5 Days of Fact and Fiction

Originally posted on Boned Wednesday 12 November 2008 for the SLBloggers Mix&Match Scheme ;)

A week ago I was given a TPS Report without courtesy of a cover sheet. Ignoring this little oversight, I read further. In this case the acronym TPS stood for "The Post Switch" as in the SLBloggers Mix & Match Challenge.

My assignment: Write about my 5 days away from SL and any SL related social media. I was not to login or post anything to Twitter, Plurk, etc. This was definitely cruel and unusual punishment, deviously outlined and insitigated by the infamous Botgirl Questi.

It was Sunday evening and my 5 days away from SL would begin after I logged off that night. I decided to make the most of it by having as much virtual sex with as many avatars as I could. Once several parcels were strewn with dozens of avatars with ambulatory issues, I logged off...dreaming of a new era for me in the real world. I've heard so much about it lately.

Day One: Worked RL Job. Read RL Blogs and various sites for US Election news. Dreamed about flying. Tormented my brother.

Day Two: Election Day. Voted. Went to work. Read more crap about the election.

Day Three: President-Elect Obama calls and asks if I would join his cabinet as Defense Secretary. Obama says he needs a diverse Cabinet and thinks a kick-ass virtual girl with guns who runs a virtual air force sends the right message of diversity and an alternative low-carbon footprint defense posture. I graciously accept as the first virtual world avatar to fill a Presidential Cabinet position. Huzzah!

Day Four: I get my affairs in order for relocation to Virginia and my new job at the Pentagon.

Day Five: Was very thankful for my week free from SL.

So there you have my week.

Huh? What?.... You don't believe this happened?

Perhaps you'll believe this one....

Day One: So far so good. Okay. I can get through this.

Day Two: Biting my nails. Irritable. Snapping at co-workers.

Day Three: Still irritable. Anger issues surface. After work I buy wine. I get home, watch TV, drink several glasses, and sob quietly at my keyboard.

Day Four: My hair is a mess today. No make-up. I'm all about the wine today. Can't wait to get home.

Day Five: I call in sick (hungover). I stay in bed most of the day.

Hah! Well this didn't happen either.

The truth of my 5 Day Experiment....

Days One Through Five: I was inworld everyday. I even thought of cheating and using an alt, but still... I popped inworld for at least 10 minutes as Zoe.

Truth is....

Although I spend far less time in SL as I once did, I would miss my friends if I was away too long, and 5 days is too long.

TEOTGAWKI

TEOTGAWKI = The End Of The Grid As We Know It

We have a few weeks left to enjoy some of the beautiful Openspace sims in SL.

Changes related to SL Aviation....

As long as present Openspace sims exist, I'll continue to schedule air combat dogfights until the end of 2008. There will no longer be any organized dogfights for us beginning in January 2009.

Although our main events will obviously change, EDF and RCAF will still exist.

Our communities live on in both the EDF and RCAF Nings, and for those of us who wish for an air combat experience there is a discussion on the RCAF Ning on how we may continue to dogfight on the web. There is still hope for us die-hard pilots, but SL is no longer a friendly place for our activities.

My own outlook....

I am profoundly saddened with the news from Linden Labs.

I will make some subtle changes to the Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance as we move away from traditional flight scripted aircraft to hovering-scripted craft. No need for a runway.

Far less spending on aircraft for Zoe and her alts. Good for Zoe's purse. Not so good for aircraft builders.

I imagine a less-active pilot Zoe after the New Year. But Zoe does so many other things and really enjoys machinima production. So I imagine Zoe and her alts accomplishing great things in 2009 and beyond.

I'll make a purchase of IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 in the near future. I've been chatting with Cornelius Fanshaw and Phineas Messmer about how we could create an active online EDF/RCAF presence in a combat flight sim away from SL. IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 seems to be a good combination of historic and alternate history aircraft that appeals to so many of us.

IL2-Sturmovik : Retribution

"Avoid the Voids" - Accepting the things I cannot change

It's been a few days since the initial shock of the Openspace (VOID) Sims Controversy.

Linden Labs will do as they please. It's their company and they have every right to raise prices as they see fit.

I cannot fight political and economic battles both in SL and in RL. I simply do not have the energy or funds to do either of them well. One of them must take precedence. I choose RL.

For every ailment under the sun
There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try to find it;
If there be none, never mind it.

Life goes on, even Second Life goes on.... after all... as LL continuously reminds us....

We're not really residents in a virtual world as they once claimed....we're just players in an elaborate game.

Celebrate Void Sim Freedom!

Everyone is welcome as we celebrate our Openspace (Void) sims and SL Aviation on Sunday the 2nd of November 2008 at the Connolly Aerodrome....

Start time:

2:00 PM on Sunday November 2nd

If you would like to contribute as a DJ or offer free commemorative items or signs for the celebration, please contact me via notecard or email * zoeconnolly [at] gmail [dot] com *

We party 'til we drop


My previous posts:

"Avoid the Voids" - Lessons in Lindenomics
"Avoid the Voids" - Lindenomics (Part 2)
Openspace Sims and the Future of SL Aviation
"Avoid the Voids" - The Void Sim Creativity Tax Act of 2008

Vint Falken's Openspace Sim Roundup Report

Air Combat and Celebrations for November 1st and 2nd

Everyone is welcome as we celebrate our Openspace (Void) sims and SL Aviation on Sunday the 2nd of November 2008....



On October 24th the Royal Caledon Air Force celebrated our first anniversary. RCAF was created prior to the Opening of the Caledon Penzance sim and The Connolly Aerodrome on November 4th, 2007.

Please note: November 1st and 2nd is a special weekend. On Saturday we have 2 scheduled dogfights. On Sunday we celebrate the past year and look forward to a happy and fun-filled future (In spite of the recent Openspace Sims Civil War).

The Schedule....

This weekends scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat will be Saturday the First of November at 9:00 AM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia, followed by another dogfight later on Saturday the First at 10 PM SL time, Combat system TCS, Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia.

No official Dogfight on Sunday the 2nd of November, instead....

On Sunday the 2nd of November, instead of our official air combat, we celebrate RCAF, the Connolly Aerodrome, the Opening of Caledon Penzance, and in light of recent news about Openspace sims. We celebrate our Void Sims.

Location: Connolly Aerodrome in Caledon Penzance

If you would like to contribute as a DJ or offer free items for the celebration, please contact me via notecard or email * zoeconnolly [at] gmail [dot] com *

Many thanks to all the pilots and supporters of the RCAF, the aerodrome, and openspace sims.


~ Zoe Connolly

"Avoid the Voids" - The Void Sim Creativity Tax Act of 2008

My previous posts:

"Avoid the Voids" - Lessons in Lindenomics
"Avoid the Voids" - Lindenomics (Part 2)
Openspace Sims and the Future of SL Aviation

Vint Falken's Openspace Sim Roundup Report

back to the post....

The Lindenomics Spin Machine

I opened Google Reader and read Tateru Nino's article on Massively. She highlights Jack Lindens response to the Openspace sims furor.

Jack implies that the type of usage is a more important factor in the pricing changes than the actual cost of usage, though to be fair, it's an ambiguous pair of sentences, 'We are saying that the use has changed, and continues to do so as people find more creative ways to use them. So the revised pricing is about recognising that change of use and the additional costs and value associated with it.'

The Void Sim Creativity Tax Act of 2008

So....no mention of some people abusing the original intent of the Void Sims.

Now LL recognizes your creative use of them...and taxes it.

See? It's all good!

The greatest BDSM Master/Mistress roleplayers in SL are the folks at LL, and we're merely their submissives.

"Avoid the Voids" - Lindenomics (Part 2)

In my post yesterday I wrote some initial thoughts on the openspace sim pricing and policy change controversy and there is an excellent roundup of reactions from Vint Falken.

I'd like to share some further thoughts today. As I said previously, LL can and will do whatever it pleases. But there are consequences to actions that go too far. Most notably, the loss of content and community cohesion.

Linden Labs: "Are they stupid or something?"

I don't think they're stupid at all. I think this is part of a deliberate strategy and it's about more than just the Void Sims.

I think the new people in charge of LL care little or nothing about hobbyists and social networkers on the grid. I wonder if they would rather see a grid community full of corporate reps and tech journalists chatting endlessly about server capacities and new ways to increase usage of virtual worlds. Well duh! LL seeks to destroy the very things that bring a wide range of people into virtual worlds in the first place! If that's what you really want, use a video-phone and chat with each other all frakking day. Roleplayers of any type/degree are in the way of their vision. I believe they may be thinking "If you care so much about your little RP/hobby, then put-up or shut-up"

Void Sims: Raise prices on all to punish the few

Why would they do this? Because they don't care what's destroyed in the process. Not their problem. If a few beautiful or interesting places are decimated in order to kill whatever is causing server-strain (or whatever the excuse is), so be it. This is their nuclear option, folks.

The Opening Salvo

These actions are all part of the new SL. We either adapt or we leave. For now I'll adapt and live with these changes until such time as my friends are gone from the grid or it no longer interests me to login.

I see a bleak future for SL. What was once a beautiful, compelling, raucous, sensuous, erotic, fantastic, intellectual, geeky, wondrous place....will make the long march toward a Disney-fied blandness. A place acceptable to businesses and political activists. A place where LL will not be embarrassed by media attention. A place where those left behind must hire people to create content, because no one will do it on their own. A grid where the residents who remain are concerned about building community after they've chased the community-builders away.

I'm not suggesting this will happen next week. I see this happening over the next 18-24 months. I hope I'm wrong.

Yesterday I ended my post with this:

The Big Question:

Is LL still friendly toward hobbyists within the grid? Will aviation in SL be encouraged?

Or perhaps it's their intention that the only aviation-related activity allowed to flourish will be Boeing and Airbus business meetings?

My interests are obviously aviation-related, but insert whatever passion you have to replace mine and create your own question and answer.

But if things go the way I see them going, perhaps the avatar of Zoe Connolly can persuade Boeing to setup a few sims for business meetings. Zoe can be the hostess, and maybe...perhaps maybe, we can still fly our lovely machines through Windlight skies.

"Avoid the Voids" - Lessons in Lindenomics

I shook my head when I read news of Linden Labs Openspace Pricing and Policy Changes (and a few reactions I've read)....

Most people know I do NOT like to discuss politics or economics openly. In RL I have a particular worldview that was once shaped by family (Democrat), then college (Republican), then work experience (Libertarian), as well as a circle of friends, books, periodicals, podcasts (the list goes on and on).

I love history, political science, and economics. I consider myself a liberal in a classical sense. To put it another way, I'm a libertarian with a small "l" ... not affiliated with the Libertarian Party, yet sharing in political and economic philosophy. So in the interest of full-disclosure, I look at this announcement with a certain "free-minds and free markets" worldview.

A few points as I see it...

First, on a real world level, LL is a private company and can raise prices as they see fit. LL must spend USD on wages/salaries, electricity, and infrastructure, so that we may all enjoy using Second Life. LL like any RL company, faces increased costs, economic uncertainty, and must act accordingly.

Second, as a RL worker and consumer, I also face economic uncertainty and must make economic choices based on my own needs and wants. My work salary has a certain amount of disposable income that - although not a fixed amount, is only elastic at the margins. My discretionary income can only go so far until I hit the wall of fixed RL expenses. Other than a few generous tips I receive from 2 tip jars and 20 % receipts from aviation-related vendors placed at my aerodrome, I don't make much money from SL, and although I'm very interested in business within the metaverse, I consider myself a hobbyist and social networker. Unless hired by a company doing business here, I'll remain so throughout my time on the grid.

Obviously, all spending within SL must be far behind RL shelter, food, transportation, utilities, medicines, savings for retirement, etc. Personally, I've cut back on certain things (some RL entertainment spending and a 2nd VoIP line) in order to pay for other RL and SL expenses. It's very likely more family budget cuts are in store in the near future.

Avoid The Voids!

My hope was to obtain land-rights to an Openspace sim during the very month that this increase is to take effect. Obviously, that's shot to hell. How many others will "avoid the voids?"

Costs (Taxes) and Discretionary Income

If you consider us all citizens of this virtual world, what is happening is a virtual property tax increase. Uncle M will raise your property values (and taxes)!

Higher costs for land-rights and higher tier fees. Just like a tax.

But remember that taxes control market incentives. And as you raise costs on already burdened individuals and families, only the wealthier among us can afford such things within our ever tightening discretionary income. I don't think the federal government will enact a bailout plan for Void sims. Heehee!

Like many taxes, the likely effect of this will slow down the inworld economy. For many like me who were strongly considering the acquisition of one or more Openspace sims for SL aviation, the decision has now been made. Avoid the Voids!

I do hope that others have enough discretionary income to continue. As an aviatrix in SL, I would hate to see a decline in Openspace sims, but I definitely understand their hardships.

The Big Question:

Is LL still friendly toward hobbyists within the grid? Will aviation in SL be encouraged?

Or perhaps it's their intention that the only aviation-related activity allowed to flourish will be Boeing and Airbus business meetings?

UPDATE: Vint Falken has an excellent roundup of the SLBlogosphere reaction.

Second Life/Linden Lab appearance before the US Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce - Second Life Bloggers

Second Life/Linden Lab appearance before the US Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce - Second Life Bloggers

Gathering reactions/comments here...

Second Life/Linden Lab appearance before the US Congressional Committee on Energy and Commerce - Second Life Bloggers

Lessons learned from watching Law & Order SVU Episode AVATAR

This episode brought up the ageplay issue again...It was presented in usual creepy L&O:SVU fashion.

So here are the lessons I've learned from watching the episode titled "Avatar"

1) All you virtual worlders are perverts! Perverts!....The word "Perverts" repeated several times in the episode. Ya got that, pervert?

2) OMG! Wait!... According to the episode...I'm a nerdy, geeky, anti-social, pervert too!

3) Virtual World owners have British Accents.....Ooooooo!

4) Never visit secluded cabins (that probably eliminates half of SL), BDSM dungeons were not mentioned....huh, so dungeons must be okay, then.

5) Beware of obsessive old men with pig-tail fetishes.

6) And here's the big one....what happens in virtual worlds should stay in virtual worlds. I'm not clear on how creepy old guy obtained RL info on pig-tail avatar girl named "Vixy Something-or-other" (scratches head), maybe I was getting coffee when that was shown/explained.

And so begins my very first TV/DVD Commentary. More to come I'm sure!