If it's not a game, why are you playing?

I've been quiet. We're going to move to Houston soon, and it's a lot of work packing all these people to move.

But in between cleaning and packing and chasing kids I sit down to relax and long on to SL. My second life is far quieter than my first and chatting with my friends is a nice way to chill until my back stops hurting or while I'm having lunch, or quite frankly like today when I was just too tired to get up and do shit. We spend that time doing something together, our new thing is hunts. We comb the grid in search of new shops and solving puzzles. Done correctly we have fun.

Of course, the majority have to do it incorrectly. I've been banned, boohoo, from one sim. Quite frankly, I didn't want to go to start with, but my friends did and so we did. Her stuff is quite substandard and well, I don't DO substandard.

And this will probably get me banned from a whole ton of places, and well, I don't care. The discussion arose on whether or not SL is a game. It does fairly often, and you have your sides on this. I really don't care. It's fun, so I'm not picking a side really. Except when business owners in SL start crap on "this is my JOB!!!" First of all, if you are making money playing World of Warcraft, that doesn't change the fact that it IS, in fact, a game. But most importantly, if it's really THAT serious to you, then why are you treating it like a game?

I have never in my life seen more shoddy business practices than in SL. Like the gal who got her feelings hurt by a customer and so threw the biggest hissy fit, even down to chasing her down on her blog to make it very plain that she wasn't affected REALLY. Even though she dropped out of the hunt and was in tears for just HOURS. And if you want to ban me honey, go ahead, I haven't even been back to your store for the freebies since that stunt.

I love the ones in hunts who make it very clear what's really more important. Foiling the cheaters at the expense of the customers? Really? Because you seem to put more effort into that than in showcasing your product, and most likely I'm going to trash it, unseen, because you're more concerned with cheaters ONLY looking for freebies than you are me, who would have gladly bought those six GORGEOUS things from you until I saw where your priorties as a business owner really are. Not with me, the future customer, but so you can best people who most likely won't ever return? Sorry, I got the landmark and deleted your gift. How do I know if I wasn't cheating? Well to be honest I wasn't. Since the little flowers began coming out and I found one and clicked it to see what it was about, I've been running tests. Solve the clue and then see if you are one of those more concerned with your customers or with getting the best of someone else.

My favorite though, my absolute fave, is the gal who closes her shop at least once a year for 4 or 5 months at a time. She always says when she'll be back, but sometimes she's not back for months after that. Wow, contempt for your customers much? For those of you not clued in, a designer makes her own stuff. So creativity can run short. I get that...but because you aren't "inspired" doesn't mean you shut it all down. The really pathetic part is how many fangirls stand around waiting and being treated like that so they can have "IT". The funny thing is that there's only so many designs out there and well, I can probably get the same thing, cheaper, and better made. But don't worry, I never come to your store either.

If it's not a game, if it's your job, then quit playing and show some professionalism. Most of you couldn't run a business if someone stood over your shoulder giving step by step directions in 2 syllable words. You aren't really "running" one now. You're playing around...badly. You're nothing special. You're failures for the most part, who found a medium that doesn't care. Oh not all designers. Some never had the opportunity, some had a hidden talent..but the majority, you just suck.

"I'm a designer, I have feelings!!" Sweetie, I'm a writer and y'know, that doesn't make a damn when those critiques come in. Don't tell me I don't know what it's like to put my soul in something and have someone say mean things about my work. I'm not even going to say it doesn't hurt my feelings, it does. But I don't throw a hissy and chase them down to prove that they haven't gotten the best of me. I ignore the idiots and try harder for those who at least were constructive. You've put yourself in the position for criticism...grow a skin and get used to it. We aren't here to coddle you. Do your thing or cry, but don't expect me to cater to your feelings.

And for the customer, if you won't accept this kind of behavior from Sears or Red Lobster, why are you letting them do it to you here? There are tons of good creators out there that appreciate YOU and show it, frequently. Cilia'angel? Awesome person, awesome customer service. House of Ruins..awesome eyes, awesome customer service. Caly, Pazazz, Pididdle, Katatonik, Whimsy, Rockberry, Lemania (I don't always like her stuff, but you cannot fault her for her customer service or her work), Stringer Mausoleum, Ema's, Evie's Closet, House of Zen, Nikki Ree, Ova Hauled..I could make a long list. I'm sure you have your own list. They show they care about the customer, we make their business and they know that. They don't give out free stuff necessarily, but they still care and appreciate us. That's where you need to focus. Reward those who remember it's a business and don't act like they are doing US a favor. WE pay them...they aren't paying us. Of course none of these people are going to put up with bullshit, but if you approach them as an adult, they've always responded to me as one.

getting married in Second Life

Ok, I really have to get this up even if my page is down.

That is so wierd, my husband and I were discussing this the other day. My question was how many people roleplay themselves into a real life divorce? I can only wonder if they really truly know what they are getting into.

While I consider many of my friendships, not just in SL, but on the net as very real, I just cannot see throwing over your entire real life for a person that may or may not be real. Is this the person you will see when you meet? I know I'm a whole 'nother character when I log on. In second life I am comfortable being silly, nice, and friendly/socialable. But that is something that I cannot acclompish in real life. I just can't get over that mental hump that would allow me to be that way in the real world. I'm a whole different person in the real world; quiet, rude, I find it hard to get to know people or talk to them (makes me extremely uncomfortable). The me you see is not the me you will get when you meet. I mean, SL Jales will still be there and a little more forthcoming than usual...but you see a whole side of me you would never see. How many people are the same? How can anyone accept a SL persona as THE person when you are leaving out so much of their personality???

I guess one could say that this is more of the person than you might ever see in real life. That this is purely them, but no, it can't be purely them. Even in SL you may find yourself in a real life situation (cheating on your SL spouse with another married persona??? ack! LOL), your reaction will still be different for many reasons. Take the cheating instance, even if it is a little extreme:

1. You have no fear you will get shot or the shit beat out of you, so your reaction will be based on that. No fear, so will you wrap your arms around your dolled darling and tell him to go fuck himself? STand up and tell him what a man he's not? Ooo..what a shoutfest...and hey, you can log when you get sick of it.

2. Ok, you probably don't feel badly. Your SL wife comes in and she's been IM'ed with the news from the jealous husband "Your husband was found with my wife in my house today". That much easier to tell her to go fuck herself. I mean, you can do what you want right? And it's not like it's your real life wife (let's negate the whole discussion for the moment on whether you are cheating on her by being married in SL)

You know as well I do that there are no real consequences of your actions. The guys at work are most likely not going to hear about this. There is no real shame involved..well maybe in a very few cases, but you get my point.

So that's not YOU, maybe you are a coward and if this would have happened in real life this dolled darling's shining knight would have been on his knees begging for mercy. Not so pretty a picture now.

So hey geekboy, put down the "uber hottie" avatar here slowly and back away. Little miss plain jane, drop the "sex goddess" avatar. Remember, you don't really KNOW this person, not really. They may have deep thoughts and a great personality online, but don't throw your real wife/husband away for someone you can talk to (no, sex is NOT necessary! imagine that!) without punishment.

Tomorrow: Why the hell would you wanna fuck via avatar? I mean, if you can't touch it, where's the damn fun?