QuietEventide

I'm definitely not going to say anything.

Yes, and that is a fair point indeed. But a newbie would not automatically know this. We know it, but they don't (usually). I was trying to visualise these levels in the "viewer user interface" to make the settings as logical and easy as possible. But, I am well aware I might be overthinking.

Sometimes I think SL could do with one or two more relationship levels. Specifically I'd like to see the "Level 1 - Acquaintance" level, like "one step below friend level". Acquaintances would be for example "someone you might meet at an evening class" or "someone you talk to on your way to work". But you wouldn't usually see them in your regular life and you probably wouldn't invite them to your home etc. I often felt awkward when I got offered friendship within five minutes of chatting at some random public place. It happened a few times too often. I ended up a recluse in the end. I'm seldom online nowadays. Maybe I was being too polite & accommodating in-world. I'm pretty good in chat... which could sometimes be misinterpreted. I just don't like being rude ... but I also don't like being forced onto the defensive, having to explain why I decline someone's friendship offer. So, well: ----------------------------------------- Level 1: Acquaintance Acquaintances can't see when you log on but obviously they show up on your acquaintance list. And you probably shouldn't see when they are online either. Because you don't know them that well. Online status could show up as a green light when you IM them, if they are online (but not before). This would be a good "starter relation" I think - for newbies too. Might work for SL mentorship. Level 2: Friends Friends can see when you log on (unless you mark yourself as invisible), so this is same as now. This is a more private relation, just like a friend you have in RL - someone you see at home rather than at the office so to speak. Level 3: In Relationship This would be like "dating level", and it shows up on your profile as "in a relation with XXX" but not "partnered". Level 4: Partnered Partnering – this is a solid long-term relationship which also shows up on the profile as "partnered with XXX" (this already exists) ----------------------------------------- This would probably also need an option to tick the relationship levels that are possible with your avatar. Some people would probably want to go straight to friendship or higher levels and they should of course have the option to do that. Others might want to keep all their connections at "acquaintance" level. Because, well, we're all different. Maybe I'm overthinking it. And yes, I know very well that you can make these settings yourself in the viewer, set online status etc. My point is that newbies don't have the background knowledge of viewers and settings that we have. So having a couple of "default relationship levels" might be a good starting point.

My relationship with SL is very on-off-on-off ... you know how it can be, I'm sure. Lately it has started to feel like a necessity again. I don't really think something that costs (in my case) 10-20 USD per month can qualify as a luxury. This type of outlay should be within the realm of what counts as a "hobby" or a general interest. If someone is into reading, chances are you will buy a couple of books or e-books per month. If you're into painting, you might buy some paint & brushes & special paper etc. It's not really a luxury to have an interest, I think. Despite being 20 years or so, SL is also a new(ish) type of medium, especially thanks to the degree of freedom which is offered in-world. I have not found anything that comes close as a "platform for creativity". Surely in these times it's almost a given that people have to be at least aware of the new technological wonders that happen. This is one of them... In some ways I found SL almost spiritual. It's different for everyone, I know. But one of my happiest times in-world was when I (almost) managed to replicate the little house in Finland where my grandparents once lived and from where I have happy childhood memories. That world no longer exists. But I have seen it (before 1965). That old house had neither electricity nor running water and heating came from a central fireplace. It does not comply with today's building regulations... so that house is long gone from the real world. But, within SL, I could almost have it back. Is that a luxury? Maybe a little. But it gave me very real happiness. If I have a 4096 patch, I can rebuild it at any time. I don't really think I need to do that anymore - but just knowing that I can... that is worth something. The value of knowing that is, for me, a lot more than 20 USD per month...

Which direction are you looking? Forwards (=into the screen) or backwards (=back at the readers)?

Sometimes I get the feeling that RL has become the "luxury" (as in "unattainably expensive", "would be nice but..." etc.). Something like SL might then become the "necessity".

I see what you're doing.

The Premium Plus is really quite a good deal considering the stipend and the 2048sqm without land fees. It's not as expensive as it looks at first. When I had my land patch I probably spent just as much as a PP account would have cost.

Exactly this. Back in 2003 my family rented a 2-bedroom terraced house for £500 per month in the UK. We stayed there for 19 years but finally gave up last February and left for a cheaper country. (In 2020, our rent was 1,400 per month but by 2022, we were told it was about to get raised to 1,750. That's when we packed the bags and said "thank you and goodbye".) I saw this same terraced house on the "market" again the other week - it's now being rented out to students. The landlord is now demanding £2,200 per calendar month. If three students share the house, they would be paying like £750 each per month - for one room (at least one of them must be sleeping in the living room so zero privacy). Let us eat cake.

My SL has been comparable to a Netflix subscription (10-20 dollars per month when most active). A genuine luxury these days is a simple roof over one's head in the real world. Unattainable. A small SL plot that cost 10-20 dollars per month can feel like the only "home" there is.

I'm thinking a lot of things have just become too complicated for many. That's not limited to SL only. I looked (briefly) at upcoming life simulators like "Life By You" (Paradox, development team led by Rod Humble) and Inzio (based on Unreal5). They might draw some ex-SL users in. Particularly those who found SL too complex initially and gave up after a week. I might give them a try if/when they are released. Personally I've spent more time in Stardew Valley than in SL lately. Speaking as "any ordinary person", I find Stardew Valley very rewarding and it has not drained my finances. It looks so very simple on the surface but has a very good framework/background story and enormous depth. Whether one feels 'immersed' or not is highly dependent on the users themselves. There's even a little bit of "Moderate" content - Marnie sleeping around with Mayor Lewis, Pierre having his "secret stash" of whatever that might be...

All questions must be legitimate even if they are hypothetical. The (hypothetical) situation put forward by the OP has obviously generated interest. The core question may not be relevant now, but it could very well become very relevant in, say, five years time or so.

Thanks. I recently left the UK - after living there for over 20 years. The UK is no longer a 'free country' in my personal opinion. I voted with my feet. I also could not afford to live there any longer.

I tried to make a reasoned comment to this, with an example from recent news items in UK media - only to find that my reply was listed as "hidden" and "must be approved". I think I will keep quiet. I always end up doing that. We are, after all, living in an increasingly authoritarian world. Be well and stay strong.

I would have to go sailing somewhere else... (Backdrop from "Raft" game on Steam)

+1 for the Tascam recorders (they are very good) + Audacity. Probably the best way to go about it.

104 pages and 10,000+ sounds already on SL alone. I didn't know that, but, well... Seems the 'market' is saturated (which was in line with my gut feeling).

I can create various custom sounds, but as mr Alcott showed below, there is already a lot of sounds on SL. Original poster is welcome to message me in world if you want to discuss specific sounds ("quieteventide Resident" or "Evie Mitchell"). But, considering the amount of sounds already on SL it might be easier to just use the link from the next post.

They don't seem to have pockets so he's definitely happy to see you.

There are so many things one can do in SL. Or one can just sit on the porch and smoke. (...while having one's right arm eaten by a carnivorous rocking chair I just noticed... Ah well, too late to fix it now, publish and be darned.)

I haven't been in SL lately but I found this in my photo drawer. Life is what happens to us while we're busy making other plans.

Evanescent

Yes, in reality when you have a "home", you are paying for the server space that the home takes up. It's not free to run big servers for online virtual worlds. I rent a place sometimes from one of the big landlords. Usually I have the place up for a month or two, maybe three months. Then I take it down again until I feel like rebuilding next time. I don't really want to sign up for a "pro" account and get locked into long-term "agreements". It works better for me to just rent for a bit, do my little scenes and then take a step back again. But we're all different, of course. Think I spent like 10-20 dollars-ish per month for the time I have it, and no strings attached really. Works well on a low budget. Most often I get a 2048sqm which is enough for what I want. 10-20 USD is less than having a meal out - and the Lindens have to make money somehow.

The once popular sport "Extreme Fashion Tobogganing" in "Evie's Winter Olympics" claimed this (fashion) victim. The scores for "style/outfit" from the four judges were decent but... well... as you can see, this contestant really had no hope. And neither did the sport itself, if I'm completely honest.