White Cube of Death in the New World

I was dismayed to log on to the new continent this morning and find a giant, tall White Cube of Death, this time of the skyscraper type that dominates the horizon for miles.

The building utterly dwarfs the entire surrounding area, which is the first land you hit when you fly in from the old continent. It means that far from ever having a prayer of remaining residential, this sim has now been declared "gone to the dogs" of malls, clubs, lag, and all the mayhem of SL.

What's truly hypocritical is that some associated with this building have been so vocal about claiming that we all had to hurry and take pictures because the new sims would be "crapped up" and they wouldn't retain their "pristine wilderness" for long due to all these "incompetent" newbies who would build ugly, and those who would rapaciously scar the land with malls, etc. They're the first to create exclusive, closed groups about supposedly "building in harmony in nature" -- but what "harmony" could we be talking about when it comes to this hulking menace???

Somehow, they figure they can get away with putting up the biggest whitest building visible for miles simply beause it is theirs and because they are special.

I don't know the purpose of this building but its gigantic size seems utterly unnecessary.

What is a building like this doing on the waterfront, anyway? It utterly dwarfs the little Tiki dream of the newbies below, and you wonder -- what, they had to come to rest in 512 land taken from newbies, they couldn't buy at the auction? And if they bought at the auction, they couldn't have the courtesy to leave the prime waterfront land to those with residential houses??? And just what will they do in their building, look out to the Linden sea and watch the sunsets as they count their mall money?

What's especially obnoxious about this enterprise is that they are making grossly false accusations made against me and others to the effect that we are "pressuing and scamming newbies" out of their first land on this sim (yeah, all of 2 pieces LOL). I suppose what could be going on is that this prim-hungry bunch want to make sure they have eminent domain to break through to the sea themselves, since they didn't land a prime waterfront area themselves.

Honestly, I don't understand all the hypocrisy here. "Architectural merit" isn't the issue, but the question of the citing of this cube of death in a place where people don't want to see such an out-of-place skyscrpaer.

I have to say I was unimpressed with that particular build, as I liked the style of the other buildings that have been put up so far in that sim - they all seem to have a similar wood texture, and fit in nicely with each other and with the concept of being the first buildings in the new continent.

I hope we don't see more of this rubbish.

Don't get me wrong, unless the politically-correct forum harpies peck my eyes out, it is the right of this bunch to put up whatever monstrosity their groaning board of prim-stretched tiny PG land can sustain. I plan to put what *I* want on my land, so I defend this right.

But will I simply will not stand for is interference in my own business by holier-than-thou types with glaring logs in their eye. These people are telling newbies that I scam them for first land? But they are more than adequately compensated and even get free rent for their 512 donation if they chose, on that very waterfront, which we had hoped, with neighbours, to keep residential and low-impact. This bunch constantly wax superior about how only they can define what is high architectural good taste, and present only themselves as the "ideal friend of newbies".

But people putting up a giant building like this telling others that THEY are intimidating newbies really don't have a leg to stand on--although they could be standing on the giant leg of their building. Their severe domination of the skyline and all the mortals below speaks for itself.

That build is neither a cube nor a "white cube of death". I understand that you feel the need to dramatize, but please, quit fucking worrying so much about what others build. For god's sake I was expecting to follow that picture link and see something truly abhorrent. That build is not, and in fact displays a skill level in building that is above average.

Here's one that went up across the water from my house, you dont hear me complaining although this IS a box.

hey it's not so bad, look at this!

http://www.sapinski.com/sl/doomtower1.jpg
http://www.sapinski.com/sl/doomtower2.jpg

I heard w-hat used a hacked client to make the big black tower next to the ugly white nexcom tower, confirm/deny?

Looks like it's waiting to be textured.

But that's hardly the worst thing you could have up in front of you, I thought you literally meant it was a cube when really it's a fully built tower.

I admit to being a little confused. I've never been aware of any agreement or expectation to build within certain styles in SL, other than in an explicilty themed area like Boardman. I think an objective person would agree that this tower shows more skill and taste than a lot of what's done in SL. The only objection to this that I could understand would be completely subjective and personal. I do wonder if it's really appropriate to lambast someone's work on the forums as a matter of personal taste. If this is a sim that is open to everyone, then everyone gets a chance to define the sim's style. That's the way it's always been as far as I could tell.

Don't drag w-hat into this, you bought the land, you built the tower. It was your idea and you followed through.

Charlotte, is that your blog? Or do you know whose it is, if not? Just wondering 'cause I want to put maybe put a link to it from the Herald. Thanks.

I like the tower, despite your personal issues with the guy who made it.

My client wanted white, and the tower I built for him is textured with a very subtle pale alabaster marble.

The old Nexcom headquarters building in Keswick was a fun project, so when my client moved to the new continent I eagerly accepted the commission for the new headquarters building. One problem is the prim allotment was only about half what Nexcom had in Keswick. That means the building has far less architectural detail than my usual builds.

When I arrived on site I saw that most of the lots were not built yet. This means the proposed tower would NOT be blocking anyone's ocean view. I worked most of the way through the night to get that tower done so people who came to the sim would see it and know what they were getting if they bought there. No surprises. That's way different from suddenly seeing a building of any sort blocking a view you have enjoyed.

Hope this helps : D

Nexcom feels that if anyone wishes to bring forth any complaints to please do it directly to one of the Nexcom officials and not in a public manner. The tower that was built will bring business to the new continent and support the economy.

In another note the person who is bringing such accusations goes around pressuring new people to SL to buy first land and give it to him and does so in a manner that closely resembles most con artist. Why should people new to SL waste their first land potential, and Prokofy benefits? I feel this is the same action as the act of “scamming” from TSO. One such person that I have spoken with says that Prokofly pressured her intensely to turn over her first land to the point of where she did not seam to enjoy her new found game quite as much.

The SL community must not let this game reach the likes of the “scamming” that happened in TSO and must not allow this person to continue hurting the new members of our society in an effort for personal gain in his own part, and leaving the newbies stranded, landless, and having to pay a large fee to regain what was once theirs before he stole it from them.

Where does one get the nerve to challenge the spirit of SL. In this wonderful game you can build anything without challenge and for him to say that my building is ruining the landscape is outrageous. If he thought it was too tall speak with someone directly, don’t embellish the issue to every other soul in SL when his own motives for his business are not even right.

First, the so-called "white cube of death" is an interesting build. But it looks unfinished. Out of place? Hard to say at this point. Certainly more interesting than some of the boxes below it. Perhaps we should resist the hyperbolic hysteria and wait and see.

Second, Prokofy, try not let so many of your own issues hang out in the forums, OK? You're constantly giving people more information about yourself than they really need or want to know. You're kind of the allegorical forum-equivalent to that really-big-building you so long-windedly criticize, writing GIGANTIC and darkly-psychological tomes that dwarf the more-concise comments of those around around you. In the landscapes of the threads you seek to dominate, the tonnage and loudly-personal colors of your commentaries literally shut off the "larger picture" for people who seek illumination and a place to interact with the community. Really, we all have to live here, and when you try to overwhelm us with these enormous, out-of-place rhetorical constuctions, it interferes with the flow of ideas, the theme of the thread, the panorama of opinions, and the sunrise and sunset of ideas. Most of us who inhabit the forums would really like to keep our view.

Learn to build your posts so that the rest of us can live alongside you.

That was the ugliest post ever Prok. This is a great forum with wonderful posts and most posts are really well done showing amazing talent, but your post was very ugly and took very little effort. In fact, your post is so crappy I took a picture of it and posted it in world.

lets see, False normally means that what was said it not true right?
so then how did you get 2 parcels.

I thought the building looked ok, better than having ugly for-sale cubes floating all over...

The idea that "I'm first on the sim therefore I get to do what I want" is all too common and all too pernicious.

The tower already blocks the view of people who in fact DID arrive first and purchased land, even if they did not build, because they are new and not skilled in building giant towers.

A tower that hulks over waterfront residences and newbie builds is a problem, a problem for this neighbourhood and a problem for SL. The people on the sim are helpless to do anything about it, because no on has consulted them. This needs to change. I challenge it.

.

There is absolutely no "con artist" at work in this operation as you can see from my patient, detailed explanation.

Your business came to harm my business, although I had done nothing to harm you.

There is no "scamming" going on here, but what is going on is the efforts of one person with an enormous amount of baggage attempting to harm me and my business in the game.

No one "wastes" their first land potential if they are helped to buy better land, if their land is purchased at a fair market price they set, and if they are given free rent in exchange for a 512 donation that enables them to have better land in most cases than they would have had in 512-newbie-hell. Please get educated on this subject.

One such person that I have spoken with says that Prokofly pressured her intensely to turn over her first land to the point of where she did not seam to enjoy her new found game quite as much.

This is an example of why you need not believe hearsay, but you need to investigate the facts. I purchased land from Anshe Chung, of all people, not a newbie, after first making an agreement with a newbie concerning the possible purchase of his land should he wish to sell it. It hardly is anyone's business what arrangement two adults in a game come to, he is welcome to tell his side of the story. Next, while visiting this land I purchased from Anshe, I saw a woman who was with a man who had bought up about 4 pieces of the first land somehow, before any wholesalers had come. I don't know how he did that, but it doesn't matter. I asked her if she would be interested in selling, and working out a tier donation and a rental. There was no pressure to sell whatsoever. I explained that I had purchased next to another potential client. It was a friendly conversation with no pressure, and no "drama".

She then embarked a) on an effort to slam me to that client and to others all over the neighbourhood and b) tried to pressure me into selling my land to her. I was puzzled why it was necessary -- she had land, and a boyfriend with waterfront access. Next thing I know, I log in, he has his land for sale. Hmmm, some permanent waterfront complex for newbies, that. I bought it, just to make sure no one else did, because it is next to my land and my potential clients.

Then I come to find out that these builders are IM'ing people and warning them "not to deal with Prokofy" and "he is a scammer".

I'm sorry, that shall not stand. And in talking with neighbours, I find they are dismayed at the hulk over their heads.

I guess it is another example of FIC "eminent domain".

As far as I know, you can do what you want even if you're the last person in a public sim. I just don't see how it's anyone's place to say that tall buildings or short buildings or glass boxes or tiki huts will be acceptable in a public sim. I have every sympathy for people who are subjected to massive light glow or lag or other things which intrude on their experience on their parcel. But in a public sim, everyone gets to build what they like on their land. No one is in charge.

Thanks for the design critiques, people. : )

I make my money in SL as an architect, so when people take the time to examine one of my builds and give a response that's valuable feedback. Sure, some of that is going to be negative *cough* Char ; ) If people only give positive comments, the architect is not going to learn as much as would be the case when the full spectrum of critical discussion is welcomed.

My client is actually an expert micro-scale builder, and doesn't hesitate to shoot down a proposed design idea I might build on his site. For example, I built a pair of large complex curved arches set at 90 degrees to each other, and intersecting at the top. That was just an initial idea for the building. He said no; he wanted the look of a telecom building. So I built a tower. It's cruciform in plan with (pretend) loadbearing components visually separated from a curtain wall. The use of a curtain wall is common in RL towers.

Once the tower was built I went to sleep. This morning a shining black tower had appeared beside it. This is not a fight! It's just another builder's response. Robin Linden checked the party on top of the black tower, possibly with an eye to making sure that it didn't develop into a fight. Thanks, Robin. The party ran its course, and my client said, okay let's cut the height of the Nexcom tower, so I'm doing that for him now.

1. The first parcel I have in that sim I purchase from Anshe Chung, um, weak and wilting and scared newbie extraordinaire. Yeah, I confess that I got Anshe Chung up against the wall and threatened to um....reach into her account by remote control and steal her $250 newbie stipend money every month unless she sold me her first land. Yeah. Whereupon Anshe Chung picked up her skirts and ran screaming in terror for the waterfront.

2. The second parcel concerned a fellow I had talked to earlier. He had contacted to ask me about the plan to have rentals, 512 donation, and purchase of first land. I told him to look in the new continent for good waterfront land in mature, and get back to me. I left him to his own devices. On his own -- he was a grownup I guess--he found a great PG waterfront. I explained PG wasn't the greatest, he didn't care. He seemed willing to stay and build, I said I will buy it for $3750 when you are ready to rent a larger parcel or rent a 512 for free in exchange for tier donation. Next, we also talked about him maybe staying right where he was, deeding his land to our group, which has the parcel right next to him. Therefore for a 512 tier donation, and $250/week rent, he would have a 1024 waterfront where he'd have more building room. We didn't discuss it again, I left him a card with explanations, and left him to his own devices -- he is still the owner of his land as far as I know.

3. While visiting the area, I saw that the boyfriend of the girl claiming that we are all "pressuring her" (who himself had obtained some 4 first land pieces or so on the waterfront, and hardly seemed a wilting newbie) had in fact set his land to sale! I was surprised, given all the hype I'd been told about this couple coming to rest at the lovely shoreline to spend their days together in beloved bliss. Word came out then that maybe they weren't so together? Well, I bought that parcel from the wilting, frightened newbie -- who I never talked to -- for a newbie $5000, then set it to sale, thinking probably the other sale wouldn't come through for awhile. Later, when I heard there might be some allegation of "pressure" and urges to file complaints with the Lindens over "pressure" I took it off sale and IM'd the parties involved and told them they were welcome to get it back for $5000 if they were feeling "pressured".

See? No bilked newbies. Two resale artists. An adult who didn't sell his land yet. And megabuilders who will stop at nothing to take over a sim, even making false accusations against a person and their business.

There, happy that your questions have been answered now?

Hmm, something like that is likely to get you a visit from the Lindens.

Well, you try conducting an open, fair, above-the-board, honest business, but have someone with personal baggage come forward and try to kill you, intimidate your clients, falsely claim you are scamming them, and scare away possible buyers, not to mention make you feel intimidated on a sim where you just set up shop to organize rentals.

After you've had the experience of someone brutally slamming you in and out of the game, writing false accusations to various people in IMs, and had your business destroyed at least in that area, then come talk to me.

I did not do any of the things claimed.

The accusations are falsed.

The accusations were made by a person with personal baggage.

Move along now, there's nothing to see -- except my business losses, and the gloating and viciousness of megabuilders who think they rule the world of Second Life.

They do not.

Fair enough. But when a megabuilder comes in and tries to intimidate you, lie about you, and ruin your small business, in an area where prims are scarce and passageway to the waterfront which you are acquiring is at a premium, it is fair to raise questions about their motives and tactics, so I do.