Tex Monday

Phil Deakins wrote: If that's true, Tex, then it's a very poor reflection on people in the U.S. It's not alright to be intolerant. Intolerance is a badness. But I don't believe that intolerance is the norm over there. I think that we can all show intolerance given the circumstance, because nobody is perfect, and that some people (the less perfect ones) are likely to show it sooner than others. No Tex, being a U.S. citizen does not excuse the intolerance that some people show to those who post surveys here. Neither would it excuse any intolerance shown towards the hypothetical people doing surveys outside pubs. Well, you're probably right and I'm obviously a very bad person...:matte-motes-sunglasses-3: It goes along with the image (at least IMHO) that UK people are more tolerant than people from the US. It may be my incorrect image, as I've never been over there, but it's one that I have regardless. @Maddy If you get enough IMs, don't you get annoyed at them..even if you never actually say it to the person who's annoying you? If someone approached me every day for a week (as Drake's post asked) after about 6 days, I'd definitely stop and tell him to leave me alone! And didn't he understand that I don't want to answer your damn questions? Now granted, the forums have different students asking the question....that would be as if a different survey taker bothered you every time you went out..but still, you'd ask them to tell their boss to have you leave them alone, even if it didn't work. Again, maybe that makes me a bad person...I don't know. But I did give a homeless guy a dollar while I was out at lunch today, so maybe I'm not so bad....

Phil Deakins wrote: Then I'd simply shake my head, or just say "No", and walk on. Nobody can annoy anyone on the street like that unless the person wants to get annoyed. And nobody can annoy anyone in the forum by posting a survey, again unless the person wants to get annoyed. It's not as if it's 'our' forum and other people aren't allowed to post here. It's not 'our' forum and anyone with an account can post in it. And it's not as if posting a survey forces anyone to respond. Responding, both good and bad, is by personal choice. It really isn't difficult to ignore threads that have no interest for us. We do it all the time. Such threads don't get in anybody's way, and they don't force anyone to respond. Well, maybe that's the difference between people from the UK and people from the US. I guess you tend to be more tolerant of things like that while we...well, maybe aren't... :matte-motes-sunglasses-3:

Phil Deakins wrote: Not in the slightest, Drake, because I'd just walk past and into the pub every time. Just like I walk past most surveys in the forum; i.e. the moment I see what it is, I ignore it because I generally don't do surveys. How difficult is that? Good point...but what if each of these people kept ASKING you? Even though you're good at walking past them, wouldn't you get annoyed at being asked all the time? Day 1..Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? Day 2 Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? Day 3 Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? Day 4 Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? Day 5 Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? Day 6 Excuse me, do you have time for a survey? (Get my point???)

I don't know where this fits into this conversation, but I'm reminded of the uproar that occurred when we (forum members) found out that there was an underage girl who was going into adult sims aided by her adult friends. The justification that was used, as I recall, was the fact that she regularly posted beautiful pictures on the feed and she was only going to her friend's places and why was it such a big deal..etc, etc. (I think I have the facts right) Residents were yelling for the friends to be banned or have their accounts suspended. They were going to be reported to LL and so on and so on Turned out that she voluntarilly deleted her account, started another one (which was only allowed to go in General areas) and apologized for everything that happened. As I said, I don't know where this fits in or if it fits in at all. Just wanted to bring that up.

Syo Emerald wrote: I think that just has to do with practice, really. But its already too much for the average, impatient person, who is used to get everything served in small easy packages. Where should the patience and motivation to deal with the viewer and everything else come from? In addition I don't know how many 13 year olds own a game pc or laptop, many of them seem to be more interested in smartphones and tablets. I got into computergames when I was a child because my father was playing and when I turned 15, I brought my own PC that could handle online games, but I wouldn't see that as the norm. I dont know how true that is, Syo. My son (who is 10 and does not have a phone, by the way...which is a totally different discussion :matte-motes-sunglasses-3:) plays on my computer and when I got a new one, he used the old one. He can only use it on the weekends (so it doesn't interfere wtih school work) but when he does, he's on Minecraft ALL THE TIME! On another note, I find it really funny listening to him talk about Minecraft and how the lingo is the same as SL: RP, build, friend requests...makes me laugh every time I hear him say "Someone wants me to help them with an RP"

NO!!!

Sometimes, when I get that issue I reset my modem and router.. Unplug both...then plug the modem in first...wait for it to be ready, then plug in your router. It doesn't always work, but if there's not an issue, it can help. Good luck

LaskyaClaren wrote: I see the possibilities for a new survey here. "Who, in your opinion, is the most representative sick weirdo in Second Life?" Madelaine McMasters Perrie Juran Tex Monday Dillon Levenque This survey is badly designed, they're called "residents," not sick weirdos, and how much will you pay me for answering this? On advise of my attorney, I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it may incriminate me (and that I just MIGHT be the sick weirdo that people think I am) :matte-motes-sunglasses-3:

LaskyaClaren wrote: Is that the way that most people approach the forum? It isn't what I do -- I tend to simply open GD, and see what's on offer here. The result is, admittedly, that I do miss an awful lot of interest in the other subforums, which I will only occasionally visit. It'd be interesting to know what approaches a majority of posters and readers take to the content here. I am still against the idea of segregating student surveys, in any case. And I still really don't get why people get so irritated by them. Even the worst student posts are no worse than much of the dross that appears here. (She said, as a prime poster of forum dross.) I never realized that people look at specific pieces of the forum for messages. What I do is just go into the forums tab and select all. The downfall to that is I get a lot of crap like listings for land, but I've just always did it that way. I don't go into the specific areas of the forums unless I'm bored to see the last posts people made. And I will ask again...in terms of places for surveys to be placed, I thought that is why LL set up the education section of the forums.

Coby Foden wrote: Ok, I made a bug report, asking for a new forum area for Surveys. If such was created maybe there would finally be peace in the forums concerning survey posts. https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/BUG-6267 I thought that the Second Life Education section of the People Forum was for... (edited, deleted and readded because the poster can't get his fingers to do what he wants them to...)

Welcome to SL.... Maddy is right. The breakfast club on Sunday's are a great way to meet new people. A bunch of the residents who post regularly on the forum show up. And don't be shy...just jump right in. Another way I've found to meet people is to use the search function in the viewer to find groups that you have an interest in. Do you like music? dancing? Go out and find groups that strike your fancy. When you're there, join them..most are free and you get 42 (I think) of them. Then, send out a group IM or send an IM to the moderator (if they're on). People are usually pretty friendly...worst that happens is that no one responds. I do agree with Maddy as well (wow, twice in one post...what are the odds?) that you need to fill in your profile. Let people know what you're like. It'll help people know who you are and can hopefully help to start conversation. Good luck....

Phil Deakins wrote: Just to add, if anyone thinks that students who post surveys deserve people being nasty to them, please explain what they do that deserves it. Their posts are perfectly polite. Nobody has even attempted to suggest a reason. We've had people saying that they get fed up with surveys being posted here, and that that causes them to react they way they do, but that's a flaw within them and not the students' doing. If the few surveys we get here, and it really is only a few, can cause people to turn nasty, then there's something wrong with those people because it's simply not normal. . I should add, first of all Phil, that I do respect that you are standing up and supporting the students who post. The opinion, as stated a few times, is an unpopular one so you have my admiration for it. That being said, I've stated earlier why I am...maybe not nasty, but testy...to students who post here. I think they're lazy. I think these are people who have no idea about second life and just pop in to ask questions of us. I think that most, if not all, of these posters have never logged in once. Asking questions is a good way to find things out...but getting out there and seeing what SL is like is a better basis before asking questions. That's my only issue with this. If they had been around a little while....even a month or so...made friends, explored and THEN asked questions, I probably wouldn't be so annoyed at them. Normal is a relative term. People react differently to different things and they consider it "normal". Hot button issues like Gay Marriage and Abortion come to mind...One person considers it "normal" to allow a woman the right to choose while another considers it "normal" to blow up a clinic. (and please....let's not derail this thread with those two topics and I apologize if I pushed any buttons. That is not my intention. It is just an example, as extreme as it may be). As I said, Phil..I respect your opinions and admire that you're standing up for these people as you are. It is the minority, though...no matter what you do to try to sway it.

*laughs hysterically* funny that this is what that video made me think of.... http://www.amiright.com/parody/misc/castof0.shtml ETA: go ahead, sing it. I promise (if you're anything like me) you'll never get that out of your head...:matte-motes-sunglasses-3:

Phil Deakins wrote: Madelaine McMasters wrote: Rawwwwrrrrrrrrr. (I learned that from watching Eartha Kitt.) ;-). Great Scott! You ARE old lol Streuth. I six word post, inlcluding the 'lol', and there was still a typo in it that needed to be edited. I'm absolutely useless at typing. And, unfortunately, she's not even my favorite Catwoman.

I don't know how true both yours and Phil's points are. We don't jump down the throats of new forum members who post looking for friends, piggies, sugar daddies or things like that. It seems to be directed entirely at students using us as "lab rats" for their Bachelors/Masters thesis papers. It's the idea that, maybe, they're not contributing to the forums or SL in general that upsets us...I don't know..just grasping at straws here...

A student posting a survey as his/her first post is a new arrival and ought to be treated the same as new arrivals in SL are treated by normal people. Is it really too much to hope that we '(mostly) normal people' treat new arrivals, who just happen to post a survey, in a polite and friendy way? I would like to think that we could, Phil. But I think the truth of the matter is that we know these people are never going to come back to the forums after they get their results..so what's the point? it's very easy as anonymous users to be nasty to someone who you'll never see again...even if it's not right (and for which I am guilty of) I also think that being inworld or posting other things on the forum would alleviate this problem. If I, as a fairly long time resident and forum dweller, came in and posted a survey on something I don't think I would get the same kind of responses as a brand new person who is coming in for the first time and for the sole purpose of getting survery information for their thesis

Phil Deakins wrote: It's more of a bad apple I learned from the best.... *nudges his head toward Ms. McMasters* :matte-motes-sunglasses-3:

Madelaine McMasters wrote: The most grievous question in the survey was something like "Do you become defensive/secretive when asked about what you do in SL?". The presence of that question indicates the student had very little understanding of the survey itself and/or the nature of anonymous polling. Those who do become secretive when asked may not respond to the survey at all, or lie. Errors in design like that annoy me. If the survey was directed at people who've self identified the potential for addiction, the likelihood of deception drops considerably. That's wasn't the case here. That statement goes along with why I usually say to people who are brand spanking new (and probably should be spanked) that they should get inworld and find out what SL is all about before asking questions. I think that they probably had this assignment, decided "Oh, I know second life is an on-line virtual world...let's use that" IMO, it's like someone saying "What's an apple?" (the fruit, not the computer) by only having heard that apples exist. It's very easy to go find an apple, buy it, smell it, and then taste it...rather than going to an online forum and asking questions. It also gives you a better idea of what types of questions to ask. Ok..maybe it's a bad example and I'm rambling a bit again, but I feel you need some background in how things work in order to create a workable survey about it.

Phil Deakins wrote: Yes, there's absolutely nothing wrong with plenty of "nope"s. It's the plenty of bad things that some people herre write in survey threads that makes me both ashamed of this forum and, when it happens, a little angry too. Well, that's the answer then. Next time a survey comes through the forums, let's not give criticism (good or bad). We'll all just say NOPE and move on. But really, is that any better?? Negative criticism, ignoring or say NO still makes the student scratch their head and ask WHY. Why won't you answer me? What did I do to upset you? At least, maybe, the criticism makes the student look at their work and see what can be corrected (edited because the forum is not cooperating with the editing process...*gets out his sledgehammer*)

I guess for me, Phil, it's the fact that I feel they're being lazy. Most times (IMHO) when students throw surveys in here, they're trying to get us to do the work for them without doing much work themselves. That and the fact that almost all of them are brand new residents who wouldn't know an avatar from an ardvark. I wouldn't mind helping as much if someone said something like: "Hi, I've been inworld for about 6 months researching a paper for my thesis and I'd like to get the opinion of other residents...blah blah blah" (yes. extra points if they use blah blah blah):matte-motes-sunglasses-3:. At least it shows a bit of effort on their part. I appreciate the opinion that you gave in the deleted thread about trying to get answers from users, but do some background before jumping on here..go to locations inworld..find out things...talk to people..... Just my two cents.... ETA: To answer your other question, Phil, about why we don't walk away..for me, it's that I'm tired of seeing them. I used to walk away...maybe part of it is me giving my (completely unwanted) opinion about how these people should be handling this or maybe I didn't eat my fiber medicine this morning and I'm incredibly grumpy....:matte-motes-wink-tongue:

Hello and Welcome to Second Life It is difficult to meet people inworld..especially in clubs and such. My suggestion is to use the search function and find groups that interest you. You said Gothic or Vampire (there is also something called Bloodlines which is a vampire clan system that you should investigate before joining)...find groups that have that and then join them. You get about 42 (I think) groups, so don't be shy. Once you're in there, send an IM to the group...see who says hello...or send one to the group moderator. Just get out there and don't be shy. There's a whole wide world out there to explore Good luck

Yeah..they're gone. We had this problem a while ago and everyone just got accounts on Flickr and linked them on the feed. You can keep trying, but the shots you took aren't ever going to show up.

Innula Zenovka wrote: People may have missed the lengthy and detailed explanation by Landon Linden of what he calls The Recent Unpleasantness. This openness and honesty from the Lab about the causes of disruptions and technical difficulties is very refreshing and welcome, or at least I find it so. Thank you Landon and LL both. I don't understand much of that techical gobble-de-goop that he was mentioning (when I can't log in I don't care why...I walk away screaming and just try again later) but it is nice that LL is keeping those who do understand in the loop. Kudos to Landon and LL

Yes, it is an annoying problem..and those solutions usually work Another couple quick things to try.... 1. Right click on your avatar and edit your shape. You don't actually have to edit it, but sometimes when you just click on that, it corrects the problem 2. Do a Text refresh, either by clicking <CTRL><R> or right click until you find it. These are not definite solutions, but I've found that sometimes they work too. Good luck

Hello and a late welcome to SL It can be tough to find friends here..and harder to find good friends. The advise I usually give is to go into the search and find groups that fit your interests...when you find one, join it. Once you're in there...see how many people are on and send a group IM out..or IM the moderator. People are usually pretty good about answering messages and they can tell you where they're hanging out...what cool places you can go to, etc. Maddy is right about the breakfast group. I've gone to a few and (besides having my wallet and keys lifted,:matte-motes-sunglasses-3:) I had a great time. There's a terrific group of people who go and you can meet lots of the people who post here. I hope to be able to get out there now that my schedule on Sundays has changed...that is, if I can find my keys....:matte-motes-sunglasses-3: Get out there..don't be discouraged. It takes time...