Furthermore, what’s operative is that resident-to-resident sales, as distinct from land-baron-to-public sales, now have way lower prices.

What would happen is that all the non-barons wishing to sell their land would put their parcles out at ridiculous sums of $30/m or $40/m thinking that now all these greedy land barons were out there willing to pay those prices. The only people they hurt were themselves, having to keep paying tier on land after 30 days, and their neighbours, who would have bought their land at $15/meter weeks ago.

So now those people are putting their prices down, though you still see patches of rampant greed, where people are trying to take advantage of being the last parcel on a sim or where they are imagining that they can still get gullible people to pay $29/m for their ugly waterfront with spinning junk all around it.

Another few weeks, and it will be down to a level of something like $10/meter for mature flat, and $18/m for waterfront and then the $22/meter and above will be for really spectacular double protected new class five waterfront. It will not likely go to $6 or $10 as it once was.

It seems to me that prices have slumped a bit from the silliness they were at a few weeks ago, but that the market remains healthy. Every land sale I’ve been to lately has been pretty busy.

It doesn’t seem like a Pop!, more like a bit of a wet fart.

http://eightbar.co.uk/2006/12/05/alliance-navy-operation-peartree-giving-back-to-the-community/

I do accept your argument and must say that I follow many of your opinions. I merely think that you have put across your point in a overly-hostile way, and it could have been done better with a little less insulting thrown in.

Also, if you know at least 2 people who have done themselves in over this kind of problem then it does help to explain your strong views on this topic.

While I understand what you’ve saying, I’d like to also point out that I’ve seen examples that would go against your observations. It’s a double edged sword …. and one of the biggest tenets of Online Role Play has always been to keep the character and the player separate. There is a reason for that. Now granted, I myself will really get into a character – if the proper conditions are met. The difference to me is that when I am done and when I step away from the computer … I am myself. The sort of issues I am talking about are those where a person walks away …. and they actually think they are their character. Yes, in the most extreme forms this is only possible with someone that has issues to begin with … but it is still possible with others.

:sigh: Hell, I’ve had at least two friends that were perfectly fine, no problems, off themselves due to a combination of online antics from a few true jerks, and real life stress. The sad part of it all is that their case was a milder form … they blurred the line, but not as much.

Second Life blurring the realms of reality and fantasy? Whatever’s next? People thinking that the uncountable legions of Warhammer miniatures are trying to take over the world?

People that commit murder/suicide over a computer game are troubled to begin with. It is not a normal human being that decides his/her life is not worth living because some virtual character is making fun of them. As for murders, identity -should- be classified, something LL is very urgent to point out. Ergo, in an admittedly blasé and coarse way, I’d say it was their fault for giving out their details.

For those that have difficulty separating fantasy from reality, I’d say SL is a tool of wonderment. It allows them to lead a life of their choosing, instead of being shunned in society for their problems. I know many people that have this sort of problem, and they are some of the best RPers I have ever met. Imagine where they’d be without it, in a dark room staring at pieces of paper with their equally troubled friends.

“And here we see the usual fall back tactic of Prokofy: Attempt to insult a person that does not agree when they have her over a barrel. Try again Prok – this time actually use that single neuron of yours.”

Now, here all I see is someone using a tactic they themselves have so condemned. It seems more of a stalemate than a victory for you, Justa, and thus you use the same thing that Prok does. Only difference is that you do have something to say afterwards. Agreed, SL is a computer program and should be treated as such. Thing is, take into consideration the people that hold it in higher regard and more importance than you.

THAT is why it is important to NEVER think of Second Life as more than a computer program, no matter WHAT you do in it. Sure, run your business! Just don’t ever lose site of reality.

And Yes, I do have you over a barrel – you cannot possibly respond in any way whatsoever that would not make you look like the fool you really are when someone comes right out and says “Second Life is a computer program and cannot stand on its own if the server grid were to go down permanently. However this fact does not affect how people use second Life, nor does it affect what they get out of it.”

That single neuron just cannot handle such a statement simply because there is nothing there for you to attack. Go back to your virtual rental business and you pitiful writings on the evil Linden Lab Shadow Government (Patent Pending) and leave the discussions of what second Life is to those not so immersed in an illusion that they lose their grasp on reality.

I live in reality, you do not. Each time you try to show that Second Life can exist by itself (IE being able to exist if the entire grid went down, permanently) and each time you say something as lack witted as people “living” in it …. well you just further prove you do not live in reality.

And no Prok, the car analogy is not ‘spot on’. It’s a poor excuse of an attempt to link Second Life to another industry: One which has nothing at all to do with Virtual Reality.

By the by, Second Life being a computer program – and people admitting this and accepting the fact that it can all go away at a moments notice – does not at all affect the way people use and enjoy it. Next time, kindly use the few neurons you have in that skull of yours before attempting to respond to me, ok? I’m really starting to get rather bored correcting your little lapses in thought.

In fact, nothing that justa types will ever change the fact that most people come to Second Life not because it’s a computer program and software ready to be erased by the next blackout, but because those decidedly secondary factors about SL are what generates a compelling, believable, and viable interactive world with a real economy and society and multiplicity of communities.