Lucretia Brandenburg

Solar, while it is true that PayPal is available in 193 countries, not all PayPal services are. If, in some places, it is difficult to get a credit card, it can be harder to have a PayPal account verified. As for ATM cards, that's the credit card I have on file with LL and I have no issue with it. I think more people are leery of linking their bank account to Lindex via an ATM card, not that most cannot do so, but that they do not want to do so.

"You'd think that a bank would jump at the chance to make it easier for its customers to access their funds" Banks LOVE to hold onto funds. Core deposits are where they get their cash to make loans and earn a profit. The harder it is to get your money out, the longer they can hold onto it :matte-motes-wink:

Melita Magic wrote: Lucretia Brandenburg wrote: If people really love going to a sim in danger of closing down, if they can afford it, I think they should donate something to its upkeep. I've never seen a tip jar come even close to approaching the tier amount at the top. I haven't seen fundraisers for tier, only for health issues or real life operations and such. Or for non profit charities. Not saying it couldn't work or couldn't happen in future but, I don't know that people can afford to donate enough to keep sims afloat. No one saved Lost Gardens of Apollo. If I get tips it's usually in the 10L to 100L range. I didn't expect them and it was always nice, but in no way paid tier. JMO Oh I agree, it doesn't come close, I was thinking more along the lines of people giving more significant amounts to help out people who own sims that generate some income already. If people are that upset about a friend losing a sim or a favorite place poofing, I'd think they would want to help out more than a little donation here or there if they can afford it, or at least try to help rather than saying oh, such a shame, I'll miss you.

Not one European I've spoken to in SL has any trouble getting Lindens. I don't doubt that there are quite a few who are having trouble with it now, but given that people come to the forums with issues, it is my impression that the number who will not be able to use Lindex or money transfers directly to LL is smaller than the complaints here would indicate. "Difficult" and "more expensive" is not the same as "impossible." There are a couple of threads mentioning prepaid cards that actually do work with Lindex, and someone posted information about direct money transfers being accepted by LL. There is no solution, like it, lump it, or leave ... those are about the only choices. For those who can indeed use Lindex or arrange wire transfers of funds but would rather not for one reason or another, it's a CHOICE they are making. For those who absolutely cannot use Lindex, I would hope, if they have connections, friends, business associates in SL, that people would help them out until (one would hope) Lindex is updated to accept more forms of payment. Most successful sims do generate some income, and I have known several people who have run into financial trouble and have been helped out by fundraisers to make up the rest of their tier. If people really love going to a sim in danger of closing down, if they can afford it, I think they should donate something to its upkeep.

That's a very weird rule. When I worked as a program manager for people with disabilities in NYS, I hooked clients up with VESID all the time, and they all had bank accounts, savings and checking, since vocational and rehab services for individuals with disabilities is all about attaining skills for being independent and employable. There is something very messed up with that rule. I've been away from that job a few years, things must have really changed!

How do I know when someone is hitting on me rather than just flirting or being polite or friendly? It has to be pretty blatant for me to consider it hitting on me. It happens very rarely. Hmmm, twice in the last 4 years. My usual response was to be either very polite, very crude, or ask if it's a school holiday and do Mommy and Daddy know he is using the computer to troll for cartoon sex. Regarding the second option, the worst wrong window moment of my SL happened when I was telling someone off that way, saying nah, you wouldn't want me, I get too attached and am prone to stalking, how could you explain to your RL wife the naked woman on the driveway playing with herself? I said that in open chat, while hosting a charity fundraiser LOL. Lucy's Top 5 Indicators She is Being Hit On: 1. COME TO ME, B**TCH 2. Oh you are so beautiful, I am in love with you! Sex? 3. Wow, nice rear view babe, it would look nicer if my **** were right there 4. You know that your nipple is showing through your shirt? Makes me just wanna bite it. YEE HAWWW and the CLASSIC, iconic ... 5. Nice shoes, wanna f**k? Regarding the last on the list, I could never tell if they were trying to be funny or not until they said more after that.

For a lot of long term residents, yes, the noob look is a turn off. For others, it's an opportunity to help a new resident out with tips on shopping for hair, skin, eyes, clothes, etc. As an aside, I've noticed that REALLY old timers, from the dawn of SL tend to have the same look they had years and years ago, because to them, I believe, SL is not about looking good, it's about content creation. To add to this, about looking less new ... there are some great deals on complete avatars that are really very good. When I wanted to create a male look for myself, I tricked myself out for less than 300 L and all my guy friends said I looked hot and they'd ahem, date me. Granted, the name Lucretia hanging over the head of a hot frat boy can be a bit disconcerting to some :matte-motes-wink:

Welcome Mike! Yes, most people you see standing around are in IMs chatting, though if it's at a mall or store, they could be camming around and shopping. As for someone scolding you for checking her out, LOL no, that's not typical except for those suffering from an excessive need for drama. I hope you told her just what you wrote here, why make herself look attractive if she doesn't want guys checking her out? One time a friend of mine was at a party and his cursor happened to be resting somewhere that made it seem as if he was checking out some other guy, and the guy's jealous girlfriend IMd he and told him to stop checking out her bf, so people can get funny about that whole "perv camming" "I see where your crosshairs are" deal. Meh, I wouldn't worry about that if I were you. As for what to do in SL, the Destination guide is really a cool resource, or you can use search and type in something random. You can find groups that share your interest, places to explore, just about anything that way.

I get that sometimes too, and also a shadow at my brow because of how I like the bridge of my nose, I like to think it gives me a cultured Neanderthal look. As was pointed out on the facelight thread, others might not see you that way, depending on WL and other graphics settins, it's your nose honey, you don't look like a freak, stick with the nose you pick if you like it :matte-motes-sarcasm:

Aww you're sweet Sephina. I think I might have to make the bump in my nose more pronounced or the circles under my eyes darker though :matte-motes-wink-tongue:

How are you trying to buy them? As per the new TOS, third party exchanges can no longer operate their ATMs in world. If you are purchasing them from the LL Lindex exchange, try doing it from your dashboard if you usually do it inworld.

There seems to be an assumption that people who do not have premium accounts live SL on the cheap. I believe the opposite is the case. Just because someone does not have a premium account doesn't mean they don't buy and spend a lot of Lindens. For most, the perks of a premium account are not enticing, and a lot who do have premium accounts are the ones who live SL frugally on their weekly stipend. Limiting adult regions to those with premium accounts would pretty much wreck adult venues and regions.

There are HUDs that have dance chims, AOs, building tools, flight assist, radar, posing, rezzers, all sorts of things in them and most (even those around seemingly forever) are very low lag nowaday. With one of these multi use HUDs, one is all you need for most activities. MultiTool, Mystitool, Doohickey, and emDash are the ones that come to my mind, though there are plenty more out there, this is just off the top of my head. The last two on the list having the largest, easiest to read interfaces before resizing them.

Who wants to be pretty in SL? I prefer interesting. I spend a good deal of time and Lindens on my look, but pretty I ain't except when I want to wear my prim feet, I can't get them to match my usual skin, so when I'm barefoot, I'm prettier. However, vanity in SL really is absurd to me. Spend enough L and have some sense of taste, and it's not hard to accomplish. Here's a pic of me a photographer friend did, this is my "default" skin, eyes, and shape worn with my favorite hair. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikolaiwarden/7166195875/in/set-72157629643424805 Back in my misspent SL youth when I frequented BDSM clubs, newbie guys with private parts that looked like they were made out of badly dyed tofu would hit on me, but then look where I was hanging out? At other venues, flirting and asking someone to dance, pouring on the charm whether in open chat or IM is just that, flirting, and harmless. Nowadays, even though my usual look isn't pretty, the only time someone comes on strongly is if I'm at a newbie friendly place and then I get the occasional (once every year or so) "Oh baby, you are so beautiful, I love you" which I've determined is SL speak for "any port in a storm of horniness"

Coby Foden wrote: Jewel Laurasia wrote: Going too short means furniture looks big. I'm 6' 7" and my feet don't touch the ground on patio chairs! So in order to not look like a kid in adult furniture, you have to keep some height. I'm 1.80 meters (5 ft 10in) tall. I have never felt the need to make myself any taller due to the oversized furniture. I don't look like a kid - even when sitting on the oversized furniture. It just looks that there is something wrong with the furniture sizing - not the other way round. :matte-motes-big-grin: :smileywink: I don't look like a child avatar when I'm sitting on furniture scaled for larger avatars, in buildings scaled for larger avatars, but when everything around me is scaled very large and I'm not, then it is me that looks out of proportion to my environment because I am. The reverse is also the case; if one of my oversized friends came over to visit me in the skybox I have scaled to my shorter shape, then he would look out of place and silly.

SugarPutty Magic wrote: But if they are hanging out with avatars 7+ feet. there is nothing realistic about their height for the scene they are in. Dont expect the SL world to change to suit you. If you want to fit in with those you surround yourself with, Then adjust your height to fit in with them. Don't demand they adjust theirs to fit in with you. I completely agree with you on that. I have shapes ranging in height from 5'5" to 7'2". When I'm with the usual people I hang out with, I'm quite a bit shorter than they are, even in my tallest shape. When I host a skinny dip (btw, I never get naked, the last thing that bunch of guys want to see is a naked woman) I wear my shortest shape because dancing next to the 8' tall DJ, it's good for laughs and jokes. I've been to events with 'realistic" sized men who are about 3 or feet shorter in appearance than everyone around them. As a friend of mine said the other day, while they are "child sized" based on the off kilter norm of SL, they definitely aren't children, but at first glance they can look like kids with hormonal issues (beards, adult shapes, chest hair).

You can get a job in SL, or create your own job. What do you like to do, what are your interests, how well organized are you, can you multi task? I've worked as a host, market manager at a nonprofit sim, and estate manager. I know people who are DJs, dancers, club managers, gallery curators, photographers, fashion designers, builders, scripters ... all SL content is user created, you can work for yourself or someone else once you find your niche.

AmsterdamTeAmo wrote: all sims apart from big buildeers or big spnosored will dissapear. That is simply not the case. There are a good many owners of small estates who only use Lindex, they have never considered TPE. This includes both Americans and Europeans. They have no issues with Lindex and will continue paying their tier as they always have.

Thank you. The minimum amount of Lindens that can be purchased is actually the equivalent of $2.50 USD.

Definition of shill: An accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others. My SL spending: 72 USD a year, premium membership. 40 USD a month tier fees for ML. 48 USD a month rental on a private estate. An extra few hundred L a week for tipping, and donation kiosks. My SL income: 300L per week premium stipend. 1200L per week salary for managing an estate. A couple thousand L every six months or so from hosting the occasional 2 hour event. Total: aproximately 27 USD a month. That is give or take 63 USD more that I spend in SL than I make. I don't act as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others LOL. I AM an enthusiatic customer. I worked for three years raising money for a nonprofit children's charity, I help organize fundraisers for for another nonprofit. I let people stay for free at my place if they can't afford a SL home. I help out newbies, I have a job in SL that helps some with expenses. Far from encouraging others to stay, I'd prefer those who are fed up with LL leave instead of constantly complaining and saying they're going to leave. I live in the United States, like it or lump it, capitalism is the order of t he day here. LL is in business to make money. SL is their product, they can pretty much do whatever they want with it. Maybe some day I too will find the TOS too restrictive, or SL too costly and I'll leave quietly, with some bit of dignity, not whining and complaining and being up in arms about a capitalist venture doing what it does to protect its own interests, which is the entire point of it in the first place. There are very very few in SL who actually make a significant amount of money that translates into RL income. Greed is not much of a motivator, making enough to cover one's tier or rent, and have fun here is more of a motivator for the majority of those who do have some sort of SL income.

It's actually handy for budgeting. Work a bit of overtime, get a tax refund, put it in there for a rainy day so LL doesn't hit up my RL account and throw my monthly budget in a tizzy. Also, for those who cash out their L, they need to sell L and have a USD balance that is then cashed out, since Linden dollars are game tokens and not "real money"

Why would I want to hurt LL? Whether they are complying with new US Federal regulations, trying to protect themselves from fraud, or trying to bring in more of a profit (or any combination thereof), LL is a business, SL is how they make their money. Why shouldn't they change TOS to benefit them? I hope they upgrade the Lindex so that there are more ways to pay for the small number who absolutely cannot use this service. For those who would rather not, or choose not to use it, if SL is important to them, they can live more cheaply in SL, create their own content, join groups and hunts that offer high quality freebies, seek employment in SL, troll the clubs looking for contests to earn Lindens ... but if using Lindex is an option and they don't want to use it, why blame LL? Why would anyone want to boycott using currency? Oh yes, I want to lose the land I rent, I want to not be able to purchase things for myself or friends, or to tip DJs and hosts at events, I want to not have any money to put in a RFL or ACT donation kiosk to support charity efforts that are important to me. Oh yes, and I want to work for free and not have my SL employer pay me. The notion is absurd. LL has a history of taking a "no skin off our noses if you don't like the rules and choose to leave" attitude. I don't see this being much different. And it also seems that the furor is indeed focused in the forums. Of several dozen Europeans I've spoken to inworld regarding this none of them have any problems using Lindex, and most were unaware of TPE.

I was curious because everytime there is a seemingly drastic change, people always say there is going to be a nose dive in the population of SL, people leave in droves, SL won't last another month at this rate, etc. I have been around for a few of these "mass exodus" scenarios and haven't noticed that much of a difference.

The 25.00 minimum is only if you want a USD balance. From the dashboard, the lowest amount of L you can purchase is 2500, if you purchase L inworld, the minimum is 2000. If you just want Lindens, you don't need a USD balance at all.

Thank you for clarifying that, I was under the impression that it is pricier to use PayPal in some places, just not sure of the details. And yes, it would be GREAT if LL would upgrade Lindex to accept more payment methods.