"FIC" Unhappy Because Their Influence is Waning?

It's been obvious for some time that the real power behind the scenes is the Furry Inner Core. Which is convenient because you don't have to change the initials on the t-shirts and coffee mugs.

I know you can't be referring to me. I'm no nOOb. I've been here since Feb.

/snort

Well, that's true. The person in question does have a powerful command of the language. If only those powers were used for good, and not for evil.




Excuse me? Do I know you? What exactly are you saying? Or was that just an attempt at humor?

P2

I think they are telling you that you are icky..
I think you should go hunt htem down in world.. Well it would make for good entertainment at least

Anyone can have an influence in SL, mostly because a lot of the back and forth between individual residents/groups and the Lindens are typically done through lobbying. Specifically, some folks are more inclined to bend the ear of a nearby Linden over ideas and pet projects than others. And, in turn, the Lindens can notice any of us for any number of reasons. It's sort of the way life is.

everyone is an influence around them even though they might not know it.. The littlest thing you do effects others and we all should be aware of that..

what was that saying, i always get them wrong.. something about a butterfly and a typhon across the world..

lol, no you don't know me, but I've heard about you, hence my "attempt at humor".
Just curious but, what ever happened to your blog?.

It was an interesting read too.

This is more or less my definition, too. I consider the FIC to be people who get special perks, privileges, and opportunities everyone else doesn't, and who have the special ear of the Lindens. As you say, it does stand to reason that old FIC'ers would be a subset of this definition.

The Lindens have a long habit of picking people who have "come to their attention" to pass out privileges, perks, and opportunities to, that others don't even know about. It has always been the LL modus operandi.

My friend came here, saw all this insider sort of stuff going on all over the place, and dubbed it - and the people who benefited from it - as the FIC, or Feted Inner Core, and named the companies and individuals he considered part of it.

Well, this got people's undies in a bundle indeed, particularly those who had been the recipient of these perks, privileges, and opportunities, to the point where, by the time I came to SL, in February of 2005, posters were organizing an official mass shunning against my friend of several years, and, well, basically, it was not pretty.

Since then, many have done their best to fight the idea that any sort of FIC could possibly exist, that anyone who "believes in it" is a crackpot, even though the term is practically making its way into mainstream English by this point, lol. No coined term has legs like that without LOTS of truth in it.

Well, they banned my friend from the forums. I was called his alt for months on end. My treatment wasn't pretty, either, because I stuck up for him. We have all gotten pretty much past all that, as far as I am personally concerned, I think, with most people more or less accepting me as I am, without need of calling me his alt or his puppet, which was more than ludicrous. So I'm happier these days.

I haven't read all the posts on this thread because we're getting ready to go on vacation, but I did read a few, and I will tell you that my friend is in no way "evil," and I'm proud to be his friend.

I will also say that the Lindens DO pass out things to people they want to give them to, and I still don't consider that right. You don't have to "believe" in some sort of "conspiracy" to see this; it has been completely obvious. The Lindens don't want to appear to engage in favoritism, but after all, it is easier to pluck what you know you like from what you see than go to the bother of setting up a system for applications, or a contest or something. But application processes are overall better for LL, too.

I know they pass out perks, privileges, and opportunities, if for no other reason than I was about to become the recipient of one. I had come to their attention (through a contest), and they offered me a whole sim to do single-handedly (Blumfield). I said that as I was one who kept calling for equal opportunity, I couldn't, and could they make it a contest instead? So they did, which was very nice of them, and I was able to participate, and won, along with five other people. LL got six houses, when they were only expecting to get three they would like well enough to win the contest, so it was a win-win situation for all.

So it is a fact this has gone on, and yes, some people have benefited enormously from it. However, in my time, since February of 2005, several things have improved along those lines:

1. First, they instated the Developer's Directory. You can apply for that as an individual or a business, and that is given to outside companies to look at for who to hire, rather than a Linden just recommending someone they know, as they did prior. (Which I'm sure they still do, but the point is the directory now EXISTS, and everyone has a chance to apply for it.)

2. They instituted the PR forum. Before, they would just tell media people about their friends in the game, people they happened to know, etc. Now they have the PR forum where they put out calls to all for many of these things, and anyone who is interested can apply for it.

3. The Second Life Views. Though they originally chose to fete 8 hand-picked individuals with free trips to California and a permanent position on an advisory board, Robin has put out a thread somewhere (I forget where it is) asking for ideas on how this could also be made into something anyone could apply for.

4. And I forget what else, seems like there was something else. But as you can see, they are not wedded entirely to this idea of just picking what and who they like from the population, but are often willing to make things known to all so that anyone interested might be considered. I consider these wonderful steps forward.

So, while people are telling you my friend is evil and this is all in my mind, I'm busy trying to change these things so that things become equal opportunities for all, rather than things just handed to a select few (however worthy they may individually be) on a platter. Usually it's just a simple matter of putting in some place where people can apply for consideration, as in the examples above.

I would also add that while my friend is banned from the forums, people here still do things like call him "evil" without his being able to even talk back. I'm here to tell you those people are wrong.

coco

i honestly don't care who they are.. they could be the Presidents hit men that wear tutu's for all I care :/

You people are just severly over reacting about them...

Its like you have ot know who is who.. who cares.. meh.. that kinda attitude gets you one place! don't ask me where cause you don't wanna know, and i haven't decided...

I'm more conerened about who the top designers are.. at least that is something i can appreciate.. or even some great artwork...

ohh i thouht of another one.. who the good dj's are..

That being said, I guess we're all FIC, after all. The SL meet and greet in San Francisco is open to anyone who cares to attend.

blows your mind, don't it.

You sound exactly like my older sister used to sound when we were kids. "But mom, I'm not young. I'm FIFTEEN."