Good bye, and thanks, but I'm allergic to fish.

I have held out for almost 3 years, waiting for the promise of SL to become a reality. But after last week, I am done.

A few days ago, I received an IM from someone (no payment info on file, BTW) telling me that the roller coaster I sell on Xstreet was too expensive. I told him, it is a free market; don’t buy it. He then informed me that he could build one just like it. And was going to. And was going to sell it for a lower price. He informed me it wasn't against the TOS, so there, nyah. You have to understand, my coaster is nothing like a typical roller coaster, let alone anything else in SL. The cars hang below the tracks and swing freely, using SL physics and gravity to cause the cars to swing and flip upside-down along the track. I spent over a year developing it, building the car and track, creating textures and cobbling scripts together to make it work. And suddenly, poof, some asswipe marches up and says he will steal it freely.

Maybe there is a legal remedy to this, but I am too exhausted with fighting SL for too long. SL Content Creators do not get enough protection nor respect from LL. I could go on and on and rant and rant, but I won’t.

I’m over it.

So, before I left, I did want to thank the wonderful Forum Cartel folks. You are the one group I’ve encountered in SL that acts like a community. (That’s another of my peeves with SL. There is no unified SL community. I think it’s important for LL to develop one. But they have their heads so far up their digestive system, their collective uvula is the only thing they can see. Oops, ranting again.) Thanks for the fun, you FCers!

As someone else had said more eloquently: "You join SL, buy land, build a house, furnish it, buy clothes, join groups and then…wait for SL to actually start." SL has yet to go anywhere. In RL, one travels along and passes “life milestones” and goals: graduations, learning a trade, getting married, having kids, etc. LL would be wise to emulate that.

My suggestion is to create a “game” option for players. (No, I am not requiring everyone to play the “game,” so back off.) They would get $ for accomplishing various “goals”: whether it’s to learn a trade, get married, buy property, start a business, garner XX friends. Whatever. You need goals in RL. SL needs them too. The few people who stay with SL do have goals: to make lots of money, to have virtual sex, to have fun creating things you can't anywhere else, or to meet people. But they are a massive minority of those who tried SL. People try this thing and quickly discover it (apparently) has no point. Meanwhile, LL has no clue.

The people who read the Forums are a minority of those who have experienced SL and certainly share a different view than those who leave (95%?). So I may be simply laughed off as a heretic. /me shrugs virtual shoulders.

But today I have finally joined the 95%+ who tried it and moved on. I’m done with bots, in all flavors. Empty sims. Meaningless friendships. A social media that often feels antisocial. A players’ economy built on a pyramid scheme. Idiots stealing others’ ideas because ideas have no value here.

Well, I’m rambling. Sorry. Pick my thread apart. My bones are pretty meatless anymore. Good luck to all y’all. I hope SL works out better for you than it did me.

Rocky

If it took you a year to develop Rocky I don't believe this person could easily build what you have. There's also the issue of quality and reputation. There is nothing legally to stop someone building their own version of your rollercoaster, I guess there could be some issues with using the same terminology for aspects of it but even that's a questionable issue.

I think at times we all find Second Life frustrating, Linden policies frustrating and a feeling that it's not worth the hassle and if that's how you feel then fair play to you for deciding enough is enough.

Best of luck but to you even if you do have a fish allergy!!!

Rocky, I for one am sorry to see you go. I have to say I think you are wrong about SL waiting to start though. Many people in SL (and this forum included) are unaware of the pure artistic creation taking place within SL. I'm talking about art, literature, machinima, music, and theatre. Visual and performing arts are colliding and forming a new genre.

And since that is my world, I'm sure there are some other "movements" happening in SL as well that I'm unaware of. It's not all money making. SL is very vast.

And as for stealing your creation? That guy was probably a blow hard. If you spent a year working on something as unique as your rollercoaster, I doubt he could replicate it. And really,,, in 1st life doesn't that sort of thing happen too? Someone makes a knock off--clearly inferior but with enough difference that it passes any patent transgressions. But customers will know the difference. Trust in yourself and your product.
And I have no need for a rollercoaster, but by gosh, I'm headed over to xstreet to take a look!

Well shoot. I can't find it. I've always disliked the search mechanism there, and I don't think you can search by seller either. Did you remove it already Rocky?

Your asswipe is a troll who enjoys making people unhappy. I doubt he is emotionally capable of following through and making a roller coaster one tenth as good as yours. A person who has the right attitude and is capable of content creation success would just go ahead and make his or her own roller coaster without having to be such a jerk to a fellow resident.

I will miss your posts and your charming sense of humor. Have a good life. And remember, living well is the best revenge.

Gees......I don't know you but I'm sorry to hear you feel this way.....

I seriously doubt the wingnut who threatened you is going to be able to build the same coaster.....probably has zero knowledge (reminds me in a way of my fiancee assuming he could just join SL and build awesome weapons in like a week LOL) Some people don't get it......and some people are just idiots even if they do get it.

But.....I have to agree with some points already made here.....SL isn't gonna 'start'. Sl isn't a game....it isn't even about role play really...unless that happens to be what you want. SL is the very beginning stages of what the real world is progressing to in terms of technology and how we as humans interact with each other. It's a totally subjective virtual society where you need to set your own goals.....decide what YOU want out of it.....and then make it happen. It's not always so easy.......but, then again, that's kind of how RL is.....you gotta make your own way in this world.....figure it out for yourself.

We aren't born with a walk through guide in our hands.....or a character manual so we know who all the 'players' are. But we are born with all the tools we need to make our way in the world...in our own little noggins. Sl...is virtually the same as RL in that respect.

My own expereince with SL is sort of similar to yours in that i started to get frustrated and bored......but.....I also maintain an enthusiasm for what a virtual society means for the future and I 'want' very much to remain a part of it. I got into shape making....enjoyable but too much of a non money maker....so I parlayed that into doing photography and some creative character ideas.....I explore......I meet other artists...I get inspired.

Now....nearly three years into SL I finally have decided on a worth while purpose. My mom had MS......she was also a phenominal artist....so I created a gallery in-world of her works and I'm going to use her art to help raise $$$ for MS research. I wanted to do it for some time......and after reading the recent NY Times article on Art in SL.......my passion was renewed and my determination to find a niche in this fascinating and beautiful new human venue. Say good bye if you you truly feel that way......but it isn't SL's fault....maybe it's just not for you, and that's ok.

As they said!

It is a piece of cake to copy prims and textures for those who want, but what you describe involves very good scripting, and that can never be copied by some copybot. Do not get some newbie a$$ get to you with hollow threats, just laugh them away.

On the other hand if I read your posting well, this was not really the cause of you wanting to quit, just the final straw. In that case, have a great FL, that is the life that matters most after all !

Is true. If he was such an expert, he would have already gone ahead and made it in the first place.

Like the others said, though: sorry to see you go.

I agree about that idiot making roller coaster...good luck buddy! I do want to say that there are many worthwhile things going on in SL and many with RL impact. Our sims that model sustainability have fostered so many folks to think about how to make changes in their own life toward the goal of preserving the planet...its very cool to chat and hear about someone making a RL veg garden or starting to ride a bike or looking into solar power because they were exposed to more info about it in SL.

I am sorry that you havent connected with a something that feels like it has more purpose, but there really is a great deal in SL oriented toward doing good things in RL.

This just sounds like a bad day. I really think the person only said he was going to make a cheaper rollercoaster so he could get under your skin for not giving yours away for cheaper to him. I would just shrug it off and continue doing what you love to do in SL.

As far as a "Game" option for that segment. It already exists. The ability to create alts faster and more often than some of them change their underwear or bathe, so they can piss off as many people as possible. That seems to be the game for many and it is very sad.

Hopefully the day will come where ALL are held accountable for their actions, such as griefing or content theft, and not be able to just simply vanish onto yet another anonymous account when things go wrong.

Good luck to you.

I hate to see anyone stomp off frustrated and mad. But, I'm going to go against the grain here (again). All this frustration is so unnecessary. This is a make believe world for God's sake. Get a grip people.....it's nothing but computer generated 1's and 0's. Linden Lab's servers get gobbled up in the next "big one" to hit San Francisco and it's all gone.......every single bit (and byte) of it. Lighten up for heaven's sake.........and for your sake too.

Oh I know......it's the intellectual property thing. I've heard it so many times from all the artists here that I'm up to my eyeballs with it. If you are so damned concerned about your artistry then put your art on something concrete. Patent or trademark or copyright it to protect it....don't put the blame on the makers of a virtual (unreal) world for your lack of protection. You......yeah, YOU.......are the one who must protect your content. All LL (or any virtual world creator allowing user content creation) can do is do exactly what Linden Lab has done........make it known that it is against the "law" to steal. There is no way any virtual world community can enforce those "laws" other than expelling the ones who violate the "laws". Then you get into the argument of who really has the "legal" authority to doing even that. Just what the hell do you expect Linden Lab to do? Be the "God" of all knowledge........the God of knowing who's right and who's wrong? Be a God like government? You are expecting the impossible.......learn that and you might not be so frustrated.

There are real life legal recourses anyone can pursue. You just need to pursue them. But, you better be able to prove your case or you're in for some more frustrations.........and expenses. Copyright your stuff...........in the real world. Protect your endeavors just like anyone in the real world. Don't expect a make believe world to do a stinking thing for you.

My solution for avoiding that frustration? Heck, that's easy. I create. I make clothes, textures for building, I even make artwork. I make the stuff for the sheer fun of it. I"ve sold nothing in the over three years I've been in SL.......and I'm happy to see the stuff I've made out in the world. (gasp..........I give my stuff away with full permissions!!!) I'm smart enough to know that anything I make and upload to SL is ripe for copying........exact copying. I'm also smart enough to know that there's is almost nothing I can do to prevent it...........short of spending a lot of real life money using a real life judicial system to "protect" my content. Is it worth it? Not on your life........my life is grounded in real life (not some make believe life like SL or many other virtual worlds out there). I, very early on, saw the problem......either do what I do for fun or spend real life assets to do it for money. The rate of return is negative..........not small, NEGATIVE. So all your artists who are so possessive of your "creations" might take a look at your motives. Are you an artist or a business person? If you are an artist, I think you just might take pleasure in knowing that your creations are making people happy. If you are a business person, boy have you taken on a very risky business.

I'm sorry to see Rocky leave. I can see his frustrations. But, for him to hinge his fun in SL on Linden Lab protecting his creations and leaving in a huff? It's his problem. He needs to fix it or make adjustments in his attitude. Or leave, like he apparently has.

Don't bother flaming me....I won't respond.

Was that your roller coaster I rode on a bit at Cordova or Goguen a while back?

You might want to make sure you can come back to as much of the Rocky Rutabaga identity as possible in the event you do decide to spend your time elsewhere, such as, if you are premium, either pay a long time in advance or downgrade to basic and confirm the downgrade has actually fully occurred before stopping paying bills to LL, or they'll delete your account, inventory, friends, groups, etc.

The guy was quite possibly just blowing smoke.

Meaningless friendships. I'm sorry you feel that way. I have more aquaintances than friends in world, but even those are not meaningless. All have something to teach me or show me, or have interesting experiences to share. That isn't meaningless.

I also believe ideas are valuable - not necessarily in terms of $, but in respect and reputation. I have a feeling, with digital media spreading by leaps and bounds, that the creative commons license is the wave of the future and that art will pay off in adulation more than in funds. Creative people may have to accept that. Either that or go completely on strike ala "Atlas Shrugged."

Anyway - I hope you change your mind and find joy in world again. If not, I hope you find it somewhere.

Bye Rocky, we'll miss you

Good luck to you.

well I am not gonna go on about the "you made it, they are copying it" enough has been said...

I do want to point out a couple things though...
first...

In Sl there are life milestones... people are "born" into SL much like RL, not really knowing much about the world around them, they grow up, they attend classes and yes some even graduate, they get married, some even have kids, they grow old too...
some choose to not grow up and their goals are different than those who do, some choose to not be human, with yet again different goals.
Just because your goals were not the same as others, doesn't mean SL has not started for them.

as for the other comment you made "meaningless friendships"

I am sorry you friends were meaningless to you. I however appreciate my friends and acquaintances, I appreciate the people I meet and chat with, and hang out with from time to time, I respect them for who they are, as well as the newbie just coming into the world.
If your SL experiences with people have been meaningless, then maybe you should look within yourself and see why, maybe you expected more than they were willing to give.

I accept people for who, (or what) they are.

PS and I would say that I will miss you, but that would be a lie, as I do not know you.
Many many many people come and go in SL, and do not feel the need to come to the forums to rant about it and announce they are leaving... why did you feel this need? (please do not answer that, just think about it and know for yourself why you did it) it is a rhetorical question.

i'm sorry your SL experience ended this way. i won't ride rollercoasters in RL, so i DO love the SL ones. i don't believe i've seen one of yours, but i intend to hunt one down and ride it. good luck!

So let them build something better for a lower price. It's a free market. If there is no copybot action involved why should there be anything wrong with that?



How boring. Maybe also emulate getting old, sick and fat, how about that? Don't forget about getting divorced. And force human avatars on everyone, and randomy distribute ugliness to people, just like in RL.

Okay. I understand there need to be milestones. can't just drift along otherwise we might be enjoying ourselves too much.
But what is this thing about fish?
What am I missing here?

Amen! No flaming from me.

To OP - Holy Cow! That sure is a Sorry Tude you got going there - as Dr.Phil would say "how's that workin' for ya?"

If you haven't taken one positive thing away from SL in 3 years - well, then yes - it's time to leave. Life or Business is not handed to you on a silver platter - you work for it. If you copped that Tude in RL about business - you would be done before you start. You make it happen. If you get that bent out of shape by A-wipes - you won't make it past Day One.

I'm not a member of the forum cartel, so I don't have to coddle and can be blunt - - coddling won't get you anywhere, anyway. I might be mistaken - (and many here will correct me, if I am - - but you just Dissed a bunch of business owners who worked their A's off stopping and starting again, trying new things, taking some risks, dealing with some setbacks, and working long hours to make it happen.

Same applies to those who come here for the social aspect....you sort of just insulted them, with whatever they treasure, and have accomplished, by saying there is No Community and Meaningless Friendships. Ouch.

It's a cultural allusion, Jig

Pie (Not a Dud though)

Thanks. I'm going to bed now. Been a busy one today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish

Hmm, sorry about your frustrations, but I don't see anything about stealing it, just copying iy really.
If you can't stand the heat of competition, get out of the kitchen. You might as well give him a full perm copy before leaving, seeing you're allergic to this game.
Asswipe wins, Rocky gets PWNED!
Well cya later, think about it and whether you will lose to one dickhead so easily

If I had aLinden Dollar for everyone that gave in and left so easily, I could afford my tier

If I had a nickel for every Noob who wanted my stuff cheaper, I'd be the next Millionaire!

This is ridiculous. You're posting this big drama laden, weepy post and quitting SL forever because some crazy guy said some crazy thing to you?

If I had a nickel every time some freak said something absurd to me I'd be a millionaire.