SOS and BurnStippend compromise...

Here's an idea that I think both Save our Stippends and the Burn our Stippends groups can agree on, which I'm sure even the anti-commie Jamie will like:

I know the SOS crowd aknowledges that there is an economy problem, and whether they claim that it will or will not affect them, they no doubt believe that in some ways it will (higher prices, less content, etc).
I know that the BurnStippend crowd aknowledges that there is a lack of money for average people problem, and whether they think stippends are killing the $L or not, they do agree that if average people loose money, their builds and rental places won't be making an income.

So, why don't we consolidate the two groups into one with a goal that both parties can agree on, which will help to solve this economy problem from both, the lack of money for people side, and the lack of money moving around side: That goal being coming up with ideas of how to create jobs for low-skill people (newbs and such), and fighting to support paying jobs for those who want them. Despite the stippend going away, this will still give players the option to get some extra spending $L. And for content creators, a large employee market will allow them to let someone else work on basic quickie tasks that anyone could do which they would rather not spend their time on, which will increase productivity, and with job incentives and amount of people working on things will increase complexity and quality of products. Even something as simple as a motorcycle can be split up with one highly skilled person working on the vehicle script and the main design, and two other people building their own frame and wheels. The one in charge (scripter) can tell the people how the parts should be made and how they should look, while spending more time on the complexities of making the script work right. At the end, the workers get a bt of $L for their time (how difficult is it to make a wheel, really?) and the main designer is still able to sell his bike, except with more time put into it, it has a better chance competing on the market.

* Yes, this is sounding a lot like RL now, but the "this is a GAME" train left a long time ago.
* Yes, many jobs are boring and people may not want to do them, but small quickie ones should be fine if people are wanting to make a few extra $L.
* Yes, a lot of ideas people may come up with will be boring no doubt, but that's why we need to keep coming up with ideas. Create jobs that are fun
* At the VERY LEAST, we need to make the possibility of a small job an OPTION to those who want it. Right now most of the game is tied up in everyone being in it for themselves. * If you don't have master skills at scripting and building, you're screwed.

Who's with me?

I like the idea, Rasah. !

As you know, Coco (from S.O.S) and I have been talking about co-hosting an economic summit to do just what you are suggesting.

The reality is that all sides (there are more than two) can pundificate (yes, I made that word up) all they want but nothing will happening unless LL decides to do something. Therefore, the purpose of this summit would be to come to terms on some basic issues and then propose a set of suggested strategies to LL. It would be up to LL to implement them or ignore them.

That is really all we can do.

My point is that from the looks of it, LL just wants to step back and let things work themselves out. Lack of a way for people to make spending $L is a newly LL created problem for newbies, and a continuing froblem for those who have been here for a while. LL won't step in to invent work opportunities here. WE, the players, content designers, scripters, and land developers have to step up to this. I would love to propose this idea and the creation of a brainstorming/worker's support group which could come up with ideas for this, ways to implement/spread the ideas, and possibly ideas for tools that would make this easier, at the economic summit. Tools are the only things LL could help out with (although I'm sure I can very easilly build a basic payroll/contract script in world, and anyone could set up a WWW site or a note board in SL that works like a temp agency for instance... Gasp! I said too much ). And yes, those people who are afraid that this will make SL too much like RL, your input is ESPECIALLY needed. A lot of people, like you, see this game as just a game, an don't want to "work." Help us come up with suggestions for quickie things that people could spend at most 15 to 30 minutes on that could generate income, or ideas for "jobs" that people could actually enjoy doing (like being taught how to build something, while getting paid for your effort in building something for instance). Help us to at the least make this opportunity be available to those who want it, much as mining for gold and killing trolls is an opportunity to those who want to do so in MMORPGs, instead of buying gold on eBay. Besides, I'm sure there's things even Lewis wouldn't mind spending 15 minutes of his time poking, pasting, drag/dropping, and checking on to make some extra $50l to $100l (or more) towards a new lava lamp, disco ball, or a new afro


What day will the economic summit take place btw? I will be gone for a week starting next Friday (the 16th).

This is a great idea! I for one, could use help tending my shop when it opens in July. Although an SL shop can "run" itself, I believe in the personal touch. I plan on having my shop staffed 24/7. Obviously, I will be hiring people.

I'll make sure your idea is placed on the summit agenda so that you can present it and spearhead (???) the effort if you wish.


The date has not been set yet. It will happen sometime in mid July though. I want it to be the first event at my new convention center. Fade Languish is designing and building my center. He has not yet started but hopefully will in a few weeks.

And to beat the naysayers to the punch, this event will be free to everyone involved. I will not make anything off of it. In fact, it will cost me money to advertise and host. Boy, I must be greedy.

*shameless bump*

The idea has merit, although we must protect ourselves at all times against Communists.

Agreed. And "pure capitalists."