Mix 'n match

Really enjoyed reading most of these, and got to know some blogs I wasn't familiar with, so it's all of the good.

Mind, in a moment of egoism, and despite having linked to where my own offering was posted, I decided to put it here as well.

RL and SL: Separated at birth or art imitating life?

The temptation here is to talk about the title as much as the issues. You have been warned.

For the first half of the question, after mature reflection over the first coffee of the day, I'd say that SL and RL can be to some extent separated at birth if you prefer, but most of the time I think there is some kind of blend. No two people are ever going to have the same 'blend' either.

So I'm starting with the 'yes and no' answers already. Second coffee needed.

Of course, you get those who claim 'I never ever see SL as more than just a game and I'm not involved in it' and those who let it - little by little or in huge leaps and bounds - take hold of their RL. It can be an addiction that ruins families, or solace for those alone and needing contact, not forgetting the attraction of the whole Barbie aspect (let it be said, SL shoes are a topic in themselves), or a case of hot cybersex, drama, rinse and repeat - and a lot more things besides.

Again, no two personal situations are alike. No two experiences of SL will be alike. Some people don't even care about SL shoes, can you imagine?

It's a statistical fact that the vast majority of those who download SL don't stay around. Some get as far as grabbing the freebies, hopping on a pose ball or three, and flying around a few sims, and then their enthusiasm fades as fast as it started. Been there, done that sort of thing with World of Warcraft. No, we won't go there, promise. A lot of those people will be inclined towards the 'separated at birth' approach, but then some experienced poseball-hoppers still claim they're totally detached from it all.

Me? I tend to think anybody who tries out SL will daydream a little even if their experience is fleeting. Could that bling-wearing, hooker-shoed poseball partner be Ms Perfect or a great person to get to know? Could it be fun to construct your own dream world / space station / whatever if you had the time or the skills? What if you just took a prim and played with the edit commands? What if you camped for a while or even put payment information on file and headed for a shoe shop (obsessed, me?) or rented a place to place your poseballs?

It's just those daydreams, which can turn into more involvement with SL or not, that mean that you can never be completely detached from it. Cliché time, but behind the pixels is a human being, and a human being has an imagination. So can you really say 'I am not my avatar'. I don't think so.

So my more detailed answer to the 'separated at birth' aspect would be a firm 'it depends' or more like a 'not really'.

Next, does this almost-no to the first part of the title mean that, given the 'either-or' structure, must SL therefore be a more a case of art imitating life?

See, I said I had a problem with the title. But onwards.

First, is SL art? Well, looking at some latex-clad bimbos, fresh-out-of-Photoshop-101-clothes or badly-textured freebie prefabs, this is a questionable at times. But then I'm a snob and I could write on the difference between quality and personal preference forever (and have, but that was in another blog far, far away, before I discovered SL shoes and the joys of texturing).

OK, to cut this short, SL can indeed be art, and there's always some element of creativity involved, whether it's choosing your newbie avatar or creating an entire world from little blocks of virtual plywood. Dammit, you only have to visit some absolutely stunning sims or those amazing little designer shops like Vent du Sud (and why of course this is a plug. Live with it. Look at the pretty picture).

Vent du Sud

So is SL a case of art always imitating life or is there another 'yes and no' answer coming up.

Dead right there is.

See, SL is a 'virtual world' so it's based on, y'know, our 'real' world. We don't have a whole lot else to use as inspiration, right? And it's still based on our world if you get into role-playing. Whether you're a furry, Gor, or anorexic-looking fashionista, you've based it on something you've seen or imagined in RL.

And yet…

SL is also a case of art, or imagination, going way further than what you can do in RL. We can be architects without needing to worry about how to place a castle 500m in the air. We can fix the weather, we can dance without having two left feet, we can design a whole world from a keyboard. Well, if we can pay for a fast computer and preferably a Rather Expensive Bit of Server Space (had to get that one in too, sorry).

So, for the 'art imitating life' part of the title, I'd say a resounding 'yes but it's more than that'.

But the two parts of this title aren't mutually exclusive, and that is, in fact, my point (between references to shoes and my store).

You can keep your SL away from your RL, or not. In my opinion, it's hard to really separate them completely, as I said above, but there are those who keep it at a greater distance than others.

However whether or not you separate your two 'lives', SL is still pretty much a case of art (let's not get into 'what is art', OK?) imitating life.

Coffee over. And now it's time or me to go shoe-shopping and to twist a prim or three.

Argumentatively yours,

Ariadne Korda
SL builder, SL and RL shoe-lover.

Grammar: the rogue apostrophe.

I can't help it - I'm an RL editor and among various peeves there is one I keep seeing on blogs that makes me want to scream. So not wanting to upset RL man and assorted cats by such undignified behaviour... I am screaming in writing here.

It's = short form of it is (like he's instead of he is). "It's mine; it's sunny; it's infuriating"
Its = possessive form of 'it' (like 'his' is to 'he'). "Its contents; its colour, its shape."

Similarly, 'hot bikini's' makes me think 'hot bikini's what?'
You don't need the apostrophe.Really. And yes I do know that English isn't every blogger's native language, and I cut them a whole lot of slack. However, if you're a journalist-type blogger and do it all the damned time, then editor-type bloggers will... scream.

Going now. Yes I am a boring grammar person ;)

Mix n Match challenge

I took part in the 'Mix and Match' blog challenge, and am pleased to host Otenth Paderborn on the subject of 'True Mentoring'.
His blog: http://otenth.homefries.org/
Thanks to ArminasX Saiman and Vint Falken for the idea - looking forward to reading some of the entries
My own entry "RL or SL - separated at birth or art imitating life" should appear on http://freefindsformen.blogspot.com/ today.

Again, thanks Otenth.

Photo: Otenth Paderborn and nox Pinion in one of her current builds.

True Mentoring
by Otenth Paderborn


In February 2007, while hanging out at my home in Pruni (this was before I left the mainland for more congenial climes), I got an IM from someone named nox Pinion.


The IM said something like, "Hello, can you help me?"I was feeling unusually mellow, so instead of replying "Who is this?" I asked what the problem was. (All the while checking nox's profile: Yep, a total noob.)


It seems nox was in an unsavory location and couldn't figure out how to get out. So I offered a TP, telling her that a blue window would pop up and that she should accept the teleport offer.


The avatar who appeared before me had already managed to modify her appearance from the hirajuku which was at the time one of the default avatars.


We began a conversation about how she was liking Second Life, and after a bit, she asked, "Do you know who I am?"It is truly funny that in a virtual world where we can be anything we wish to be, I took a moment to cam around and take a good look at nox.


Of course, the number of people who knew my name in Second Life was relatively small, and of those, even fewer were likely to be trying it out themselves. I guessed on my first try. nox was my first "RL" friend to come into Second Life.


True to her motivating spirit, nox had become bored with the Linden orientation islands and had teleported out in the faith that she could figure it out on her own.


And except for that early trouble with being unable to figure out how to leave a confusing location, nox's faith in herself has been justified.I gave nox the use of a room in my house, and introduced her to a few of my friends.


Within a short while, she was introducing me to some of her friends. And she certainly took to Second Life like a duck to water. But I think it probably made a significant difference to nox's experience of Second Life that I simply shared a bit of what I had: a place to call home in the virtual world, a modicum of privacy, and a modest number of unused prims.


About a year later, Radio Riel founder Gabrielle Riel was looking around for someone to create a float for the Caledon Mardi Gras parade. I got Gabi and nox in touch with one another, and thereby mentored nox in stretching her abilities!


nox had an ambitious vision of a float in the form of a large dress. Scripts! Vehicle prim limits! Animations! Not enough time! Heh. Did nox ever learn a lot out of that experience.


I'm glad to say that nox has only continued to learn and to stretch. Having rented land of her own for a while, nox is currently renting land from me in Orcadia, an island estate, where she has the main store for her business, Tea & Strychnine: Neo-Victorian, Gothic-revivial, steampunk, warped Alice-in-Wonderland furnishings, accessories and eccentricities.

Quality is subjective. And pigs can fly.

Look quick, it's the inevitable plug for Vent du Sud and of course is the most amazing patio set with colour change and lots of poses and, well, you get the drift. However, this is a rant about quality. Be warned.

You may read this rant before rushing to purchase the set, or vice-versa (joke. Almost). You may even criticise it, but you can actually sit on it - see rant below.

Sooooo... (pause to take deep, deep breath). This morning, I saw a statement on a blog - that shall be unnamed - which stated 'quality is totally subjective'.

No it is NOT. Really. It isn't. And it's my pet soapbox.

To start with, quality is usually shorthand for 'good quality'. If you see something called a 'quality item', one presumes it doesn't mean 'will fall apart and/or cause damage to your person'.

In SL, if you open a box that says 'stunningly gorgeous, detailed, high-quality gown' and get something that is basically a few badly-textured, non-mod, non-copy prims, then you've got dodgy quality. You might like the style, the colour, but if it doesn't fit / work then there are quality issues. Simple as that. So what if it's free or cheap so it 'doesn't matter'. It's a lack of respect for your consumer at best, and downright dishonest at worst.

Good (or acceptable) quality means, y'know, medicines that aren't counterfeits that can kill you. It means cars / computers / condoms that don't fall apart at the wrong time. It means instructions for something that are clear and readable. It means food that doesn't come with free salmonella. It means that a sit pose permits you to sit rather than forces you to do a triple backflip. Just examples offhand.

You may like certain aspects of something and get frustrated when others criticise them, but that has nothing - absolutely nothing - to do with the basic criteria of 'do they perform the purpose for which they were intended', i.e. is their quality at least satisfactory.

Sure, it's great to encourage 'new designers'. A pat on the back never hurt anybody and maybe that idea, that colour is great. But have the sense, dammit, not to get spluttery and hurt if you (or your very bestest friend)are putting something out for grabs that is shoddy and people dare to say so.

Either wait until you (or the friend) master the skills to create something that at least fulfils that 'basic purpose', or expect those who acquire that item to react as consumers do: by remaining silent but never coming back, by hurling abuse (not pleasant, but human nature), or by offering constructive criticism. Yes, it can hurt if that criticism is public, but you've put your product out for the public, so live with that.

OK, stepping down from the soapbox now. Really.

SL burglars

Edit to add: Apology sent and accepted. Nice to know that this can happen!
***
OK, I only have myself to blame for this, but here is an example of behaviour that makes me shake my head.

Our community is moving sim. So, we took advantage to redecorate / refurnish our residents' apartments. Let me add that the apartments aren't accessible to the public - only people who know how to use their cam could get in there. And they take some finding, too.

And... in they came: a couple who have been on SL since early 2007. They saw an apartment, furnished.

Clearly, they liked what they saw.

See, I'd set everything in there for sale at zero Linden, for the tenant to 'buy' - he's had the hassle of moving and had bought the furniture in the old place, so it seemed reasonable. But he hadn't got around to 'buying' it before our burglars came along.

Sooooooo our delightful couple roll up. Click, buy, take, and off they went. She clicks, he clicks, she clicks again. Except I looked at my transaction history this morning and noticed their 'purchases', and realised what they'd been up to (and that they were a couple). And sure enough, my tenant's apartment was missing the main furniture. Didn't like the rug, drapes, lamps or coffee table, guys?

I don't even care about the money, but I DO care about the principle. And any kind of 'oh it was a mistake' excuse... forget it. You knew perfectly well what you were doing. So, congratulations on your free furniture and your camming skills.

Again, it was my mistake for not standing over the tenant while he 'bought' the furniture in situ, but maybe I didn't count on the 'something for nothing brigade'. Actually, I can almost understand newbies doing it, but you are not newbies.

Sure, nothing on SL is really private, but maybe I'm an idealist. Considering the apartments are so obviously NOT for public visits, I'm really disgusted. If they'd taken a copy, then it's still cheeky, but to take the original? How would YOU feel if you returned home to find stuff missing?

Guys, you are a perfect example of the worst side of SL.

Oh, and by the way? The bed hasn't been properly set yet. Please don't ask for after-sales service, OK?

Sales, what sales?

OK, this time the lament of the vendor who isn't vending (but is venting instead).

I am trying to convince myself that sales are down because it's hot, it's summer, the European football (that would be soccer to you lot across the pond) was on, the general economic decline, SL borking... any excuse, really.

Of course, the fact that I'm not doing any real advertising for anything but Venice-related stuff isn't helping (well, until this particular shameless plug, of course).

I also wish I had the budget to advertise in the SL-glossies or hire a live musician or generally the time to organize a sale or some sort of amazing event. (OK, I also wish there would be world peace and I could get a decent burrito in the more bucolic bit of southern France: both of which are possibly more likely than me becoming a SLebrity or, y'know, selling enough to pay the rent.)

Do I stamp my foot and say 'not fair'? Gosh, it's tempting. Wouldn't help a lot, would it? Even if it is frustrating that the business-in-a-box lot manage to sell ripoffs that are often clunky and.... OK. I'll stop there.

There is also the possibility, of course, that my stuff is crap. I tend to think it ain't but this could be pride talking.

Sure, there's always somebody that does things better. And there are plenty of utterly superb designers and builders around on SL. I accept that. Sometimes I want to quit, but then I gaze lovingly at my stores, my colour schemes, my textures and grit my teeth (yes, yes, I did say SL was bad for teeth), and hope that next month will be better. And then I put a few more Lindens into my account pending a millionnaire (even a Linden one) saving my from RL husband's continuing mumbles about 'aren't you supposed to be making money with this weird thing?'

Now, of course, awaiting a mass stampede at Vent du Sud.

Running a place or renting a place: some ideas

5 things that help make a good community (for those running one) - this from experience. I don't claim to know it all, and frequently get it wrong, but hey...

• be around, available, flexible, smiling (and know how to grit your teeth and still smile when vendors /residents are having a bad day / week and need somebody to take it out on). Know when a free week or a price reduction or simply a virtual shoulder to lean on might help.
• use the SL events calendar, blogs, and word of mouth to promote the place. Do events that involve everybody - vendors and residents if applicable (even if it's like herding cats) and get used to the fact that somebody won't be around / join in, and somebody will find fault with it. Some might even say 'thanks', which is... nice.
• make it clear what the policies of the place are are: creators only, no particles, no hover text, strict prim limits... whatever floats your boat as owners. Then everybody knows where they stand. And treat everybody alike (except when needs must and a little exception to the rule is called for). Favouritism tends to lead to major strife.
• Staying power. There will be times when the temptation to click on 'abandon land' and run for the hills / bring out an alt is so, so strong. But eventually it will all seem less dramatic. Really. Well... mostly. But think of that great new vendor who said 'thanks' last week, plan something, and grit teeth. Note: running communities is hard on teeth.
• A sense of humour. It's absolutely essential for those moment when somebody shoots an essential item into the next sim and they haven't got auto-return on and the owner is AWOL, or installs 4 x 69-prim chairs into a 70-prim apartment, or accidently rezzes a 30-foot high particle flower in their neighbour's bedroom at a less than perfect moment. Few things in SL can't be repaired (except good relations with your vendors if they have reason to be angry).

And now, 5 little pieces of advice for those renting space in your utterly amazing community. To be taken with a sense of humour, please.

• The owners may not, actually, be extremely rich and here to rip you off. Some of them may have been through months of deficit before breaking even, but they believed in the place and are trying to offer reasonable rents and good service. So look at the pretty public areas, the stuff put in to make it nice. Think about the events that aim to get vendors involved: do you make the effort or do you just think paying the rent means 'they should do their job'?
• Putting the place in your picks, hanging out there now and then (even if it isn't your main store), all help.
• How about organizing an event of your own? Most owners will help out: spread the world, advertise on blogs, etc. Sales, promotions, whatever. If you don't ask, then we can't guess you want something.
• If you're not selling, then sure - the place might not be right for you. But is it all about the place? Are you actually not doing something: renewing your stock, highlighting new items, redoing your displays, advertising? If you have a few bad weeks, then is it a case of 'all is lost' or can you do something about it? Is it worth packing up and heading out? Maybe, yes, but maybe no. Talk to the owners - preferably without turning it into an attack. We have eject buttons, much as most of us hesitate to use them. But sometimes we can also help.
• And last but not least: do you ever talk to other vendors there about synergies? About getting together on an event, a promotion? If you make clothes, how about doing a 'clothes and shoes' deal? If you make furniture, provide it to other vendors in return for advertising your stuff. Even if you have competitors in the same field, do a 'community fashion week' with a joint logo and make it a party!