Purple Cube of Death in the New World

I agree, industrial builds can be very creative. In Everquest, there is a cool zone called the Plane of Innovation, which has alot of nifty gadgets and builds created by evil gnomes. Likewise other games like GTA, Doom, City of Heros etc are rife with industrial zones.

So the plant fits, but the rig is 'stupid'.

Ah...right, the cry of a non-builder. The rig obviously took effort, and is well done. Shut your whine-hole.

I'm sure glad the "Black Hexahedron of Death" wasn't taken *whew*

http://img173.exs.cx/img173/2213/blackcubodeath2rj.jpg

All i said whas kep the cute little houses with the cute little houses. Who likes having a white mall of death next to their tiki hut as much as having that same white mall of death two blocks over...

Funny how people know more about my own ideas than I do... I have the workings of a website up and several pages of written description and a semi-working CAD mockup design. Yet people still like to pretend that i'm some whacko trying to control people's minds... Make these references, joke about communism?!?!?! even naziism?!?! Get a life, people!

For the record... I have never suggested any laws governing uniformity or conformity. Nor have I ever suggested that people shouldn't build what they would like to. All i have proposed in my project is to set height standards and let the quality of parcel arrangment speak for itself. That's it. Nothing Else.

Sometimes freedom comes from community consensus. Not everyone needs their second life to be the wild west.

~Lefty
"let he who thinks he's truely free cast the first cube "

But April, the thing is, there was never any rule in Pimushe or Midge for that matter that said "Thou shalt not build a white cube of death." Never any such thing in our rentals agreements and information boxes. Sometimes in selling land as distinct from renting, we put out signs that would say something like "if you're thinking of just putting down a box...well...rethink it, ask about our prefabs, ask about opportunities for custom builds at a reasonable price," etc.

In Pimushe, there was a vague notion of "rustic". But...what is rustic in an electronic world? Maybe this white cube of death of your dreaded neighbours *was* rustic in some other dimension, a dimension accessible only to them in their SL dream?

And...Midge, geez, there was sure no building codes there. I just never saw even a scintilla of a building code or even a request or even just a modicum of a hint. And in fact I wish there had been. But there wasn't. It was figured that neighbours would get together and make some forrays into finding what was acceptable and what wasn't, but it would be more about spacing, than any real expectation that you could tell a person "no castles" or "no Lordfly" or "no Victorian" -- because honestly, how *could* you do that?

I'm for opening up discussions about white cubes of death and denouncing them if they:

-- lag a sim
-- block access to a property
-- hog up the viewline

So the trick is to try to find some inherent principles here that white cubes of death share, such that we can instantly look at your new white cube of death neighbour and understand what is *different* about his white cube of death because honestly, I'm just not seeing it. I actually *like* his white cube of death but I could understand that others might not.

And I think you've summed it up. He's "nice." And that's what it is about. Total subjectivity. A perception of niceness. And a stamping of approval because he's "in my tribe" or "ok for me". So...let's not pretend this is about architecture?

Random = Prok...yes?

Please forgive me. I have tried real hard to let this matter drop. I moved and I am now happy where I am. I no longer have any preconceived notions and would never ever dare to complain about anything my neighbor plops down beside me.

What can I do to prevent my name from being repeatedly dragged into these discussions even after I have kowtowed to those who know better than me.

I moved from Pimushe and found my own little niche and still Prok Hutch whomever follows me. Does anyone really think this is fair?

I am sorry I complained Prok. I was only acting by your example and I now know I was wrong.

Unsung, I was responding to Prok, I am sorry I now know I was wrong. I've moved and lost thousands of dollars and a place I really liked that I put a lot of love and time into it.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS AND TELL ME HOW TO ATTAIN ABSOLUTION!

More free entertainment! Elle, the thread starter didn't fake that image. You can go there yourself and see the amusing pink build.

Weedy, the answer is yes.

Weedy:
Totally agree. That prim rig is great. And I like the nuclear power plant's shape, but not the smoke, which has bad associations. Actually I met the builder of the plant's cooling towers at a Digital Cultures discussion meeting this week. Articulate and thoughtful, not at all a griefer type.

W-hat built black towers in Cecropia a while back. That interfered with Chad's plans for the Nexcom headquarters building...and yet it was free entertainment too. I liked checking the map, and seeing all those green dots. We had Robin Linden making sure there was no fight going on, but finally Chad made the decision to move to a nearby lot in order to get some breathing room. Black towers followed, but Linden intervention restored order.

SL is a metaverse rather than a game, but it's worthwhile looking at competing builds as a game within the metaverse. Free entertainment. I'm used to intense combat games, so competing builds are hardly life and death. : D

The one thing I regret is that a certain black tower in the neighboring sim of Calleta disappeared. I think it was only there for half a day. That tower, by Locke Angelus, was craggy and industrial at the same time. I really liked it.

Before I rebuild the Nexcom tower I'm finishing a huge stone portal residence for Ferren Xia. It spans the Brownlee Nestor border. The attached image shows how the weathered stone textures blend with the lush green terrain of Nestor. It'san advantage to have that grass terrain texture under a massive stone arch leading from the telehub into parkland.

Geez, no need to play the victim here, April. YOU started threads complaining about people's builds, and even complained that their "beach houses" were plunked down, and that people "didn't landscape" -- absurdities, just controlling, absurdities. See the picture of our rental, now rented out, with the tenant decorating and landscaping himself. But as anyone can see, it isn't "plunked" and is quite pretty. A good architect built it. A basin with Linden pine trees doesn't need much landscaping.

Nobody is telling you to act by any example, it was you who was trying to put over some kind of building code that people had trouble learning the definition of -- and you did it on the contentious forums, rather than in a community group created for that purpose.

Nobody "follows you," but they just happened to see the funny combination of Richard Stern and the white cube of death school of architecture. That's all.

As for leaving Sutherland, why would you do that? It's beautiful there.

Geez, no need to play the victim here, April. YOU started threads complaining about people's builds, and even complained that their "beach houses" were plunked down, and that people "didn't landscape" -- absurdities, just controlling, absurdities. See the picture of our rental, now rented out, with the tenant decorating and landscaping himself. But as anyone can see, it isn't "plunked" and is quite pretty. A good architect built it. A basin with Linden pine trees doesn't need much landscaping.

Nobody is telling you to act by any example, it was you who was trying to put over some kind of building code that people had trouble learning the definition of -- and you did it on the contentious forums, rather than in a community group created for that purpose.

Nobody "follows you," but they just happened to see the funny combination of Richard Stern and the white cube of death school of architecture. That's all.

As for leaving Sutherland, why would you do that? It's beautiful there.

It is often said that history is written by the victors not by the vanquished. But the great thing about the Internet in our time is that when a would-be victor tries to close off the viewfinder on the screenshot and portray reality differently than as others see it, why, another screenshot can be uploaded for another point of view (see below).

Somebody might think that a huge mauseoleum covered with moss is preferable high-art, always to be perceived as "better" than a gawdy multi-hued store at a telehub. Did somebody think these bright stores "got in the way"? But...they were there first. They are typical of the enterprising first-comers to the telehub areas who bring the bustle of commerce to them and help content creators find markets -- the kind of content-creators who want customers to have variety and competition, and don't make them fly 1000 miles to a boutique across 7 sim seams.

Somebody might think that an intricate complex big build at the "gateway to a gated community" is "better" -- that a complex cornice on a column in the classical style is a higher form of aestheticism than the bouncing booty of a scantily clad female avatar. But many people in the game know they want the dancing ass, and not the dead hand of a museum. And that's ok. They bring life and health to a game, they shop, they go in brightly-hued stores, they buy dance animations or costumes or hair for their avatars, and they have fun. It's all good. They might turn away from high art, they may not appreciate it, but they have a right to exist. If anything, the human life they represent, the life of the game has an even greater right to exist than the deadening hand of "high art" from long-lost civilizations precisely because it is *now* and *alive* and *not dead*.

Someone might think that telehubs need to be "turned around" with "good building examples" and that instead of going gawdy and commercial, telehubs should be "rescued" for gated, sequestered residential living. But that's questionable, given that telehubs are the lifeblood of commerce, and make it possible for people to quickly and easily have many choices and to shop to their little avatar heart's content.

Those old civilizations and the classical mausoleum-and-moss dead weight they give us all died out for good reasons. They are worth studying.

The fact is, many different clashing styles are going to compete for space in this game. It isn't right for any one to arrogantly seize "the high road" of "high art" whicn in any event, is a dubious model for us all anyway. "High brow" and "low brow" have their place, and the viewfinder cannot be so framed that only "high brow" gets its day in court.

I started the thread because J-Wu told me too. He thought it would be an effective way to bring it to Prok's attention. I am trying to get out of this whole thing and you and Prok and Hutch keep dragging me back in. He was the one that singled me out and posted my new place to this thread. Don't you find that somewhat disturbing. I have left the area to avoid him and all of this. He even threatened to AR me because I was near his property, read that thread. So I left the area completely, both Pimushe and Sutherland. What more can I do. Why am I still being dragged into this.

I'm not playing the victim. Just asking a simple question. How can I get out of this? I admit I was wrong. I no longer complain about anything anyone does. I have left the area and still my name is dragged into this.

He took a picture of my new home and posted it here. Have I said anything about anything anyone else has done? Have I complained after being corrected?

What more do you want from me Unsung?

I agree on most things you said there, however I would like to clarify that I firmly stated to chad that I would not move, and after he moved I did not follow... someone else had decided to make a tower at chad's new location to honor my tower hehe. As for Locke's gun store/tower, I think he accidentally left the plot as for sale and SuezanneC bought it to get rid of the tower. I will show him this thread, maybe he'll put another one up

edit: I'd also like to state that most people in this game are annoying whiners. Why can't we all treat each other with some respect and be friends

April,

This is just a discussion about architecture and buildings and different tastes and styles.

You were trying to force a sale, you were tryin to IM a lot and get someone to buy your land, whatever. It's not worth rehearsing here.

Nobody is hounding you, and nobody "forces" you to move anywhere or leave any sim. That's absurd.

There's nothing I can "tell you to do" because that's not any's place.

I WAS NOT TRYING TO FORCE A SALE! I IM'ed you once when you mentioned you didn't have enough money to buy Sutherland.

What is the reason for posting my land and saying this:
I couldn't help notice that poor April wound up right smack against a big modern white cube of death again. It's one I happen to admire, but I'll bet she's ballistic. My God. It's like some evil magnet. Fortunately nothing like that is likely to happen in Sutherland, although some of us are still woefully behind in our landscaping duties.

What did this have to do with anything in this thread? Nothing. I like the building I am near, no one in the area has complained about it. It was irrelevant and was just meant to drag me into something I had nothing to do with. It has nothing to do with "architecture and buildings and different tastes and styles."

And what play are we rehearsing for? You lost me with that one.

This thread is purely for the point of taunting other individuals.

How is this acceptable in these forums? Are we looking to create an atmosphere where people are encouraged to engender anger?

Whats worse in the new land: a purple cube of death or 512m of first land priced at $10,000?

I can only say I am glad I saw the new land the first few days after it appeared. I guess I will not be going back now. I want to retain the fresh unspoilt images in mind.

It makes me wish I had enough disposable income to own my own island. But being relatively broke that is not an option.

Are there truely any 'zoned by choice' communities out there ?

Yes, blaze is correct that the purpose of the thread-opener was to taunt other individuals with being "hypocrites," to distract from his own griefer buildings that skirt the TOS, and whip up support for his side from among the uber-architects who, being all tekkie, gear-loving machinists at heart who love shooter games, could be relied on to get all gah-gah at his power plant, given their love for gigantism, industrialism, steam-punk, etc.

They may privately concede that he is a griefer who skirts the TOS expertly, but since he isn't directly bothering them at the moment, they can take a step back and admire his expertise in making toxic-waste spewing buildings. Indeed, he has a great facility in his chosen craft of making toxic-waste spewing buildings. And I personally don't mind a taunt or a cry of "hypocrite" in a debate. This isn't Mr. Roger's Neighbourhood here. It's ok to have a sharp debate, we're all grown-ups and it's important to have that kind of outlet.

Lost in this discussion is the point about the Tiki people, and their desire just to have a nice beachfront with little houses in a low-impact neighbourhood. That's reasonable, too. They had a reasonable expectation that coming to the new world, if there was PG waterfront available, they could reasonably expect that it would stay "nice" because waterfront isn't really an appropriate place to site either a looming white tower of death that serves as a product's vanity vehicle, or a place to site a toxic waste/nuclear plant.



There's no evil here, April. It's just a picture that is supposed to be amusing, here you went on and on about the white cube of death in your old neighbourhood, but then you moved right next door to one in your new one. And for the life of me, I can't tell the difference when it comes to style of architecture -- big, white, modernist cubes, both of them. Like them or don't, but don't say they're different!

It wasn't just one IM, but repeated requests, some fielded through Jauani, because you had it in your mind that the way to fix the view you didn't buy was to buy it. That's an admirable choice, but if is isn't for sale, well, what can you do.

Nobody is "dragging you," it's just a discussion about buildings and how people react to them. You had some very forcefully-held opinions about white cubes. If this somehow disturbs you now or feels like some invasion of privacy, then we can go back and delete all the posts that reference you. But that seems excessive, given that you could and did start threads referencing our property and a building of tenants you hated.

This isn't meant to taunt, blaze, it is meant to have an honest dialogue. Why is it that one cube of death gets a pass, and even a love pat, and another cube of death turns into a horror? And I would suggest that 75 percent of the building problems in SL really are about the subjective tastes and emotions of the individual complaining, and they are complaining not really about external, physical pixel buildings, but complaining about people and behaviour they don't like, for whatever reason. They get very emotionally worked up, and they can get very indignant. A box shedding light becomes an eyesore and a screecher for CPU if it is Prok's, but if it is Vexx's best friend, then it gets a pass, etc.

The build is fine. The fact that they put it in a zone called "ANWR" smacks of petty malice. Whoever made that call isn't smart, isn't funny, and needs to have his ass smacked. Hard.

Because I admit I was wrong. What should I do if I admit I was wrong, I am so sorry. Should I instead leave the game? What else can I do to appease you.



My requests to J-Wu was regarding the woodsy atmostphere I anticipated. Several other people remarked about the blinding white building. But I have admitted I was wrong and have apologized over and over and over again. I now know I was wrong and I am sorry I wanted to live in a woodsy neighborhood.




Calling me "Poor April" and posting my build in a thread about Purple Cube of Death and saying I must be "ballistic" after I moved away, apologized and said I was wrong he was right is not taunting and dragging me into a thread? What was the purpose of calling me "poor April". What did my new home have to do with anything? If anything it says I have adapted and seen the errors of my way. If anything it says I am trying to get along with my neighbors and be a good SL citizen. I have spoken with the people in my area and we seem to get along.

Unsung, if I had done the same thing to some of your property or Prok's, would you have saluted me for a job well done? I don't understand what I have done now that deserves this.

Can anyone out there say why I am "poor April". Can anyone say I have gone "ballistic" or even complained one bit about anything anyone else has done in this game since the errors of my ways were pointed out? Why are you continuing to argue against me.

I, April Firefly, was wrong to complain about anything. I am not complaining anymore, what more can I do?

I think "petty malice" is kind of harsh. The Lindens seems to have an semi un-pc, skewed sense of humour , which I like.

April if I ever have the opportunity to meet you in world I would like to shake your hand.

I have been following the stories/posts/threads of the white build and the cubes of death and the tit for tat between you and Profoky over land and builds for sometime now.
Dont know either one of you - but you my dear have nothing to apologize for or be ashamed of. You have stood your ground and explained your position well with out resorting to name calling or insults. When you felt you were in the wrong you apologized and tryed to be upstanding.

Blaze, Profoky, Henry, Random just cant let anything go. They have to pick and push and pick and push like a bunch of school yard bullies. They just dont know how to stop picking fights.

Personally, I would call their mothers. Shame on you boys!!! Grow up and let the damn thing drop! Dont you have something better to do than to try and show of some muscles? Sheesh. Your on the border line of harassmentl.

No, there is no bullying, but merely a standing of ground, too, after all, we were the ones attacked first.

Fake profuse apologies of the type "I'm sorry I didn't get I was supposed to do your bidding" or "Excuse me for living, geez I'll move" aren't apologies, they're just fake manipulative emotional outburst. Anybody can see that, unless they are an alt or a "close personal friend" LOL.

Anybody can see that kind of manipulative language here in talking about "the errors of my ways."

Tenants were minding their own business in their private world, building freely within the TOS and the rentals agreement, as is their right, when a neighbour, April, published a photograph of their home on our property in the forums, and called on the entire community to rally against them with her, in a thread called 'I NEED HELP WITH AN UGLY BUILD".

Geez, who is the victim here? This is SO manipulative, and SO transparent.

April never talked to these neighbours or us, but tried to use the cat's paw of Jauani Wu and tried to misleadingly claim that he was "siccing" her on the forums against Prok, when of course he was doing nothing of the kind, merely suggesting she discuss it on the forums to get her off his back with her white-cube obsession.

Of course, the forums are perfect stages for injured-but-not-innocent types to strut and preen and wail about how "victimized" they are by white cubes. This is a great technique we've learned here and believe me, it's been used to good advantage on our team as well LOL -- it retaliation against all the nonsense aimed at us.

That's why it is helpful, a week later, to point out that April just moved in next door to ANOTHER white cube that in fact she don't seem to care about at all, don't complain about, and in fact, it really isn't "about" the cube.

That people using common sense, logical rhetoric, and reasonable arguments accessible to at least average intellect could be misportrayed as "bullies" when they merely defend themselves against some initial, egregious broadside is one of the problems with this forum.

Maybe the Lindens need to make a rule that you can't post a screenshot of someone's home or building without their permission?

Then let's try retroactively applying that new rule to April, first, since she was the first to raise publicly the issue of a build she didn't like, put in a screenshot, and incite the community against it. The record shows that. People who push back against such tyranny aren't bullies, but campaigners for decency. Go in the community association, raise it there, and if that doesn't work, wait -- many things change in SL. Or move.

*puts hand up* "ANWR"? I don't understand the reference....

-- jj