Newbie question...

What exactly is FIC?

Feted Inner Core.

Simply put, it's the (false) assertion that a small group of people control Second Life's direction and objectives via personal relationships with Linden Lab. It is often used to libel the hard work of individuals who are recognized by Linden Lab for their excellence. Pretty much anytime someone gets the nod from Linden Lab, they get smeared as being FIC.

To answer further questions, no there is no group that actually has special priveleges or is above the law. There are some very, very hardworking high-profile individuals, but they're bound by the rules just as everyone else is.

The idea of the FIC is the fever dream of an indivdiual who was so unconscionably disruptive to these forums that he was permanently removed from them by Linden Lab. (Please note that this is an exceedingly rare punishment -- to my knowledge, it has only been meted out against a handful of individuals)

It stands for "feted inner core" and was coined by someone who has since been banned from the forums to represent an imagined group of elites that had special access to the Lindens. It is now an inside joke used almost exclusively for humor or irony.

(Ooh. Enabran beat me to the first reply.)

~Ulrika~

Appearantly something that needs a FAQ. </rimshot>

It's a acronym for "Feted Inner Core". It describes an imaginary cabal of SL residents who have undue influence over the operation of function of Second Life with the Lindens. It's used mostly tongue-in-cheek, but there are a few who use it in a less than complimentary and decidedly un-humorous fashion.

That's another good point. It's also important to note that anyone trying to make FIC-type allegations in any seriousness flushes their own credibility instantly. It's a bit like declaring something to be either "Hitler" or "Nazi." Some have even posited an SL variant of Godwin's Law based around trying to make a serious argument against the FIC.

And yes, Ulrika, I caught you napping.

Premonition: This thread will become drama central within eight hours. It will extend over 150 individual replies (possibly more) before it is closed by Jeska, whose terse admonitions against being nasty to one another will prove once again ineffectual.

Please note: It is FIC that has answered you in this thread so far.
They got rid of their accuser by teaming up and doing massive abuse reports on him. I'm not saying the accuser was right in all his accusations, but he certainly had a point. The FIC managed to get rid of him. Nuff said. And now they ridicule every thread about the issue.

Draw your own conclusions.

This is akin to someone from the Flat Earth Society burning down a library because they had globes on display... and then the apologists of the Flat Earth Society member come out and say it's all a mean-spirited, round-earth hegemony bent against the Truth Of The World after the member is imprisoned by society.

FIC is hogwash.

Anyone that's been actively involved in the community for about a year or more automagically qualifies as FIC by flat-browed detractors. Sometimes quicker, if they're especially active (ie Torley).

Hahaha, yes. The Lindens, they are such mindless puppets, so easily controlled by persuasive voices! All we have to do is issue commands and they will ban whomever we'd like!

It's astonishing what people can convince themselves of being true.

LOL. I noticed that logic too. Persistent, repeated, relentless disruption of the forums and an extensive diciplinary record could not possible have gotten him banned. No no, far more likely that it was a conspiracy!

Posting deleted.

I just re-read this one, and saw that it could look like an attempt at a fake-naive smart-ass put-down. Not how it was intended, so I deleted it. No offense meant.

~Ulrika~