SL Content and Designer Paranoia

par·a·noi·a:
A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.
Extreme, irrational distrust of others.

What fuels paranoia?

It amazes me when I see seemingly rational people suddenly act irrationally paranoid out of the blue. Example? Lets take forum posts as one example. A post can be made speaking in general terms and then suddenly, out of the blue, one person overreacts, takes it personally, and posts a reply that is in your face personal and all in all nasty.

Could be the post was speaking about a general issue or matter, a concept such as questioning the literacy of those charged with screening the written word, and all of a sudden there is someone reacting with a personal attack most likely derived from their own unrelated hangups.

Or, could be a post speaking generally about an issue or matter, when suddenly we see the manifestation of a meltdown where one person thinks the post was directed specifically at them. Guilty conscience? Perhaps.

Sometimes we see a seemingly otherwise rational person start to lose it and rant that a nasty post, or unpleasant prodict review was really made by an alt of a perceived enemy or by a business competitor. Sometimes the allegations are so far fetched one can only conclude they are the product of a small self centered mind wallowing in irrational paranoia.

Then there are those occasions where someone who seems to think that the actions of others revolve around them. Lets say I made drapes, and I do, I would have to be totally deluded to think that another who also makes drapes was stepping on my turf, or stealing my ideas. You know the saying, there is nothign new under the sun and using the logic of that type of paranoid thinking one could argue we are all plagiarists.

Are content creators and designers in SL so self centered that they think they own the general concept or an idea as general as making clothing, or shoes, or drapes or animations?

So before we claim that the actions of others in SL are deliberately designed to steal an idea, or a design, or were secretly concocted to defame a competitor, why not take a minute to use logic instead. And, if logic or maturity cannot guide you, then it doesnt hurt to keep the laws related to defamation in mind. You just cant go around defaming others and making threats without consequences, and just because you dont actually "name names." if the meaning and intent is clear then the defamation laws apply.

If you dont want to be faced with legal consequences then think before you make baseless threats and allegations. Get it?

Edited to add this: In cases where a design was clearly stolen from another creator, such as the current matter concering the shoes that are in controversy, then questioning the issue is appropriate. However, where there is no proof whatsoever or reason to believe that an action, or post, or review or a creation had any relation to the one you accuse then the accusations are totally inappropriate.

Very well written post, Katykiwi. I find it incredibly ironic that some designers accuse others of design theft. First, there is only so much you can do with prim, so a lot of gowns will have a similiar look. Also, a lot of designers photosource from catalogs or Internet sites, while others buy base kits from sites such as www.renderosity.com. With limited resources for designs, there is bound to be a lot of similiar designs.

I have reported this obvious attack on me, and the thread will be locked soon.

That was MY idea! THIEF!!

I take personal offense at your accusation! I should expect nothing less from the alt of my business competitor.

Okay, now that that's out of the way... I think a lot of problems are caused by posting without thinking, while your emotions are running high. And this applies to designers as well. I haven't had anything stolen from me thus far, but I imagine I'd be mad if it happened, imagined or not.

When you're mad it's a good idea to save your post somewhere where only you'd see it, and wait a few hours or a day and come back and re-read it. Chances are you'll have cooled off by then, or realized you sounded paranoid, or realized that the dress probably isn't a ripoff but there's a chance you're not the only one who ever made blue babydoll dresses or whatever the case may be.

I've averted many problems with client disagreements by doing this. I trash my four-page diatribe and end up replying "Sorry for the misunderstanding, how can we fix this?" or something.

Paranoia ... it's the hipster's disease ... what's that car ... where's that car ... who's in that car ?

anyone else know it ?

or is it just me ?

Paranoia is a role playing game! You're ripping off West End Games and Mongoose Publishing!