Make a positive contribution and change to these forums

After witnessing what I think has been the worst 7 days in the SL forums that I have seen in over 2 years, my first instinct is to close the browser window and not look back. However, to do so is to just give in to what has been happening. The approach I am going to take, and the approach I would suggest anyone who is feeling frustrated/saddened by the current state of the forums is to walk away from the General/Off Topic/Land forums.

Instead, I am going to focus my energies on the creative forums - building, scripting, animations, etc. I would much rather give back and show someone how to create a pose or make a transparent texture than to give in to the malaise that has descended upon the discussion forums. I am going to focus on checking out the creative works of other players and complimenting them, and to go back to adding suggestions for new features.

I am going to focus on the positive aspects of these forums, and leave the rest behind. Hopefully it will alleviate this sense of dread I have about the forums right now.

Best idea yet.

I like the idea. I'm in. I'll start by posting some new scripts I have to share, as soon as I'm de-integrating them from my stuff.

I like it Cris. Nice post, thanks.

p.s. Any chance you might create a blender tutorial for us po' folk?

That's a great idea, Cristiano... I've started to venture into the above mentioned forums, but I think I will quietly back out and head back to the scripting/building forums.

Its a lot more satisfying getting a thanks for my posts, and knowing I'm actually helping someone who asks for it.

- Jon

Cris maybe the critical mass have been reached today -

Before people go please check out this thread that just started in the General Forum - thanks @ let's make this happen.

Hand Across Second Life thread in the General Forum.

Its Realy Easy To Take The High Road Now Isn't It.

Now Im Gonna Puke!

Files This Under: Bullshit

You cannot type in all caps Cat....

and Bravo Cristiano

Wha??

I have been trying to do this for the past two weeks. My policy is, no direct attacks. If someone directly attacks me, I will report the post (I will not respond). If someone tells a lie about me, I will correct the lie and only the lie in civilized terms. The rest of my posts are general contributions.

To be honest I feel like it's been working. While my name used to frequently appear with an extensive list of lies, innuendos, conspiracies, and direct assaults... this hasn't been the case lately. To prevent an immediate and embarrassing correction, a would-be slanderer must now gingerly hint at Aimee (sometimes not even mentioning my name) wrongdoing in ambiguous language. Ambiguity provides an "escape hatch" that prevents accountability on the part of the slanderer but it also renders the accusation flimsy.

Overall I am pleased with the results.

There is no expiration date on diplomacy.

Hey Cris, thanks for posting. Talented creators have too much valuable experience to waste their time mucky mucking about, I think. Personally, I'd rather learn scripting/building/designing from you guys. And the moment I have something reputable to contribute myself (other than twinkie comments) I'll be sure to add!

Catherine,

In invite you to do the same thing, not just to add negativity. We all play a role in this.

Edit: You are wonderfully talented, Catherine - your dolls and the stuff you created for your Christmas island were wonderful - I hope you consider sharing some of your knowledge and talent.

Some ppl in these forums have proven themselves their character their group affiliation in the past week.

I have always called it as I saw it.

I find it really ironic how the mud slingers can so easily "give back to the community"

I saw what some ppl were made of, and I filed it properly.


Edit: I haven't made dolls or toys in over a year, my friends know that much about me.

Nice post Cristiano.

I still think the bruhaha in the forums in the 3 months after 1.2 came out far surpass anything I've read the last couple weeks.

This is more like childish he said/she said and payground push/shove match. Back then it was a forum knife fight.

Again, regardless, Catherine, you have the talent, what you do with it is up to you. As I said, you can remain negative, that's fine. I was complimenting you sincerely, whether you have the grace to recognize it or not.

While I appreciate the sentiment here very much, I hope this isn't the answer for everyone. Whether anyone likes it or not there are people here with very specific agendas who should not be left unchallenged. When you have someone trying to convince new residents that they're being opressed and treated unfairly... that those most involved in building the world into what it has become don't want them here... that this group hates that group and that group hates this group... that their's is "the way" and all others should fall before them (and by the way, rent my land)... that's not something you can simply walk away from, unless you don't care about the very real damage it causes and what a disservice is being done to the uninformed who latch on to those ideas.

There are now many people who believe the FIC is real... that they have special powers and LL at their bidding... that they're all a bunch of stuck up snobs out to screw people over... that they really don't have a chance to live their dreams here because the contest is fixed. We shouldn't abandon those people to believing that message, and they will because it will go on being repeated over and over and over again. It's already happening. Is allowing that to go unchallenged really the high road or is it simply the easy way out?

What needs to change is how these people are challenged and how their arguments are refuted... but refuted they must be. I'm as sick of this as everyone else (and guiltier than most in contributing to the vitriol), but whether we like it or not there is a battle for hearts and minds going on here, and I'm not willing to simply retreat or surrender territory to the rampaging horde from crazytown.

Chip,

That is fine - I just happen to think the battle for hearts and minds is won by actions, not words ultimately. The forums are in a state that something has to change, and I am not sure that right now that change can happen without A LOT of people taking a step back. I am not saying I will not take part in discussions, but honestly, at this point, I am beyond the breaking point of wanting to deal with it. It's not just any one thing or person, it has been building and reached its climax last night. As I said, this is just about what I'm doing, and a suggestion I'm making.

From a newbs point of view, I saw alot of drama and cat fights going on here (but ever since I started lurking here I've seen them, its nothing new). I can tell alot of it is simply fueled by the past and not really the issue at hand. Not knowing alot of peoples history with each other or the severity of it, I just skip over the stuff but sometimes I do throw a log on the fire and sit and watch. I think the forum veterans might be frustrated or feel like things have gone to shit, but from this newbs point of view its the SSDD. Im just not affected as much by it all because I either dont know or care about everyones inter-drama linkage. Why am I writing this?

I missed all the excitement?

From the perspective of a sushi-raw newbie: I've had SL for roughly 48 hours now. I've already gotten hooked on this harder than I can remember getting hooked on any online community/game/whatever in the ten years I've been cyberized. And the first place a lot of newbs like myself look is on the official boards (or if they don't exist, then the most active ones) where we can read about other people's experiences, catch up on the current issues and ask stupid questions of the more experienced players.

So if y'all abandon the General board (I don't read Off Topic, as most sections with that name on other boards get too political for me), where will the newbies turn?

In my long experience online, which goes back to Usenet and the early days of Compuserve, I've also learned that online emotions and conflicts tend to burn very hotly but also cool more quickly than they do offline. A wise forum admin once used the analogy of a comet. If you're getting upset with the crap that's being flung around a board, just give it a week or so and it will (probably) change. Some of that goes to the admin policies, of course (I rarely ever saw a Usenet flame war die down very quickly), but as a general matter of principle I've found that it usually holds very true.

Please forgive me if all of what I just said was completely clueless and out of context with the mood on this board. My intent was not to tell anyone how to act or think. I'm just expressing one newbie's opinion. Mostly I just don't like hearing that some folks want to pull back from open general discussion if that's where most newbies are looking for a basic feel of the community they're joining.

Cindy

Chip,

Additionally, it is neither taking the high road nor the easy way out. It is recognizing the futility and volatility of what has happened, and trying to take another approach. Perhaps it won't make me feel better, who knows, all I know that is I want to go back to teaching and sharing, instead of debating and reacting in the same horrible cycle. It's like one of those little wheels in a gerbil cage - it is exhausting, and we are still in the same place.

Valid points raised Chip. I have found it disheartening in here of late and decided a month or so ago to step back and set new rules for myself. Since doing that I have been happier when reading the forums. I would like to see something change in the moderation but not sure what the answer is. This latest round has been like a case of bad acne festering.

Chip its gone beyond people thinking it's real. "FIC" was once just people friendly with Lindens. Now its gone to people like me who may be content creators, but honestly can count my conversations with Lindens on one hand.

Though I agree with Cristiano here, he have to minimize these flame wars.

Well put. There should always be room for rebuttal on either side of the argument. Sadly SL forums have some misfits who veil things to cause unrest, which ultimately leads to suppression.

To allow it to remain unchecked is harmful, maybe more so than responding. That said, Cris would rather focus on the positive aspects of SL at this time, which his choice to make.

Just because he has sheathed his sabre, doesn't mean he won't draw it when provoked.

I just realized why the forum fights seem so different nowadays. Back in the olden times the forum sparring was of a higher level I think. More intelligent, but no less caustic. It was like fencing. An elegant turn of phrase won the day then.

Nowadays, it's more like soccar hooligans out of control.