Over here (A lengthy tangent off another thread)

History Lesson

February 15, 2044

Two new arrivals materialize in the Ahern Welcome Area. They have just graduated from Microsoft/Chrysler's Teen Second Life. Like many noobs, they visit the Coors Sex-o-Terium , and head for the public Telehub. Upon reaching the Telehub, the boy, a 7' furry with a prostetic arm named Buck Thyratron (that's the av's name, not the arm's name) ponders making a purchase. His friend, a noob girl av named Tampon Leakey waits nearby.

Buck: You think she's still here?

Tampon: They say she's the last one. The last Charter. She usually hangs out around Ahern, feeding the pigeons.

Buck: More like sky rats. Anyway, she's been here since before our parents were even born.

Tampon sees a short old lady tossing authentic prim Wonder Bread at small cubes and spheres, which consume the prim bread.

Tampon: I think that's her. Both approach.

Buck: Hola Teeny. How r u? Where u from?

Tampon points out to Buck a nearby sign that reads "Read the Floating Text". Above Teeny's head the text reads "Read the Shirt". Teeny's shirt reads:

Hi
I am fine
US (continued on back).

The back of Teeny's shirt reads "Fuck you, I'm eatin'!"

Teeny: Never mind the back of the shirt. Carl's Jr was giving them away. Don't take it personally.

Buck: You've been here a long time. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?

Teeny: Questions about...

Buck: The economy of SL, back in the early days.

Teeny: Ok, Simple answers: Stipends, rate bonuses, prim taxes, dwell and traffic.

Tampon: We were interested in learning about stipends.

Teeny: I miss stipends. Since Lynn Cheney's brat took over Microsoft/Chrysler, stipends are microscopic after connection fees. All I have left is the small plot of land I bought back in 03. At least I still have my house.

Tampon: I hear that stipends used to be very generous.

Teeny: Way back in SL beta, on payday we used to get a variable payment that sort of guaranteed that we all had at least L$3500. It seems like alot of Lindens until you consider prim taxes. Rezzing a prim into existence cost L$10. To put it in terms you kiddies can relate to, that crudely formed 3 prim male genitalia on the asshole across the courtyard would cost L$30 to rez.

Buck: I'd imagine that would add up after building a house.

Teeny: Yeah, it could get costly, but it was more than prim taxes that ate away at that L$3500. Land was taxed, light prims were taxed, and even tall builds were hit with height taxes. Eventually, there was a tax "revolt" and the Lindens killed taxes.

Buck: What happened to your stipend?

Teeny: It sorta stabilized. Back then, we had rate bonuses which directly affected our pay. I used to average around L$1500 a week, which wasn't much compared to what a determined Rate Miner could get by throwing positive ratings at every noob in sight. Triple positive rates cost only 3 bucks a noob.

Tampon: What happened? They had a simple system. It seems that getting Lindens was easy...

Teeny: The system was exploited to death. A social engineering experiment gone wild.

Tampon: My Nana Condom always talks about how raised the cost of rates. L$25, I think.

Teeny: Correct. Rates went up, then the rate bonuses went down. I went from 1500 to 600 Lindens a week. Eventually, It went down to L$500.

Buck: Well, that sucks. Paris H Hilton, how did you get by on ONLY L$500?

Teeny: No one needs to eat, have shelter or even a car here. No big deal. I get by just loitering here. Been here since 03. I could go on about the history of the SL economy, but I gotta leave. I have a RL surgery scheduled. Getting a new Nvidia neural link.

Tampon: Thank you for your time.

Buck: Good luck with the wire. Both walk away.

A random "pigeon" that looks like a crudely crafted set of flex male genitalia lands near Teeny. Teeny shoots this pigeon. People look up and stare at Teeny.

Teeny: I don't care if it is the SL national bird! Its just frackin' creepy!


Before anyone says anything, I expect this to get locked in a few hours or less. See this thread

I have always wondered, are the lifetime accounts good for the life of SL or the life of the user?

Give 'em enough time, and there won't be a difference.

Kam

That was a good read. And probably not far off.

/standing ovation

Okay so Tampons grandma was named Condom?

And what was Buck's arms's name?

=)

Fausto.

An interesting history told in a way that captivates the reader.