Serioulsy....

the problem is there really is no definite definition of what the FIC consitutes and it is purely subjective and open to interpretation.

More or less its the Us versus Them only with a catchier name.

FIC is like GNU: FIC Inner Core!

MM

FIC is a flame originally posted by... a notorious troll. It stands for Feted Inner Core. Feted meaning celebrated, not fetid as in ew gross . A lot of people thought it was so abstract funny and ridiculous that they started using it as a big joke.

There is no roster, although several groups have been formed as part of the fun. The same people have also been refered to as Barons and Tekkiwikki .

The accusation was that these people by virtue of playing long enough, creating enough, or spending enough money were getting preferential treatment from the Lindens. Also, newcombers to second life, people with giant killer complexes, non-technical/non-artistic people, people who like to stir things up, or random people who are mistaken for one of the previous, frequently get a cold reception when approaching older, anti-social, or busy people. Those people are then classed as FIC as sort of a name calling thing. It's like calling someone an cold elitist bastard .

From Wikipedia:

1. Favoritism: Some have complained that a group of residents referred to as the "FIC" (Feted Inner Core) use their connections with Linden Lab staff to trigger policy changes that are beneficial to themselves at the expense of others and that these policies by Linden Lab staff are arbitrary and selective. The phrase "Feted Inner Core" was coined by Second Life resident Prokofy Neva. In addition, users who own large amounts of land (and thus pay larger subscriptions) are generally seen to have greater influence on Linden Lab due to the financial loss in removing them.
   

I would add to that summary that LL itself sees nothing wrong with dipping into the resident pool to give perks, privileges, and opportunities to various individuals which aren't offered to other residents, though they have gotten a tad better about this.

Also, I would point out that some of these residents close to the Lindens actually become Lindens, and policy was recently changed to enable them to continue their profitable businesses - or start new ones - under their resident account names. Which is, of course, a clear conflict of interests, assuming one views SL as something other than the Lindens' personal playground.

In addition, those who can do or say whatever they like on the forums, regardless of the TOS, also qualify as FIC. Or at least as pampered pets.

coco

Ah, good old Andy D, from the Shawshank Redemption.

I find all the FIC theories much less interesting than what people are doing in-game.

Close friend and apologist for the person who coined the term.

This is a healthy outlook.

I think people are capable of making up their own minds on something.

And I'm not an "apologist" for anyone. Though you are, I believe, since if I'm recalling right, you started a whole thread about how it was okay for one of your friends to use foul language in a thread Philip started. Talk about being an "apologist."

coco

Wrong. FIC = Fetal Inner Cherub.

Full disclosure of your bias. Truth in Advertising. Filling in the background for your post.

As for the other, I see you are still smoked about getting trounced in a thread you tried to derail and hijack with your personal BS. Learn something and move on.

As for this FIC crap. It's exactly like watching jealous teenagers in junior high school. There is no FIC. Maybe the folks who keep waving that banner should get a clue that Teacher doesn't pick them because they are annoying and less talented.

Talent is rewarded in SL regardless of rez date. That has been amply demonstrated. It's not some inner cabal. It's those folks willing to bust ass and develop skills. And frankly, if I had to decide to work with someone, I'm going to pick the person who doesn't act like an asshole.

Finally, as to residents being hired as Lindens. Promotion from within after you have a track record on someone is a very sound practice. Much lower risk for you of getting stuck with a dud.

How about your bias? Who are your friends? What are your beliefs?

How about we fill in your background?

Formidable, that your opinion is somehow without bias, but a contrary viewpoint isn't.

Though I wouldn't disagree with you about residents being hired as Lindens, I definitely think they should part with their former lives as residents (except in a social/play capacity) rather than running businesses and making profits at the same time as setting policy, running the game, and deciding on the fates of other residents, as they have been recently allowed to do.

Lindens shouldn't be both structuring Second Life and at the same time competing in it with regular residents. Doing so underscores the fact that they consider it their playground, not ours.

As for the FIC thing, rez dates are actually kind of irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned. The fact that the Lindens pick the known quantities and their favorites for things does NOT mean they don't occasionally pick those who are talented but newer, and not their personal favorites.

The fact that they pick and choose at ALL is, in my opinion, a problem in itself.

I feel every opportunity should be open to all residents, and publicized ahead of time - then let the best resident win.

And no kidding, I'm still smoked about receiving a three-day suspension for saying, in a thread created to excuse a resident's foul language in a thread started by Philip, that there is no excuse for continual aggressive foul language and name-calling that creates an intimidating and sexually harassing environment on the SL forums.

coco

Bah, I never said I didn't have biases. And none of my friends are Lindens btw.

Loving the revisionist history. My post was on a general topic, and for the most part we had intelligent and interesting discussion there. I have started a number of general topic threads. You had an agenda. No one else. Just like the FIC thing.

Your statement is a flat-out lie. You were suspended for violating the TOS with a blantent personal attack. It's right there in the thread. The hypocrisy of ranting about name calling when you are convicted by your own words astounds me.

Posting the thread for anyone who wants to judge for themselves.

/108/ca/101645/1.html

I prefer "Fricking Idiotic Concept."

And by the way, the "notorious troll" that initially coined the term is still hard at work attempting to convince people not only of the shadowy conspiracy's existence, but that certain people, including yours truly, are in the business of playing spin doctor for them. I won't post the link here in order to avoid getting this thread locked, but there is a lovely thread on a different forum site that serves as a fine example of this.

::igh:::

Get. A. Freaking. Life. People. And by "people" I mean the aforementioned notorious troll and his hangers-on.

P2

Hope you can back that up with some facts one day.
Trolling and making libelous comments about people while mudraking SHOULD be treated with a suspension - it was well earned... so feel free to feel smoked, whist I feel free to feel rather vindicated.

Be sure to tell me how thats all working for you.


And to the OP

FIC = Everyone who isn't Prokofy Neva, Cocoanut Koala, and their alts.

Thats the abridged version.

The longer version is a mythical group with the ear of the lindens and thus gets preferential treatment and special privilege that enables them to be more successful - better liked - and / or more popular than the above mentioned two people.

in other words.

Everyone else.

Keep up the libel. You, Surreal, and Jonquille have done it for over a year now, why should anything ever be any different?

coco

Facts please - look up libel in the dictionary - or wikipedia.. then prove that it's libel, if you're able.

Saying 'I don't like you very much' isn't libelous.

However accusing someone of sexual harrasment is Especially when you are unable to prove it - now - or ever.

We've been over this before - you were wrong - you were punished.

End of story. The history is in the print here and on 2 other sites, thank you for playing.

Any animosity you have ever felt has been brought on yourself - and you then use it to try and fuel a pity party to besmirch those you don't like... it's rather plain to see and its rather sad.

Continue on as you will, but I for one won't be participating. I think everyone sees what's going on - and to tell the truth there is very little to see.

Since you felt the need to drag me into this thread for some reason (oh, right, your beloved victimization), what have I ever libelled you regarding?

Saying I think you're a petty little busy-body isn't libel, it's just my opinion of you.

There has to be a conflict of interest, in one way, even if there is no preferential treatment and the rules and guidelines are the same. And that is because they are also the ones making the rules, and setting policy, and making decisions regarding the fate of other residents.

coco

:\

BE AFRAID
BE VERY AFRAID

The Alt of an Alt of on old player told me once ...

Lindens are nothing more the the Illuminati, and the FIC is their in world army !!!

The matrix is here my friends, choose freedom, fight the FIC !!!

Leapin' lizards, ev'rybody knows the EFF-EYE-CEE is the organization that's trying to pressure the Lindens to fluoridate our prims and add subliminal corporate advertising to the MOTD (See something you like in a resident-owned shop? Right click and choose Buy Coca-Cola from the pie menu!).

Or waitaminit, maybe I was thinkin' of the EFFA-BEE-EYE . . . sorry, I always get them two confused.

Kim - that post was FICing brilliant! you are my heroine of the day for that.

Coco I keeping hearing you natter on about Lindens whos alts get special treatment and big contracts and what not. Could you please, either here or in world tell me exactly what or whom you are talking about and what proof you have of this. I for one,really want to know

Wow...this whole time I thought FIC = Face In Crowd.