In Praise of NCI that was

In the course of this last week, a political and interpersonal firestorm whipped up on blogs and forums (including this one) resulted in the resignation of Carl Metropolitan as executive director of NCI. I gather that some of the rest of NCI's leadership resigned as well before and/or after Carl's decision to step down.

I'm not in the NCI group, and am not privy to any of the inner turmoil that doubtless occurred. I DEFINITELY do not want to rehash or ascribe blame for this outcome.

I just wanted to publicly praise the Institution that Carl and his team built. It is a resource of unparalleled value to new residents. I've always admired the swift growth and broad reach of NCI; a volunteer-driven organization, it's rivaled many RL ones in effectiveness within its sphere. Regardless of what happens going forward (a new team is being assembled), NCI will be different. It may go forward and improve, or not. At this pivotal moment, let's pause to praise what has been.

NCI's code of conduct was simple:



Would that those of us outside of the organization had adhered to this as well.

All because of chickens?

This thread is not about the firestorm, it's about NCI, it's achievements and stature. Hopefully.
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Oh dear. I was waiting for this shoe to drop . . .

IBTL

I have tremendous respect for Carl and what he was able to do with NCI. I'm very eager to see what he does next.

Personally, I frankly don't care so much what becomes of NCI now, except to the degree it aligns with Carl's pursuits. They have some significant community fence-mending to do at this point.

/me raises a glass to Carl and all he helped to build.

I don't know what all happened, but my advice to Carl, if he did step down, is to step back for a few weeks, let things cool down. Then look at taking your place again.

/me points. Yeah. That.

I am sorry to hear that. Lias sent me Carl's statement on the griefer group thing last week and it sounded to me like he was very pained over it and made the best decision he could, given the circumstances.




Would that everyone in RL followed this as well.

I've been involved in NCI since I joined in 2005 - back when it was just a couple of hollowed-out cyan cubes in Kuula run by Brace Coral. I was given fantastic help when I started by Tateru Nino and have been happy to repay that.

I respected, and admired, and will miss Carl. I also, however, respect and trust in Gramma Fiddlesticks, the new executive officer. I really, really hope that what's happening now doesn't result in NCI splitting apart.

I am so sorry to hear this. I also applaud Carl for NCI as I knew it. To many, it was the beginning point in their SL experience and I always loved the space where one could set as home if they had no other place.

I took many classes there as well. Truly hope all works out.

I've been to classes at NCI too and the organisation has always been wonderful. It's a great shame that they couldn't just concentrate on what they did best and got sidetracked by politics.

Best of luck to Carl, he's done a fantastic job for NCI.

I also wish to acknowledge the contribution Carl Metropolitan made to SecondLife through his work with NCI. Well done mate. Good job.

I also think the executive order Carl issued for NCI personnel to disassociate themselves from persons, they themselves know to be greifers, was the correct one. Why people like Tateru Nino and Gramma Fiddlesticks chose to resign over this, forcing Carl's resignation in turn is beyond me.

As for NCI being split, its split already. There are other training and helpy institutions in SecondLife who do mandate their staff and volunteers conduct themselves similarly to what was required by the executive order issued by Carl. I will be recommending these organisations from now on to any new residents who ask.

O.o ?

NCI was nice to have around. Glad I took some classes before whatever is coming.

Where can I read about this and how it happened?

If it turns into yet another way for "helping newbies" to support someone's business we'll have nothing more than someone's interest in WU, of all things, to thank for it. What a frickin' waste. I hope everyone involved is proud.

NCI gave me the welcome and help I needed to really get in to SL. Before finding the sandbox crowd in Kuula, I was wanderig about a couple Welcome Areas thinking to myself "This is it?" The first person I ever chatted with in SL was an NCI helper ( Though, the first thing I did was "shoo" her away (T_T) ).

As a result, the majority of my friends list consists of NCI regulars, helpers, officers, directors, and such. I've seen some people come and go. Very often new residents feel so welcomed that they meld in with the regulars and become helpers, themselves. (^_^)

I applaud Brace, Tateru, and Carl for their efforts in making and managing the place where anyone is welcome to help and ask for help. And, I'm exceptionally grateful for the community that's come of it. (^_^)

The most detailed public description of the current state of NCI can be found here. (^_^)

http://www.nci-sl.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7

I'm sorry to hear this. NCI was my first SL home of sorts. I'm peripherally aware of the goings on and the whole affair saddened and sickened me. we bring so much of our petty nastiness with us into SL, I guess that's always going to happen when humans are involved. My pants are off and waved in salute to Carl for all his work, and for everyone who gives of themself to try to make SL a place to escape RL's tribulations. Sadly, they are needed more than ever. Sl has lost so much of it's charm and whimsy of the past couple of years, and I see it becoming a far different place in the near future, and not for the better.

This seems to sum up what happened:

http://secondthoughts.typepad.com/second_thoughts/2009/08/on-carl-metropolitans-resignation-and-on-the-bigger-picture.html

Guh... I just spent a week debunking that blogger's lies. (T_T)

-shrug-

Is there anything directly from Carl then?

Google comes up empty.

I don't know what happened. I know the names in this story only by, uh, name.

But, any time someone who has been synonymous with an organisation feels the need to resign, it's a wake up call for all who are part of the organisation or who are touched by it in any way.

NCI is an invaluable group and I hope it will continue. Or maybe Mr. Metropolitan will form his own. I do know we need places who welcome new residents and try to teach everyone and improve SL.

I think I'd have to agree with Immy that that particular blog gives a rather one-sided view of the whole affair, although it also contains some straight-forward information, and SOME worthwhile analysis.

The NCI forum that Immy provided the link to is another source of info. And there is a rather nasty ongoing thread on the SLU, originally started by Immy, that also contains some good objective information, as well as arguments on both sides of the issue.

http://www.sluniverse.com/php/vb/general-sl-discussion/33422-we-human-we-griefer.html

Actually, the SLU thread is very much what I hope THIS thread does NOT become . . .

That is never a source of fair and unbiased information. Good for LOLz though.

The blogger really compares being griefed in SL to fighting a war in Chechyna?



And what is "mau mau-ing?" I find that term offensive.

Is there a version of the events that's readable?

If that's all there is, I'd rather be in the dark.

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There isn't, that I've found, one single good narrative account. You have to sift through the crap in the SLU thread, Prok's blog, and the NCI "official" version to get some sense of what has happened.

I actually DO recommend the SLU thread: it's full of lolcats and smears, but at least it does provide some hard information and some multiple perspectives . . . the latter of which is certainly missing from Prok's.