peddle peddle peddle

Interesting few weeks in the ‘ol LL forums.  So various arguments in the SLX forums have reinforced my belief that too many people do not understand that the words “some” “few” “many” have no place in a discussion involving fact and proof.  When someone states that they know that “most” of the free textures in SL are pirated because that person had to ask “many” merchants to remove product then that person is operating on a massive assumption.  Unless said person can show that they visited every single texture seller in SL and spoke to those merchants, preferably with a chat log then I am inclined to call shenanigans on them.  Frankly I see this as a fine example of a minor witch hunt.  I was so glad that someone got some press/blog attention drawn to the fact that TRU artists (and more than a few non TRU artists) often sell things they should not, but it became an excuse for one party to then start flinging accusations of piracy in all directions.  Worse still, the various exchanges in the forums show that the TRU owner is either not in the know regarding copyright law and fair use or worse THINKS they are in the know.  There are a lot of misconceptions and misrepresentations on both sides.  Unfortunately the person who got up in LBF’s grill obviously doesn’t know as much as they think they do either.  It is a business which could use more checks and balances

It looks like LL is peddling, backwards that is.  The SL5B thing is such a freaking train wreck.  Then again it could just be brilliant anti scandal marketing on their part.  By making a stink regarding the mingling of child and adult AV’s and stressing the PG nature of the event they have guaranteed some sort of press/blog coverage.  Any press is good press right?  Well now I wonder if you are going to see more people looking for the “naughty” side of SL simply because LL made such a big stink to cover it up.  Too, why does sex need to have a stigma attached to it.  Yes I know that SL is full of strippers and escorts and cam girls and tons of sex workers.  Yes it is a digital deviant’s wet dream play ground but there are sex positive groups and educational groups that wont be able to participate because they simply cannot be totally PG with their content.  It isn’t a family show and all the work to present a positive face to the media with regards to the company in general is a lot of effort for very little return.  Critics are going to find something negative no matter what.  That is that a critic does no matter how good a face you try to put on the project.  It seems like 90% of the responses to the LL blog posts are negative too.  It makes me wonder why those users don’t spend their time elsewhere since they are so unhappy with what LL does (or does not) do.  Now everyone is freaked out about the “big announcement”.  So where do you go if you are tired of SL but want to find similar community, content creation and frolics without things that everyone is bitching about?

love

I love it when people who don’t own the copyright to an image or piece of art clap a copyright symbol on that image take it into SL and sell it telling anyone who buys it that they can’t sell it.  Anyone else catching the irony here?  There is a reason why some animals eat their young.

pointless endeavor

It occurs to me that to refute critics of SL is a pointless exercise.  Every single time I make the attempt I am either answered with hyperbole or a stubborn mulish response where in said person sticks to their guns.  While that is commendable, the latest instance just proves that the reviewer was actually a complete moron.  How anyone can spend four weeks on the grid and not find concerts, art shows, lectures and classes is beyond me.  How someone once hearing of these things can go on about how they are not “real” is truly beyond me.  When I go listen to a musician playing and that musician is in Dublin, Ireland how is that not real?  It is live music, yes via my computer, but still live.  If I sit in on a lecture some where is the information being passes to me less valid or less real than if I were sitting in a lecture hall?

Please Mr. Reviewer forgive me for stepping foot into your very closed minded space.  I am certain that you will get along nicely with all of the other bean counters out there.  I wash my hands of you.

In other news . . .

The store is chugging right along.  My traffic averages about 30 hits a day which isn’t stupendous by any stretch but it is better than a poke in the eye.  I am putting the finishing touches on a larger (well ok its over 100 prims so for me it is large) castle keep.  It is really tough for me to get into producing content at the moment since I am currently packing everything Rai and I own because we are moving to WA in a fairly short time.  I really want to get going on the clothing and weaponry aspect of things but that is a time intensive path compared to buildings which go up pretty quick.

I am half tempted to look for compatible business partners with complimentary skills.  This hasn’t worked out terribly well in the past but I am not sour on the idea yet.  Too, it looks like Ella is going to get back to jewelry making which is groovy cause she rocked at it.

content

I really do not understand why someone would think it is ok to go to a site that provides free 3D resources, take those resources, package them and sell them in SL. It’s bad enough that you find people selling the art work of various famous and professional artists, obviously without the artists permission. But profiting off of either scenario just turns my stomach. One such in world merchant maintains the USC Department store. Now I know that any press is good press and I do recommend people go there and poke around. There is not better way to show as many people as possible what a crooked establishment it is. Just don’t buy anything unless you know it isn’t stolen from someone else.