SL Burnout

Like hell! Player magazine, and one of the pioneers of clubbing and general social activities. Jeez Mari..if there is a landmark in SL, you are it. If you fade we are in trouble indeed...

Hmm...well what is Linden Labs supposed to do? Put a subcription cap on SL? Maybe stop making new Sims or both? Maybe call it "Mayberry"? hehe.

No. But thnak you for asking that question. It brings up some ideas.

There was a time when it felt like a community struggle. When we knew one another and tried out best to support one another.

There are so many talented folks in SL. And there are so many talented folks in LL.

How about we have more community, yet LL, organized events. Jeska...come spin some tunes...Path, drop by sometime and let's hit some clubs. Let's have another Bedrock, stoneage get together. Let's have a tiny av day with nuts for all. Let's put aside making money for a week each month and just build for creativity. Let's accept we are all people and rejoice in it. Let's not worry so much about the price of the L$ and more about what those folks building the small park or lovely waterway are doing?

Yes, she got me to pose next to hoochie elves on the cover of the Christmas issue. I love that magazine. Marilyn is an institution. Or was in an institution, I forget. Either way, I loves Marilyn Manson.

Flush twice and they go away - Ignore/Mute/Delete cards.... POOF they vanish like they
never existed.. I've done this a few times, and it's been wonderful..

One of the joys of a virtual life is that other people really only have the power over you
that you give them.. Let them be all the catty backbiting m*therf*ckers they like..
The people who beleive them probably aren't the people you wanna accociate with anyway... And in time people wake up and see the writing on the wall.



Siggy's first law of internet gaming : How well a game is doing is inversly proportionate to how assinine the complaints on its forums are



See I guess it depends.. for me its enough to just let it exist on it's own merits.. Let people dig it , or not... Ultimately I create the things *I* want to see - things I think were glossed over, missed, or forgotten. I guess I'm lucky in a way that a lot of other people also think those things are cool.

I see a lot of the points you make, hell I agree with a lot of them.. I think a lot of whats happening is that the 'old SL' was one big village, even when I joined (1.0) - But it could never stay that way forever.. people come, estates expand, as its growing that old community is fracturing - splitting, and forming other villages of likeminded people... some good, some bad... all different. I think it was inevitable.

It's like watching a cell divide.. I'm sure it's traumatic - but somehow thats nature.

I used to think my circle of friends was getting smaller - but now I think it's just that the world is getting bigger, and my own sense of perspective needs to be adjusted.


Siggy.

This is true ... it was inevitable But JESUS, did anyone expect that guy to be so damn persistent?

You know, I think we're at that stupid point where we're not big enough to just absorb people like Mr. FIC and not let it affect us. We're just smaller than where it wouldn't matter. I am sure when SL gets bigger and bigger it won't seem like such a big deal.

It still completely sucks though. Why can't we be excited about stuff anymore instead of fucking cynical about everything?

Of course, I know what you're talking about here...I have been involved in things which have become sooo tedious that even doing some housework seemed like a better alternative. Building a Mafia house, which was a BIG mistake, became more like a job than any job I have ever had in RL or SL...I felt pretty ambivalent about logging on then.

I think that David's comment that doing things in SL seems to cost more...and that people are flagging as far as commerce is concerned, is a clue to why people get burned out.

I have three children, and from time to time I require them to do the odd thing to help out. Some things (feeding the dog for example) they do as their jobs, some I will pay them to do (cleaning their grandmother's car). Sometimes though, there is an all-hands-on-deck moment, where I have a guest coming and the living room looks like a lego bomb exploded, and they will say..."how much?" and it is one commercial transaction too many. I just want them to help, no money changing hands, because they love me...and want our guest not to break their neck getting from one side of the room to the other...and want to be fed and allowed to watch tv lol.

Numbakulla has been the cure for my ills in SL. It is a team build, the tier and use of the sim was originally donated by Moopf, and now the players have donated enough money to buy the sim and pay the tier, and it is metamorphosing into a true community project - a project where people haven't donated because they expect financial gain, or because they will be benefitting personally, but because they love what it is and want to keep it.

It seems to me that collaborative and community projects could offer a way ahead...allowing more experienced players to give the benefit of their experience to younger players, allowing people to make things which they are not going to try to make a fast buck out of, and offering a model for RL too.

If the people on this thread were working together on ANYthing, what an amazing thing we could make.... Some of the things which David has mentioned could be brought together, could form the basis for a project...on the Isle of Bliss, maybe, or anywhere.

The other big problem is how fast things change...and here again non-commercial collaborative projects might allow people to make things that won't vanish overnight.

My experience from working on mysterious journey and the Pot Healers in Numbakulla, is that there is some sort of alchemy involved in working on free projects in a group. It definitely allows teams to become more than the sum of their parts, and it can grow in unexpected directions.

I have several times started a guide to the sims, which I have abandoned as the number grew too quickly for one person to keep up with, and they change so quickly...but in a large group that would be possible, we could collect information about all the BDSM or Gor places and stores for example - maybe co-ordinate events to involve more than one place at a time.

People bemoan the lack of community, but I have found people are thirsting to connect with each other, it is just that there aren't easily understood ways of doing that. As in RL, going to clubs and picking people up isn't the best way of finding your soulmate - or even a great person to have a conversation with. Finding ways to do that and facilitating the connection of people across SL and across the world, would be a wonderful thing to achieve.

Blowing a *kiss* to David
Cali

David,

Why is it I am always finding myself following a posting by Cali and being reduced to saying nothing other than 'great posting, Cali!'

Great posting, Cali!

Actually, one thing that does need emphasising, I think is that all the wonderful things we can do here in second life will pall eventually. There are only so many buildings you can make, so many things you can sell, so many events you can organise.

The one thing in our lives that never loses its interest is social interaction. It is other people that make second life what it is, and we forget that at our peril.

Edited to change an incorrect 'which' to 'that'. I forgot to add grammar to the list of things that never lose their shine.

I find myself these days logging on and bitching about the fact that I am bored.

I sat and discussed this with Devlin Grayson last night. We were both bored, but we both felt the compelling need to sit and bitch about being bored. Odd isn't it.

THEN.. a miracle happened, a few old friends logged on and we had an impromptu dance party at Whoopys pad and reminisced about Cafe De SL.

I know I couldn't not log into SL, even if its only for social interaction with those I love. I would miss it too much.

But its getting bigger and bigger and harder to manage all the damn ppl!

I've been here almost a year, and I guess I'm unusual in that I don't feel any serious burnout yet... I still find it easy to log on and be here for hours. One thing that helps me avoid the burnout, maybe, is that I don't really take part in forum stuff... I don't get involved in long arguments, I just avoid them. That stuff just doesn't interest me.

I'm actually liking the fact that the world is getting bigger, because that means more places that I haven't yet seen, more places to explore and wander around and take wierd snaps of. I love hanging around and puttering on my land, but I also love just striking out and exploring areas that are new to me.

Another thing that's helping it stay fresh for me, perhaps, is that I'm not a hugely social animal... I've gotten bored with clubs, yes, but I don't have an enormous circle of friends who I need to stay in touch with. I have a few people in my neighborhood and a few really close friends who I consider my SL family, and it's always a joy to log on and be with them for a while. (Plus, I enjoy periodically tearing down my entire build and starting over with something totally different.)

I've seen burnout happen to friends, though... I think a vacation from SL is a good idea when that happens. Walk away for a while, enjoy RL, come back when you've had a chance to rest and get intrigued by it again.

I too have felt the SL burnout but, a few times. I end up just....leaving for awhile..a week, a month, something like that. SL changes so much, so fast, that you can take a week out, ant something totally new will be there to catch your fancy.

My other big trick is to run SL windowed. Nothing happening in-game, I'll go read fark or somesuch, to keep myself occupied for awhile. It helps!

Thanks didnt know what fark was...looks like a cool site

As the responses build here, its plain to see u are not alone and highly regarded.

I burned out as well, but come in for Reve and my friends. When I do hang with them I feel great.

For me burnout started with the lag. Cannot create, cannot move, cannot even type. Its better now but was bad for so long I don't know what to do anymore.

I accomplished my dream of making clothes (well more lingerie actually) but now that the world is so big its more a personal victory than anything else.

Last nite I didn't even log in.

Nite before I logged in, stood on my roof, could not think of anything to do and logged out again.

But I am sure it will pass even if slowly. Too many changes here have indeed left us with no desire as before.

I will perk up when Reve returns. But I know where u and everyone else posting here is coming from.

So even if u fade to black just leave room to come back. I think that is what gets me down the most... The loss of the heart of my sl... My Friends.

Ditto

But let me suggest something a few things that that changed that now makes it HARD on this BIG BIG world for us to get out and get around; and thus if they fixed - could help us when we get BORED!!!!!!

1. The TOP Picks. I know this was removed because some bitched about possible Linden "favortism" of some builds. But if you were bored on a night, you could go explore some of the neat builds because you had a evolving selection to pick from. Now it seems its very difficult to find or hear about the neat builds and places. So when you log on, and your friends arent on -- the only thing left to do is Explore ---- but where do you start? I know Pathfinder has his top picks on anotecards somewhere. . .. but when Im bored -- I just want to click a button and be entertained.

2. The Events Calendar -- If your bored it use to be the place to take a look at and find something interesting. No one looks at it now - its horrific. The only thing you see is the Tringo and Slingo - and the naked AV, Im not knocking those cuz heck I hosted those too at one point. But my Lord LIndens!!!!! How long have we been talking about fixing the Events Calendar. Look at it now -- its a freaking mess!

SL is getting big and thats great - but if we do not have easy way of finding things, and exploring things --- then we as CREATURES of our ENVIRONMENT -- get Bored and go find a new game to play.

Go help a newbie. I spend a lot of my time helping new people and, for some reason, it never gets old. I have explained how to unpack a box 1000's of times and its always a kick to see them excited about finally being able to wear their new shirt. Teaching a new person something, anything, is always cool. When they see how to rez a cube, join land, use the FIND menu to locate a friend or store, anything new they didnt know, I see that spark of excitement in them that drives me to help others. Meeting an excited newbie can do wonders for mental burnout.

Old friends are great, dont get me wrong. But you cant have old friends without making new ones. Its comfortable and safe staying in a small group of friends, but the same people around you all the time can be draining, especially if they become pessimistic. And, sad to say, the group usually dwindles into a smaller and smaller group as they find other things to do or simply fail to log in as often as they used too.

And, as suggested, there is nothing wrong with a break. An actual break with time away or a break from your usual patterns, either way. Go explore, meet a stranger and see what they are doing. Take a lot of pictures of your land and just delete everything and start with a new slate. Terraform the land, build something you never thought to build before. Sell your land and move to a new sim. Embrace change.

I guess you can get tired of anything. But somethings never get old. Im not really sure why, but I still love watching The Simpsons in reruns (twice a day) and I still love logging on to SL.

Aweee David! No fading! Not allowed!


I can't say I am even close to running out of steam. I think it's because I keep up the variety in the things I do in SL. I alternate rapidly between working on *PREEN*, working on city builds, doing projects like the AW Award, shamelessly flirting, learning to script, writing an article, meeting new people, fighting off Second Life's Fifth Column in the forums or SL Herald, etc etc.

I can get burnt out on one or more of these activities, but then I just switch to something else until I gain a renewed interest.

This is a great thread,
As I read the feelings of what alot of us are having. It was good to relate to the feelings of the Thread.

Not wanting to sound like an ass,

But thanks for trying to fix our feelings.

Joining a volunteer group like the greeter program or live help or one of those would probably be rewarding for you at this point. It's and idea I've been kicking around too. I've spent the year getting established, buying land, building, building, making and selling content. All fun stuff! But... I can see that it will become too job like if I keep at it the way I have been. I spent a few hours with some new players last weekend, just ones who i bumped into. I ended up showing them a few things and goofing around. I really liked that so I think it's time for me to take the plunge and volunteer, even though I have reservations about being qualified.

Like Juro said, nothing a good spanking wont fix.....

SL wouldn't be the same without you so take your Jedi break and come back to us refreshed

On a little break myself, but just cant seem to stop reading the boards hehe.

Also David it's summer - and in our area of the world when the sun shines we gotta take advantage of it!

I haven't had much passion for SL of late either - full plate of RL.

Anyone who gets bored is invited to stop by my shop in Shepherd and shop

My invitation to you all!

I to go through the burnout periods as well. One thing that helps me is to work on other skills. My main past time in SL is animations. Every few months the creativity seems to just vanish. I cant force the flow of creativity.

I find by just forgetting about animations for a while, and work on other skills, I get renewed creativity. For example, just recently I decided to give up on poser for a while, I could get nothing flowing. I just started molding shapes and playing with the build tools. Before I knew it, hours had past by and I created a house I have no idea what to do with now. My point is, change helped.

There is also friends to help you through those periods to remind you why you came here in the first place.

awww David!! *HUGS*

Everyone in this thread has already shared some wonderful stories and ideas. Right now I'm going through the opposite of burnout. I'm dying to get in world, have a few projects I want to work on, yet RL issues are keeping me from being able to be on like I want to. Things should settle for me around mid-august though, and you will probably be hard pressed to get me offline. hehe

But I know just what you mean about the burnout factor. I took about a 6 or so month break from SL and came back only just a couple of months ago. During that break I missed my friends in SL, but mostly I just did other things and played some games and just odds and ends.

Then slowley I started logging onto the forums again. I logged in a couple of nights and made the rounds visiting old friends. Settling old issues. And giving out tons of hugs. Then ideas just started coming back to me again. Ideas on things I wanted to accomplish, new projects I wanted to work on, and new people I wanted to get to meet. And so I came back and started on a couple of the things I had in mind. And they will get done eventually.

I will always be one to drop my work and go hang out with a friend if they shoot me an invite. To me it is connecting with the people in SL that is most important to me. My creations come second because I know I can *always* start and finish a project, but friends may not always be around.

I need coffee, so I hope this made sense. hehe.. You are loved and liked and admired by many David. And should you take a break, most of us will still be here for you when you get back. And in my gut, I know you would be back, even if you can't feel it yourself right now. *BIG HUGS*

EDIT TO ADD: Oh, and if a spanking will help, I'd of course be willing to take on the job.

I'm going through severe burnout in SL I haven't logged in for more than 5 mins in a couple weeks. I just can't find anything worth doing. I don't even shop. (For people who know me that's a sign of the appocolypse) I don't really host events at my bar anymore cause the only people who show up are money ball leeches for the most part. SL was never about money for me, and I find myself paying more for less enjoyment. I'm probably going to teir back to basic and take a nice long break, cause drama and money issues have pretty much killed any fun I have had in SL lately. Maybe it's just the fact We've been in SL a long time but that is what most of my friends are doing also.

Yeah, I'm currently brimming with a lot of ideas and excited about all the new people in world do to the free account giveaway. So, I'm currently feeling the opposite of burnout.