Carole Franizzi

Sy Beck wrote: Carole, may I suggest that you copy/paste your OP and last substantial post and make a new thread in the Forum Feedback forum as well. Fantastic job in summarising the essence and relating it in a simple way. Will do. I wasn't 100% sure where to post this, actually, as it does indeed have a lot to do with forum feedback, though I eventually decided what was really at the root of the issue was the lack of respect for the flesh and blood people behind the avatars.

TriJin Bade wrote: I couldn't have put it better myself. Thank you for posting that. I was going to boycott the SL Forums and stay out of it, for that specific reason - the lack of respect to the machine that drives Second Life. No, not cash, but the RESIDENTS that show respect to others. Those are the people who are the Linden Lab's bread and butter. Anyway, this will probably be my last post in the forum, until the moderators and the Linden team get together and actually prove policy consistancy between them. [cue darth vader exit music] Exits stage left. *head swivels round as the bearded hunk of a stranger passes through her thread* You're very welcome...very....welcome.... I hope you re-consider posting. We need more dashing bearded hunks eloquent posters like you. However, the messy, inconsistent and unfair moderation is a huge deterrent to spending time creating posts in here, so I totally understand. I do like your signature. *sighs deeply*

Well, exactly. Let’s be brutal for a moment. What is the product that LL sells? Well, to some, it’s very light entertainment. To others, it’s a very vital and necessary part of their lives. To such people – ones who have made homes here, made friends, fallen in love, “married” – it cannot be compared to a TV set or a boiler which goes on the blink. I’ve often wondered whether LL has ever fully comprehended the immense emotional investment some people make, and consequently, if they have ever understood the ethical implications of playing God in so many people’s lives. Not forgetting the people who, with a “contract” which in no way protects them but only LL, invest money and time into SL projects, to the point that some partially or wholly depend on these projects for their RL income. Who on earth would sign a contract with an employer or a partner which protects only the rights of the other? Well, lovers of SL do. All the time. Every time you make something, rent or buy land, open a shop, make friends, fall in love, marry, you are carrying out an immense act of faith and goodwill in LL. Because they can cancel your contract in the blink of an eye. No appeal. No discussion. No argument. No explanation even. This why the forums are so important. The product is us. And we create bonds with fellow products. We invest emotionally and financially. In something which is as stable as a paddle boat in the middle of an storm at sea. And yet we keep doing it. Why? Because we love SL. But if our only means of direct communication to our “gods” - the forums - is regimented like a South American dictatorship (no offence to South American dictatorships), how can we not be frustrated, irritable, offended? Being treated like half-witted preschoolers is very, very annoying. What the heck effort does it require to make a few short posts to keep us up-dated. Being treated as if we were too stupid to understand is annoying, doubly so when we are the thing to be understood. We speak up to object to some new scheme and we get booted? Unacceptable. Really unacceptable. Posters like Pep make a couple (three to be precise) of jokey posts and they get banned for flooding the forums, whilst posters who’ve been recruited to create publicity are allowed to flood the forums with 20 threads, each composed of two lines, around the same theme? Come on…you gotta be joking. As I said, and as you confirmed, it’s the pains in the behind who supply you with the objective and useful information. Do LL really expect to get useful feedback from the I’m-so-happy ones who have a home, husband and prim kids in SL? Nah. All they’re going to tell you is how wunnerful it all is. The problem is it’s not wunnerful and more new clients are needed. And to figure out how to get them in here, LL needs to listen to the ones without the rose-tinted specs and decipher what they’re complaining about. Because in amongst the spoofs, parodies, complaints, rants, rages and melt-downs there’s precious marketing data. And if they deigned to enter into conversation with us, maybe they’d get a whole lot more. And completely free of charge!

Mickey Vandeverre wrote: ok, well did not want to interrupt if it was not for discussion - tend to get into trouble for that now and then. Not sure if I have background correct, just dropped in the other day, and quite an uproar over a sub-forum. The Vampire section? There's a forum for Land Owners, one for Merchants, one for people into Relationship aspects, on and on, this and that .... ....and I'll include here, that I was a little obnoxious to the Ladies who Do Breakfast in their Jammies Club, or whatever club it was.....for getting to take up space and promote their club in the forums, when no one else was doing that.... ....but got to thinking, and thought....maybe it's just a matter that no one else took the initiative. If no one else takes the initiative, and spearheads some kind of a movement or request for it.....then how can you blame another group-type for having that drive? You seem to be of the opinion that you enjoy watching people respond rudely and maybe get a kick out of it? did I read that right? I don't. Sets me off....as you well know. Would prefer that sub-set is not here. But looks like some have been given seal of approval. I very vividly recall some exchanges toward new posters or posters who do not participate frequently or daily, that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up....Maybe that's similar to you reading about vampires? In spite of all the poking by the forum regulars....looks like the vampire enthusiasts are being pretty darn nice! I could learn from that....short fuse here. Also - kinda sets a precedent....on who is allowed to participate here and who is not. Do you not think so? I mean, good lord, I get so frustrated with LL for not doing much promotion, and here they are attempting something, and they've got to deal with a dozen forum regulars who got a wee bit pissy? I watched the promotion - and I watched the numbers - and I like what I see. (well, except for all the poking they received) Looking forward to watching that type of promotional activity again. What kind of sub-forum is it that you want Carole? what type of population or community or event are you interested in contacting LL about to work up another promotion? looks like it's going well, so seems like they would open to that. Have you contacted them yet? Is this your contact to suggest an additional sub-forum? sorry, but I think I might have missed the topic of that sub-forum in your post - lemme go back and read again. eta: well Holy Cow! Looks like you have the chance! My hackles rise when bullying occurs. I've taken a good deal of flak for sticking my nose in when I've seen it occur, as I've jumped to people's defence on many an occasion. Now that all makes sense if what we have here is a forum. We no longer have a forum. Not in the true sense of the word. It appears - nope - it is a publicity vehicle. Fair enough. I assume if LL has decided to use the forum for promotional activities, then there is a reason - one linked to necessity. I'm not objecting to that. You do what you have to do and if they think it's worth a shot using the forums as free publicity for SL, then I'd be nuts to object. What I object to is:- a) not warning us (and lack of communication in general) b) banning unfairly clients who raised a perplexed and perfectly reasonable objection to a sudden change of direction c) favouring only one commercial sector over all the others For this has damn all to do with RP. Do you think I care what people run around SL dressed as? I could not care less, Mickey. It has to do with requesting equal treatment of all clients and, as I am client, I have a vested interest in not standing by watching other clients being treated like something nasty stuck to the sole of one's shoe.

Aristophanese wrote: One thing the forumites aren't, are fools. You sir, are no exception. Indeed. Sy is no fool. But then, quite a few SLers have more than your average brain-cell allowance.Which is what this thread is about. Tapping into the amazing human resources LL has on tap. Free. For the common good. Just be nice to us. We're actually (mostly) really decent people.

Ima Rang wrote: Carole Franizzi wrote: Void Singer wrote: being software, you'd think I couldn't be offended but i have routines for that... but no, not terribly... I imagine your suspicions won't be the worst I've heard Uhm. Yesss....I see Ima has provided an example of "worst". S'okay. Leave it with me - I'll turn her into a toad. Why...that is perfectly ridiculous...Could there be a greater compliment to software than hardware? I simply despise the color or toad. Might I convince you to take mercy and turn me into a red belly newt instead? Nah. You're going to be a big, fat, warty toad. And it serves you right.

Celestiall Nightfire wrote: Carole Franizzi wrote: Yes....I saw you in the bottom of my tea-cup and in the stones....I threw them and there you were...you were in the flickering flames of my hearth....so, so, incredibly ordinary.... Good, God, It must suck to be so normal. Yes. *sniff* I think I'm going to go cry now.... *pats you on the shoulder condescendingly*

valerie Inshan wrote: OK. *clears through*. I aml so "normal" I feel unexistent. I'm a desperate house (single) wife. My cat hates me as much as I hate him but I never forget to feed inl him and he never forgets to pee on my bed once in a while. I think Willow adopted Rex, gee she was faster! I could certainly find comfort with a salivaing sloppy dod sometimes. @ Carole, send the labs to to a kennel and get the cats back, pleaaaaaase! My GOD, you're such a desperate case of ordinariness. Could I interest you in the RL life-style of witcherydom? It's such a conversation-stopper at dinner parties.

UncommonTruth wrote: That Pep. Since in under-mining and criticism, one can find (if you read between the lines) the most constructive and useful input, he is precious beyond gold. It's not from the converted and contentedly satisfied that one will find stimuli to improve or solutions to the problems, but from pains in the neck like him. That is why I love "trolls" ^^ My favorite people have always fallen in that category. "Trolls" in this business can be infinitely useful. Annoying as hell to fellow forumites, but to the management.... But I see I'm preaching to the converted.

Caitlin Tobias wrote: Carole Franizzi wrote: Too kind, Orange-knickers. I've been cheeky and presumptious - speaking not only for myself, but for on behalf of others. My only excuse is that I get the strong impression that quite a lot of people are getting a little weary of being treated in a less than respectful way. LOL@Orange-knickers! Um, hang on......how do you..? Never mind. You forget - I am a RL witch.........

Aristophanese wrote: Venus Petrov wrote: /me stands and applauds Well, of course. http://slconfidential.blogspot.com/ The right margin is full of Venus, Storm and Pep. We should read between the lines here also, yes Carole? Read everywhere. And read on and between the lines. If one has a commercial enterprise, pride should be the last of the considerations. The only target should be making money. Within the dissatisfied customers' comments lies the formula for gaining new and satisfied clients.

Thanks, Uncommon. The forums are a priceless guide to the waxing and waning of SL itself. It's a shame that they and the forumites which frequent it are not taken more seriously. The SL forums are the only contact point for the residents and LL. If you fluff up in here (visible to the outside world), you need to sit down and take stock. If you can manage your PR work in here, then you have a fighting chance....otherwise....the outlook is grim. No, not all residents post or even read here, but it's an excellent means to gauge how things are going. Not to mention a unique opportunity to get the clientele on board with new schemes. God knows, we're a daft bunch, but, as varied as we are, we all love SL and would bend over backwards to make it grow.

Aristophanese wrote: Pep? You mean the same person who posts his own blog, in which he constantly degrades forum regulars and the Lindens themselves? He has even declared a personal war with the Community Manager and goes on and on about the alts he creates to undermine and ridicule the forums. That Pep? Pep (But the battle against the dickhead Community Manager continues) That Pep. Since in under-mining and criticism, one can find (if you read between the lines) the most constructive and useful input, he is precious beyond gold. It's not from the converted and contentedly satisfied that one will find stimuli to improve or solutions to the problems, but from pains in the neck like him.

Too kind, Orange-knickers. I've been cheeky and presumptious - speaking not only for myself, but for on behalf of others. My only excuse is that I get the strong impression that quite a lot of people are getting a little weary of being treated in a less than respectful way.

Why, thank you, Blondie.

Dresden Ceriano wrote: Linden Lab wrote: What kind of sub-categories would you like to see under People? I believe you've entirely missed the point. ...Dres Yes, the main points are in the title - generalised respect for SL clients and the suspension of bans to "dissenters" who just might have been offering precious points of view. However, if the decision is to use the forums as a promotional tool, at least let them be of use to all RP categories (and consequently to the creators specialised in providing accessories for the categories), without forgetting to inform us, the forumites-clients-residents of how such in-forum promotion should work, so nobody gets caught out in the cross-fire of unfair treatment.

Well, I think we have to be brutally honest - sex is the big seller - so a proper adult one where adults can speak openly and use words they're probably used to using among other adult friends in almost every normal social context. SL was created as an adult environment and I think at least part of it should be maintained as such, Then there's a huge range of sub-categories - from Gor to BDSM, from furries to nekos - from fairies and elves to.... You see, the problem is that the RP categories are pretty numerous. Just when you think you;ve covered them all, a new one pops up. However, that is a strong point. A selling point. My suggestion would be to declare "Fairy Week" , for example, and open a special category for them - allowing them to suspend the ToS and promote and publicise to their heart's content. Then close it and pass on to a new one. If you open 55 sub-categories simultaneously, the dilution effect wil render the whole exercise pointless. More importantly, it would show you which RP category was most popular, hence more marketable. However, such a thing has to be done more openly than you have done, with more direct information given to your clients. Making it clear that publicity and promotion of the chosen category of that week/fortnight/month is permitted and that ToS rules still apply in the rest of the forums. If its' clear, nobody can erroneously assume that the ToS has been suspended. And if it's clear, nobody can complain about favouring one commercial (because it all comes down to money) sector over another, which is what is happening. Now can I have Pep, Storm and the others back? It's people like them which help make SL what it is. PS No, I'm not asking for an old dame sub-category. It would be a lonely, lonely place......and I'm perfectly happy tormenting the "youngsters" in their categories,....

Dillon Levenque wrote: Madelaine McMasters wrote: So, you go ahead being a witch while I wait for someone to update me on my progress in my quest for world domination. I can't wait to learn how well I'm doing. /me hands you a big glass of Kool-Aid. I made it myself! *Pauses to take a refreshing sip from a glass of perfectly chilled Grape Koolaid* Chieftess, the plan is coming along almost flawlessly, but we're still not quite there. There has been some resistance to the enlightenment in places like Kazakhstan and Northern Ireland, and of course there was that unfortunate business in Florida. I've already doubled the shipments of popcorn and dancing cows to our agents in place, however, and I expect positive results soon. Yours in Cult Dillon OHDONTDRINKITDONTDRINKITDONTDRINKIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perrie Juran wrote: Whenever / wherever the transcript from today's CTUG meeting gets posted, you will find it very interesting. Oh, really?? Now, I can hardly wait. Thanks, Perrie. I'll keep my eyes peeled.

A little light relief in a dead-pan serious thread.

Chelsea Malibu wrote: I completely understand what you are saying. I was thinking the same and assumed that someone at LL was into the Vampire thing. Why not one for Furries (one of, if not the oldest sub culture in SL) or other sub groups? And while we are at it, why do the Land Listing take up spots in the Newly created "threads' they aren't threads they are advertisement. Why is the Land group exempt from the ToS and allowed to solicit here? It seems to become more confusing every day. We have an Adult Group that cannot use Adult Language or refer to anything Adult Related per say as it is an open and PG group. I wish I knew but given the light of the way the world is today, little makes sense to me anymore. Sex sells. I have difficulty believing that vampires are economically more interesting than the adult category. I'm saying that - yet I am not a merchant of any sort - I have no vested interest in anything, apart from the survival of SL. If they helped out all the categories, starting with the adult one, it would make sense. What is happening is bewildering and dreadfully unfair to any creator who doesn't make vampire-related goods. And I repeat - I am not a creator of any sort.

Mickey Vandeverre wrote: That was a little long. This is directed to Linden Lab? Are we allowed to discuss? or this is just a letter drop to Rodvik? I'm of the opinion that if a post length doesn't fit into your scheme of accepted dimensions for forum posts, you can simply opt to ignore it. I'd hate anybody to feel obliged to plough their way through anything I wrote which they felt boring, irrelevant, less than useful. However, should you wish to comment, I'd be very happy to read your point of view, even if it were not in line with mine.

Oh Lord! People are outting themselves all over the place. Just received this in my blog e-mail with a request to add it to my thread. Must be shy as the author signs himself "Anonymous SL and RL Troll". Whoever knew trolls existed in real-life....? "I am so glad that you started this "Real Life" Confessions thread, Carole, as I feel that I have been hiding my light under a bushel for far too long, and I want to come out of the cupboard (which is where I normally sleep; trolls are agoraphobic) and expose myself to this forum. (Damn, there should have been a photo of me there but for some reason it's blank; perhaps because I took it in a mirror, and you know what they say about us magic folk and reflections) I really want to do this because the name of my tribe has been taken in vain by the moderators and even those who might wish to be moderators but do not possess the required qualifications. It is one thing for homosexuals to claim sole rights over a word that once had wonderful and carefree overtones, rather than echoing The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (Note: Insert superb Roberta Flack track here) and completely another for the electronic age to subvert the designation of a proud and ferocious warrior caste and apply it to people who seem to think that u is a word, bigotry is a replacement for argument, and ***bleep*** ***bleep*** ***bleep*** is a substitute for quondam dread-bolted skainsmate! We trolls have a long and glorious history of righting wrongs and marching at the side of those who take longer to put their makeup on before going into battle. Just because most children seem to associate us with living under a bridge and attacking livestock (entirely justifiably, I must say - they were trespassing and had not paid the bridge toll, which merely reflects the levy they collect from those who would visit the golden land of Wales across the Severn) which reminds me, I must turn down the heat on the goat curry in the slow cooker, back in a minute . . . . . . where was I? Ah yes, we have been given a bad name, literally, by those who are ignorant of the provenance of the word, and of our heritage in helping mankind and its brothers in darkness the vampires - whose illiteracy seems to suggest that they didn't make it to night school, perhaps because they were too busy ogling photos of Sarah Michelle Gellar in a suicidal emo fashion So, to mark my admitting my native genetic predisposition, I would request that all fair-minded users of this forum, at least, should henceforth desist from using the appellation "troll" as a description of nuisances who post merely to annoy those who actually CAN spell and carry out a forum conversation by disagreeing without being disagreeable.. Yours, in indignation, SL and RL Troll"

I know the done thing is to refer to us as residents, but I hope that the immersionists, submersionists and the impressionists (or whatever they’re called) will forgive me for once if I refer to us all as “clients”. For that is what we are. The money of many of us makes the whole SL machinery go round. I have never had premium membership, I have never bought LL land, yet I have spent a hefty sum of money in SL shops, clubs and have almost always rented land. Albeit indirectly, some of my money makes it way back to LL, the rest ensures that SL creators and landowners can afford to stay, make content and invest in digital territory. My own contribution, which must run into thousands of pounds by now (yes, it takes a lot of money to look this cheap), is small scale in comparison to those who, wholeheartedly believing in this amazing concept, have dug deep into their pockets and invested heavily. My hats off to them, as without these people, SL would not exist. Others have spent hours and hours of their time and energy to bring their artistic and technical talents to SL. These are the people without whom SL would be nothing but a blank-screened chat-room, for the vast majority of all that is truly beautiful in SL (and, of course much of what is not beautiful, but which at least fills spaces and makes SL dynamic, 3D and vital) has been made by these talented creators. Without these people, SL would not exist. Many others have come to SL, stayed a long time and never spent a penny. Although they may dress from head to toe in freebies, they do, however, bring human life, movement, communication, interaction and dynamism to SL. Without them, SL would be a desert. People come to SL filled with curiosity, poke their heads round the door, see that it’s scary-complicated and leave again. Others are lucky enough to bump into some of your clients who, in-world and in the forums, act as unpaid customer service staff. They answer the questions. They point in the right direction. They hand over free gifts. They explain, nurture and try to pass on their enthusiasm to the next “generation”. Without these souls, SL would be a confusing place and without the slightest doubt, many, many new clients wouldn’t hang around. My point? My point is that we all bring something to SL. Without us – all of us – LL would be an office filled with some clerks, technicians and some people with a great idea which couldn’t be put into practice. Now, I’m no business whizz-kid, but even I understand the importance of keeping profits healthy for a business to survive. And we ALL have a vested interest in seeing SL survive for a long, long time. Nobody in their right mind would wish to impede the very creature they care for die for lack of nourishment. If SL needs more money to keep going, well, hell, pull out all the stops! That’s your job, after all. Our job is making SL “be” something. And, as I already said, that’s what we do. However, some of us might also have insight into the creature that you in your office don’t have. After all, nobody can be all things. Here you have us – an enormous pool of willing, enthusiastic and varied feed-back resources, sitting on your doorstep, ready to be tapped into. What I don’t get - really, really don’t get - is how you can possibly convince yourselves that any old treatment dished out to these people – your resources, your feedback, your clients, can be deemed acceptable. There’s a history of bizarre PR behaviour in SL, but, recently, it has become utterly surreal. You’ve tried all sorts of stuff to keep SL alive and kicking, and I see you have a new plan this month (the vamp thingy is worth a shot, but I have some doubts about it. Nevertheless, I genuinely do wish you well) – just let’s not get so caught up in this week’s super-dooper marketing plan to attract new clients that you stampede over the ones who are already here. The “vamp” promo thingy may or may not work. However, in someone’s enthusiasm to get the publicity machine up and working, LL has sanctioned and actually committed breaches of its own ToS, whilst others, belonging to SL “sub-cultures” different from the vampire one, or to none at all, have had posts pulled, warnings issued and bans emitted. For what? For doing no more than members of the flavour-of-the-month are doing as I type, and in many cases, much, much less. Some questions:- If the forums are for everyone, why have you opened only a vampire sub-section? If publicity is not permitted why are you encouraging vampires to publicise? If spamming and flooding is not permitted why are you recruiting vampire posters to spam and flood? And why, oh, why are you severely disciplining other clients who are more respectful of the ToS but are not of the favoured RP category? One practical example. My old pal, Pep. Now, he’s a pain in the neck. Can’t stand him at times. However, Pep, in his various guises, is one of the main personalities in here and has been the main attraction for countless forum readers for a long time. Believe me. I know what I’m talking about. When I used to lurk, I’d log into the forums just to read his obnoxious, rude and utterly witty posts. I know Celestiall was reinstated with a apologies – absolute minimum owed considering she’s been a helpful, intelligent and vital part of this forum for a while, but I know that several contributors/CLIENTS, apart from Pep, who have been enormously active in keeping your forum bubbling with new threads and topics (Storm is one name which immediately springs to mind) are still non grata here. Why? Because they dared question LL’s approach to marketing something which, with all due respect, is partly our creation too. My suggestion, which will go ignored, as it’s been suggested so many times, is to try to listen to what existing clients have to say (many times they will be totally wrong, but sometimes you might hear some little gems, free of charge!), even when what they have to say is criticism and not praise (hint: that’s when you should be listening most carefully). And please, please treat us all a little better and more fairly. Please start by lifting the bans handed out simply because they were not singing to the Second Week in November 2011 Marketing tune. A little more respect please, for those who help you make SL what it is. We are not only your esteemed clients, but your product too. Thank you. Respectfully, Carole F.

Void Singer wrote: being software, you'd think I couldn't be offended but i have routines for that... but no, not terribly... I imagine your suspicions won't be the worst I've heard Uhm. Yesss....I see Ima has provided an example of "worst". S'okay. Leave it with me - I'll turn her into a toad.