The SL royalties should just shut up

I think we can all agree that a particular article that was published this week has caused quite a stir for some people. I won’t share the link to the article here, nor will I delve into its details. Primarily because it’s a poorly written piece. It’s clear that someone is trying to play detective.

The individual who supposedly wrote it doesn’t exist, and it’s obvious that the author doesn’t care about the issues they claim to be concerned about. This article was clearly written out of spite towards Linden Lab (LL) and some of its employees. If you’re a journalist with such a “scoop”, then you should stand by it, especially when you write, “The author will comply with any reasonable request from Linden Lab should they reach out.”

I could also discuss the evidence presented in the article and the connections it draws between individuals, but I will refrain from doing so. Still, the article is there and some things in it is, messy

But let’s move on from that…

What has been fascinating to observe this week is some of the users’ reactions to the article. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc., have been flooded with outraged Second Life users demanding various things. They’re calling for boycotts and declaring, “I’m out!” Some are changing their vendor systems, while others are simply shouting because they enjoy causing a commotion.

I’ve been told, “There’s such hysteria, and the wave about this is getting bigger.” But is the wave really that big? No!

I’ve been in Second Life for a long time. I was here before windlight, voice, mesh, and before male genitals had a HUD with more buttons than a computer running a spaceship.

And during this time, I’ve encountered the same type of people repeatedly: those who don’t have a real life and believe they are the most important thing that ever happened to SL. These individuals live their lives in SL. They come home from their real-life job (if they have one), and before they’ve even taken off their coat, their computer is already logging in. (Some of them never even log out.)

They go to every event LL ever put on, they read every blog, Flickr, X, Facebook etc about SL and when they meet “a linden” they say “Yeah I know him!”

These individuals perceive themselves as the aristocracy of Second Life. They spend their entire lives immersed in this virtual cartoon world, and over the years, they’ve adopted the misguided notion that their opinions carry more weight than others.

Currently, these same individuals are the most vocal, expressing shock, devastation, and frustration over what they perceive as a significant “problem.” They eagerly proclaim their expertise in solving it, growing increasingly furious that both people and LL fail to heed their proposed solutions.

Recently, they were granted an extended Christmas week by the “article” that allowed them to rev up their complaints even further. Personally, I find their behavior laughable, yet it also irks me, as I view them as utterly and completely worthless.

 Many of these individuals share a common “problem”. They struggle to function in real life, which is why they retreat into Second Life. In one respect, it’s wonderful that people like this can find a place to live out their dreams. However, it’s also quite disheartening. The issue I see is that some of these individuals have begun to adopt an attitude of superiority, as if they have the right to say, “I am better than you

I understand that many users of Second Life face real-life challenges, such as anxiety, ADHD, or Asperger’s syndrome. I have deep respect for individuals dealing with these issues. However, what really pisses me off is when people use these “problems” as an excuse for acting like as holes to others.
We’ve all encountered profiles where someone proudly declares, “I have ADHD,” as if it justifies their actions. Let me be clear: having a neuropsychiatric disability doesn’t excuse rudeness or harmful behavior. If you’re acting like an as-hole, it’s not because of your condition; it’s because you’re simply are an as-hole.

 Now, let’s talk about the so-called “royalties” in SL. These users perceive themselves as integral to the virtual grid, believing that their voices should dictate changes. They often express their opinions loudly on social media, hoping to influence LL.

LL should of course listen to their customers, just like any other company. However, the royalties want more than that. They demand that LL should do exactly as they want, which is both sad and somewhat amusing to observe.

One thing that has become very clear this week is how this wave of criticism appears. The truth is, the wave isn’t that significant. If you look at Facebook, you’ll notice that it’s primarily around ten people who are shouting the loudest. Even though they make a lot of noise, their numbers are relatively small. This perspective is essential, especially now when some people claim that this is the biggest crisis in Second Life’s history.

The royalties, who live deep within their own bubbles, forget one crucial detail: most people logging into Second Life don’t really care. They log in, spend a few hours in-world, and then log out. For some it might be days or even weeks before they log in again. For them, SL is a fun place to build, meet people, chat, and engage in various activities, including intimate ones. Unlike the royalties, they can actually log out when they sleep.

These users don’t bother with articles and they don’t read blogs. As long as Second Life works, they’re satisfied. So the notion that “the articles” have been widely read by most people is simply incorrect.

So, indeed, “the article” has caused some turmoil in certain areas, but across the entire grid, the majority of users haven’t even heard about it. If the royalties could simply shut up a little this situation might soon resolve itself. Or at least let LL work with it.

And if the royalties still suffer so much they should consider taking a Xanax! No, scratch that—they should take two.