"FIC" Unhappy Because Their Influence is Waning?

Here we go again. While I'll admit it's always fun to dismantle a good harebrained, half-assed, conspiracy theory, the whole FIC thing is more than a little old by now, even with this new attempt at a twist on the story. Oh well, let's take this point by point, and try to have some fun anyway.



Under attack? As someone who's allegedly a member of this group, no one told me I was under atttack from LL. In fact, I spoke to them on the phone about a customer service issue just a few days ago, and they were their usual friendly selves. They took care of my problem instantly. They still respond to my questions and needs, just as they always have. If this is what constitutes an "attack", I'd sure like to be "attacked" by some of the other companies I deal with every day.

Then again, no one ever told me about the secret handshake, the virgin sacrifices, the Watergate tie-in, or the Al Qaeda connections either, so maybe you're on to something.



If they're "giving me the boot" it's news to me. Seems to me, just like any normal company in the world that provides a product or service should be, LL is happy to take my money, which I'm happy to give them, and they're happy to deliver me their services in return, which I'm of course happy to receive. It's a win-win relationship all around.

Now, do I always agree with them? Do I always like their policies? Am I always 100% pleased with everything they do?

Of course not. I don't always agree with my girlfriend either, and I'm certainly not always pleased with eveything she does, but I don't love her any less over it. Any relationship, whether business or personal, is going to have ups and downs. You can't just isolate a few downs and then cry doom & gloom. That's not how life works.


You're joking, right?

Obviously, all you did was quickly scan the general forum for thredas started by people you consider to be "FIC", and you isolated a few negative ones in a pathetic attempt to twist their meaning to suit your hypothesis. Anyone who actually reads the threads can easily see how rediculous that is. I must wonder if you even read them yourself, given how far off they are from what you're trying to say.

The only thread on your list that even remotely resembles what you're talking about is the first one, and even that's a huge stretch, a tremendous distortion of that thread's meaning. So the author is unhappy with some of the changes that have been made, so what? He's not complaining about having been "attacked" or "given the boot" by LL. In fact, just the opposite, he's making an appeal to have his point of view heard and considered. His position is entirely non-defensive, which is hardly the mark of one who feels he's "under attack".

The message, quite clearly, is that he feels LL is moving in a direction with which he disagrees, and he's making a plea that they change course. That's it. Granted, he is a little unclear about the details of what he's talking about, but he certainly shows no sign of feeling any deliberate adverse between him and LL, so quit trying to make into something it's not.

The second thread on your list is about a suspension that a few people think was unfair. That kind of thing is nothing new. It's as old as time. In fact, pretty much every time someone receives disciplinary action, whether in SL or elsewhere, there are complaints about it in one form or another. What's your point?

Threads 3 & 4 on your list are beyond ludicrous to include in this context. They're talking about the miserable, negative state of the forums, which is entirely about the conduct of its users, not about LL at all. Your original post is an example of what those people are talking about, by the way, as its only purpose is stir up dissent, not to contribute anything positive to the community.

Even Phillip has stated that for reasons he can't understand, negative people in Second Life tend to congregate on the forums. It wasn't always this way, but it's certainly this way now, and that's what those people are talking about. Again, the topic of forumite negativity has absolutely nothing to do with those OP's somehow feeling they've been "attacked" by LL. That's simply absurd.

Even if any of those people do feel that way, there's nothing in those threads that suggests it. If you want to make your point here, you're gonna need some better evidence than "Oh look, that person's complaining about something, and I think he's in the FIC. See, the FIC are under attack from LL." Please.



Yes, SL is thriving. That's the first and only positive thing you've said here. However, the negative spin you insist on putting on it by "calling bullshit" dismisses all that and just turns it into another complaint, and another easily ignored page in the book of foolish conspiracy theories. Way to destroy your point.


You're joking again, right?

Who's been "kicked to the curb"? Who was ever a "king or queen of SL"?

So some people feel the need to vocalize some of their grievances here on the forums, again so what? It doesn't mean anything except that those people aren't 100% pleased. Again, no one's ever 100% pleased in ANY relationship. Guess what? No member of this illustrious "FIC" of yours has EVER been 100% pleased, and they never will be. People will always have something to complain about, no matter what. It doesn't mean anyone's "under attack", being "given the boot", "kicked to the curb", had their "kingdom" overthrown, or whatever other laughable metaphors you want to come up with.



If you think anything you've said here makes sense, you obviously have a keen eye for how business relationships work, and I'd love to talk to you some time about a certain bridge that's about to come up for sale. I really think the opportunity would be right up your alley, given how good you are at sizing up a situation, and understanding what's happening.

Folds a Tin foil hat for Cowhand.

Angel.

Right now, today, there is a new member logging into Second Life for the first time.

Wearing a box on the head and wondering how to get it off.

That new member will rock this world.





Being first in fame doesn't count for much, unless you capitalise on it. Better make like Madonna if you want continued fame FICness.

Being first in business *can* count for a lot more.

I'd say a lot of people who captured markets early as name brands are quietly smiling all the way to the bank.

YEAH! Take THAT FIC!

About time they got their comeuppance!

These things still exist, y'know.

Let's see, creative: Well, there's Seifert Surface's hypercube house (not to mention the entire sim of The Future, but that's not all Seifert!), there was Foolish Frost's sim-sized tree of life (sadly no longer existing, but he always has a tree SOMEWHERE - has to, his wife's a dryad), there's Sugar Isle, a bit of the bayou in SL...

... and, of course, I'd be slacking if I didn't plug Suffugium.

There's MORE of this stuff in SL, not less. There's a lot more junk, of course, but such is the way of life - 90% of everything is crap. Same thing with just hanging out - sure, the majority of the population might not, but who wants the majority? I'm more interested in the folks I like to hang with.

When, where, who, url please?

Ex-actly, Mistress.

But the legacy of Prok will apparently live forever.

Actually, I"m not encumbered by the "old days" mentality that a lot around here seem to suffer from.

I'm a radical nOOb

Perhaps, but they really aren't needed anymore. They've outlived their usefulness to LL and the general SL population.

No its not. I want these oldbies that are unwilling to change to quit whining. Everything changes. EVERYTHING.

Stop whining about what used to be, your old FIC'er role, the respect you used to command, and get used to the current situation.

Change with the time and the times will change with you.

Don't just sit around bemoaning the death of some "golden age" that myself and most SL'ers never were a part of.

Cuz we dont really care.

I am not trying to create divisiness. I am stating my opinion, and am entitled to do so. And if LL decides to ban me from the forum because of it, I wont piss and moan like a baby like others do/did.

No. You'll make yet another alt.

I could not have said it better.

You are apparently going through SL and the forums with your eyes closed.

Please watch when LL institutes a large change in SL. See how many of the old-guard complain and whine as compared to newer folks. I think you have your reasoning all ass backward. Most of the old guard, while passionate (at least some still are) about SL, are very used to changes within SL and have seen hundreds of them flow by. This is not the case with newer folks, who may be suprised, dissapointed or outraged with changes that directly affect them.

Now if by change, you mean mistakes, bad policy, damaging bugs, dangerous exploits, etc, then I think you will find that most folks, old and new, tend to speak out about such.

So while your opinion is indeed your opinion, it hardly seems fair, informed, impartial, or in anyway constructive or even marginally fact-based.

And yes, there is an FIC, and no, they haven't lost any influence, but you are free to keep praying.

Member FDIC.

I don't care one way or the other, really. Doesn't affect me.

I don't know about the "newer folks" being the ones to gripe about the changes in SL.. :/
I think that is a blanket comment that is incorrect..

and if people were actually to not poke at other opnions and realize theirs are opnions everyone would get along.. I think the eltist attiude is very unexpected here for me.. Speaking of the forums only.. People seem to think their views are more important than others, and that they are right just because.. Quite silly and impratical... That is the first step to stunted growth.. And yes I realize this is an opnion..

Ahh..that explains your posts about "them".

Ok, Mr. Cow Pie! We, the FIC, have taken notice of you. Please expect to be visited by our defensive wing whereupon all of your fingers will be broken repeatedly. Oh, and have a nice day.

Forgive me if I gave you the impression that I thought all new folks bitched and complained about changes. That wasn't my intent. I simply mean that someone that has dealt with far less change to a system than another might feel more "emotional" about such a change.

There have been hundreds of "sky is falling" posts on these forums, and they are typically newer users that haven't yet had the time to realize that "this too shall pass".

However, there is also the case of older residents becoming set in their ways and not liking new-fangled changes. Lord knows I haven't liked my share and have voiced such.

I just don't agree with Cow that the old-guard are the biggest whiners and complainers about change.

As far as people thinking their opinions are right and more important than others, welcome to the human race. It's always been that way for the majority and will likely always be that way, on any forum, on any street, in any country, in any conversation.

And anytimes folks talk about older experiences or bring up historical knowledge, it can sound elitist, but as far as that going for the older residents more than the newer, I'd have to disagree. There are wonderfully open and kind old users and wonderfully open and kind new users, and the opposite is true as well.

Take Cow for example. He's hardly old-guard FIC, yet is probably as abrasive and elitist and self-important as any older users that post regularly.

This wins, thread over!!

well you don't seem to bad.. i'll keep my eye on you old timer to make sure, just don't get in the way of us new people!


(sarcasm with an attempt at humor, for those that don't know)

(and it seems the 2006 group who gripe the most :/)

You are totally in the group just because of your name. We took a vote.

I think you are quite mistaken, it must be because I have the cutest hair ever!
I swear some people.. hmmpf


oh and do i get a bigger stripend?