[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

8 hours ago, Lewis Nerd said:

So you don't think "exclude adult content, assuming it's actually categorised properly" should be the default, with the user being able to decide for themselves if they want to experience it - rather than having to take steps to avoid it?

It is the default though. When you first create your account, your settings by default are set to General only, both inworld and on the MP, so you're asking for something to happen that's already happening, just the vast majority of SL fix it so they can go to all sorts of Sims 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

15 minutes ago, ballparkdogg said:

I want to call out someone for catfishing in world in a certain chat for certain sim..like Peter Weller in Buckaroo Banzai. Pointing at the aliens pretending to be human and yelling out..."Lectroids from Planet 10..."    I deleted that group never to go back again.

May want to creat your own thread for that darlin, this threads for talking about hot takes and unpopular opinions :) 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

On 10/25/2023 at 11:40 AM, Lewis Nerd said:

That's the problem, it's taken over to the exclusion of pretty much anything else and driven away many of the 'average user' who wasn't interested in that sort of thing.  I think it's quite sad really.

SL had so much potential back in the day, yet it's been lowered to essentially a 'virtual Pornhub' by the freedom it gives to people to pretend to be what they aren't in real life, and the anonymity that goes with it.  My avatar doesn't look that much like the real me, but I never pretend to be anything but me.  I have a few alts that have specific purposes but they are never used for 'adult' purposes.

It still has potential. Your responses are giving " I don't participate in Adult activities, so I don't understand why anyone else would or why it's allowed". As Rowan said, it's very easy to avoid the adult side of SL if you're willing to adjust your search settings to do so. Keep it all on General and/or Moderate and Voila! No adult sims or products will show up, it's like it doesn't exist . I do it frequently to weed out the billion escort clubs when I search for Roleplay sims

On 10/25/2023 at 12:53 PM, Rowan Amore said:

It's fairly easy to NOT engage in adult activities in SL.  I've been doing so for the past 3 years and have been enjoying SL just fine.  I'm even in adult regions and enjoy myself.  If someone is adverse to those activities, it's also fairly easy to restrict yourself to General rated regions.   Problem solved.  Oh wait...there was no problem.  🙄

 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

3 hours ago, HeathcliffMontague said:

- How body mesh was introduced was a HUGE mistake.

Strongly disagree. It has, for better or worse, made SL much more immersive

 That wasn't my point at all. What I meant was, letting their uderbase create 20 different bodies instead of one default, very versatile body and adding more sliders to make it to where you can make said body any shape you want, has made avatar customization a bit of a headache. For a solid couple years where was body after body after body being released that was catered to the same body type and virtually no notable features that made them stand out. It added a lot of stress to creators when they were flooded with requests to make for these bodies and their work loads became more and more overwhelming. Many are REFUSING to create for anymore new bodies because it's gotten SO flooded.

- Kid Avatar's need their own separate platform, they don't need to be on the same platform that is hypersexualized.

Kinda agree there.

- SL Content creation should have stayed a hobby or at most, a second income.

Nope! That would have stipled things big time.

How? in my personal opinion, SL content creation was never meant to be a full time job one could make their whole living on and personally, I think thats why SL has gotten so expensive in recent years, both in inworld shopping wise AND buying Linden in general. SL right now is more expensive than it's ever been and sure, I'm sure most of that is because of inflation, but if it wasn't for the fact that it's become a popular career choice, I don't think RL inflation would affect the SL economy as much as it is currently if Sl content creation stayed a hobby or second income based, because then there wouldn't be AS MUCH of a need to hike up prices to adjust to the cost of living.

- You're just asking for a lawsuit if you're putting RL brand logos on your virtual products.

Sure. Just look at what Harley Davidson did.

- The Community side of SL died years ago.

There are still lots of communities, just often very separate. So half agree.

- People take too much comfort in this platform's anonymity and treat people horribly because of it.

Not in my experience. Some most likely do, as with all platforms.

 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

8 hours ago, Unity Evermore said:

Creators don't set out tip jars. That's something a merchant would do. There's a difference between a creator and a merchant.

Care to explain the difference?

And that's not true, I've seen quite a few pretty well known creators have tip jars set out

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

Here's a other hot take/unpopular opinion:

Popular creators having tip jars set out is silly. You really expect us to tip you for re-texturing something you bought full perm off the MP or other 3rd party sites and resell for far more than its actually worth? Are y'all not making ENOUGH off sells? 

 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

3 hours ago, Eddy Vortex said:

 

Whoever gave this kida bowl cut didn't love them LMAO

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

31 minutes ago, Lewis Nerd said:

... or the unnecessary sexualisation of the grid generally should be reversed or stopped altogether?  That's what has killed lots of people's enjoyment of the game, and there are other and more suitable platforms if you really want to play with that sort of thing.

I disagree wholeheartedly. As someone who participates in the adult RP side of SL regularly, the reason it's become so hypersexualized is because that's what the vast majority of it's users want. If that wasn't the case, most of its creators wouldn't be making stuff for it, adult and BDSM furniture, lingerie and other sexy clothing, toys etc.

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

Just now, PermaRuthed said:

I don't get what the hoopla is about.

I will say though, I love seeing people become Chewbacca when they forget to turn the Evo X button on 😂😂😂

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

26 minutes ago, Unity Evermore said:

SL is dying.

 

Agreed, a lot of the people that I used to hang out with don't log in anymore and it seems harder than ever to make new friends 😕. I think a lot of what used to make SL special isn't there anymore 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

6 minutes ago, Love Zhaoying said:

Prims are better.

Better in what ways? If you don't mind me asking.

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

7 minutes ago, PermaRuthed said:

EvoX is a blight on the grid

As an Evo X user myself I'm biased towards it, but I will admit that I've completely forgotten why there UV map has to be upside down to begin with 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

48 minutes ago, Stephanie Misfit said:

OK, I am going to go there. Some furries creep me out. You know, the really sexualised furry avatars with ugly animal-style heads but human-type bodies that are dressed in revealing clothing. Don't want to turn this into a thread about the merits or otherwise of furries, but you asked for hot takes. Cute feral avatars, those I quite like.

They haven't always creeped me out, but here in the last couple years they've started to. If you run around with animal ears and a tail I'm cool with it, but the full anthro avis are a little too much for me personally anymore 

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

5 minutes ago, Sequoia Sojourner said:

We need VR in SL -- goggles and all!!!

IDk if they still do or not, but I know VR USED to be a thing in SL

[SL Hot Takes & Unpopular Opinions!]

Some of my SL hot takes because why not?

 

• How body mesh was introduced was a HUGE mistake.
• Kid Avatar's need their own separate platform, they don't need to be on the same platform that is hypersexualized.
• SL Content creation should have stayed a hobby or at most, a second income.
• You're just asking for a lawsuit if you're putting RL brand logos on your virtual products.
• SL was better back before everything became money and popularity-based.
• Flexi should've stayed dead.
• The Community side of SL died years ago.
• People take too much comfort in this platform's anonymity and treat people horribly because of it.

What are some of your Hot takes/ Unpopular opinions?

[Mainstream failure of SL & Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs]

1 hour ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Which I am not saying ANYWHERE, that's the counter argument to try and paint this whole discussion into a corner.

No it's not, it's the ONLY discussion you will even entertain at this point and that's exactly the point you are pushing, whether you mean to or not. In your eyes, the only side of SL that matters is the erotic/ BDSM side. SL is celebrating 20 years, that's a milestone not a lot of platforms can reach, and the suggestion that the adult side of this platform should be the only or the main focal point of it is a very narrow minded one to have. The fact of the matter is, whether it be games or virtual platforms or social media, they have to keep mixing it up and catering to a large audience, not a niche, to keep that business going. Only catering or focusing on one specific niche is not how they will guarantee that SL will be around for much longer.

[Mainstream failure of SL & Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs]

10 minutes ago, Coffee Pancake said:

But an abundance of the same type of thing is an sign of a healthy a vibrant market for that thing.

But an overabundance of the same thing can also hurt it. Take the RL  Dollar General grocery store chain for example. They are constantly putting up stores, often times within miles of each other. Putting up the same business so frequently is going to cause an overabundance where some, if not most locations aren't going to be making anything because of it.

The very same thing can be said for EXTREME overabundance of escort and strip clubs on the platform. There are so many of those inworld that most of them are struggling to get any customers because most of them are a carbon copy of another one and unless you are doing something to make your club stand out from the clutter, you aren't going to be open for long at all.

 

A large abundance of something isn't always a good thing.

 

[Mainstream failure of SL & Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs]

22 hours ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Thank you for proving my point so quickly and so exactly.

It will probably horrify you to know that BDSM has been a core part of this platforms social construct right back it earliest days.

Back when people couldn't just roll infinite disposable 'after dark' alts because it cost money, people had to be subtle. Most everyone was owned by someone if you knew were to look, or read between the lines, or highlight transparent to see all the hidden collars.

Why? (omg why!?) .. because BDSM provided an increased level of personal connection, it raised and expanded the emotional bandwidth a little, it was also thrilling and fun.

But most of all .. it allowed people to feel belonging and connection to another person.

Guess which demographic doesn't have a lot of that in their life.

I've been a part of the Erotic/ BDSM scene of SL pretty much since the day I signed up for this, I still continue to partake in very erotic and adult RP and have spent a HEFTY sum of money over the years that was for such things such as cuffs, collars, gags, blindfolds, plugs, and hooks ( I can't exactly specify because....Forum rules LOL) as well as certain body fluid layers as well as injury layers for such things. While yes SL has become very hypersexual in recent years, to say it's always been like this just isn't true.
Back when I first signed up 12 years ago the Adult scene wasn't AS big as it is now and trying to force SL to be JUST that, when there's actually a large percentage of inworld residents who don't participate in anything even remotely adult themed is probably the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. Just because the adult scene is something you and I both enjoy doesn't mean it's the ONLY thing that should be allowed or catered to. 

People get on Sl for a LARGE variety of reasons, blogging, creation, family, dating, musical pursuits and more. If LL were to shut all that out and just focus on the adult side of things ( which I highly doubt they will, I was an admin of an Adult RP sim, and getting them to even acknowledge the fact that BDSM or adult RP sims exist was an uphill battle) it would be financial suicide because they would be pushing out a large chunk of their users to do so.

[3rd Part Renders, Morphs, Photoshop and AI-Art used for product Ads]

33 minutes ago, Coffee Pancake said:

I'm buying a specific thing, as sold to me in the picture. I am not buying the idealized idea of a thing as rendered in some 3rd party application.

If your product is not pictured in Second Life. I will not be buying it in Second Life. I wont even try the demo.

No exceptions.

 

 

... also .. morphs .. just no. Ew in a stomach turning way.

Amen!

[3rd Part Renders, Morphs, Photoshop and AI-Art used for product Ads]

I don't know really know how to start this post in any other way but here it goes:
Creators,  please stop using third-party programs such as DAZ3D, Morphs, AI Art, or any method other than raw pictures taken inworld with minimal to no editing (save for body logos, what's included, etc) to showcase your products. Show your confidence in the work you put in by doing this. The use of any other method only shows that you're either:

1. Not very happy with the product results
2. trying to hide something on it that you know you cannot hide with an inworld shot

Third-party renders literally do your product a disservice in not showing the true quality of your product, something that will only be shown when people try the demos and realize your product either does or doesn't look like the third-party rendering you used.
Inworld, minimally edited pics do a better job showing your confidence in the products you release than you all seem to think third-party renders and AI- Art does.

[Questions for the Lindens]

Just now, EliseAnne85 said:

I think "dependent on the nature of the tool" is a rather odd phrase and leaves a gray area.  However, a Linden advised you contact them directly via a support ticket if you have any privacy concerns.  I plan to do the same and will open my support ticket soon. 

If this thread gets locked that'll be my next step ❤️ 

[Questions for the Lindens]

*I understand that you don't want anymore forums created concerning the bonnie bot situations, but I hope that at least before you lock this thread, you'll answer some questions concerning it. Please don't ban me, I just want some more clarity on it all! and I'm sure I'm not the only one*

1. In concerns to you saying the following: "Any information, content, or communications, including personal information, you provide when you use any of these features will be available to the recipients (dependent on the nature of the tool) and may be publicly posted and otherwise disclosed without limitations as to its use by us or any third party" and "Given the nature of the tools, we have no obligation to keep private any information you made available to other users or the public using these functions"
   What exactly would you consider information that bonnie bots, if they were to share it, would be a breach of the LL ToS on Privacy?
2. Is the credit/ Debit card info we provide to obtain a premium or premium plus membership, to purchase lindens safe? What about the government info People/ Creators have to supply to cashout their earnings? is that info safe or would that also be considered info that the Lindens have no obligations to keep private?
3. and Lastly, would you consider, in light of recent events, making your privacy policy more transparent so users, both old and new alike, can make informed decisions so they can better protect themselves?

[Professions in SL]

2 minutes ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

Bookstore owner (ones you could actually read). I ran (with a partner) a woman's bookstore in SL for three years. I made books for it, which involved texturing, obviously, but also editing and research. and a wee bit of scripting. It didn't exactly bring in the big bucks, but I made enough (mostly through donations) that I could afford a new hair style once a month or so.

I kind of miss it, but it was a lot of work.

oh wow! that's actually really cool! I've never been in an operational bookstore in SL before! wish I had known about it when it was still going! ❤️ 

[Professions in SL]

My longest profession was a Club hostess. I did it for about 7-ish, maybe almost 8 years give or take. I officially retired from it in 2020 because it wasn't enjoyable for me anymore. The club employee scene often times comes with a lot of drama and tension, especially if the managers are hard/ impossible to get along with and the owners aren't very involved in the running of it. I've had more than my fair share of issues with Club owners, managers and staff that, overall made working at them unpleasant and stressful. Also, if you're not very good at keeping conversations going while also drumming up VIP's in groups, while also sending notices to 3-6 other spam/ advertising groups along with the VIP group at the beginning of each set and at half time, AS WELL as continuing to chat up the present VIP's, make sure that nothing goes haywire and take care of any issues they come to you with, it can be a really stressful 2 hours LOL. Not to mention that 9/10 a hosting gig isn't a per-hour pay gig, it's totally tip reliant so if the VIP's don't tip you very much, sometimes you won't make anything.

[Professions in SL]

I know many of us either used to work within the Platform or still do so it's got me wondering:  What is your Longest standing Profession in Second life?

And if you have retired/ no longer do it, why? 

Mine will be down below! ❤️