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In Praise of NCI that was

Seven Okelli
last days of pompeii
Join date: 4 Dec 2008
Posts: 2,300
09-01-2009 12:06
From: Scylla Rhiadra
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.


Thanks, Scylla.

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Imnotgoing Sideways
Can't outlaw cute! =^-^=
Join date: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 4,694
09-01-2009 12:08
From: Pussycat Catnap
-shrug-

Is there anything directly from Carl then?

Google comes up empty.
Carl has been relatively quiet, and rightly so, he's been stressed by many things for months now. The announcement for his new guidelines went out in a number of groups as a note card in notices. I don't know how his resignation letter was distributed because, at the time, I had already exited all possible groups he would have used as an outlet at the time. (T_T)

The information on the NCI forum site I linked should have enough clarification. Carl's resignation text is available in a few outlets. At best, it's misquoted out of context on the blog you linked earlier. (>_<;)
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http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ferguson/54/237/94
Brenda Connolly
Un United Avatar
Join date: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 25,000
09-01-2009 12:11
My brain hurts from reading all that stuff. In any event, the truth always lies in the middle, but it just shows me that SL is well on it's way to becoming the same pile of shit RL had become.

/me retreats to the relative safety of her RP sims and shrugs.
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Seven Okelli
last days of pompeii
Join date: 4 Dec 2008
Posts: 2,300
09-01-2009 12:18
I tried reading that stuff... it's pretty difficult since most of it is invective.

My impression - just from the reading I was able to get through - is that a certain blogger, for reasons wholly his own, forced an issue that led to Carl's resignation.

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Deira Llanfair
Deira to rhyme with Myra
Join date: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 2,315
09-01-2009 12:27
From: Clarissa Lowell
The blogger really compares being griefed in SL to fighting a war in Chechyna?


What? Is it assumed that this individual has experienced war in Chechyna?


From: Clarissa Lowell

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


Is it a reference to the mau mau in Kenya?
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Melita Magic
On my own terms.
Join date: 5 Jun 2008
Posts: 2,253
09-01-2009 12:29
From: Deira Llanfair
Is it a reference to the mau mau in Kenya?


It has also been a derogatory racist term in the States.
Imnotgoing Sideways
Can't outlaw cute! =^-^=
Join date: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 4,694
09-01-2009 12:33
From: Melita Magic
It has also been a derogatory racist term in the States.
Is it right up there with "narf narfing"? I can't understand a bloody word of that mess. (T_T)
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Somewhere in this world; there is someone having some good clean fun doing the one thing you hate the most. (^_^)y


http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ferguson/54/237/94
Qie Niangao
Coin-operated
Join date: 24 May 2006
Posts: 7,138
09-01-2009 12:36
From: Melita Magic
It has also been a derogatory racist term in the States.
In context it's clearly a reference to Tom Wolfe's book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_Chic_&_Mau-Mauing_the_Flak_Catchers), which is a rather broader analogy than racism.

Anyway, at this point the shuffling at NCI is rearranging the deck chairs; it's pretty much up to Des to decide whether it's on the Titanic or not.
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Melita Magic
On my own terms.
Join date: 5 Jun 2008
Posts: 2,253
09-01-2009 13:35
Thanks for the info, Qie.

I still find it sloppy. So many other ways to say what s/he was trying to say.

It presumes everyone reading it would have read Wolfe's novels for instance. First thing any writer should go for is clear communication. Some words and phrases have 'other' associations.
Scylla Rhiadra
Gentle is Human
Join date: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 4,427
09-01-2009 14:02
From: Melita Magic
Thanks for the info, Qie.

I still find it sloppy. So many other ways to say what s/he was trying to say.

It presumes everyone reading it would have read Wolfe's novels for instance. First thing any writer should go for is clear communication. Some words and phrases have 'other' associations.

The blogger in question is very bright, extremely knowledgeable, and an absolutely AWFUL writer. (Leaving out of consideration for the moment his rather skewed perceptions.)

If only all of this talent was used for goodness instead of evilness . . . :D
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Scylla Rhiadra
Seven Okelli
last days of pompeii
Join date: 4 Dec 2008
Posts: 2,300
09-01-2009 14:08
From: Scylla Rhiadra
The blogger in question is... an absolutely AWFUL writer.


LOL - I've been wanting to say that for days, but couldn't find a nice way to do it.

/me hugs Scylla, laughing

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: I met most of the people I know in Second Life through these forums.
: I learned most of what I know of Second Life through these forums.
: When I couldn't get inworld, these forums were the next best thing.
: And sometimes these forums WERE the best thing.
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Scylla Rhiadra
Gentle is Human
Join date: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 4,427
09-01-2009 14:10
From: Seven Okelli
LOL - I've been wanting to say that for days, but couldn't find a nice way to do it.

/me hugs Scylla, laughing

.

:)
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Scylla Rhiadra
Lindal Kidd
Dances With Noobs
Join date: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8,371
09-01-2009 14:15
I'm not taking sides on this one. The whole thing is very painful to watch.

Carl has long been right up there on my list with Desmond, one of my Heroes of SL. I think his policy was correct, and the reasons behind it sound.

Many of the others involved in the controversy are people I know somewhat, either personally or by reputation, and think well of.

The whole miserable mess is a rotten shame.
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Lindal Kidd
Smith Peel
Smif v2.0
Join date: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,597
09-01-2009 14:15
From: Scylla Rhiadra
The blogger in question is ... an absolutely AWFUL writer.


I can't agree 100% cuz sometimes between the vitriolic spew you find nuggets of Comedy Gold in there.

Just needs major editing. And the cast of MadTV to act it out.
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Meade Paravane
Hedgehog
Join date: 21 Nov 2006
Posts: 4,845
09-01-2009 14:24
From: Lindal Kidd
I'm not taking sides on this one. The whole thing is very painful to watch.

Carl has long been right up there on my list with Desmond, one of my Heroes of SL. I think his policy was correct, and the reasons behind it sound.
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The whole miserable mess is a rotten shame.

/me points. Yeah. That, too.
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Dnali Anabuki
Still Crazy
Join date: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 1,633
09-01-2009 14:55
From: Lindal Kidd
I'm not taking sides on this one. The whole thing is very painful to watch.

Carl has long been right up there on my list with Desmond, one of my Heroes of SL. I think his policy was correct, and the reasons behind it sound.

Many of the others involved in the controversy are people I know somewhat, either personally or by reputation, and think well of.

The whole miserable mess is a rotten shame.


With you on this one Lindal. A very sad situation.
And Carl, your work with NCI was amazing and inspiring. Somehow I can't help feeling that you have been shortchanged somehow. Enjoy your freedom.
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Nika Talaj
now you see her ...
Join date: 2 Jan 2007
Posts: 5,449
09-01-2009 15:41


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Dakota Tebaldi
Voodoo Child
Join date: 6 Feb 2008
Posts: 1,873
09-01-2009 16:32
From: Lindal Kidd
I'm not taking sides on this one. The whole thing is very painful to watch.

Carl has long been right up there on my list with Desmond, one of my Heroes of SL. I think his policy was correct, and the reasons behind it sound.


I can't take sides either; because I wasn't around when it was happening, and all that's left is spin, in one direction or another.

But I will agree that Carl Metropolitan is a living legend, in my book. And I also believe his reasons were sound. Despite his wish that NCI would go on in his absence, however, I for one will not be hanging around any NCI sandboxes anymore. Can't rightly bring myself to.
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Darien Caldwell
Registered User
Join date: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 3,127
09-01-2009 16:34
I for one, feel really bad about the position Carl was put in, by people on his staff. It really is a shame, but as is so often the case, people who stand up for what they believe to be right are beaten down by those with something to gain by either sitting in the background doing nothing, or undermining the cause of the just.

I can only give Carl my best wishes, He is a very upstanding guy and yet another of the fallen in this war of ideas (and it is a war, don't be mistaken). While I personally think he should have fought on, I understand his decision to instead step down. There always comes a point where though your cause is just, you have to ask is the fight worth the goal. Obviously he felt not. I wish him the best in all future endeavors, and I know he will continue to do great things, no matter where life may take him.

And it's a shame that some already have decided to turn a thread of praise for Carl into something quite different.
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Jig Chippewa
Fine Young Cannibal
Join date: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 5,150
09-01-2009 16:41
What's NCI?
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Scylla Rhiadra
Gentle is Human
Join date: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 4,427
09-01-2009 16:45
I've never used NCI, and don't know any of the main players involved, so I am, I suppose, without any particular axe to grind here.

My sense overall is that the whole situation is sad, sad, sad. I think EVERYONE, excepting only the original griefers, is a victim here, including Prok (who I think really HAS been harassed). I also think that nearly everyone, from Prok down, has made blunders handling this, with the result that the situation is much worse than it might have been.

The one who comes out looking best, to my mind, is Carl, who took two very difficult and unpopular principled stands, knowing full well that in both cases HE was going to be one of the principle casualties.

And I think he was right in his initial decision to exclude WU members from the NCI officers. This was the right stand, not because it is necessarily true that WU members are, individually, griefers, nor because it has been demonstrated (which it has not been, to my satisfaction) that WU is a "griefers group."

It was the right stand because an organization like NCI has to not merely BE ethical: it must also DEMONSTRATE that it is being ethical. It must be transparent, and open, and above all else, careful not to be entangled in SL politics.

By backtracking on Carl's decision, the new leadership is leaving a taint on the organization: justly, or not, there will always linger the suspicion that the group is "soft" on griefers, and prone to political leverage.

And that really IS sad.
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Scylla Rhiadra
Ciaran Laval
Mostly Harmless
Join date: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 7,951
09-01-2009 16:52
From: Jig Chippewa
What's NCI?


An inworld education organisation, an excellent one too. They teach building, scripting etc.
Ponsonby Low
Unregistered User
Join date: 21 May 2008
Posts: 1,893
09-01-2009 16:53
From: Scylla Rhiadra


By backtracking on Carl's decision, the new leadership is leaving a taint on the organization: justly, or not, there will always linger the suspicion that the group is "soft" on griefers, and prone to political leverage.




Yes, I think you're correct about this. (And I think the many repetitions of 'case by case' and variants in the official statement by the new regime demonstrates that they know they are on rather shaky ground.)

As you mention, for an organization such as NCI, image is important. And the image that has been created is that the new leadership is pretty much okay with griefing since it's all a matter of interpretation and no one has proof and each case is different and....

I suspect that they will find that an 'anything goes' image won't attract the type of people who've contributed to the success of NCI over the years.
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Scylla Rhiadra
Gentle is Human
Join date: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 4,427
09-01-2009 16:54
From: Ponsonby Low
I suspect that they will find that an 'anything goes' image won't attract the type of people who've contributed to the success of NCI over the years.

I think we see evidence of THAT right here, in this thread.
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Scylla Rhiadra
Annaleigh Hawksby
Registered User
Join date: 21 May 2009
Posts: 51
09-01-2009 16:56
In keeping with the OP: Many thanks to Carl and all the people who made NCI such an asset to SL. Here's hoping that NCI under new leadership will find its footing, despite the bumpy start, and continue providing such a valuable resource to residents.
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