fic or because they have been here forever (they're not oldbies), but because they absolutely deserve to be on it. These are motivated individuals with a skill set that match the requirements for getting on the list and working in SL full time. Assuming that they made it to the list simply because they are fic would be to diminish their impressive abilities.

Most people in SL hand around freebies, and build things for their friends. People who spend the money to own a bigger place have more crash space to offer, and those who have more practice at building things can more readily make things for their friends. A lot of barter goes on, too. Might look as if someone's getting free rent, while someone else is getting custom furniture or clothing or whatever, while what's really happening is they are trading.

Just when I thought everyone had forgoten all about the "FIC" and the issue died away, the thread get reopened.

*Gets popcorn and Pepsi (TM) and sits back to enjoy the show*

Well, it doesn't really matter if they're getting freebies or not - the point is, there's a strong link between a person's level of social connection and the versimilitude of the SL experience they have and can provide to others. That means popular people find it even easier to get more popular and thus cliques form even quicker in SL than they do in RL. They're very friendly, and they're easy to get into, but if you want things exactly the way you want then it quickly becomes a tough and lonely road

Oh Startax! Don't let some silly liason put you dowm.

Everyone here knows you're fetid...

Linden Lab's responsibility to us begins and ends with their terms of service.

Linden Lab has those powers because you accepted their TOS when you signed up. LL is open to complaints and suggestions. Sampling other online game companies might provide useful comparison.

However, a license or agreement also has to have consideration of both parties to be legally enforcable. Could it cause a problem if some parties to the agreement recieve greater consideration than others?

Stick around . . . the next act includes a guy juggling chainsaws and a chimp trying to leap a motorscooter over the Grand Canyon.

This simply can't be the truth we choose to believe, Ingrid. It offers no excuses for those who don't put forth the effort to succeed, and offers up no one to blame should we fail. That's just the sort of wackiness we've come to expect from the likes of you.

I choose to believe there is an FIC that gets hoisted onto the shoulders of the Lindens and given secret opportunities that I was never offered, and this is the only reason they've been successful while I've wallowed in bitterness and self-pity. They never had to work for anything, and if they did, their complete lack of talent and creativity would have had them quickly driven out of SL by the braying laughter of the real talent, leaving them to weep miserably as they clutch their copies of Snowcrash to their bosoms while soulfully repeating the mantra, "Why Philip, why...?"

This is a much more appealing option than the possibility that they're just more talented or tenacious and willing to self-promote than I am.

NO! NO! NOOO! I AM NOT PLAYING THE CHIMP IN THAT ONE!! NOT THIS TIME!!!

I'm sick and tired of having to play the crap parts in this stupid thread!!! But if the pay is right, I'll do the juggling. But only if the chainsaws are turned off!

I met two powerful members of the FIC last night.

They had come for me.




They reviewed my humble holdings, and interviewed me at length. I dared not move.

I was weak. But it seems, perhaps I would be useful in the future as a demi-daemon minion in a War older than the grid itself.

A bolt of Lightning pierced the blue Caledon skies. "Join ussss...." they rasped, and suddenly, offered me Membership.


I was floored; in terror, I declined.

"I am not worthy!!!" I cried. "Destroy me now!"

But they would not.



A dire warning was issued: my time would come. I would not be able to resist; I was only making it harder for myself.

"We are off to demoralise and crush the spirit of otherssss..." - then, they vanished. I was left shaking in terror at my own telehub.



I know not when they will come again. I cannot sleep; I toss and turn, and break into a cold sweat.

These are my last days, I know that now.

Should I suddenly Turn, remember me for whom I was: a sweet, lovable noob in freebie clothing...

Well, COOL, Gus! But nobody is going to want to pay a company that doesn't care about anything but what is printed in their TOS!

Thank goodness LL realizes that, even if some of their most rabid (and legalistic-minded) fans don't.

I have sampled other online game companies. EA is NOTORIOUS for ignoring their TSO players; they almost raise ignoring to an art form. And look what happened to them!

The correct response for someone who cares about a game when the game developers ARE open to complaints and suggestions is to damn well make those complaints and suggestions, not slink away in some sort of ridiculous gratitude so that other people can make them instead.

In other words, some of us are saying, "Shut up, you. Read the TOS. Now, as I was saying, Avatar Linden . . ."

Well to heck with that.

coco

Fuck the FIC whatever happened to the SLuminati??

I agree with Cory!

Examples of "perks" that have previously earned cries of FICdom: (note - again, I don't agree with these myself, I'm just answering Cory's claim that there's no evidence of given perks)

- Placement in external publicity for SL
- Placement on the SL website (eg, look at the top of this page )
- Placement in Linden-controlled land areas (eg, Infonet)
- Priority referral of external contracts (eg, Stagecoach)
- Exclusive access to technology (eg, QuickTime lipsync for machinina, Snapzilla front page interception)
- Easier access to land areas for experimental projects

Yes there was. And about the same percentage of folks who would say 'noob' or not give you the time of day.

And a large percentage (like there is now) who would offer encouragement.

I would sit on the beach in Immaculate with Nolan Nash and Lynn Lippman and wonder if I could make things like they did at some point. Having them nickname me 'The building neophyte' was rather funny in hindsight.

Being blown away when Eggy Lippman came and showed me a script for making a spiral staircase and thinking 'damn!'

IronChef, Bozo, and Oneiranaut showing off various games - gadgets and vehicles.

ButtonPusherJones and his flying carpet, Roo Jones and his jet plane....... BEFORE THERE WAS VEHICLE CODE.

And just like now there were those who looked on things like that and though 'Man... maybe *I* can do that too' and those that thought 'I'll never be able to do that'

And there was Americana, Venice, and Gibson - communities of whole sims with folks contributing for their upkeep (before tier - before L$ exchanges) and others who couldn't fathom how they could get that together who sat in corners of the world saying 'Theres not way they could do that alone... I think they're friends with the Lindens... they get tax breaks and access to a bank of $$$ to upkeep all that'

The more things change - the more they stay the same.

There is no FIC.

In the words of Jack Nicholson in 'As Good As It Gets'

"We're not pissed that we have it so bad - we're pissed that they all have it so good"

Some further food for thought:

At the time of stagecoach island there only 2 groups of people who had shown they could consistantly organise and create an entire sim of themed content to a deadline:

Spellbound and Bedazzled.

Thats it. Spellbound did it with Netherland/Oz and Bedazzled did it with Chinatown/Halloween sim.

Both groups put out exceptional content - both are extremely focused and talented groups.. I'm not going to put shit on either of them as they both deliver and are passionate about what they do.

The interesting part is that Spellbounds membership reads like a who's who of Beta.

Now... *IF* this FIC myth is true - then Bedazzled would never have been picked to create Stagecoach.

Instead they are elevated by their accomplishments to 'FICdom' to perpetuate the Myth.

It's just easier to beleive they are given special treatment than to think maybe, just maybe - they ARE that good. Maybe these groups worked their arses off to get where they are.

So - would you suggest that FIC allegations arise because of a lack of education? (Eg, people don't know that they can do this stuff)

Or, if that's not the problem (ie, they genuinely can't do that stuff) then is it better - in terms of user retention - for them to be able to blame it on a "FIC" than to have to accept it's their own fault? Folks won't like to stay around in a virtual world that serves only to remind them of their own failings.

FIC allegations have arisen not so much out of not knowing they are able, but refusing to be able.

In reality, it has nothing to do with education, but of the disdainful ramblings of shit disturbers.

I think I've just now fallen in love with you.

Neither really.

It's easier to say 'FIC' than to try.

To be good at something requires passion, dedication and work. Some people aren't willing to put in that time and so its easier to just make up excuses.

It's easier to make up a mythical subset of secret handshakes than to see they could be that good.

It's an excuse to use rather than to get out and do stuff.

Folks make up a bunch of stuff about Anshe - personally I don't like her - but she was a new player once too - I remember her as an escort, making poseballs and giving av sex classes outside of Eros sim.

Now she's 'FIC'.. maybe she worked to get where she was.

As harsh as it may sound, if people won't stick around without being coddled like over-sensative 3rd graders, let them go. I really don't want to spend my time in a world where we can't succeed because it may hurt someone else's wittle feewings, or if we do succeed we have to grin and bear the name-calling and accusations as our punishment for it. Screw that.

The FIC is a cop-out for people who either don't want to try, or don't want to admit that anyone else is better than them at anything. Those are not the kind of people I want to encourage.