Today's Yard Sale Count

For Thursday, Feb 9, 2006, the Yard Sale count in the events listing is currently 39.

That is 39 more than is allowed according to the event posting rules.

More to follow.

Well, this is surprising. I just looked on the events page to see what the requirements were, and they don't say, "No yard sales are allowed."

Here's what it says:

"An event is defined as a special group activity that is led by a host on land owned either by the host or by a group the host belongs to. Examples include discussions, group meetings, hosted dances, classes, tours, and competitions. An event is framed by a beginning and an end time. Thus '24hr Sales' and 'Non-Stop Casinos' are not events.

"The 'Commercial' category was created for the purpose of grand openings, demonstrations, product launches etc. Each of these types of events should have a clear beginning and end time attached. Otherwise, they belong in the Second Life Classifieds, not the Events calendar. Posting events that are simply advertisements will not be acceptable."

So it could be that the events currently listed DO have a start and stop time, and have a host present during that time.

I know - fat chance. But it COULD be. The only way a person would be in violation of the guidelines above is if they don't list specific hours, and aren't on hand during those hours.

And I suppose if they happened to leave their yard sale junk outside after the hours were over, that wouldn't be technically a violation either, if they didn't advertise those hours.

(But you know, I'm kinda getting burned out on reading guidelines, since they often absolutely do not mean anything at all like what the words actually say.)

coco

Advertisements have never been alowed in Events (while I've been here), neither have events that just basically say "my shops open, come buy stuff from it". But they're still in there. So why would yard sales be any different?

Banning them won't stop them being there, it'll just stop them being "allowed".

Back in 2004 I had 3 LEGIT events taken out of the calender. Mainly because I probably didn't word them well enough. I think they were competitions of some kind, and I didn't put that the voting/winning was going to be done there and then, as was I, the host.

But it shows whats happened over the last year and a half. I doubt a Lindens glanced at the events page for a good while, let a lone taken out disallowed events.

They need to come up with a cold hard system, either using residents or employees. Take 10 minutes to look at the event calender every couple of hours and take out events that should be there, revoke their rights to post events for a week, if they do it again, a month, if they do it again, take them away completely.

Or do another RezMod system for the events calender, or have a "Disalowed Event" button, once it gets 100 clicks, a Linden takes a look at it.

Long post, but I hate the way events has gone.

Its impossible to post an event to the calendar without a listed start time & duration. So looking at events individually, they'll all pass that test.

However, offending yard sales are often posted as a group: 3 hour Yard sale at Noon, 3 hour Yard Sale at 3pm, 3 hour Yard Sale at 6pm - and so on. Something like that is truly an 'ongoing' activity, and is probably more suited for a classified ad.

It does depend on the event, you're absolutely right. But to determine whether its improper or not, you almost have to take the event calendar in its entirety into account, and make an analysis. That'll definately make any moderation tougher.

As an added community bonus - 'Tardation Nation' will help you find out if you're being ripped off!

Just type 'rip off' under classifieds and see if the red dot appears on YOU!

Now, the event list... That's ONE area I would support resmods for...

The one that got to me was the other day there were yard sales listed under games and contests. I figured it was deliberate to slip under the no yard sales rule.

Here is where Jesse made the decision to ban yard sales: /108/20/84710/1.html#post863978

I imagine he will update the event listing rules to specifically mention yard sales if you ask him to, but it seems they are in fact already banned.

A few days ago there was a sexcapade moving event. If you did a search for sexcapade, you'd see that there were 24 of the exact same listings for that day. (Store movings aren't even allowed in the events list, are they?)

Seconded. I'd sign up for it too.

Maybe after Havok3...

I have an idea.... CHARGE A FEE TO POST AN EVENT BASED ON LOCATION'S TRAFFIC COUNT!!!!

There. Done. Another money sink, a little less gaming, a little reclassification. Hell, let's charge for teleporting to event zones!

Today's Yard Sale Count for February 9, 2006: 48

Yep. I'll just throw in some batch, no-discussion proposals.

oh coco honey, recent events have proven beyond a doubt that rules are not effectuated and applied unless one individual is targeted.

SL is ruled by whim depending upon which taskmaster is in charge.

It's the same old, same old...CONSISTENCY, EVENHANDED APPLICATION OF THE RULES, PREDICTABILITY....nonexistent!

It doesnt matter what rule is selected by LL, what matters is that the rule be applied consistently and evenhandedly for all of the members.

As an aside note to all those who listed the bogus yard sales to advertise an ongoing business...you really ruined it for everyone who would like to have a legitimate yard sale on occasion to clear out inventory.

Poor Jon, she is still reading about yard sale events *hugs*

For saturday, february 11, 2006, the Yard Sale Count is currently: 65

Owy.

Well, they already said they're working on a way to fix this problem so no worries, all.

I did a test a few weeks ago and posted an event with no host, no start or end times and no content of any value yet it remained on the calendar. In fact my dwell went up so it must have been successful!

Yup... I replied... and solutions are in the works.

Gosh, guys, can you recommend any good yard sales with cheery hosts present to go to? If I could emphasize more of the positive!

I love going to yard sales, Torley. I don't care if the host is present or not. Sometimes I see things that I know are free elsewhere, but that uncommon. They aren't the same as stores at all. I look in stores, too, and yard sales are . . . yard sales.

Yard sales are one of the few things I find to entertain myself in the game. It's always fun to shop! And especially to shop for bargains. I have found all kinds of things for very little, including textures and a nice sunbathing mat.

I'm not interested in the best this and that contests, or in clubbing, really. That leaves the games, like blood 21, but that generally requires a donation to the pot. There are some discussions I enjoy, too - and the occasional game of Slictionary or Captions.

But that's just not a whole lot. And garage sales - I can go to them any time, and just have fun perusing around in all people's junk. it makes a nice break from working.

Now if their junk is still out there before or after the official time of the sale, I don't care - I've been alerted to the sale by the fact that it was on the calendar, and maybe I don't get around to going till several hours after its official time, but they always leave the stuff out - what's left anyway.

So for stuff for me to do, this is one of my pleasures.

So yeah, go ahead and take it away. I'm used to fun stuff going away. Why not just limit them to Commercial? I mean, you know what you are getting into when you click on commercial anyway, aren't you?

It will just be one less thing for me to enjoy in SL. Maybe I can entertain myself by going to look at some Hentai somewhere instead.

coco

P.S. Do you realize there is no "sad" smiley?

Damn your quick fingers Schwan!

Does : + ( not work as a sad smiley for you, coco?

Like the Radiohead song, "Everything in its Right Place", I've enjoyed a number of the same yard sales as you. However, a yard sale can be a great, host-less yard sale--and not be an event (under the current rules). They've got to have a place too.

Keep in mind one can still post a classified, and this should be where something like a yard sale is posted, as opposed to clogging the events list with a non-event for free advertising. L$50 is a modest investment, it stays a week, and with debatably greater visibility than a "here now, gone tomorrow" "event".