Ulrika's Prize Petition!

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Shortly after the submission of my entry into the New Moves animation contest, I requested that I be given an alternative prize, if I won the contest. Given that not one person, but many, contributed to the Thriller video project, the first ($500 gift certificate) and second (custom avatar) prizes didn't seem appropriate. I wanted something that I could share equally among all the participants.

Specifically, I was interested in a piece of land in the snow sims (2048 m^2) with an approximate value of US$250. Further, I even volunteered to pay for it -- the prize would simply be the right to purchase it (although free would be preferable).

I contacted the Lindens early on and it seemed like they reserved the piece of land I had interest in. However, now that we have won the contest they are worried about whether or not the alternate prize would seem inappropriate or show favoritism.

Fundamentally, my goal is to share the land equally among all Thriller video contributors, in order to create an architectural masterpiece befitting the snow sims (details secret for now). The prize would be a springboard for continued colaboration and creativity within the community and the prize could be shared equally among all. Further, I plan to make the architecture open and unobstructive to snowboarders preserving the utility and beauty of the snow sims.

Whether this opportunity is granted or not, I've already asked that they divide the $500 gift certificate among the other contest winners and participants as they see fit.


So that's my pitch! What do you think?

Vote now! Say either "it's an equitable trade" or voice your concerns. The final decision will be made on Monday.

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~Ulrika~

GREAT IDEA! I vote yes.

I vote YES - it appears to be the only way for all the members of your team to share the prize.

PS - I loved the Thriller video!

that sounds spiffy and fair

Stick with the $500 and you divide it up as you see fit.

Congratulations to you and your team!

I've already asked that the $500 gift certificate be given to the other winners. Anyone who has worked with me understands that I'm in this for the collaboration and creativity not commercial gain.

Further, after development I plan to allow those with exceptional wares to sell them without a fee forever. The goal is to provide a nexus for high-quality items without the parasitic weath extration and garishness of the typical SL mall.

~Ulrika~

In this day of lack of land, over priced reselling of greedy land barons, and all the bickering in the forums, I believe Lindens giving away a piece of the snow sims seems pretty unfair.

If a piece of the snow sim was listed as the prize, it might have been an incentive for others to enter. Changing the contest after its over is not right.

If there was a fair land system in place, no greedy gobbling up land for profit, then I might have a different view.

My opinion here is no way a reflection on the quality of the winning entry or the winners, it was a very cool and well done piece of work.

fen-

I should mention that the snow sims did not exist at the time the contest was created.

It's an idea that came to me shortly after the animation submission when I heard of the land.

~Ulrika~

I'm all for it, if it's possible. I was interested in joining a group that would work on the snow sims.

Also this proposal seems in line with Haney's post in "New in Second Life" about how to preserve the snow sims. Right here is someone proposing to form a group that would preserve and keep with the theme.

I agree with Fen. You should take the prize that was offered from the start. You can always use the winnings to buy your own land.

Asking for another prize, although with good intentions, is a little tacky. Its like winning a new car and then saying you dont want it and would rather win a vacation trip. Just sell the car and go on vacation.

It does put the Lindens in an awkward position. If they do this for you, will they change all the prizes everyone wants down the line?

Just take the money and buy land with it.

Stop the petition!

I've reached a compromise, where I'll be given the prize in cash form, which I'll then convert to Linden Dollars to purchase land with myself. Any left over linden dollars will be divided equally among the contributors.

Thanks to Catherine Linden for all her patience and understanding. I'm very impressed with her professional handling of this overly ambitious animator.

I'll keep you all posted on further developments.

~Ulrika~

The renegotiation of a contract to maximize the return for both participants is a moral imperative. Further, the original prize assumed a single winner and was inappropriate for a group victory, further justifying a renegotiation.

More interesting is that you labeled my renegotiation as "tacky", which is a common logical fallacy known as the appeal to ridicule. By labeling my behavior negatively, you attempt to imply its falsehood. Instead what I think that what you were trying to do was contrast the morality of adhering to a prearangement with the morality of renegotiation to maximize return. If that is the case, then in the grand tradition of utilitarianism, I state simply that the renegotiated contract has maximized the return for all parties, thus proving its morality and justifying the action.

(Oh boy I can't wait to get back from vacation. On this 28.8 kb/s modem I'm limited to forums and I'm starting to get punchy.)

~Ulrika~

My apologies for the use of the word tacky. It was apparently taken as a personal attack on your character and this was not the intent.

I understand you were asking for something of (perceivably) less value for the good of all involved, it just seemed unnecesary. Your proposal seems a better deal for the Lindens because land is easy for them to come by and they get the associated tier fees well into the future, but thats not the point really.

I think the real issue is the future contests. If the Lindens set a prize, the winner should accept it "as is". Why should they have to renegotiate each one because it is not what the winner wanted? If they cant change prizes, it puts them in an awkward position as far as accusations of "you did it for him/her".

I know it wasn't a personal attack. It was a logical fallacy.


This is covered in the statement that it is a moral imperative to renegotiate a contract to maximize the return to both parties. Often time behaving morally leads to inconveniences. In this case the inconvenience is the time required to renegotiate. Once again, according to utilitarianism the cost of the renegotiation should be rolled into the return of the final outcome. In this instance it was justified but may not be in the future.


To change the subject slightly, I also felt that I had excellent bargaining power, given the quality of the animation. That alone would also necessitate a renegotiation in most cases and to be completely honest, I'm shocked that they didn't take the offer. I was fully expecting Phillip to wave his hand and decree an expception to the rule for this case. I guess I was deluded by my 15 minutes of fame.

~Ulrika~

your a fantastic human being and avatar hugz you!

go for it !


Cath

The movie was excellent, I'm not arguing that it won at all.

I just feel the need to mention, I think if the prize had been listed as 100K in lindens, we would have gotten a much larger response.

I personally, will admit that I didn't aim very high in my video. Why? The only prize I could use was 3rd to 5th place.

The 500$ gift certificate to turbosquid seemed redundant if you were a good enough pose maker to win.

The custom av wouldn't have worked for me, because I love my av.

If I'd thought for half a second that I could have gotten the equivilant of 500$ cash? My entry would have been quite different.

Ulrika, I agree the prizes weren't really desirable, but it wouldn't be fair to ask for another prize now.

I congratulate your team on winning, it was a fantastic video, but you entered the contest knowing fully well what you would win.

For me it was always about the opportunity to work with a group of experienced and talented SL programmers and artists. If there were no prize offered, I still would have done it.

It's the opportunity for collaboration that motivated me to seek a prize change. I wanted an excuse to keep the ball rolling.

~Ulrika~

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It seems that people enjoy posting replies without actually reading the previous posts. Imagine that!

While I do like everyone to put in their two cents regardless of how much thought went into the post, it's time to retire this thread. As one can see by reading the previous posts, a compromise on the prize has been reached and the subject has thoroughly been discussed.

I suppose I could handle another post but only if it's really thought provoking.

~Ulrika~

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*ahem*

I think you misunderstand the concept of a public forum. Perhaps it is not us who need to learn to read, but you who needs to look at a dictionary?

You set the topic out there, where it is talked about until the rest of us get tired of it. (or until the Lindens interfere)

While your petition may be over, I think it's rude of you to complain that people are still giving their opinion on what you have made into a public matter. I'm perfectly capable of reading the previous posts, and I know Damien is as well; in fact, we did. We both still chose to voice in. If you don't want opinions, don't put a matter into the public arena.

!

Wow. I am just replying cause I can't believe someone would say this! LOL.

Sorry! To be honest, I was disappointed that the following posts didn't expand upon the moral imperative arguments. I'm fascinated by the clash between utilitarianism and deontology and couldn't wait to read the follow on posts.

When the thread hopped over the moral introspective and fell back to the base reactions without the analysis, I was disappointed and decided I should just attempt to end the thread. In retrospect I guess I should have looked "public" up in a dictionary.

So let's open this back up! Someone IM Sensual and get her in on this.



~Ulrika~

I'll expand upon your moral dillemma:

1) It's dumb of you not to have taken the normal prize. Creativity aside, a piece of virtual land has zero value to me if I cannot sell it, and getting land in the snow sims is easy enough without LL interference. I cant even begin to imagine how people can pay $250 for such a tiny plot. That's like a person's salary around here!

2) It's dumb of LL to worry about favoritism. People are hardwired to have preferences and tastes. It's only natural, and I am a firm believer that we should do what's natural. I think LL should be like the ancient gods who fought their own battles, had their own agenda, and needed to be appeased now and then, instead of this overly sanitized, christian idea of a god that is perfect, all-loving and impartial.