Second Life Forums Archive - Stipends and Economy

Surina Skallagrimson

Queen of Amazon Nations

Join date: 19 Jun 2003

Posts: 941

09-15-2005 07:11

From: musicteacher Rampal

That to me sounds like they understand the importance of the base stipend to members and do not want to change it if they can at all help it, judging from the fact that they havn't touched the base stipend in 3+ years...chances are very good that they won't unless some major catastrophe happens to destroy the value of the $L. I'm trying to be more optomistic about things...I think it's working a little.

They changed the base stipend in Jan 04, when 1.2 went live. (or was that Dec 03?). It used to be L$3500 for everyone, minus taxes. There were ways of avoiding the taxes so alot of people regularly got the full stipend.

As for changing it again, their hands are tied in some respects due to contracts. Those that pay by the year have already paid in advance for a weekly L$500 stipend, so there'd have to be at least one years notice that a change was imminent.
Also there are the 'charter' accounts that were sold on the basis of included land tier and L$500 weekly stipend...

_____________________

--------------------------------------------------------
Surina Skallagrimson
Queen of Amazon Nation
Rizal Sports Mentor

--------------------------------------------------------
Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business."
Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."

Ashley Ennui

Registered User

Join date: 15 May 2005

Posts: 141

Ratings...

09-15-2005 07:28

Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried...

wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously...

just my 2cents worth

Surina Skallagrimson

Queen of Amazon Nations

Join date: 19 Jun 2003

Posts: 941

09-15-2005 07:38

From: Ashley Ennui

Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried...

wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously...

just my 2cents worth

The amount you get (got) from rate bonus did not increase with the more rates you got. There are fixed levels. Once you're in the top 2% (I think, maybe 5%) you're getting the max bonus, regardless of how many more rates you get.

The Lindens could choose to play with the economy by varying the total rate bonus available... oh wait... they have.. they cut it completely

_____________________

--------------------------------------------------------
Surina Skallagrimson
Queen of Amazon Nation
Rizal Sports Mentor

--------------------------------------------------------
Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business."
Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."

Musicteacher Rampal

Registered User

Join date: 20 Feb 2004

Posts: 824

09-15-2005 08:22

From: Ashley Ennui

Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried...

wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously...

just my 2cents worth

I'm guessing they would consider this if this was a change being made out of fairness to new members...however since it is a change being made to reduce the ammount of $L coming into SL a cap wouldn't make much difference, this is going to make a huge difference.

Musicteacher Rampal

Registered User

Join date: 20 Feb 2004

Posts: 824

09-15-2005 08:23

From: Surina Skallagrimson

They changed the base stipend in Jan 04, when 1.2 went live. (or was that Dec 03?). It used to be L$3500 for everyone, minus taxes. There were ways of avoiding the taxes so alot of people regularly got the full stipend.

Was this when you had to pay for each prim you used?

Surina Skallagrimson

Queen of Amazon Nations

Join date: 19 Jun 2003

Posts: 941

09-15-2005 08:30

Yes

_____________________

--------------------------------------------------------
Surina Skallagrimson
Queen of Amazon Nation
Rizal Sports Mentor

--------------------------------------------------------
Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business."
Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."

Ashley Ennui

Registered User

Join date: 15 May 2005

Posts: 141

Hehehe

09-15-2005 09:42

Oh...then don't mind me...

i dont really have a clue... i just buy money if i need it

Ellie Edo

Registered User

Join date: 13 Mar 2005

Posts: 1,425

09-15-2005 11:26

From: musicteacher Rampal

this is going to make a huge difference.

I hope so. I'm not sure. The price depends on the underlying factors (eg money supply) but modulated and tuned in the short term by confidence and expectations.

Why has the announcement of this change not already halted the decline?

Are the big players not rational ? Or are they right to believe it won't work ? Or do the uninformed temporarily outnumber them on the exchange ?

Musicteacher Rampal

Registered User

Join date: 20 Feb 2004

Posts: 824

09-15-2005 12:11

From: Ellie Edo

I hope so. I'm not sure. The price depends on the underlying factors (eg money supply) but modulated and tuned in the short term by confidence and expectations.

Why has the announcement of this change not already halted the decline?

Are the big players not rational ? Or are they right to believe it won't work ? Or do the uninformed temporarily outnumber them on the exchange ?

I should have clarified that it should make a huge difference in the amount of weekly $L coming into the game.

I think that perhaps the decline has not halted already because people are still getting their big pay-offs from ratings bonuses and the non-business types who get large ratings bonuses are just trying to get what they can before they are back to $500/wk or $50/wk. Basically the supply sources havn't changed yet...if anything they are probably increasing due to the free basic accounts.

As for your last question...dunno? I don't think the "big players" would risk further lowering of the $L value. Though the most recent fall has some panicking and trying to "get out now" I suppose they have to decide if they want to wait another 6-8 weeks to see if complete removal of the stipend bonuses has the desired effect or risk further loss...
honestly, I'm glad I'm not having to deal with that issue...too much stress.

Stipends and Economy
Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nations Join date: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 941	09-15-2005 07:11 From: musicteacher Rampal That to me sounds like they understand the importance of the base stipend to members and do not want to change it if they can at all help it, judging from the fact that they havn't touched the base stipend in 3+ years...chances are very good that they won't unless some major catastrophe happens to destroy the value of the $L. I'm trying to be more optomistic about things...I think it's working a little. They changed the base stipend in Jan 04, when 1.2 went live. (or was that Dec 03?). It used to be L$3500 for everyone, minus taxes. There were ways of avoiding the taxes so alot of people regularly got the full stipend. As for changing it again, their hands are tied in some respects due to contracts. Those that pay by the year have already paid in advance for a weekly L$500 stipend, so there'd have to be at least one years notice that a change was imminent. Also there are the 'charter' accounts that were sold on the basis of included land tier and L$500 weekly stipend... _____________________ -------------------------------------------------------- Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nation Rizal Sports Mentor -------------------------------------------------------- Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business." Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."
Ashley Ennui Registered User Join date: 15 May 2005 Posts: 141	Ratings... 09-15-2005 07:28 Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried... wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously... just my 2cents worth
Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nations Join date: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 941	09-15-2005 07:38 From: Ashley Ennui Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried... wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously... just my 2cents worth The amount you get (got) from rate bonus did not increase with the more rates you got. There are fixed levels. Once you're in the top 2% (I think, maybe 5%) you're getting the max bonus, regardless of how many more rates you get. The Lindens could choose to play with the economy by varying the total rate bonus available... oh wait... they have.. they cut it completely _____________________ -------------------------------------------------------- Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nation Rizal Sports Mentor -------------------------------------------------------- Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business." Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."
Musicteacher Rampal Registered User Join date: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 824	09-15-2005 08:22 From: Ashley Ennui Why not just have a cap on what you get from ratings? pick a reasonable level as the upper limit, if someone is rated higher, they only get the maximum same as someone who is right at the cap. then the ratings are there for popularity, personality etc...and the bonus that can be had, would be attainable by anyone who tried... wether the amount is too high or not...is open to speculation obviously... just my 2cents worth I'm guessing they would consider this if this was a change being made out of fairness to new members...however since it is a change being made to reduce the ammount of $L coming into SL a cap wouldn't make much difference, this is going to make a huge difference.
Musicteacher Rampal Registered User Join date: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 824	09-15-2005 08:23 From: Surina Skallagrimson They changed the base stipend in Jan 04, when 1.2 went live. (or was that Dec 03?). It used to be L$3500 for everyone, minus taxes. There were ways of avoiding the taxes so alot of people regularly got the full stipend. Was this when you had to pay for each prim you used?
Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nations Join date: 19 Jun 2003 Posts: 941	09-15-2005 08:30 Yes _____________________ -------------------------------------------------------- Surina Skallagrimson Queen of Amazon Nation Rizal Sports Mentor -------------------------------------------------------- Philip Linden: "we are not in the game business." Adam Savage: "I reject your reality and substitue my own."
Ashley Ennui Registered User Join date: 15 May 2005 Posts: 141	Hehehe 09-15-2005 09:42 Oh...then don't mind me... i dont really have a clue... i just buy money if i need it
Ellie Edo Registered User Join date: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 1,425	09-15-2005 11:26 From: musicteacher Rampal this is going to make a huge difference. I hope so. I'm not sure. The price depends on the underlying factors (eg money supply) but modulated and tuned in the short term by confidence and expectations. Why has the announcement of this change not already halted the decline? Are the big players not rational ? Or are they right to believe it won't work ? Or do the uninformed temporarily outnumber them on the exchange ?
Musicteacher Rampal Registered User Join date: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 824	09-15-2005 12:11 From: Ellie Edo I hope so. I'm not sure. The price depends on the underlying factors (eg money supply) but modulated and tuned in the short term by confidence and expectations. Why has the announcement of this change not already halted the decline? Are the big players not rational ? Or are they right to believe it won't work ? Or do the uninformed temporarily outnumber them on the exchange ? I should have clarified that it should make a huge difference in the amount of weekly $L coming into the game. I think that perhaps the decline has not halted already because people are still getting their big pay-offs from ratings bonuses and the non-business types who get large ratings bonuses are just trying to get what they can before they are back to $500/wk or $50/wk. Basically the supply sources havn't changed yet...if anything they are probably increasing due to the free basic accounts. As for your last question...dunno? I don't think the "big players" would risk further lowering of the $L value. Though the most recent fall has some panicking and trying to "get out now" I suppose they have to decide if they want to wait another 6-8 weeks to see if complete removal of the stipend bonuses has the desired effect or risk further loss... honestly, I'm glad I'm not having to deal with that issue...too much stress.

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Stipends and Economy