I'm sorry if I'm not keeping up fast enough...

Hello... I don't know the best way to put this so I'll just start.

I have Repetitive Strain Injury that's been tearing up my hands. It hurts so bad sometimes and I take a lot of breaks but I don't want to let you guys down when it comes to communicating important stuff. It's been worsening over the last few months--weeks noticeably, even with extended breaks. I may take to take time off work if things get really bad. My joints just swell up and it feels so sore.

I talked about it with Robin and she, and other Lindens have been so warm and understanding. I really love working for Linden Lab and I don't want to let you guys down, especially when you're frustrated when you feel we're not doing things right. I won't give up.

Thanx to each and everyone who wrote me emails and IMs of support; I blogged about it too and I don't want to live like a cripple. But it's really hard at times to keep up. I'll be optimistic and say it's another of life's tests--Second Life in this case--I'll have to pass, like me coming here in the first place and being social.

I already set up a lot of text macros to automate things like pasting links and taking snapshots (for my collections like on Snapzilla).

I sometimes write stuff in lines spread out through the day and then post it. Inworld it's harder because more spontaneous action is needed. Emails? If you sent to me and didn't get a reply and expect one... please bear with me. I'll get back as soon as I can.

It's really difficult to keep up with my correspondence too; I love sharing but it's become a real arduous journey.

I care about each of you and us as a community and I know these are dark, controversial times to some. I just wanted to communicate I'm still here. Just a little quieter.

But that's okay, because I'll be a better listener.

Thanx for listening to me. It's been an honor.

Hope ya feel better soon

Likewise!

Torley, you type at super human speeds. You're body is rumored to be human.

Slow down, be healthy and stuff

Torley,

First and foremost, I hope you feel better soon *big hugs*

Second, there is not a single person in SL (shrot of those with thier craniums permantly located in thier postieriors) that would think any less of you for slow posts at this time.

The fact that someone does respond to our posts and concerns (and is usually you), keeps us holding on. As I posted in teh Answer thread, LL needs to communicte with us. One person can not do it all. We all rspect and admire you for trying.

Kick a fellow Linden in the tushie to help you, save your hands and get well.

With deepest concerns,
~Jessy

No kidding. A slower Torley is still probably quicker than a fast human. <Winks.> Take it easy, Torley - we really appreciate what you do for the community and would hate to see anything bad come from your efforts to help all of us residents.

Aw Torley! {{{{{hugz}}}}} Please take extra good care of yourself! Don't hurt yourself on account of us butt-heads, OK?

Could you use/have you tried a speech-to-text program like Dragon Naturally Speaking? They're not 100% perfect but something like that could take a lot of the physical load off.

Torley, so sorry to hear about this; I hope you can recover quickly. You would be very missed if you go all silent on us.

Have you considered voice recognition software? With perseverance it can be very successful and we'd all forgive typos... promise!

edit: sorry for double post - how did that happen?

Torley, so sorry to hear about this; I hope you can recover quickly. You would be very missed if go all silent on us.

Have you considered voice recognition software? With perseverance it can be very successful and we'd all forgive typos... promise!

You absolutely must not type.

I had something similar and the only way to heal it is to stop, no matter how difficult it is. Even "just a little" will just drag it out forever and it will never get any better.

Can't you take some time off? This is what sick time is for.

Hang in there Torley!

Thank you so much for sharing Torley. You really shouldn't feel obligated to. People should trust that you are doing your best job. You do tons for us!

You really need to mentor some other Linden and teach them to do it with Torley style. We will miss your usual contact, but put yourself first.

Best wishes,
whimsycallie

Stop typing. I know that you won't want to stop writing, so get a speech recognition package and a microphone - they work well these days.

Torley,

I don't think there is any need to apologize. You have always made herculean efforts (as shown by your post count!) to keep us informed to the best of your ability. Unfortunately, LL has dropped the ball here, not you.

LL should realize that without your superhuman efforts to keep two way communication open, the wall would have been breached long ago. Hopefully, Robin will get some backup for you so that you can heal. They can't add tens of thousands of new users in such a short period of time without ramping up support accordingly.

Again, you have done nothing wrong. As was stated above, to cure RSI, you need to stop with all the typing for a bit. You have certainly earned a break.

Get well soon.

The fun part is teaching these voice recognition things leet speak

perhaps you should have explained it with a shorter post, then?

Oh, and if you typed with more than two fingers, you'd spread the strain a little

*ducks flying watermelon*

I hope you feel better soon! And no need to apologize!

<3 Torley!

Feel better soon my watermelon loving friend!

Aww, Torley, take a break for a while and get better! You certainly deserve it. You've had to field a lot of crap in these forums, you've earned some time off.

What else can I say that's not already been said, Torley? I hope you have some good doctors that can help heal you, and/or some good voice recognition technology allowing you to continue participating in all the ways you do...because, despite your many guises, there's only one Torley. No one could replace you; they could only succeed you.

Be well, O Queen of Watermelons.

- Erbo

oooh that sucks, I hope you feel better soon Torleykins.

meanwhile, here's some luv for you:

Torley, take a look at the product called ActiveWord for the PC - it would let you take blocks of text and auto insert them, do auto expansion, and some other cools things to minize the amount of typing and movement you have to do.

Torley, we all hope that you are feeling better soon! Try maybe taking over more of the auditory parts of SL. Forget typing, let's go speaking and broadcasting. We'll all listen in.

It really sounds like a leave of absense may just be what you could use... or simply schedule a good day off midweek... cut the week into two servings of 2-3 days! You hammer and toil on things 7 days a week and you're gonna have a breakdown. Pace yourself, SCHEDULE yourself ... not just taking a break, but I'd say you should split the week up some, have a weekend and midweek day off, and just Be Torley! Make yourself an alt (WINK!) and BLEND IN and rediscover the Good Ol' Days.

So some of us maaaaay recognize you.... but hey, you're not crippled - you still are inworld! Just minivacationing.