Eirynne Sieyes

Judging from this reception, that's a good thing.

Very disappointing. Meadowbrook was a lovely home with very high ceilings and lots of glass walls. These things are oppressive with low ceilings and made out of cement block, for the most part. Meadowbrook neighborhoods were more colorful and varied, with contrasting styles. These all look too alike. They are cold and without grace. They lack the love and detail of past reveals, like this was a rush job. Depressing. And where is the accompanying hullabaloo? On that note, where was @Patch Linden, who is normally so much more present and peskier and upbeat? Remember all the "Soon" comments and teasers? I think we had one or two. Compare this reveal to the past reveals? The Vics, the Stilts, all of them were Events. This was not, and to me reflects a different culture: perhaps corporate cutbacks from the top. I hope I'm wrong, but something fishy may be going on.

Hahaha Prok! I love how you coin terms! "Special pleading!" I think you may be right, and that would live under the Human Nature section of Incidentals.

It wasn't about connecting mainland to Belli. Abnor connected two routes in Satori last Summer. In addition, I did not say that the Lab would now turn its attention to the mainland. I said that I saw evidence of some constructive change as per above and think that doing so may be in the Lab's economic interest if done in a way that retains the paying customer. We agree that selling off abandoned property can go either way, however, it fills their coffers now. About connecting the mainland, I think it is a mixed bag. Personally, I like the idea for many reasons. I don't know if Belli will subsume the mainland. I hope not and don't think this would be in the Lab's interest since these are different markets that appeal to different folk. We will see in time. However, connecting the mainland has bid up prices. The Lindens and some customers are making money. That is the goal of any business. Let's see where this goes. My comments come entirely from an economic perspective. The Lindens have a business plan they likely adjust based on the numbers. Since I like it here, I am rooting for them to succeed. The only thing I am confident about is that this is a business and LL wants to grow it. To do so they need to keep the residents happy and attract new ones. Hopefully they make the best choices with the fewest unintended consequences. While the fallout from their educated guesses is incidental, it does affect some residents more than others.

The moles have added a long-requested connecting road to the mainland not too long ago. I read that in the forums, likely in Mainland Forum. Cannot tell you offhand where it is. If there is real interest, I will find it. Attaching mainland to Belli also displays increased interest. Those items along with the more aggressive selling off of long-standing abandoned property is what gives me hope that they will clean up their mainland act a little. But not enough to lose any customers. Lol!

Prok, I think you are right in citing some of the numerous negative consequences of building Belli. Belli, like life, is a Ying and Yang. You can't have one without the other, and this duality jabs a thorn in the eye of many an idealist. Speaking of eyes, in mine, first and foremost, LL is a business. Their job is to fill their coffers. Typically, that is done by making the consumer happy. Everything else is incidental. There was an empty space in SL that Bellieseria filled. Patch conceived of and flawlessly executed a brilliant plan that was fortuitously enhanced by pandemic timing. We, the customers, can't get enough of this pretty place where midair griefer prims do not live. Patch understood the problems with mainland and created a place where community, harmony, and attractions are more or less organized. And it is beautiful! Of course, the people who have a knack for this stuff, will make a killing. They make it their business to know the players and possess the charm and/or talent to befriend and/or influence the useful. Others were simply in right place at the right time, much like yourself with the land you own near Belli. (However, you are loyal and fair-minded and won't renege on a promise despite potential profit.) Belli is also a magnet for community-minded folk who love to help create a friendly atmosphere and participate in and host attractions. Since there is no black and white, think shades of gray. I love the mainland too. You can't beat the freedom - or the prim count. My challenge is always to find stable, long-time neighbors who for that reason are less likely to abandon or sell. But we all know there are no guarantees. I think LL left mainland in favor of a new continent for a number of reasons. First it is easier to start fresh. But there are also good reasons to tread lightly with the mainland. With more freedom and more prims, you can make your presence beneficial - and many have done just that, or you can use it to take your aggression out on the innocents who surreptitiously decide you are in their way or are fun to annoy, etc. This latter group is often comprised of unhappy souls who revel in being called out; their sense of power increases when they victimize, and it energizes them to retaliate harder. But they also spend money. Why don't the Lindens clean the mainland up? I suspect that now that Belli has more housing, they may move in that direction. Keep in mind that even the unscrupulous land-chopping griefers with the obelisks and empty vendettas add to the economy, as do the bona fide landlords whose job is to bid up prices. The sale of abandoned land, which I hear has ticked lately, also adds to the Linden war chest despite who LL sells it to. Now that more ample Belli housing exists, perhaps more attention will go to the mainland. It seems some roads have been added, and maybe a few other things I am out of the loop with. I think part of mainland's appeal is that it is like the Wild West of old. Lol! The bottom line is that LL is a business; they want profitability, especially now given our new professional, corporate owners. They want as many of us as possible to be happy.

You kept getting the same house because you just abandoned it and nobody else picked it up or kept it. Sometimes you can wait 30 min and get it again because other people are also abandoning it. Since you have the luxury of two alts, when alt #1 gets the home you don't like, do not release it until alt #2 gets a house. At least it won't be the same house. Less effective, but helpful, stand in a corner of the abandoned parcel until someone gets it. Sometimes you can wait a long time.

Everybody was invited to the wedding. I don't know them either but I was invited. We all were. The invitation was on Belli chat and in the notices. I thought the wedding was an amazing way to open up the beautiful Fantessaria Community Space. We can all use it.

I hope Prok never stops blogging. I miss Second Thoughts and am glad Prok shares her thoughts here. I learn so much from this IMO highly intelligent, observant, articulate, and honorable person. I also firmly believe that when people work together on a common goal, it is normal and healthy to bond, to become friends, to help each other out. Is it fair? No. But it's Human nature.

If a new theme is to be announced in December, how fitting it would be to launch snowy, more mountainous logs in the empty area north of the logs.🏔️

@Mar ScarmonWow! These caves are spectacular!

Hint hint. Great job @Patch Lindenat the helm and all the wonderful Lindens and Moles who created a very fun time as we hunted for yummy candies while we pulled our hair out searching. But now that it's time to move on. Perhaps we can give our Linden and Mole friends ideas for the next hunting adventure? Certainly we can keep the scripters in business (as though they don't already have enough on their pads.) Heehee. Maybe Christmas is wishful thinking? Probably, but what the heck! Here's an idea: - Infrequently, when you click whatever you are supposed to click, you get a bonus! Maybe an extra point, maybe your points get multiplied - or - maybe you end up with coal and Santa takes a point away. 😲

I don't see a systemic problem at all. I remember early SL with griefers left and right; they were a nuisance. People were proud to call themselves a griefer, and lots of HUDs showed up to counter them. I see far more community now everywhere, particularly in Belli. That's just my perception.

I've ar'd 2 or 3 orbs that tp'd me home during Halloween. But generally I think the difficulties add to the challenge. If these things were banned, we'd find something else to get frustrated over and complain about - because that is what people do. Plus, I think the ability to choose (and keep creators in business) is the way to go.

I'm not comfortable in people's homes when the host is not there, door open with pumpkin inside or not. And I'm not comfortable with people in mine. So my LH orb is on, but the bucket is right on the border. The LMs I've given are outside of the property. Different strokes for different folks. To me it's a quest that is connecting me more to the community. I like that.

When I got an inworld text from Nika that one of my pumpkins was out, I thought that was a good idea. Now when I see a bucket out, I message the person. It will be interesting to see if the second rezz has the same problem. And if it does, at around what number? Especially when the new rezz inherited the clicks the old one had.

Lol! Maybe that was a challenge? Kuga already has 21 clicks!

When an alt rezzed a new pumpkin, it still had 92 clicks in it! Another alt rezzed a bucket with 0.

An FYI: Once I found my first five candies, I had to restart the computer. The HUD may have eaten them since when I logged back on, there were none. BUT, the candy numbers updated automatically and correctly after the 6th candy thereafter, even with crashing.

Brilliant job @4REIGN! You can be my decorator any 💀 day.

Already there are not enough resources. There are huge, huge cubes containing homes floating very high up in Belli, including protected areas. ARs don't seem to matter here.

I'm probably too early, but I did not find one silly little pumpkin or hud at Randelsham or elsewhere. (I do hold out hope that Meadowbrook will be remodeled and that that is what we see in Patch's Halloween phots. Twenty foot ceilings please. And thanks to Nika for sending us to the cute Linden video. It was followed by four adorable kitties singing; a delight to watch even though they may leave you mice and rat heads. (Hear that O Fearless Leader?) I would strongly suggest not trick or treating with this bunch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXezLv_5RaY

I so get it @Rabid Cheetah. Right now I have collected a bunch of Bellis (a Fantasy, Vic, two Trads, a Log and a Houseboat) and a nice parcel on a high cliff over a river. I love to decorate. Some have lasted a long time and are "keepers," usually because of location. Others change when I tire of them. Yes, "NOW what am I gonna build?" Lol! 🏚️

I have Spectrum too. The tech told me it wouldn't go to regular connection not because of the service, but because the wireless router would only do 5G or 2G.

You are so way ahead of me Jaylin, as are the other posters here. Sooooo... I called my provider (not AT&T) and had them check the connection and swap the modem. I notice no difference. It turns out I am on 5G wifi. Even though it is 4.xyz, it is considered 5 G. I cannot change it without a new router. Yes, I know wifi is lacking, but that's how its been for years, even prior to the crashes. Unfortunately, wired is inconvenient the way this house is set up. I give up! Fortunately, I can think of lots more awful things than crashing. I can live with it. Thanks everybody so much for the tech support! I learned lots.