The Bull Stops Here.. part 2

I want to speak to Second Life blogger’s and designer’s today, not just my friends. Recently I agreed to blog an event, I wondered at my decision since it wasn’t even a charitable event, and I was accepted to participate. For the record, I have about 50,000 items in my inventory and that includes a couple of houses, landscapes, the furnishings, textures, model poses, blog poses, textures and all the other detritus I’ve picked up in 5+ years in Second Life. So very little by most model’s standards. Just as I have always said, I buy most of the items I blog, do not request to join blogger’s groups, and NEVER take an item I am not going to blog, or if I do take an item and don’t blog it, I delete it immediately. To me this is the only ethical thing I can do. As the event was gearing up, I saw several really rude group notices to designers and bloggers, but mostly to designers, the last of which was something to the effect of “designers, we told you you would be required to make a male item and a female item, if you do not have your items ready on time we are returning your items and keeping the Lindens you paid to be in the event. Read the rules people.” Extremely appalled by the group notice, I quickly contacted my little dragon, Draakje Dailey and discussed it with her. Neither of us would ever treat the people who paid to be a part of an event we were managing with such disrespect, I was leaning towards dropping out, but in the end felt I’d committed.

When it came time to blog, I was just recovering from surgery and feeling pretty crummy. I blogged eleven outfits, but I blogged them in three blogs instead of one each day. Probably not my best choice, but at the time I felt it was my only choice, not knowing whether I would feel up to blogging each day, since I blogged very little in the two weeks prior. But in all ways it was eleven outfits from eleven plus different designers when you throw in hair, skin and shoos. (yes I even blogged a skin which for me is rare). Yesterday, after running around all day helping my mom and taking care of my fathers funeral arrangements, exhausted and depressed, I received a snarky offliner stating I needed to provide all the links for this event that I blogged by December 9th or I would never work with this event company again. I IM’d through email that I would provide the links (which implies I did, in fact blog) but it would probably be after the 9th since my father just died the day before, but the point was moot since I wouldn’t be working with them again since I had retired December 1st and quite frankly her comments were a tad harsh and would make me not work with her again anyway. No chit, this was the answer “Coming at me like that when I am giving your the opportunity to send me your links will not fly.” uh, huh? Now, most of you know me well, and know, it takes a LOT to get me angry, a LOT, I mean a TONNN.. Honestly, does this sound like a person who should be in charge of anything or anyone? Does this even sound like an adult speaking to a driver’s license toting certified above the age of thirty adult, because last I checked I sure am. ‘ell, I wouldn’t even talk to a naughty child, mouthy teenager, or my dog like this. But most of all, does this sound like the legitimate conversation that should be taking place about a Second Life, not first life, “hobby?” If the person doubted I blogged, wouldn’t it be prudent to check my blog on the specified dates instead of attacking the blogger? I mean, by golly, I do believe my blog is posted for all the world to see, look at my posts on the days of the beginning of the event. Or better yet, how about don’t accept the blogger the next time IF they apply. Gosh, looky der, I could have just solved the problem of world peace. Don’t judge, check your facts before you open you mouth and look foolish. She could have said nothing a’tall and I wouldn’t have been back but if I had come back she could have just said,”um, no. We are looking for new bloggers this round.” World Peace solved! Most of all, don’t ever tell a person who, other than during my surgery recovery has blogged almost every single day for two and a half years that her “attitude is part of the reason bloggers have a bad name.” Oh yeah, she did go there. yep. Amazing. A cyber-bully. (kicks own arse for not backing out). Oh wait that would be self-bullying. Take back, take back, take back.

The take from? Yes and it’s a two parter. Will this pass my “will it matter in two years from now” test? Nope, not even in the slightest, I won’t care in about, well exactly thirty minutes when this is posted. The first take from is for bloggers, if you get involved in an event and it just doesn’t feel right? Back out, if possible, before it starts, (which I could have done) and don’t feel guilty about it. Just apologize and back out because your instincts are probably right. Just because you are getting “free” items, even though you technically work your arse off for the free items, you are being paid for a service with clothes, but you are working all the same, so they are not entitled to bully or harass you in any way. Your name is all you have in the world, and if you associate it with people who don’t respect and play nice with other people, especially nice to the people who are paying them for a service (designers), your name just might get a little muddy in the process. The second part, to designers, always remember, cash is king. If you are paying someone for a service, to produce an event, without your cash their would be no event and as such you are entitled to the utmost respect because you do not work for the event company, THEY work for YOU. Big, not even a hint of subtle, difference. They should be bending over backwards to help YOU, not belittling you by insinuating you are too dumb to read instructions and threatening to keep your money. These agency’s and event companies should always consider that their note cards in English may not translate well to the language you speak and should go out of their way to help you understand the rules. Period. They work for you and should be willing to ensure you have the most pleasant experience possible. However, if you do find yourself embroiled with one of these types of companies, you too may walk away. You may be out a few Lindens, but how far do you think this type of company will go, how successful can they possibly be, when they treat clients and their workers like second class servants? Just a thought.