Do you sell cheap on GOM?

yes

i will sell lindens for whatever they're worth in the top orders. that's how i play gom. it's just a game after all.

Prokofsky,
I am not rich by any means.
You must have misunderstood my intentions as you seem like you are irritated and inflamed.
I did not at all argue that the system allows you to sell low. Anybody selling can do whatever they would like. Sellers have a desired commodity that they set the price on. If you are a seller that consistently sets blocks lower than any listed blocks or jumps on the sell list, you are helping devalue the $L.
As an admitted seller, it is in your best interest for the $L to be valued higher. One or two people are not going to make a difference, but collectively if everyone keeps setting their prices lower to be the first one out, the $L goes down in value. I would not try to tell you what to do, you will do what you want. Just understand that what you are doing is in fact helping to lower the value of the $L.
It seems your biggest issue is with the time it takes to sell when you don't leap frog, if you need the money immediately then you are doing what you have to. I would suggest better financial planning so as you could afford to wait 2 or 3 days, it is akin to going to a convenience store versus the supermarket.

I have never had a block sit on GOM more than a few days. I am not sure what you meant about splitting up packets from huge real estate deals...I always sell in $10,000L increments.

Once again please understand I would never try to tell you what to do, nor did I mean to portray you as being evil. The convenience store analogy is probably a less insulting one. So just disregard the pool analogy, it's too cold to swim now anyway.

Retard.

How often do you get invited for name calling on the forums?

OH MY GOD!
....hours

retard.

Me next! Me next!

W00t welcome Hokuto =) First off, check out the sites http://www.ige.com and http://www.gamingopenmarket.com

Gamingopenmarket (GOM) is a site that basically hosts trading of Linden Dollars between players, charging a fee on each sale and allowing the seller to choose both block size (in 1k increments) and the cost per 1,000L$.

IGE is a site that buys and sells many currencies from MMORPGs. Usually what this means to us is that they set a buy price and a sell price unlike GOM, regardless of daily market forces. If the price changes significantly they alter to match the environment, but otherwise are very stable.

Both of them have advantages and disadvantages, so it's best to look into both before anything - depending on your needs you might find you fit best into either or both. =)



The reason there is such a willingness to undercut the market is because people should and will sell their L$ for anything they can get and it will be a good deal - most people relize that. The notion that people should try to inflate the trading price by sitting and waiting until an artifical scarcity (supposively brought on by... everyone doing the same?) bumps the price up to your prefered level is silly. Sure, if you don't need the money theres no harm in waiting but also no guaruntee or time constraint. As a strategy it seems to be a mild form of denial. More than just a random choice goes into the value any person sells any block at so chances are if your relying on that plan the price will just continue to drop, and the price you originally thought was 'too low' will end up at or above market price by the time you know what hit you.

One positive note recently is that the price has actually stabilized pretty significantly over the last month... Today i see it listed for 3.94... Thats only 8 cents or so under the price a few weeks ago, (~-2% fluctuation). That's a vast improvement over the recent past. Even if people were intentionally undercutting the price needlessly its not having the effect it was when everyone dumped their L$ a month ago.

Using this logic the $L would quickly devalue to a pittance. Everyone on the sell side would just dump their $L for whatever people have their buys set at. Fortunately the value of the $L is directly tied to land prices and scarcity. LL ensures this by having auctions in both $L and USD. As far as trying to inflate the price, I am guilty as charged. That only stands to reason as any seller of anything always tries to maximize profits. Conversely, any buyer should try to reduce their costs. That is not silly, that my friend is smart business. By your reasoning we should be thrilled to see the $L selling at $1 usd per $1000L.



Like I said, I have never waited more than a few days to sell on GOM.



I do not understand the denial part. You are correct in saying it is not a random choice to sell lower, its premeditated. Sell lower than the lowest seller to sell first is the decision that is made. My point was if that were to be everyone's strategy, the $L would devalue.




The market has stabilized. I think that is in large part due to the currency traders and general stability in land prices. I think it's kind of ironic that the currency trader's actions have helped bring a stability which actually hurts their potential for profit margins.

I am not an economist, but have traded in volume on GOM for over 12 months now. Anything I have expressed is my own personal opinion. Ultimately people will do what they think is right for themselves.

IMO the average purchasor on GOM is the newb looking to get $L for land and for incidental purchases (exception being currency traders). As a single buyer of $L a 10-20% increase in value would not effect their decision to purchase the same quantity of $L. A 10-20% increase would certainly greatly improve the bottom line of anyone selling $L over the course of time.

Pretty well put. I agree -- now the reasons for this continued trend to sell-short to get out quick... what are they in the bigger picture?

Is it because there are fewer buyers?

Is it because sellers don't have faith in the value of what they are selling?

Is it because of a lack of market awareness?

See, no matter how it is spun -- for whatever reason -- if L$ of any amount are continually sold for 0.01L$ less, eventually one will have to sell enormous volumes to maintain current average threshold of $4US/L$1000.

Now if that threshold actually held a reasonable weight in the market, people could sell smaller blocks at higher prices or larger blocks at lower prices in order to shoot for that median -- whatever it may be; it could fluctuate around $4US any given day.

However, what seems to be happening is that regardless of any average threshold or median, sellers are short-changing large and small blocks $L0.01 less to get out of the market quicker.... which is where my original questions are stemming from.

Holiday season

RL spending > Virtual spending

also

People want extra RL$ quick for xmas shopping so they will sell lower right now... After the holidays we SHOULD see the GOM come back up...

But seriously, what is the harm in waiting a few days for virtual money to sell? Why the immediate need? If you truly value your time at a lower price than someone who just happened to be lucky enough to post 5 minutes before you did, well that is kind of messed up logic.

The comoddity we sell is really our time, that time is represented by the L$. Value yourself based on the time you invested not the time that someone 'set' for you 5 minutes prior.

it may seem like pennies but if you dismiss it as pennies, you will still be dismissing it when it's 2$ for 1000L$ because the person above you posted 2.03. Over time it impacts.

And as I said it's low and stable right now on the GOM because the traffic is not as heavy over the holliday season. It's a buyer's market and people have RL stuff to spend money on right now, so keep lowering it, and penies become dimes, become quarters, become dollars.

OK, I see your tactic isn't to make me out to be evil, or retarded, but to make me appear pathetic, like someone living in a ghetto using their food stamps at the expensive bodego, instead of being prudent and putting their minimum wages into the savings bank at 1 percent interest.

Not.

Your idea that you should "plan" and wait 2-3 days in a financially volatile real-estate and business game like SL is just plain silly. Sometimes real estate deals come up unexpectedly. Or you need to make a purchase unexpectedly because something breaks down or is taken. It's a very unstable environment.

And it's not "poor planning" to cash out immediately or within a few hours on GOM, it's just plain common sense and self-interest if you have small packets of 1, 5, or 10 -- not the $10,000 you're trying to unload.

My problem with what you've been saying is not only the contempt implied in it -- subtle or no -- but that I simply don't believe you. I don't think that's how currency markets work, and I especially don't think it's how THIS currency market works. You simply have not persuaded me, because you and other posters use insult and contempt rather than logic and facts to make your points.

If what you said is true, given the tendency for many people to sell low, the thing would already be in the toilet and out of business.

But it's not. It flourishes. It has even more customers. To be sure, the value of the Linden is dropping, but that's because the true cost of the Linden is set at this fixed rate in the "first ruble economy": $6.00/month/year long subscription = 2000 a month or $7.25/month/quarterly subscription, and so on. So the Linden in one objective sphere, away from the silver rubles and the petro-rubles, is worth $6.00/2000 at best, in its original manufactured state. The inflationary engine of the Lindens handing out 500/per week, and the rest of their handouts, and the tendency of people like me to cash out on GOM on Tuesdays is a huge factor in this currency market, and to pretend that's non-existent, and that infrequently users selling low is the problem, is just plain silly.

Then there are other factors -- when the Lindens roll out a sim, what they have up at auction, how it does that week, how the land barons buy or don't buy, whether some big million dollar club sells, etc. In other words, it isn't all that complex, there are a few factors that drive it because it's a game, not RL.

Please stop trying to shame, bully, or reason people into not selling low. They will do what is in their self-interest. Economies -- free markets -- run best when people can do what is in their interest FREELY. If wealthier people and currency traders churning this little market want to park their parkets on their and wait for better deals, let them.\

Right about now is the time to ask the question that Catherine Cotton, God bless her, used to ask. Which of the posters here churning up public pressure not to sell low on GOM in fact have vested interests in GOM, i.e. part ownerships or HUGE packets that haven't sold on GOM?

From Tiger Crossing's post of auction totals (look at no. 2 spot on this list):

Schwanson Schlegel 154 529328m2 L$776447 US$4675 L$1796208 US$8196

Im sorry you feel that way, but throughout the rest of your post you certainly don't paint a very well-to-do image of yourself. Im sorry you feel personally persecuted and perhaps even guilty. after this post I can't afford anymore time to spend on you, so paint me however you want.



First, you can always pull your money back out of the market to make an in world purchase. Second, the L$ market is unstable because people keep undercutting the previous poster and selling themselves short.



Depends on your income, business and preference of how often to sell. Someone who makes thousands of L$ in land sales isnt going to have the same selling habbits as a clothing designer, or someone who makes L$ from event hosting.



Im sorry you seem to feel threatened, but perhaps everyone is sick to death with the fact you don't listen so they are hitting you with hammers now.



If there were more options perhaps it would be, but simply there isnt a whole lot of markets available.



Ahh it's clear now, you don't work for your money, you are selling the Govt. cheese as soon as you get it. Turn that stipend into USD... Maybe if you invested your time and talent into the L$ in your account you would feel diferently about it.



First off, it's more of a social experiment thatn a game. Second once you attach RL value to it it becomes of RL importance. About it being complex or not really has no realavence at least not to you it seems. Because your mind is made up and you dont give a rat's ass about people that earn their L$ you just want your USD and you want it now.



As a child did you think of your teachers shaming bullying and REASONING with you? Just curious. My first post was sarcasm, my second post where I called you a retard is because you asked me to, thanks for that, it felt good. And as far as doing what you want freely in a free economy, well that works fine as long as you dont give a rat's ass about responsibility, just look out for yourself and you will gaurantee your foodstamps continue to sell



Wow that's very delusional, in an above post I have said I've been using IGE. Wow. That is a total second gunman on the grassy knoll type paranoia responce. I dont have any packets on the GOM right now. This again shows you a- don't care about the economy as a whole and only care about your own ass. and, b- are not selling large packets which means not investing much more into your L$ other than logging in once a week to make a withdraw. Why do I advocate a higher value on the L$? Because the work I do has a real world value, the skills and time I invest are very real, and I think people should value themselves higher for the marvelous work they contribute to SL content.

I am very pationate about that and it saddens me to see someone who does not invest the same amount of effort say that basically my effort is only worth the same amount as someone who does jack shit.

As I write this, there are 424 open orders on GOM (totalling $21729.9. These orders I would guess have been placed by dozens, if not more than 100 different buyers and sellers. Add to this mix, all the people who just come in and either buy or sell at the best price, and you have 100's of traders.

Each of these 100's of traders has their own motivations, valuations, etc. which all go into making the market.

Its not a zero-sum game where one can use "Game Theory" to find the optimal play versus the others. Its a marketplace where these motivations and valuations can come together and whenever a buyer and a seller agree on a price, a transaction can occur.

To jump up and down and whine about how this person is hurting the value of the L$ or that person is not doing what is best is absurd.

Just shut up, and let the marketplace to its thing. And in the meantime, do what you think is best for what you want, and let others do the same.

- Ace

Well that was a civil and illuminating reply.

I think Ferran is interested in the health of the market as a whole, as opposed to what she can personally milk out of it. That harkens back to what some people consider to be an old fashioned set of values... the idea that everyone can profit by looking at the Big picture.

The ideas of a "commons" be it intellectual or monetary or even space has always been supported by people who see things in terms of community interest and endangered and eventually destroyed by those who are only interested in what they can take for themselves.

Of course she doesn't play the currency "day trading" market either.

Surreal

I don't mind telling you Ferran that you are full of shit, and I will negrate your behavior for this kind of nasty post. You make all kinds of assumptions that merely reveal you to be vindictive and nasty for no good reason.


Uh...guilty? Hardly.



Hehehe always have to have the last word, do we?



Well, duh, I make thousands of dollars of purchases of items in LL, supporting all kinds of vendors, artisans, builders in-game. Puleeze.

And second...Ermm...what the hell is so sacred about the previous poster that we all have to genuflect and not lower our prices on GOM to preserve HIS value? Huh? Could we get an answer to the question about the participation of all posters such as yourself and him in the business of GOM, or their desire to sell large parcels on GOM?



I hardly feel threatened by people who apparently have large packets waiting on GOM to sell, and therefore are posting in this insulting manner. It's not that I don't "listen" it's that I don't believe you. You haven't made your case. There's a difference.




Please answer the point here: the GOM isn't in the toilet. Lots of people sell low. But others wait. So obviously there's a balance. So do the math and shut up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prokofy Neva
But it's not. It flourishes. It has even more customers. To be sure, the value of the Linden is dropping, but that's because the true cost of the Linden is set at this fixed rate in the "first ruble economy": $6.00/month/year long subscription = 2000 a month or $7.25/month/quarterly subscription, and so on. So the Linden in one objective sphere, away from the silver rubles and the petro-rubles, is worth $6.00/2000 at best, in its original manufactured state. The inflationary engine of the Lindens handing out 500/per week, and the rest of their handouts, and the tendency of people like me to cash out on GOM on Tuesdays is a huge factor in this currency market, and to pretend that's non-existent, and that infrequently users selling low is the problem, is just plain silly.




Oh, stuff it. Like you're some sort of workaholic? And if I'm a slacker, so? I do make a point of cashing in that pogey, surely. It's a ritual, so that I feel that the subscriptions cost anything. But I don't take everything earned in-game and put it in GOM. I do many other activities in-game to support businesses and events. And who cares what I do? I certainly don't have to justify my existence to you, merely to prove that I and others have the right and indeed the duty to sell low on GOM, given our specific interests.


Again, stuff it. I do invest my time and talent into the L in my account, and your assumption I don't, and that only slackers could sell low on GOM, is misplaced.



Again, you're totally full of shit. You know nothing about me and my game activities, and you just don't like the fact that I'm willing to speak up about selling low. Either you are shilling for people who have packets they want to sell at a higher value, or you have them yourself. What other explanation could there be?




Um, it's not a Girl Scouts camp-out, like I said. It's not about "rat's ass" it's about doing what is rational and reasonable -- selling to cash out relatively quickly, in an unstable market, that is steadily declining, when your RL dollars still mean more to you than play money.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prokofy Neva
Right about now is the time to ask the question that Catherine Cotton, God bless her, used to ask. Which of the posters here churning up public pressure not to sell low on GOM in fact have vested interests in GOM, i.e. part ownerships or HUGE packets that haven't sold on GOM? 

Delusional? Hardly, when some of these posters have big packets on GOM. Um....Right now? But...you used to? And you hate it when people sell low and devalue your big packets?


You don't seem to realize that we're not running an old Europe style social democracy here. It's based in America, like it or not. And that principle still runs on the "invisible hand" Adam Smith principle, not on socialism. That notion says it's the aggregate of self-interest and businesses' interests are what can make a robust economy, not a Marxist notion of scarcity, and everybody having to "tighten their belts" so we can make sure "everybody has a little".



Again a load of shit! As if I just log in! Your assumption that I do "jack shit" is entirely misplaced because you know nothing about me. And let's say I did do "jack shit". You're still living in this bubble of your little socialist artistans' economy where you all just design and sell to your friends like in Animal Crossing. Well if you want this game to grow bigger and have room for shoppers as well as artisans, and for all kinds of people, you have to get rid of your snotty attitude.

I log in and spend many hours, I work hard, I contribute to the game, I support all kinds of vendors, artisans and builders with my purchases. And who the hell are you to tell me that I don't count just because I don't live in your socialist utopia?????

Surreal, this comment goes to the heart of this dispute and many others I see on SL, which are about European notions of social democracy, or worse, communist utopias, and American ideas of liberal democracies and free markets.

Your ideal of a commons involves setting some punitive regulatory rule like "never sell low" in the mistaken belief this keeps the pie whole and everybody gets a little. It's based on a notion -- misplaced -- of scarcity rooted in Marxism.

My commons involves everyone voluntarily and freely participating and creating value so that there is diversity and plenty. In this model, people help each other too and care about the whole pie, but they don't believe it is scarce and has to be parcelled out with heavy regulation. They don't hurt the public interest because their interest and everybody else's interest IS the public interest! What is the public made up of, but of individuals, not abstract collectives!

It's just a different culture and belief system. My ideal of a commons says everyone can work in their self-interest because they are free in a shared value system of freedom and that aggregate is a collective public good providing the freedom for creation of even more value.

Your commons says that everyone has to keep making little sacrifices all the time for a notion of the collective good -- but the collective good keeps getting shabbier and shabbier, in that way, kind of like Old Europe.

I'm sorry, but that's how I see it. Oh and PS no I'm not a redneck, Republican born-again so spare me the prefabricated insults.

It does no good to try to accuse me of working against the public good just because my notion of how we obtain a public good differs from yours. I simply don't believe in your model of the universe. If I live in a universe where people can't take for their self interest, and can't have that freedom, in order to create the public good where everyone is free, I don't believe I have a public good. What kind of public good is is that can't serve me?

Like the father of Dr. Zhivago said plaintively when "the people" took away his house: "Aren't I a member of the people, too?"

Your hastiness in assuming that pursuit of self-interest is something evil and shameful is at the root of this dispute. There's nothing wrong with self-interest. It can float many boats.

Ultimately, if I can't sell short and get my money out within a day, I can't justify my own personal participation in purchasing goods, services, and land in the game from others which helps their self-interest.

Well, I got two things from your post. You know nothing about me, yet you extrapolate widely from very little information. AND, you seem very hostile and angry. Amuse yourself honey... I'm going back to productive pursuits.

Surreal

With all due respect, I see the most name calling and drama coming from you, Both Ferran and Surreal are allowed to express their opinions on what they think would make for both a better online market and community. When you start tossing around terms like Marxism, based on someone making an educated statement and informing others about what can help the Linden Dollar increase in Value, which helps us all in the end, you have then closed off yourself to actually listening and are just trying to prove a point. Ferran wasn't trying to express an idea of commons, she was just saying what would help the Linden increase in value, and urged others to think it over. Your the one who got offended.
Don't call names, it's not nice.
Retard.

Crow

First off:

YOU ALL SUCK. I HATE EVERYONE. GO TO HELL.

That being out of the way...

Prokofy: I've met you in the online equivalent of face-to-face. You seem like a real nice person. But you're WAY out of line here

Disclaimer: Yes, I would love to sleep with Ferran, as would Jenn. Unfortunately, only she has a prayer of doing so, giving Ferran's highly sexist "only girl" attitudes. But this sexism is a conversation for another thread.

Back to the topic that is not at hand: I will never let a good forum topic get in the way of a good rant. This won't be an exception. You're new to the SL team, Prokofy, and so far, pretty well liked. Don't start a battle with a content creator, and person, who's SL and RL kung fu are so far beyond your and my comprehension that we can't even hope to suck on her beautiful toes. Trust me on this one, amig0.

Back to the topic of staying off topic: I'm watching Empire Strikes Back. C3PO just said "Its possible that this asteroid is not entirely stable." MY friend, take C3PO's advice to heart... you're in the forums... THIS ASTEROID IS NOT ENTIRELY STABLE.

Take a deep breath. Say sorry to Ferran, she'll be your best friend in the long run anyway, she's the sweetest of sweethearts, once you get beyond her affinity for killing you. And welcome to the machine.

We all take it in the tush once or twice (or more, if you end up liking it) before we get the hang of it. Welcome to the club.

My best advice, while bent over,

-Flip

Wait, just a few weeks ago you were complaining about people bashing on the rich, and you objected to the use of YOUR auction totals as saying you're more wealthy than the average newbie.

Now, suddenly, it's open season the rich, as long as you can make the attacks!

Wow. No wonder nobody seems to agree with you much, Prokofy. There's nothing TO agree with -- your principles change like your socks, save for the (affected?) anti-Communist zealotry.

--Oraibi

Hey, good idea, about the negrating. Thanks!

I propose a Prokofy Neva drinking game. The first entry is:

Drink once whenever Prokofy mentions Socialism

--Oraibi

I guess it's a slow night, I can't resist one more pass on this thread.

I'm curious Prokofy if you have lived anywhere besides the U.S. All your incorrect assumptions about my politics aside, have you seen any other economic systems in action firsthand? I have lived in the U.S., Europe, and Central America. I did not live under communism, but I did have the opportunity to travel extensively in communist Europe before it petered out. Each political and economic system had strengths and weaknesses... mostly based around human nature IMO. I have yet to see ONE TRUE WAY that works for everyone under all circumstances. Most of the argument about a "commons" is about where your base values are. For example, Chinese culture tends to value family and community above the individual, where American values are almost exactly the opposite triumphing the individual.

Since SL is global in terms of it's membership, I'm not surprised at the range of ideas on what is valuable and appropriate.

Always happy to debate and discuss if the conversation stays civil.

Surreal

---- check your Assumptions at the door

Flipp.. have you been drinking the battery fluid again?


Surreal

---- Check your Assumptions at the door.

Wow! Excellent decyphering of my post! (I really need to get my decoder ring back, as even I did not know I meant that.)





How you play the market is entirely up to you. I was just stating that the LONGEST I have ever waited is 2-3 days.



Last time I checked 10 blocks was in fact $10,000L. I certainly did not mean $10,000 USD.



I intended no contempt. I did not intend to personally insult you. I stated very cleary that what I was saying was my opinion. As far as logic and facts:
#1 - If you sell your $L for a lower amount you have received less for your $L thus devaluing the worth of the $L.
#2 - If everyone followed the same logic the $L would be worth less than it presently is.


You are partially correct on this one. The currency traders and people who do not wish to sell at the lowest price in effect shore up the market.



I must admit your use of the rubles and petrorubles made me laugh out loud. I used a similar formula about 11 months ago to determine what I felt the value of the $L should be. I understand the logic you attempted to use here.
Unfortunately SL's economy is not that simple. The 2 largest factors that determine the value of the $L are ROG(Rate of Growth) and the price of land. I am quite sure of this. We can argue until we are both blue in the face, you will not change my mind on this.


OK, you are asking me not to reason with you, perhaps we should end the "discussion" here. You are free to do whatever you want to do. I am not bullying nor making neg rate threats as you seem to like to do. I was offering my opinion which just happened to disagree with yours. This is a discussion forum, we are supposed to discuss, even if we don't agree.


I have NO $L for sale atm. I wish I owned a portion of GOM, I do not. I am attempting to churn no pressure. My intent was to discuss what I thought was best for sellers in this economy. Do whatever turns you on.

BTW - I am fascinated by the Tiger Crossing #'s you pulled out....where can I find those?

Please do not take any of this so personal. I have no intention of bullying or applying pressure (other than common sense) to make you do something other than what you want to do.

On a personal note....I think you should quit threatening people with neg rating posse's and neg rating because of things said on this forum. This is a place where we discuss our opinions of what happens IW. If you want to neg rate me, let me know when and where and I will gladly make myself available. You should probably try to be a bit less of a loudmouth and perhaps try to listen to those who may offer a bit of knowledge that they have aquired through experience that you obviously do not have. Or not....do whatever floats your boat.

I didn't attack Schwanson for being rich at all. I merely took him to task for pretending he *wasn't* rich. There is absolute *nothing wrong* with being rich. He should be proud of it, he should admit he has large packets he doesn't want devalued on the GOM, and then we can all understand him.



OF COURSE I have Surreal, and I have a sneaking suspicion that your prejudices about Americans without passports could be lurking somewhere. I have lived for years in Canada, Russia, Europe. I've traveled extensive all over the world. So spare me. I've spent many of those years in the communist countries, and I speak English as well as Russian fluently so I really have a good understanding.



This does not impress me in the slightest. This is the third time this week I've heard someone basically threaten me by saying, "Hey, we'll accept you into our tight little exclusive smug community of geeks and artisans, but make sure you never dis any of our peeps." I really am tired of how people are "connected" and "knowing the Lindens" and "content creators beyond your wildest dreams" and blah blah. So? All kinds of people have to live in your world. And if I see crackpot socialist theories being put out here about how we all have to forego selling short on the GOM so that the rich and famous and conneted can make sure their packets stay highly valued, I will out it as such. That's what it appears to be about to me here, and there are no grassy knolls in the picture.



And I and at least 2 other posters here are strenuously debating that point, because it's incorrect. Selling low has not decresed the Linden any more than it was decreased for other factors. And Ace put it very succinctly, you have to let a market be free. Play your game, and let it go, it will balance out or not, but you don't make calls for everyone to do some kind of utopian civic-minded action around it.

And spare me all the "ASSUME MAKES AN ASS OF YOU AND ME" type of comments. If I've made assumptions, I'm sorry, correct them, I just call it as I see it. But Ferran has made horrible assumptions about me -- such as me being a slacker who logs in the game once a week merely to cash freebie Lindens at a low price in order to bring everyone's game down. That's ridiculous.

OK.. this is futile. I would respond to "prejudices about Americans without passports" if I understood wtf you were talking about. I didn't make any assumptions about where or what or who. I asked you a question about where you have lived -- I was curious what your experience was. I know that living under a variety of systems broadened a lot of my ideas.

You seem to have a chip the size of a small country on your shoulder. I can't stop you from being randomly offended where none was intended, nor from making the damnest assumptions... but I can stop dealing with you. Enjoy.

Surreal

--- Check your Assumptions at the door
--- Waste anything but my Time