InWorldz Attitudes
A recent blog posting by a very misguided author caught my attention today. The blog posting — which will not be linked to from this article — is almost entirely full of wild-ass speculation stated as fact, and dead-wrong on almost all counts. Here are some quotes:
I am so very disturbed by the latest spin of the moral compass by the highly esteemed (at least they hold themselves in high esteem) of the whats being called the Inner Circle (defined: a term being more and more widely used to refer to a clique of long time residents of Inworldz) in the virtual world known as Inworldz.
Blink blink. Okay, I will partially agree, and refer to this author as “very disturbed”.
/me rereads that. Again. Must be a different InWorldz than the one I know.
First — and I recognize that this is subjective and personal assessment, and the other author is entitled to their own — the residents of InWorldz are the most laid-back collection of folks I’ve come across. Somewhat protective and passionate at times, and squabbling among themselves sometimes, yes, but typically sorting this out as the best families do. The fact that this is done transparently, in the full view of anyone who wants to read it, with the direct participation of the InWorldz owners (known as “the founders”), is encouraging to say the least, after the experience I have endured in the Second Life world over the last several years. The residents are also very inclusive, with respect for everyone’s differences. There certainly *is* a moral compass there, unlike some grids, but there is no “Inner Circle” as the author implies negatively. I would not be posting this article if this was the only faux pas on the part of the other other… but what I want to correct the most is the (restraining my language now) complete crap that spewed after this point.
The first thing I want to point out is:
Anyone who thinks the founders of Inworldz are not in this business to make money then they’re delusional. The founders make money on leasing virtual real estate AND they also make money on IZ sales and exchanges. I wonder what the IZ is backed with. Don’t you? Now I know we can all sit around and sing the praises of and cannonize the founders but fact of the matter is, they are making money. You better believe there are benefits for them. Sit back and hone your math skills by crunching some numbers. Sorry for suggesting this but go check the Lindex. The founders HAVE based the IZ on the L$ but really, most hrrmmm “BIG NAME” pricing is based on USD. I am waiting to see how long it takes for the price control mafia to move from the forums to in world.
Well… where to begin with that? First, I think the author of the quote above is the only one who wants to “cannonize the founders”. The residents, who live there, and know the founders well, want to canonize them.
Those who do not know the InWorldz founders may believe this nonsense, but it just goes to who how fundamentally wrong the author of that article is. Complete and utter manure coming from that author. Show what numbers “your math skills” have crunched, shall you, you delusional twit.
The founders make money on leasing virtual real estate AND they also make money on IZ sales and exchanges.
No, no, NO! InWorldz LLC, the company, gains revenue from the subscriptions for virtual land, yes, but that money is then reinvested in InWorldz. The founders prefer to encourage the growth of InWorldz, and to enable others to live that virtual dream, keeping resident costs down, charging just enough to pay for the professionally hosted servers and the bandwidth of the residents, and maintain a balance there for the considerable expenses that come along. Every week they need to purchase more and more hosted servers, and the required upgrades, such as the new cluster of database server additions to which they are upgrading tomorrow. As I understand things, InWorldz is a corporation, and prior to September 1st (last Wednesday), all employees have been unpaid staff. They have been volunteering huge amounts of time and energy and personally putting their own money at times into making things better there.
Some day it may grow enough that everyone who works for InWorldz will actually be paid, but as I write this, there has only been one paid employee, and he has worked a total of 5 paid days so far (and probably hasn’t actually been paid yet). And this comes after many many months of unpaid 80-hour weeks (on top of his full-time “RL” job). As the software engineer responsible for the grid servers, IT infrastructure, security, architecture and server software, “Tranq” has a lot on his plate, and it is about time that InWorldz has been able to finally steal him from his full-time position elsewhere. So he’s been able to trade one full-time job for another, which hopefully will allow his weeks to drop from about 120 hours of work to only something like 100 hours, total (an increase for InWorldz!). (This are my rough estimates, based on seeing him in action every day.) The other two founders, Legion and Elenia, have been working very long hours for almost 2 years now, unpaid, without so much as a day off. Elenia has been starting work each day very early, hours before 8am, and not stopping until she practically drops every night, usually well after midnight. I have no idea how she can go on day after day with such little sleep. And all of that is unpaid. For the benefit of the residents. Maybe some day they will be rewarded; I hope so, they sure do deserve it.
Anyone who thinks they don’t deserve a pat on their back for their never-ending contributions and dedication to the residents has no idea what they are talking about. It is just uninformed total bullshit and misguided speculation, and the author should be ashamed for writing such drivel.
The founders HAVE based the IZ on the L$
Well that is a common misconception, so I forgive the author, but completely false. The InWorldz exchange rate is based on — and tied solely to — the US dollar. The author is probably basing this false belief on the fact that currently there is no direct InWorldz-to-US$ cash-out mechanism, but that is a matter of mechanics, not exchange rate. This is why the InWorldz-to-Linden$ exchange rate was adjusted recently — the Linden$ has tanked so badly (due to the Lab’s mismanagement of land and economy) that the InWorldz founders could no longer swallow the difference out of InWorldz funds (keeping it simpler for everyone), but instead had to finally adjust that rate to keep the InWorldz dollar closer to the US$ value. The exchange rate is 1 US$ == 500 InWorldz. End of story.
they also make money on IZ sales and exchanges.
No, actually they don’t. The original author should at least make an attempt to verify facts before spewing such falsehoods. However if the founders did make money on cash-outs, there would be nothing wrong with bolstering the InWorldz financial stability by taking a small share of the economic trade. That kind of small “sales tax”, and only when cashed out, would also help to keep land prices low for a longer period. I hope they move to this model in the near future, perhaps when the direct InWorldz-to-US$ cash-out exchange work is completed. Hopefully at that time the InWorldz-to-Linden$ exchange will be shut down.
Secondly: Anyone who thinks for one second any income a “BIG NAME” can earn in Inworldz can do anything other than support their holdings in Inworldz with income from Inworldz, then again, is delusional.
I’m not sure I can even read that. If I am interpreting that poorly-phrased statement correctly, I believe the author is saying that big name vendors in InWorldz won’t have anything leftover to withdraw, to help fund their SL activities. Well, we know this to be false, especially in the case of the landlords in InWorldz, who initially complained about the exchange rate change cutting into their pocket, which only applies on transfers from InWorldz back to Second Life.
Furthermore, the author of this statement claims this second point is false with the third point below. Saves me the trouble of arguing against it.
Thirdly: If Inworldz residents wanted Inworldz to be a world of only creators, stagnant with a total lack of growth, it’s economy based on residents creating and giving each other free skins, clothing, textures, sculpt maps, hair, shoes .. you get the idea and/or just create your own items, then why did the founders create a currency and a way to cash out. Oh .. Ohh .. OHHHH that means someone must have been making MONEYYYYY!
Yes, exactly, the InWorldz residents do not want a stagnant world of creators only. Fortunately, that is not the case. Many Second Life content creators have come to InWorldz and are making money, as this author speculates. Many have also come only to expand into a new and growing market, investing in the future. New content creators from Second Life are very welcome in InWorldz, and regularly praised and welcomed on the InWorldz forums. It is a world growing tremendously quickly, first in content, then economy, and now I believe we are on the verge of a significant growth in the social side of things. All three are critical for the long-term and continued growth of InWorldz.
I think the second and third points above contradict each other. Also, the third point is meaningless, if it is meant as a criticism, since it fully supports the notion that there is money to be made by investing time and effort in InWorldz. Okay, point accepted. I agree.
Fourthly: Let’s be done with all the chest beating, the finger pointing, the name calling, the accusations, the intimidation, and the attitudes
Kinda defeats the fourth point if the first two are spent chest beating, finger-pointing, … and attitude.
To the original author, I have not seen such an unfounded, speculative and grossly incorrect article since I read a couple of Prok’s wild-ass personal attacks on people she did not know. Congratulations on a total waste of Internet bandwidth.
By the way, it’s “I’z$” not “IZ”.
Bravo, Jim!
InWorldz or any other grid server farm is most likely made up of a close working group of people with common interest. That may be money or it may be technology. This in itself shouldn't give rise to a inner circle or clique.
Sometimes, transparency can look like self righteousness, when in actuality it it is what it is, a method by which we school those around us to what we are doing.
I have been to InWorldz and found it to be a very social and pretty stable platform. Personally, I would reduce footprint in SL and expand to this grid for cost reasons, and not so much who I may know there. 🙂
A very good post Jim, as ususal! 🙂
With all due respect, Jim, the blog you're quoting was created in response to an equally cringe-worthy and opinionated blog post by someone on the opposite side of this issue — someone who is a mentor in InWorldz, apparently. Sadly, there is something of a "faction war" forming over the suggestion of "price fixing" and so-called "big name" merchants coming over from SL. It's a culture shock for those who have been on InWorldz long-term, and at some point it will have to be resolved…hopefully with less venom that the two blogs exhibited, and with more tact and tolerance than a number of posts on the InWorldz Forum showed.
In summary, a lot of biased and unfounded presumptions were made by both parties, which often happens when folks are particularly emotional about an issue. Let's hope that cooler heads prevail, instead of continuing to stir a pot that could end up dividing the residents of InWorldz between "newbies" and "oldbies" for a very long time.
I guess since you forgive me for so much here, I'll forgive you for not referencing the blog written by the Inworldz Mentor or the Inworldz forums that pretty much support everything I've said with the exception of my personal belief that the founders do make money. I don't fault the founders for making money. They should be paid for running the grid.
Should you decide to present the whole picture, here ya go:
http://fanciful-muse.livejournal.com/21424.html (By the Inworldz Mentor)
http://inworldz.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3141(The Official Inworldz Forums Thread)
SL Merchants considering a move or an expansion into Inworldz should be aware of and consider what's said in that blog and on the forums before making a decision.
Ever
I really don't think that a thread with the opinions of residents should be taken as policy. Mentors do not speak for the founders. Not sure why there is so much drama being created over this. People spoke their minds on both sides, and no policy was instituted as a result.
As it is pointed out the founders are not making money
Just a thought when there is a IZ to $ exchange mechanism in place if there is no income just overheads and investment what security will there be if for some reason residents decide to withdraw large amounts of their inworld currency
If there is no profit and all monies are reinvested and sometimes running at a loss where is the securities for the IZ
perhaps inworldz is not for business minded merchants as the economy seems to be built build on a house of cards
Will it be sorry we invested the money we cannot buy your iZ from you
This is also a concern in sl also as it seems the linden exchange is being disbanded
The comment above was deleted due to a typo.
@Anon2
The forums represent a portion of your customer base demographic for the lack of a better term.
Post removed due to typo
The forums reflect a portion of the Inworldz customer base. Prospective businesses should be aware of the views and opinions of those that post there. A mentor is or should be a figurehead of the community and is many times a new residents first contact. I would think neutrality would be a requirement.
@Tmax Thats food for thought for sure. What would happen if there were a "run on the bank"? The TOS states that the Iz$ has no value so I suppose the scenario you describe isn't that far fetched.
As a merchant and resident of Second Life and as a merchant and resident of IWZ, I have to say Marie's blog and forums posts offend me and upset me in that they could discourage new business and old established businesses alike from investing in IWZ
Hmm, for some reason I can't repost what I typo'd under my Google ID so I'll try again, Anon.
The forums are important as they represent the customer base of the prospective business.
Mentors are or should be individuals that are figureheads of the community and therefore should remain neutral in a public forum at least. They are the first contact for new residents. What they say and do is important.
Ever
Interesting to read the amount of fear mongering going on over this. I see a ton of speculation being based on other speculation. You might get a lot further if you post your concerns to the InWorldz message boards and get authoritative answers to your questions.
So, Ever… Having failed to make a coherent point, and getting a lot of things flat-out wrong, you're now saying that a certain class of people's freedom of speech should be curtailed just in case someone lacks critical thinking skills and misinterprets what's been said as grid policy?
No. Just… no.
Mentors do not have a special status (despite your attempt to give them one); they are volunteers who help newbies adjust and de-Ruth. That's all. They do not 'speak for' the grid while they're acting as mentors, let alone when expressing their own opinions in public.
Your disagreement is with an individual. A lot of others disagree with her, too, including me. The rest of us understand that she is only one person speaking on her own behalf. You should, too.
Let me just say something here. Being one of the only TWO that happened to actually comment on Marie's Blog post. We were just stating our own facts for OUR SELVES. No one else. What anyone says and does is on them. Not everyone including and especially myself will just sit back and allow things to be said that we agree or disagree with and not speak up.
I enjoy the fact that we're encouraged to speak our minds. Yes things to get heated. So what? We're permitted. I accept that we may not always agree. That alone in my eyes says a great deal. We don't have to be afraid to say what we feel. I'd rather be able to disagree as well as agree with something then have to have some fear that what I want to say has to be curtailed for some reason.
As Jim well points out. We all act more like a family then anything else. At the end of the day I can feel safe and pleased with the way things are handled for the most part. If someone takes offense to something I say they have a right to speak up about it. Be that publicly if they desire. I welcome it. Why wouldn't I? I do the same to others. It doesn't mean I hate them. In fact I have more respect for someone that isn't afraid to do such. The best of friends and family do argue. We still get along in spite of it. That's a very good thing!
I understood, but disagreed with, several key points in Marie's blog, but as Lalo says above, I recognized it as one person venting their frustrations on their personal blog.
Then came Ever's blog which totally distorted that into some kind of generalization of the people, and the management philosophies of InWorldz in general. Unlike Marie's which I simply have a different opinion, I saw Ever's as a personal attack on the people of InWorldz, of which I am one. And from what I can see, it was almost entirely false, completely out of line, and I too was amazed at the fear-mongering on Ever's blog, based on wild-ass speculation. Thus I had to post a counter-article; something more than simply a comment on Ever's blog.
What I fail to comprehend is how I got singled out in this, when there were plenty of other people expressing consternation over some pricing choices. Also, what I said on the forums AND my blog was very general, and definitely NOT pointed at any one individual. I found out about the tip of this iceberg quite accidentally when looking to duplicate certain things I have in my IWZ inventory, on the SL grid. Instead of finding the landmarks I'd hoped, I found a screed directed against me and the grid.
I am not happy about this. At the same time, I see no reason to retract my opinions as they are my own and I never force them on anyone. They are free to take them or leave them, or even engage me in meaningful discussion. What they are NOT free to do is defame me over them and twist my words to mean something else entirely, while sowing drama and chaos.
Marie, I hope that wasn't directed at me, as I most definitely did not single you out. I singled out Ever's blog article, and not by name until she named it and posted the link.
I fully support your right to your own opinions on your own blog, or forum messages. My blog articles are in response to the other one (Ever's) which I felt in appropriately provided misleading information about the founders and InWorldz in general. However, it was in direct response to your article, which was critical of businesses and clearly linked to your criticism of her business by your posting in the forums which advertised your blog article in the thread that was critical of her. You cannot say the article was in general when you refer to it in reply to that discussion. So as far as I know, my only reference to yours was the comment above, "I understood, but disagreed with, several key points in Marie's blog, but as Lalo says above, I recognized it as one person venting their frustrations on their personal blog."
I disagree with the statements you made in your blog because I agree they are somewhat hostile toward new businesses, and certainly not the image I would endorse of InWorldz. This is all just my opinion but if you want to know why others have identified your blog as offensive, I will give that opinion. I find them pushy and presumptuous in terms of trying to tell other businesses how to run their operations, and not in any kind of constructive way, but in a manner that attempts to shame them in to changing or leaving. Words like "exploiting" attempt to say these businesses are not welcome to price products as they see fit. It does feel like you are launching a campaign against SL businesses coming to InWorldz, using multiple media, multiple blog articles and forum discussions, and in the way it is being done, it seems to be targeting a specific one. What I will say is that I am growing very tired of the games being played here. The Twitter comments need to stop. That's just my opinion, but all sides need to step back from the escalations. There is no need for this drama. You've said your bit; others disagree. That should be enough. Both sides need to shut down the "campaigns" that seem to be in full swing and move on.