GEORGEH!!!!

As you may or may not know, today is St. George's Day, St George being dragon slaying, holy helping, all round good egg. He is the patron saint of pretty much everywhere you care to go and is loved by all. He was also incredibly clever to not only create a clever red on white cross for the english to use as a flag, but also to die on our national day! Nice one Georgeh!

Unlike the green madness of a month ago, when every other post on the fashion feed contained something green, leprechauny or guiness. St Georges day is quietly ignored, briefly nodded at before everyone goes back to their daily business. It wasn't always like this though.

Back in the good old 15th century, St. George's day was the best excuse to have a piss up since Free Whore day, but these days celebrating the old lizard killer is a VERY BAD THING! Apparently times have changed. Back in the day when the smartly dressed troops marched along under the flag wearing their very nicest sunday armour, quaffing tea and trying not to get scone crumbs in their chainmail. But in these stereotypical times you're likely to find it painted on the face of the angry man rearranging your facial features with a cricket bat. And that's the problem.

English pride is now english desperation, a country that not only lost its empire but has had most of its achievements undermined by other bigger countries who steal its lunch money and call it names. I'm english, I'm quite cheerful about the fact but I can't help feeling I belong to a race that was once the favourite grandparent, handing out worthers and making wooden boats (although apparently some people think we were complete bastards), but now old, senile, incontinent and a huge embarrassment to all around. It often feels we're indulged for our royal family, excitable heritage and ability to produce decent music.

At the end of the day I say fuck it, I like england, I like the fact that my accent elevates me to Liz Hurley sexy on voice, I like that we have insane roundabouts, stupid customs, evil dentists, a class system, fucked up usage of imperial and metric measurements, football rugby cricket and a complete inability to win anything, strange and slightly barbaric foods and the NHS.
I love it all.

So happy St Georges day everyone!

What's Wrong with the SL Clique?

What is it? That you don't belong to one? Is that what you're busy whining about? To all the naysayers, that will say "I don't have a clique, I have friends." You're so full of crap. Haha! Even pathetic losers have their own clique... it just sucks and no one wants in... that doesn't mean you are an individual or unable to be classified within a 'clique'. it just means you're sad and most likely emo. Everyone has a core group of people that they hang with, hence a clique.

Let's start with the definition of a Clique...
A clique is a coalition whose members associate regularly with each other on the basis of affection and common interest, such as listening to music and blogging for fun, and possess a marked sense of common identity. All members of a clique interact with one another, though there may be core members, primary members, and secondary members.

Ohhhh and let's use it in a sentence or two...
Yo!? That clique that listens to music and blogs for fun is off the heezy fo sheezy! Who is that longer haired neanderthal girl who is always hanging with the JellyBean Madison Clique?

I'm personally all for SL cliques. For one they make SL seem smaller & more cozy. Who doesn't love to have a few or 10 close friends that you can share stuffage with? Then again, I'm part of a clique so I really have few negatives about it. A clique is sort of like a sorority, but not as evil.

The problem with cliques is that hearing the word conjures up all kinds of ideas about being excluded through the use of common techniques such as:

• code language or another type of communication that excludes everyone not in the fic

• "inside joke"... Oh don't we all love using that expression when explaining what we're talking about to someone not quite in the know? Though the use of this expression reaffirms the sense of belonging to those who have already secured their place within the clique, using this popular refrain can make others feel totally excluded.
  

These things naturally occur among friends or any group of people who have 'history'. Capitalizing on using these things for the sole purpose of excluding others does not make your 'group' a clique. It just makes your 'group' a band of merry assholes.

What kind of clique are you in?

Blog Drama and You

Its no secret that blogs are filled with drama. Not only SL fashion blogs, but personal ones as well. My husband finds it hilarious that I find such amusement in 'blog trolling'. I'm a silent observer - so I have to remind him that I'm not an actual troll. Its all the same to him, though.

Most days, Second Life is like a soap opera to me. My monitor is like a television while I sit and watch these plots and story lines unfold. I try to pick the villains from the heroes while the verbal abuse spews from commenter's fingers with marksman-like accuracy. There are times I imagine funny images of "POW" "Zip!" and "BANG" flash across the screen in the equivalent of the early 1990s 'Your Momma' jokes. Its hysterical!

Then I have to ask myself - who is taking this seriously? Who is actually trying to inflict some sort of real pain and who's just in it for the lulz. The folks who's first few words are "I hate drama" are usually the ones that I watch more closely than the ones that make no mention of that naughty five letter word. Do I have drama? Of course I do! I think everyone does in some shape or form.

People come to Second Life for different reasons. For some its a creative outlet - though the definition of 'creative' is often distorted to whatever the 'creator' wants it to mean. Some folks venture into SL to experience things they can't be part of in real life - and in such an exploration they are rewarded with drama. Stop fighting it! Drama just happens, and it only gets worse with the more acclaim, fame, or infamy that you acquire in SL. It isn't any different IRL. The more famous you are IRL - the more scandal you're surrounded with. The more money you have, the more people want from you. Its just this hard-knock fact of not only life, but Second Life.

Many think that because you live your life (or second life) in the public limelight that everything becomes public domain. Is this true? To an extent. If you're going to make a complete ass of yourself, expect to be labeled an ass and definitely expect for that occasion to not go forgotten for a decent period of time (and sometimes never!)

I've thought all this time that maybe just my twisted sense of humor hasn't allowed me to fully appreciate some bloggers as humans. Well okay, that's true. There are some blogs I'll read just because they are so hideously filled with the most stupid sense of drama that it reminds me of Dallas or Knotts Landing. Its so ridiculous that you just have to sit and watch. It's also highly possible that I take the written word far too literally and find just as much amusement in the mental images projected from what some bloggers say/write.

Its also funny to me how defensive people get against such small, trivial things. If I were to stand on a blog soapbox and proclaim something which doesn't even matter like .. "I hate apple juice and I don't care what you say!" that someone would be completely appalled by my statement and feel the need for rebuttal. Does that mean I should indulge them by stating every single reason why I hate apple juice - or does that give me any kind of blogging right to tell everyone who DOES like apple juice that they are wrong? No, but that doesn't mean that the apple juice lovers won't unite against me in blind rage of their love of the fruity drink.

There are, of course, different levels of drama. Some SL drama is just that - SL drama. Its shit that goes on in world that really shouldn't involve other people, but someone has felt the need (urge?) to proclaim their emotions publicly which then makes it everyone's drama. The problem with big communities like SL is that there is such a wide range of emotions, ideals, interests and social standards that you can always bet that no matter what you think/say/do that there will be someone right behind you with a lynch mob ready to take you down. Should there be? No, but it is entertaining!

I do find it hilarious that in a community that was formed on the ideas of sharing that so many people are so selfish with their knowledge. 99% of designers don't do any form of tutorial to say - this is the basis on which you should start. Instead everyone is left to fend for themselves and do things trial-and-error and in the meantime get their asses kicked on fashion blogs about how bad they fucking suck. This then leads to drama - and there are fewer dramas more entertaining than designer drama.

Some designers are so quick to cry "thief" that they forget that their very own SL logo is VERY heavily borrowed from a very famous RL brand. Is this not theft? Or is it called inspiration? If I were to make a wig which was almost identical to one of Six Kennedy's .. but I made my own texture - would I be lynched as a thief or would I be able to pull that 'inspiration' card? Its hard to say. It would depend on who you are, who your friends are, and which blogger gets a hold of your weave.

Should bloggers be able to publicly maim other human beings? I don't know. I honestly don't care - unless it came down to insulting them on a RL basis. RL drama is probably the most touchy of all the dramas, but its no less entertaining. At least in my eyes.

I have my share of RL drama - and I'm sure the rest of SL does too. But if you 'hate' drama, why do you even talk about it? Its because you can't avoid it - and you can say you hate it all day long but in all reality drama is what makes the world go round ... even virtual ones. There are the drama mongers which will start it, the drama stirrers which will read deeper into it to keep it going, then there are the drama referees who will sit on the sidelines with their popcorn and just dream of the day that they get to sit in and hear a drama fight on voice (I've yet to sit in on one of these events).

So if some blogger is all up in your KoolAid and talking shit about you - why not just switch to another fruity drink? Like apple juice.

SL Racism

"I don't care if you're black, white, purple or green!" I'm sure everyone has heard this in some shape or form in their lives (or SLives) -- but how true is it?

IRL you can't be purple or green, but in SL you can ... but so few are. As a colored avatar with a taste for wacky fashion - I've found that racism in SL is very cut and dry. I won't even bring a RL spin on it because that's a whole post in itself (ie the lack of realistic black skins beyond just being what I would consider a dark 'California' tan) and instead I'll only address what I'm familiar with.

So many folks have said that they dress their avatars in ways they wouldn't dress themselves IRL. I totally understand. Lots of folks say they choose not to be their 'RL' self because that would be boring to them, and I can kinda see that too. But seriously, does dressing your avatar like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's really give you that aire of individuality and excitement you're seeking? Is that really how you wish you could look?

I understand that if you run a business there are certain social stigmas (for lack of a better word) that go along with that responsibility. Somehow it isn't viewed as 'acceptable' to dress yourself as a seven foot tall Moogle who farts colorful stars (if someone makes that av I gotta have one!) if you plan to have any respect when it comes to customer interaction. The fact of the matter is: in SL you are judged on how you look - down to what color your skin is.

People say "I love my friends for who they are!" but nine times out of ten their friends just look like clones of the person who said that. Its completely understandable that you get in where you fit in (haha!) and people will choose who they want to talk to based up on appearance because hey - if they look like you they probably like the same stuff you do, right?

When will things move beyond appearances? When will it not matter if you have the hottest new skin/hair and matter more on the content of potential conversation? In a social MMO platform such as Second Life - I would think that people would be more socially minded and not so .. well .. small minded.

My avatar is purple. Purple hair, dorky t shirts, knee high socks, tennis shoes, and purple skin. I like how she looks. She's interesting, and in my opinion engaging. But there's a problem: no one else does. Okay so it isn't really a problem because I'm really not into the social scene much these days - but I was once upon a time! Even now I find myself roaming about just to see if there's any good conversation to be had. There really is more to SL than shopping and looped dances.

Over the past year I've done a bit of what I'd call an experiment. I found a couple 'normal' skins that I like to accompany the purple skins that I feel are really 'me'. When I wanted to make a 'quick' friend, I'd wear a normal skin and try to make my outfit match before I visited somewhere. People came up to me to talk, even though the conversation was 'petty'. You know "Wow I love your shoes where'd you get em?" or "Oooh that's a really cool shirt, who made it?" That kind of thing. But I always get the opposite reaction when I'm purple.

I can visit the same sim in 'my' kind of dress and not a soul will talk to me. When this happens I take innitiative. I start out with a simple 'Hi' usually ... which generates little to no response. Oooh back away I'm purple! It might be *gulp* contagious!

As I said earlier, I understand the 'business' end of having to look 'normal'. I've been operating a video business in SL for almost three years now (with the help of my husband Keith/Bebop Vox) and though its always seemed to be okay for HIM to look like a cyborg - I get shoddy treatment from clients when I'm in my purple skin. But once I slap on a CS or ND skin - all is right as rain! Its funny, but at the same time very very sad.

Why is it funny? Its funny to me because I know that the individuals who judge in such a way are in no position to do so. Even if you're a multi millionaire - you have no right to judge another person. Another thing that makes it funny is that big DUH factor of it just being an avatar. But it makes me wonder .. if these people have such a small tolerance for a deviation from the 'norm' here in SL .. what are they like IRL? And suddenly that's when it isn't funny anymore. They really are just being racist because I'm not whatever color they are (which ranges from redhead pale to Tom Jones Tan).

Many people have said "Oh don't be silly! There's no racism in SL!" Then I ask "Why are there so few skin makers that cater to anyone of color (ANY COLOR besides white, tan, and Christmas Turkey Skin). Why am I treated differently when I wear a skin made by Starley or Ambyance than when I wear my beloved Wysteria skin by Munchflower if there is no racism? Since there is no racism then every skin maker should have a rainbow of skin colors - or even have an actual black skin.

I've just come to the conclusion that content creation isn't about creativity at all - its about money. Content creators don't make things that make them happy .. they make things that the droning masses will buy. Sally Skinmaker doesn't care what color you WANT to be, she cares about what color you'll buy when you have a limited choice.

"Who are YOU to say ..."

When I first started posting here at MGG2SL I only read comments on 'articles' (and I use that term VERY loosely) that I had posted. Lately though, I've been reading comments on all the posts not only for the humor but for the spew. I'm a spectator in a lot of ways, perhaps I'd even go so far as to call myself a blog voyeur but recently I feel like there are a lot of things left unsaid.

Recently a lot of comments have been geared towards things like "Who are YOU to say you're A-List?" "Who are YOU to say what looks good?" and "This is soooo highschool." Of course those aren't direct quotes, but I'm too lazy to go back. Besides, its the principal of the matter.

I'll begin by addressing the A-List bashing. Who are WE to say we're A-List? First off, who are YOU to say we aren't? We have just as much right (for lack of a better term) to call ourselves A-List as you have to say that we're not. People are so quick to grab onto that whole "Your World, Your Imagination" bull-cheese when trying to justify themselves (or others) of their actions that they don't seem to think that such a motto applies to anything else. Guess what? It does.

In the real world, A-List celebrities get paid money to endorse things, make appearances at clubs/companies ... bottom line is they get paid a lot of money for a lot of things. So in that sense, no we aren't A-list. We don't get paid to say "Hey what do YOU think about ..." as a matter of fact, few A-List celebrities even ask anything out of their 'fans'. They don't have profound views on things and if they do its kept under wraps because their manager feels it would be in their best interest.

Well as many probably have deducted we don't have managers that keep a muzzle on us. We say what we say when we say it because that's how we feel. Do we regret any of it later? Who knows - but if we did would that really matter? Are we not allowed to voice an opinion regardless of what this backwards SL Society says - just because what -seems- to be majority thinks otherwise? Who are we to call ourselves A-List? Who are you to think that you're any better? To my knowledge, no one here at MG has ever claimed to be better than anyone else and has -NEVER- insulted another person. Their product, yes. Their actions, more than a few times - but a person? No. Well, except for for the Laylah "bashing" but as most know - such exchanges between friends isn't ill-willed. Yeah like you've never called your friend a slut or retarded?

Some throw that 'teeny bopper' element in and I really think its all on how you look at it. Is the "Meat n Greet" series too Teen Magazine for you? To be honest I'm not much into it. I'll admit that if I were simply to add a penis - I'd be one of the guys that reads Playboy for the articles. Maybe because I'm insecure in my physical looks I never really pay much attention to anyone else's appearance in hopes they aren't looking at me? That's an entirely relevant theory -- WHICH is why I don't blog fashion. Yeah I like how my avatar looks to me - she looks a lot like me but with more makeup and better hair ... but all in all I'm not one of those "Omg look at this totally cute outfit! Everyone in SL must have it because its just posh!" Anyone who's read more than just the main page of this blog could probably deduct that and if not - I just said it.

Fashion is one thing - style is another. Style is individual where as fashion is more general. I don't think I really need to go into any depths with that - but a few folks have said that the MGs are biased because we all have the same fashion sense or the same style. It was my impression that friends have things in common. Though we might all enjoy bits and pieces of the same sort of fashions - we all have our own style. For those that haven't noticed I'll just make a quick cap:

• Jelly likes to grunge. Period. She's also gotten a bit into a few 'cutesy' outfits but overall she likes dirt.

• Akasha is more of a rough and tumble tomboy that wears things that make her look like she just walked way from a motorcycle wreck - and it works for her.

• Rosie is more conservative in her style and usually wears things that are sensible.
  

• Laylah I'd compare to your college roommate that will throw on what she had the day before as long as it doesn't smell. The kind that could always pull off that look that looks like the person isn't even trying but it still looks good type of thing, ya know?

• And me? I don't really know. I'd run around in a New Kids on the Block t-shirt and rolled up pants and think I look just as good as if I had on whatever new design is out. Oh and if someone makes a New Kids on the Block t-shirt I demand to know!

You would think that no one would really care, but obviously some do. So for those that do, I outlined AND bulleted it for you.

There are a few that think we have no business telling others what looks good and what doesn't. So maybe they look better? As a matter of fact they look so damn good that they comment anonymously so that we may all revel in their spectacular glow which is their being! Come on. You call us high-schoolish but you're going to write an anonymous message on a bathroom stall? Pot, meet kettle.

Fashion Puppet

I've decided that I am indeed a fashion puppet. Designers pull my strings with new releases & I usually come trotting. Well, it was the case for awhile anyways. Lately I cannot find one damn thing I want to buy. I find myself buying yet another utility belt, a hat, Marionette strings, or other miscellaneous accessories just to avoid the new haute couture trend.

I miss new releases from ETD (which has been closed for how long now?), Renegade (suffering from SL block), Deviant Kitties hair (yah, I'm not a huge fan of piercings so much), and Naughty non-sculpted flexi hair goodness. Has SL fashion finally hit a fashion funk or has haute couture possessed everyone?

I don't want bunny heads on my hats or dead pigeons. Btw, anyone notify Pamela Anderson or Peta about that yet? I'm sure Furnation is in uproar. Seriously... bunny heads on hats!!!

Am I the only one missing new releases that made sense? How do ya'll feel about the new haute couture?

Confessions and Opinions of a Geek

Unless you live in a dark cave (no offense to any 'drows') you've come in contact with some form of alternative lifestyle in Second Life. It isn't really anything new, most of us have just turned our head when we see a huge muscle bound man with no shirt tugging a woman around on a scripted leash - and most of us don't pay any mind to the weird typing when T/they talk about T/their P/partner. I'm sure I fubbed that up - but you know what I mean.

Most of the alternative lifestyles that exist in Second Life also exist in Real Life, though most are far from open about it in SL than in real life. Its Taboo in most cases. I've even come face to face with a few folks in fursuits at Comic Conventions and the like. Whatever floats your boat - I don't really care. My problem lies in those that are evangelical about their alternative lifestyle.

You know the type. They walk up to you and assume you're a complete open book and start preaching their 'gospel' about whatever life they lead. I'm really glad that those folks found a community in which they 'belong' but that by no means translates into "Recruit me!" Am I giving some kind of invisible signal or am I just being too damn nice for my own good towhere those Alternative Folks take my hospitality for interest?

I am the first to admit that I'm a geek. Don't get that confused with nerd, though. Nerds are typically very technologically minded whereas geeks usually aren't. There are exceptions to every rule though, so of course there are some that are borderline. I would consider myself to be a geeky dork since dorks are easily amused and can entertain themselves with what most would deem 'mundane' or 'retarded'. Maybe I should explain further ...

Quite a few of my SL friends are RL friends also - and others have just made their way into RL status. I'm sure most can identify with this. At any rate, like all friends we share many things in common. Of course many of my friends don't share a few of my interests, but no big! We share enough towhere we can carry on a conversation but have enough differences that things stay interesting. That's what friendship is all about anyway, isn't it?

A few of my friends and I are huge geeks. We like comic books and fantasy games/books. We're the type that can sit around and talk about the first Dragon Lance book we ever read like most people sit and reminice about their High School Prom. We don't question it - we're just geeks! Some may say that Geekdom is a form of alternative lifestyle and I can't say I could argue. We have our own lingo, our own means of identifying each other: both of those being two major keys to any lifestyle.

There's literally a lifestyle for anything you could imagine - both IRL and SL. I will agree that SL makes living or faux-living an alternative lifestyle much much easier not only with anomimity but with acceptance. You don't have to search high and low for what you're into - you just need to enter in a few key words into a search bar and viola! Its much better than a forum because unless you're more on the geek side of things - simple reading just isn't enough. In SL you can see your actions portrayed in real time and actually get a feel for what you're seeing. I totally understand!

My geek friends and I play Dungeons and Dragons in SL. It isn't a fact I try to hide, and in this adventure I'm a level 4 Wizard with a feline familiar. Rarely if EVER do I roam the grid in my wizard gear, but we all do dress up IC (In Character) while we're playing. I usually slap myself in Busy mode while we're playing so that I can give it my full attention. However: When I am looking for new leet wizard gear I will traipse around in full geek costume while I shop. One such shopping spree is what lead me to post this.

"I am not a slave. I am a wizard." I bet I said that line thirty or more times in the couple hours I was out shopping for a nice staff. It seemed without fail that every sim I went to that offered 'fantasy' items was full of Gorean men just looking to score some vulnerable wench. I'm not your girl, fellas. I don't have a single thing against Gorean people - as a matter of fact I can see some of its appeal on a geek level. Where else can you get continuous role play? Where else can you go in SL that you know everyone is going to be IC? Even the furry places are full of kawaii faces that seem to make it hard to take anything said on a RP basis seriously. Alright time for another confession: I spent 5 years in a text based RPG full of anthropomorphic felines, canines, lapines, and drakes. I'm a geek I know! But I've totally gone off the main topic and need to claw my way back ...

I used the search tools available to me which are also available to every other resident in SL in order to find myself a new badass staff. I had about 4 hours to find one before we sat down and I had to get my spells together. Four hours may sound like a long time, but it really isn't when you have to pick only ten spells to use for the entire adventure without picking anything stupid that you won't need but which seemed like a good idea to have 'just in case'.

Even folks that have never played D&D are familiar with it so I won't bore anyone to tears with any details. Due to the fact that we play it in SL - our DM builds the maps as we go. We click the dice for our rolls and its far more visual than normal D&D. Even though we're a group of geeks our game time is still filled with lots of LOLs and ROFLs. We are friends afterall - dungeon or not!

Periodically we feel the need to update our character's looks. We never stray far from our sheet, though. As a wizard though, I don't wear any armor. This means I wear the clothes on my back and I rely on my badass spells to save me. Due to the fantasy angle as well as the guidelines which are set out - I have to shop in Gorean themed sims to find clothing. I dont' care, really ... until someone comes up to me and starts preaching. Slender tanned girls with that gross ass weave asking me where my Master is. I don't have one! I'm not a slave! Then they can't understand how I'm not a slave if I'm wearing 'silks'. Oh you mean my wizard garb? Well evidently I'm dubbed Gorean, not wizard.

No one can say anything bad about you if you don't piss them off - that's almost a given. And that applies to alternative lifestyles too. No one can diss whatever life you want to lead unless you do something stupid. The heads on furry avs freak me out - but as a community - never have I been harassed. Yeah sometimes I get sick to death of seeing ^.^ >.> XD n.n I'm only a feminist when its convenient for me (hypocritical I know but its true for a lot of women) because I see feminism as sexist also. Anyway, I can't count the times I've been harassed by Goreans and 3/4 of the time I wasn't even in my wizard stuff which most Gors find to be within their jurisdiction of attempting to wrangle me like a stray cow.

I, personally, find it stupid to assume that everyone is into whatever it is you're doing. Some aren't! I'm totally not for some sweaty, pony-tail donning, shirtless twat waffle of a man dragging me around and me sitting in one damn spot waiting for him to log in ... only to share my attention with some other tramp who's idea of RP is some cheap one-liner. But if that kind of thing is what makes someone happy then go for it - just don't shove it down MY throat.

Sometimes lifestyles cross thread. Like fantasy RP and the Gor scene. There is a difference in a drow dressed in 'silks' and a slave girl in a similar outfit. To most it would all look the same - but its totally different. Its like comparing SL to Mario Kart. Not all RP is sex based and I hate the fact that it seems in SL that its turned that way. Not all RP is about a relationship. Not all relationships stop when you hit that red X in the upper right hand corner.

For those that lead an alternative lifestyle in SL: Keep your lifestyle contained. Not everyone understands it and most won't approve but that doesn't give you any right to smear it in their face. If you want to play slave that's fine: but don't do it in the middle of ETD while I'm shopping for hair. Its one thing to dress the part, its another to make everyone else play along. Even by them reading your text they are being more than tolerant and that should be respected just as much as your decision to lead your chosen lifestyle.

I can only imagine the number of IMs designers get from a girl's Master telling them that "My girl purchased This Outfit on This Date and it does not meet my standards. She would like a refund." And laugh as you may - and some may say "Oh that doesn't happen" it does. A few friends of mine get IMs like that all the time.

I think in general IMs should be considered OOC (Out Of Character). I'm not sure why there is no Guide for Basic RP in Second Life but I wish there was. I can never tell where RP ends and normal conversation begins a lot of times.

When you see someone dressed similarly to you - don't assume that whatever you're into that they are into it also. Most often than not they aren't. Especially when it comes to alternative lifestyles. Maybe they just like the fashion, but don't like all the binding that comes with it.

AO-ver Done

In the world of SL creations - the AO (or Animation Overrider) is the most easily abused. Why? For one its nearly always on. The only time anyone says "ao off" is when they are about to do a different animation, such as dance. I would consider AOs a fairly new thing. Early '05 brought attention to the fact that "Hey this stand is fuckin lame!" as well as the laughable default run. So everyone rushed out to get their Wet Ikon in order to start lining up poses to cram the thing with.

At first they were all static poses, and though it was funny to watch someone switch from one pose to another with a swift jerky movement - it was better than standing with your fists in your hips. As most everyone knows, the freebie poses are awesomely bad but for the most part - that's all we had to work with. In mid/late 05 perhaps has late as early 06 ushered in the animated pose. Boy did we all flock like white trash to Hooters for those!

"These are great" I had thought when I purchased my first animated pose from a vendor at the old Naughty Designs store. I think I still use it, even! At any rate a few other folks jumped on the animated stand-wagon and it was almost fun to stand around with a big group in suspense "Ooooh what stand is SHE gonna do next?!?" though those days are long gone.

The poses had gone from jerking from pose to pose to the fluid movement of stands that no one would ever really do, to the new craze: realism. I'm all about bringing realism to SL in most cases ... but I swear to the stars if one more person does a thirty second stretch while I'm talking to them that I'm gonna choke a bitch. Seriously!

I have no idea who makes this ao animation/pose. I just know that they have clearly made a good amount of money off it. Everywhere I go there is at least one neko girl, white trash barbie, or girl with a weave that has it in their AO. Why? Isn't it considered rude to yawn while someone is talking? So when did it become socially acceptable? Did I miss something?!

You know the pose. They stand, pull their arms in close before straightening out their arms to their sides and slowly reach for the sky. The avatar momentarily stands there in their blissful "better than sex" stretch before their arms lower slowly and they put both hands on their love handles (or lack thereof), bringing the animation to an end. I had prepared a video demonstration, but got a bit over saturated with the animation between seeing it everywhere in SL as well as editing footage of it to make a video. I feel that's a bit unnecessary though, as I'm positive everyone knows the pose I'm talking about.

This sequence drives me absolutely bonkers. I can't stand to look at it! When someone is stretching like that it makes me want to pull out a dropkick animation. Stop doing that while I'm talking to you! I could totally see it being used in a gesture or something of that nature .. but in an AO?! Please.

If your SL is so boring that you need an animation to convey that you're tired, bored, unenthused etc ... you need to go hang in a sandbox. What's worse is there are different variations of this same pose floating around. Evidently its the 'thing' to have because I see so many with their AOs just stretching away ... but I personally don't see the appeal. Again it goes back to the 'rude' factor. No, I don't claim to be a socialite or even be able to hold a steady conversation without dumping the clutch and switching the gears to something random ... but don't friggin' yawn and stretch while we're talking! Even if you are legitimately interested in what I'm saying ... your AO says otherwise.

Seriously? I'm all for AOs conveying your mood. By all means switch your poses up as often as you feel necessary .. but save the yawns, stretches, ass scratching and nut adjusting for your poseballs at your house. For conversational purposes, pack your AO with interesting poses that are aesthetically pleasing or at least mildly entertaining. And who said you couldn't put a dance animation in an AO?! Do it! Be free!

Maybe I just take my typing conversations a bit too seriously - and I know in the world of IMs and voice chat that most likely the person I'm talking to has gotten distracted at more than one turn in the road ... but don't remind me of that by yawning and/or stretching for half a damn minute!

2 Faces of Shit!

Alright, for my first blog I would like to talk about something near and dear to every one's heart... Shit talkers!! LOL that's right those that feel they can say things behind your back yet to your face they pretend like your the bee's knees. Gah.. What is up with that? As anyone knows I don't follow the whole "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" point of view. I follow the "if you have something to say then say it to my face" A good friend is someone who will tell you that your being a bitch and stfu!

It's not that I'm that much of a bitch *although I am* I just don't see the point in hiding how I feel.. What's the point? Sure I don't want to totally hurt my friend's feelings, that's why are there nicer ways to say things. It's called tact people.. It's an amazing thing.. you can say whatever you want and still be civil about it *although I have to admit I lack it at times when I really don't like someone*

Not everyone is going to get along. Even the closest of friends will fight now and then, but don't go around being 2 faced about it! If you want to vent then vent, but make sure you don't say anything you wouldn't say to that person.