I was told SUNFLOWERS are the national flowers of Ukraine hence FLORA offfers u a mesh pack (up til 90 of them for 1 single prim) for FREE and FULL PERM! Available at GARDEN AREA at BOX 02. Enjoy :)

Ps. And before someone starts complaining about pic sent, I`m not against Russian people but against this sh*t war....

Ein neues Jahr heißt neue Hoffnung, neues Licht, neue Gedanken und neue Wege zum Ziel. Einen guten Start ins Jahr 2022 das wünsch ich Euch!
A new year means new hope, new light, new thoughts and new ways to the goal. I wish you a good start into the year 2022!

The Snowfall Expanse
https://youtu.be/44iGtczRJjQ
Go in skates and a scarf, you can have fun in the snow, it is very big you need time to visit it, there are ski slopes in the mountains, then you can go to the Christmas market, visit the castle and the house of Santa Claus. Don't be in a hurry or don't enjoy this region, have fun, thanks to everyone it was a great job.

Pink Floyd - In the Flesh! Or is it In the Mesh? Ernest and I spent all day bringing album cover art to life today. A different spin on art, but the installations are pretty amazing to see! Come by Battersea and see for yourself!

The Art Factory is about art and artists. At The Art Factory, we display art; we appreciate art; we learn about art; and, we promote art. We have over a dozen galleries dedicated to in-world artists, where they show their innovative creations. As such, we are beginning a feature called Meet the Artist.

This week we want to introduce to you, the very talented Nice Minik.

Ms. Minik, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your art?
My interest for VL-Photography started back in InworldZ with some photos of dancing Avis.
In 2017 the "Nice Minik" on OSG was created to try out "hypergriding" and to build a photo-studio with backdrops and "flat" lighting for Avi photo sessions.A visit of Ellen and Ernest in my first little gallery changed my virtual life.
Since that day I explored the photo-features of Firestrom and tried a lot of light-effects to make my inworld-photos more interesting. It comes in handy to be a prim builder (for certain backgrounds) and I also learned to create poses in the meantime.

And what are you doing artistically now?
Nowadays I can display model-sessions and themed series at "the Art Factory". And I was able to create some issues of the Stark Magazine.

So, what's the motivation behind your work?
Some of my work just tries to show beauty. Some may be a bit provocative. But I always try to find the mood, lighting and angle to take photos, that "tell a story". And sometimes I can even achieve that goal.
One thing stayed consistently through my development as an inworld-photographer: what you see is what I saw. That means, that I never do after-works on my photos.

What do you enjoy most about creating art in virtual worlds?
Besides that, I very much like to show virtual life in a way, that makes viewers enjoy what I enjoyed or maybe get an impulse to think about certain aspects.

Thank you for the interview, Ms. Minik!

Please stop by The Art Factory Reloaded and check out Nice Minik's art! It won't disappoint!

Living with friends ...
Amazing community
wir sind mal wieder mächtig stolz auf unsere Leute. Einfach weil sie sind wie sie sind,
weil sie " living with friends" nicht nur als geklauten Slogan nehmen,
sondern dieses feeling jeden Tag leben. Dafür sind wir sehr dankbar .

Ein aufregendes Jahr liegt hinter uns.
Wir hatten Verluste.
Manche taten weh, manche weniger.
Wir hatten aber auch Gewinne
Der größte Gewinn war
Teil einer funktionierenden, lebensfrohen, lebendigen Gemeinschaft geworden zu sein.
Teil eines Grids zu sein,in dem Freundschaft nicht nur ein geklauter Werbeslogan ist.
Teil eines Grids zu sein, dass eigenständig zurecht kommt.

Dafür sind wir sehr dankbar. Unseren Bewohnern und allen, die uns dies ermöglicht haben, wie auch unseren zahlreichen Besuchern.
Möge die Zeit der bollernden Heizungen und prasselnden Kamine die Herzen der Menschen erwärmen und der Duft der Tannenbäume
all den Menschen die schlechten Gedanken vertreiben

Wir wünschen Euch allen ein besinnliches Weihnachtsfest, einen sensationell schönen Start ins neue Jahr und bleibt gesund.

Euch allen ein besinnliches und herzerwärmendes Weihnachtsfest

wünschen Euch Nasti und Rudi vom Soul Grid

*** LARCH TREE V- Larix sibirica V3 (version 3). Thx my friend Alfred (from sim WELCOME (https://opensimworld.com/hop/85057/) she gave a better model for these trees as seen at RL, so I could work on blender - once more released at FLORA, BOX 04, FOREST AREA (ground area). All FREE and FULL PERM. Seasonal textures included and leaves has a soft animation. Enjoy :)

CHERRY TREES PACK * FREE and FULL PERM available at FOREST AREA (ground) at BOX02. Animated particles are in mesh and separated prim so u can remove it when playing seasonal (textures inside). Enjoy :)

Creating an Original OpenSimulator Character
A Simple Guide to ChatGPT, Tripo, and Ferd Frederix's New Mesh Uploader
Creating original 3D characters for OpenSimulator has become much easier. With ChatGPT for reference artwork, Tripo for 3D model creation and rigging, and Ferd Frederix's new GLTF/DAE/FBX Mesh Uploader, you can bring your creations into OpenSimulator without manually rigging them in Blender or Avastar.
This tutorial walks through the process, from your first character idea to seeing your creation in-world.
What You'll Need
- ChatGPT — To create your character reference image.
- Tripo — To turn your image into a 3D model, rig it, and preview animations.
- Fred's Mesh Uploader — To import your finished model into OpenSimulator.
- An OpenSimulator viewer — To inspect and test your creation.
You will also need access to a DreamGrid installation with the uploader enabled, either through its desktop interface or through authorized web uploading.
Step 1: Create Your Character in ChatGPT
Every character starts with an idea!
You might create a fantasy creature, a holiday character, a cartoon animal, or something entirely original.
For characters you intend to rig, the reference image is particularly important.
Ask ChatGPT to create a full-body character in a T-pose, facing directly forward.
Suggested ChatGPT prompt:
"Create an original full-body 3D character reference image, facing directly forward in a true T-pose. Arms extended horizontally, fingers separated, legs slightly apart with a clear gap between them, and both feet fully visible. Use a plain gray background. No props, scenery, text, or clothing connecting the legs."
A clean image helps Tripo distinguish the character's limbs and body proportions.
Tip: Avoid long skirts, hanging fabric, complicated accessories, and overlapping body parts. These can interfere with automatic rigging.
Step 2: Create Your 3D Model in Tripo
Once you are happy with your reference image:
Open Tripo and select its Image to 3D workflow.
Upload your ChatGPT character image.
Generate the 3D model.
Examine the character from several angles.
Check that the arms, hands, legs, and feet are properly separated.
If something looks wrong, correct the reference image and generate another model.
Do not rush into rigging a model with fused limbs or badly distorted geometry. Fixing the source is usually easier than trying to repair the finished result.
Step 3: Rig Your Character in Tripo
This is where your character comes to life!
Tripo provides automatic rigging capabilities for supported character models.
Open your generated model.
Select the available rigging or animation workflow.
Apply automatic rigging.
Preview an available animation.
Watch the shoulders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, and feet.
Look for unnatural bending, stretching, or distortion.
If the rigging is unsuccessful, try regenerating a cleaner model.
For wearable OpenSimulator characters, preserve a proper T-pose as the rig's reference pose. An action pose is not a suitable substitute.
Important: Tripo's interface and available features may change over time.
Step 4: Export Your Character as an FBX ZIP
Once your model is ready, use Tripo's FBX export option.
Select the appropriate FBX export.
Download the exported model and associated files.
Keep the supplied ZIP package intact, including any textures or supporting files.
Save a backup of your original character image and Tripo project.
For this tutorial, we use an FBX ZIP because Fred's uploader supports FBX files, including rigged characters, and ZIP packages containing models and their textures.
A static GLB and a rigged FBX are not interchangeable for every intended use. Choose the export that preserves the data you need.
Step 5: Open Fred's GLTF/DAE/FBX Mesh Uploader
Fred Frederix has developed a Mesh Uploader that can import several popular 3D formats directly into an OpenSimulator region.
Supported formats include:
- DAE (Collada)
- FBX
- GLTF
- GLB
- ZIP packages containing supported models and textures
For grid administrators using DreamGrid, open the main DreamGrid window, choose Content, and select Load DAE, GLB, GLTF, FBX.
The uploader opens with options to select your model, preview it, adjust scale, and choose its destination.
Select your FBX ZIP package using the file browser.
Preview your model before uploading. This can help you catch missing textures, incorrect sizing, and other problems.
Step 6: Choose Object, Clothing, or Avatar
Fred's uploader supports different kinds of mesh imports.
Object: Use this for decorative characters, statues, props, furniture, and other in-world objects. With both wearable options unchecked, an FBX armature is ignored and the model imports in its saved pose.
Clothing: Use this for supported rigged attachments intended to follow an avatar's movements.
Avatar: Use this for a complete wearable character body. The uploader can process supported rigs, skin weights, and joint positions for OpenSimulator.
For wearable characters, the uploader's automatic skeleton conversion requires a working Python installation on the DreamGrid computer. The Clothing and Avatar options will be unavailable if Python is not detected.
The model must also have a suitable armature and T-pose. Automatic conversion cannot guarantee that every unusual character or rig will work perfectly.
Note about animation: Importing a rigged model is not the same as importing and playing its original Tripo animation. A wearable character uses the OpenSimulator avatar animation system. Test animation behavior separately rather than assuming every animation embedded in an FBX will play in-world.
Step 7: Build and Load Your Character
In Fred's uploader:
Choose the source model or ZIP package.
Examine the model preview.
Adjust the scale if necessary.
Select a running destination region.
Set the desired placement coordinates, or use the online-avatar placement option.
Select the appropriate wearable option if needed.
Click Build & Load.
The uploader processes the model and builds an OpenSim Archive (OAR) behind the scenes, then loads the model into the chosen region.
When using avatar-based placement, the object can appear approximately two meters in front of your avatar.
Watch the uploader's status window for errors or warnings.
Step 8: Test Your Character in OpenSimulator
Once your character appears in-world, inspect it carefully.
For decorative objects, check the size, textures, orientation, geometry, and placement.
For wearable characters, right-click the imported object and select Take. Find it in your inventory and wear it.
Test several ordinary avatar animations to see whether the character bends and moves correctly.
Check the arms, knees, feet, and overall proportions. Some characters may require additional adjustments.
Before sharing your creation, also check permissions, texture quality, and rendering performance.
Tips for Better Results
Start simple. Characters with clean proportions and separated limbs are easier to rig.
Keep your models efficient. Highly detailed geometry can increase rendering costs and cause upload problems. Fred's uploader enforces a maximum of 65,535 vertices per material section.
Keep textures with the model. A ZIP package helps prevent supporting files from getting separated.
Use a proper T-pose for wearable characters. This is essential for correct avatar animation behavior.
Test before distributing. What looks good in Tripo may need adjustment once imported into OpenSimulator.
The Complete Workflow
Character idea → ChatGPT reference image → Tripo 3D generation → Tripo rigging → FBX ZIP export → Fred's Mesh Uploader → OpenSimulator testing
No manual Blender rigging. No Avastar workflow. Just a much more direct way to create and import original characters.
Thank You, Ferd!
This new uploader has saved an enormous amount of time in my creative workflow.
Instead of manually building and rigging characters through several different programs, I can create a character, generate and rig it in Tripo, export the FBX package, and bring the result into OpenSimulator using Fred's GUI.
Seeing something I imagined become a 3D character standing in-world is still a wonderful experience.
Thank you, Fred, for continuing to develop tools that make creating in OpenSimulator easier and more accessible to everyone!
Official documentation: https://outworldz.com/Outworldz_installer/Help/Mesh%20Uplo...
Tutorial note: The exact results depend on the model, its rigging, the chosen import mode, and the DreamGrid version. This guide covers mesh import and wearable character testing; it does not guarantee automatic playback of Tripo's exported animations.
If you need help please feel free to IM u/MariannaMonentes Thank you Adrian Moon for reaching out asking for a tutorial.

**„Deine Umarmung bleibt“** 🖤

Du bist gegangen, und die Welt steht still,
weil mein Herz dich nicht gehen lassen will.
Die Stille schreit, die Sehnsucht brennt,
ein Schmerz, den nur die Liebe kennt.

Ich suche dich in jedem Augenblick,
doch keine Träne bringt dich mir zurück.
Und wenn ich nachts vor Kummer weine,
wünsch ich mir nur die Arme, deine.

Du fehlst mir mehr, als Worte sagen,
wie soll mein Herz den Abschied tragen?
Und gäbe es einen Weg zu dir,
ich liefe ihn sofort – zurück zu dir.

**Für immer dein. Für immer mein.
Für immer werden wir verbunden sein.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🖤 **“Your Embrace Remains”** 🖤

You have gone, and time stands still,
My heart can't let you go, and never will.
The silence screams, the longing burns,
A pain that only true love learns.

I search for you in every passing day,
But no amount of tears can bring you back my way.
And when at night I cry in pain,
I long to feel your arms again.

I miss you more than words can ever say,
How can my heart endure you being away?
And if there were a path that led to you,
I'd walk it in a heartbeat, straight to you.

**Forever yours. Forever mine.
Forever our two souls entwine.

New peaceful Zen Garden now out at Willowbrook Gardens. This is in pieces so you can set it up any way you want. The stone sphere in the water bowl bobs up and down realistically. This set (like everything at Willowbrook Gardens) is free and full permissions and you can use it however you want.
hop://grid.sub-version.space:8002/Willowbrook%20Gardens/25...

🚀 OPENSim Network Grid Introduces the Flyboard!
Take to the water and FLY!
OPENSim Network Grid is continuing our development of interactive physics-based experiences with our new Flyboard system, built specifically for OpenSim.
This isn't just a vehicle that moves up and down. The Flyboard has been developed to give the rider a much more dynamic experience over the water, with forward flight, rapid lift, controlled descent, banking left and right, turning, hovering, and even backflips.
The system features twin high-pressure water-jet effects, a water-powered motor system, and a flexible particle hose connecting the Flyboard to its water source. The board pitches during climbs and descents and banks into turns, creating a much more convincing feeling of riding a real water-powered Flyboard.
🏄 Flyboard Features
- Fast water-powered lift
- Forward and backward movement
- Aircraft-style pitched climbing
- Left and right banking
- Controlled turns
- Controlled descent
- Hovering above the water
- Backflip capability
- Twin animated water jets
- Particle hose and water-power system
- Custom OpenSim physics development
This project is part of our continuing work at OPENSim Network Grid to create more advanced games, vehicles, physics systems, missions, and interactive experiences for OpenSim residents and Hypergrid visitors.
Come fly with us at OPENSim Network Grid.
OPENSim Network — Where virtual worlds become interactive experiences.

The Sitting room set is a 6 piece set. nice colors and shape. I have it sitting in an Elven castle background , but I am sure you will find a home for it. Buy the box not the furniture, it has everything in it. ENJOY! comes with plant ,end table ,coffee table chair , love seat, and lamps ..... a bowl of fruit or flowers. All located in the front yard. Rugs are located in the store first floor boxed.

🪑 NEW AT FLEETWOOD – THE NEW ARMCHAIR COLLECTION

As a steampunker, you don’t just want to wear the right clothes – you also want to sit in style.

But even if you simply appreciate extraordinary design, armchairs and tables are more than just functional pieces of furniture. You want something with character – something that stands out and feels truly distinctive.

That is exactly what my armchair collection is made for.

Discover exceptional seating for stylish interiors with an industrial and steampunk-inspired character. Each armchair combines striking shapes, distinctive materials and decorative metal details to create a design of its own.

The result is not simply a piece of seating furniture, but a genuine design element for your home, lounge, club, office or any other special interior.

The collection features a wide variety of designs – from elegant and classic to bold and extravagant – and will continue to grow over time:

✨ Individual designs
✨ Detailed craftsmanship
✨ Distinctive steampunk and industrial look
✨ Ideal for unique interiors
✨ Various models available

If you are looking for furniture that does not look like everything else, you should definitely take a closer look at the new collection inworld.

📍 Available now at FLEETWOOD

Come by, take a seat and discover your personal favorite.

✨ **Legacy + Perky – drei Looks, ein verdammt guter Auftritt!** ✨

Ob frech, sexy oder lässig – die neuen **Shortoutfits von Legacy + Perky** bringen Abwechslung und jede Menge Style in deine Garderobe. 🖤🔥 Drei unterschiedliche Looks, die zeigen, wie vielseitig ein kurzes Outfit sein kann – von verführerisch bis cool und selbstbewusst.

Also, welcher Look darf bei dir einziehen? 😉 **Entdecke die neuen Legacy + Perky Shortoutfits jetzt bei BK-Mode!** 💋✨

Hot Damn BBQ!! Summer will behind us but your BBQ doesn't have to leave, hell no! Gracie and Dexter's dump is where to find Marianna's Hot Damn BBQ kit, everything you need to get that smokey goodness right down to the flaming charcoal briquette~ At the dump near the flaming dumpster! three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002:Gracie and Dexter's Community Dump AI critics yes I did exaggerate the ad flames but this baby has flames and hot coals!

ANNOUNCEMENT
hey all animeshies fans!
Im happy to tell, the dolfin pod is ready, jumpin, foolin about.....
this is the basic setup; later I will add a version with special effects embedded.
U can watch em @ the W-coast of my shop island.
Have fun!:)

Always Evolving

Many more ideas are still hidden away in the mind of Mike Fleetwood, waiting to be brought to life.

Fleetwood Beach is therefore not a finished project, but a region that is constantly evolving. New buildings, technical gadgets, vehicles, interactive systems and unusual attractions are gradually being created and integrated into the world of Fleetwood Beach.

That is why a visit is always worthwhile. Those who return later will often discover new details, try out new features or experience areas that did not even exist during their previous visit.

Fleetwood Beach is always changing – and there is always something new to discover and try out.

I would like to warmly thank everyone who attended the vigil in memory of Azraella last night. It was a beautiful moment, and I know there will be others.
We gathered around a memorial in her honor—one that will remain in place. Everyone is welcome to visit and leave a token in her memory.

hop://grid.virtual-worlds.zone:8002/VWZ%20Welcome/122/169/...

The photo accompanying this post is not of Azraella, but of one of her virtual artists, Tiggy Roy—an artist I have been a fan of since day one. While the physical features may differ, the heartfelt message suits her perfectly.

Rest in peace, my friend.

ONLY 7 DAYS TO GO!

The countdown is officially on… LinkUp Grid is almost ready to open its doors!

7 DAYS UNTIL THE GRAND OPENING!
Get ready to Link Up, Connect, Create & Belong as we bring together people and communities from across the OpenSim world in one exciting place.

A brand-new beginning
New friends & connections
Fun, entertainment & events
Places to explore
Creativity, building & inspiration
And plenty more surprises to come!

The cake is ready…
The countdown is running…
And in just 7 days, the doors open!

LinkUp Grid — One Grid. Many Friends. Countless Memories.

https://linkup-grid.com
WATCH THIS SPACE… THE GRAND OPENING IS COMING!

My Suitcase - I have heard recent complaints about the system. When you travel to another grid your inventory is blocked except for 1) items you are already wearing and 2) items in "My Suitcase".

At Holoneon we decided to make it user configurable. If you want to turn off the "My Suitcase" feature and have access to your full inventory when going to an HG destination, you can issue a command in local chat. You can also check the status and re-enable My Suitcase using a command.

Here are the commands:

Commands

/19341 suitcase on
/19341 suitcase off
/19341 suitcase status
/19341 suitcase default

"default" turns it "on" (the Holoneon grid default)

NOTE: you have to set your preference _before_ teleporting to an HG destination.

Working on my Ring Gag to add to my BDSM gear collection.

I hopefully get it ready soon but meanwhile feel free to get a copy of my
- Cuffs (RLV, Poses)
- Blindfold (RLV, Dark sphere, texture overlay)

At The Silvetree Cove SIM:

hop://hg.osgrid.org:80/The%20Silvertree%20Cove%20-%20BDSM/...

Re-posted on behalf of DJ Azraella.

Why Never Neverworld.

There is something particularly bleak about a community calling itself “The Friendly Grid” while apparently treating abusive behaviour as a problem best solved by telling the person on the receiving end: “You have a mute button.” Welcome to Neverworld Grid, where, judging by my experience, “friendly” may be less a standard of conduct than a decorative slogan attached to the front door.

I was a DJ in a virtual worlds for years lately as a visiting performer at Neverworld. By the point this incident occurred, however, my personal circumstances had changed. I am dying. That is not written for melodrama or sympathy. It matters because it explains what it cost me physically to be there at all. Despite being seriously ill and largely confined to bed, I got out of bed and DJed one final event to say thank you to my audience for supporting me and to draw people in one last time, which also helped to promote Neverworld Grid.

The reward was memorable, although perhaps not in quite the way their promotional department might prefer. During the event, I was verbally attacked and abused by a member of Neverworld Grid.

Behind every avatar is a human being. The fact that an interaction takes place in a virtual world does not make the behaviour, or its effect on another person, imaginary. The following day, despite the physical toll, I got out of bed again and raised a formal complaint with the owner of Neverworld Grid. I expected, at minimum, the complaint to be taken seriously. What I encountered instead was dismissal. No action was taken against the resident. My complaint was pretty much ignored and seen as nothing other than an interpersonal issue despite the fact I was a victim of one of their residents.

And then came this: “You have a mute button.”

And there, in five small words, lies the much larger problem. Of course I have a mute button. A mute button is a useful tool for an individual. It is not a substitute for moderation. Those are two entirely different things. A mute button allows the recipient to stop hearing somebody's behaviour. Moderation determines whether that behaviour is acceptable within the community in the first place. Confusing the two produces a wonderfully convenient system for administrators: the offender remains, the complainant makes them disappear from view, and management is spared the disagreeable business of actually managing anything. Problem solved. Well, invisible, which is apparently close enough. Imagine applying this philosophy anywhere else. Someone behaves disgracefully in a cinema and the management responds: 'you can use ear-plugs.' One can only admire the efficiency. No difficult confrontation. No standards requiring enforcement. No possibility of upsetting a patron who may have a life-time ticket. Just mute and carry on.

Neverworld Grid presents itself with the tagline: “The friendly grid.” That is precisely why this incident matters. If you advertise friendliness as part of your identity, then friendliness ceases to be merely a pleasant aspiration. It becomes a claim about the community you operate. And claims should survive contact with reality. A genuinely friendly community is not one in which nobody ever behaves badly. Such a place does not exist outside advertising copy and unusually optimistic children's television. A friendly community is one in which antisocial behaviour is taken seriously when it occurs. It is demonstrated by what administrators do when unfriendliness becomes inconvenient. That is the test. Not the logo. Not the website. Not the slogan. Not smiling avatars standing beneath carefully selected promotional photographs. The test comes when somebody crosses the line and management has to decide whether its proclaimed standards actually mean anything.

In my case, I believe Neverworld Grid failed that test spectacularly. I cannot state why the owner chose not to take action. Only the owner can answer that. But users are entitled to ask uncomfortable questions when enforcement appears absent.

What behaviour actually results in consequences?
Does a resident's financial contribution affect how complaints concerning them are handled?
Are paying residents subject to precisely the same behavioural standards as visitors are?
What happens after a formal complaint?
And perhaps most importantly: What behaviour would actually be serious enough for Neverworld Grid management to intervene rather than telling the recipient, “You have a mute button”? These are questions created by the apparent absence of action. If Neverworld Grid wants people to believe that payment of tier guarantees renters a friendly safe place, there is a very simple way of showing it: Have standards and apply them.

There is another unpleasant implication to the “you have a mute button” response. It transfers responsibility. The person accused of behaving abusively does not apparently need to change their behaviour. Instead, the person experiencing it must change theirs. You must mute. You must avoid. You must adapt. Management remains comfortably above the unpleasantness while the individual affected quietly rearranges their virtual existence around somebody else's deplorable conduct. That isn't moderation. It is outsourcing moderation to the victim. And it creates an obvious incentive for the worst personalities in any community: behave however you please as long as you keep paying. Eventually you can achieve the remarkable distinction of being peacefully surrounded by people who either tolerate you or cannot see or hear you. Community harmony, achieved through selective deafness as decreed by management.

There is another aspect of this which a mute button cannot undo: the physical effect of the encounter has already happened. Verbal abuse is not experienced solely as words arriving through speakers or appearing on a screen. Human beings respond physically to confrontation and distress. The body does not first consult the graphics card to determine whether an attack is sufficiently real to react to it. For a healthy person, that reaction can be deeply unpleasant. For somebody who is dying, already seriously ill and functioning with greatly diminished reserves, the consequences of that stress can carry considerably greater weight and could even be the last stress that body can take. And once that distress has occurred, telling the person “you have a mute button” is not a remedy.

The button cannot take you backwards in time. It cannot prevent the encounter that already happened. It cannot erase the stress already inflicted. And it certainly cannot answer the question of why the behaviour that caused the complaint apparently attracted no consequence. There is a peculiar cruelty in dismissing that distinction which no amount of virtual-world branding can disguise.

I did not expect sainthood. I did not expect somebody to erect a statue of my avatar outside the welcome centre. I expected basic human decency and a complaint to be treated seriously.

Apparently that must be the 'Super Ultimate Friend of the Owner' premium feature. Neverworld Grid calls itself friendly. People considering investing their time, creativity, communities and money there should understand what “friendly” meant when my complaint was placed in front of its owner. Because communities reveal themselves not through their slogans but through the behaviour they are prepared to tolerate. Anybody can write: “We are the friendly grid.” The interesting question is what happens when somebody isn't friendly. In my experience, the answer was depressingly simple: Nothing. The complaint was effectively binned. Apparently making bad actors into clouds is your only option meanwhile Management avoided doing anything meaningful other than preserve a monthly tier payment. And the slogan will survive. Perhaps that is the most impressive achievement of all. In virtual worlds, apparently even irony can be rendered in 3D.

Neverworld Grid also seems very keen on telling people that it isn't Second Life.

Second Life gets plenty of criticism, some of it deserved. One complaint you hear is that region owners can make their own rules and, if you don't follow them, eject or ban you. That can certainly be irritating. People can make ridiculous rules. People can throw you out for reasons you think are unfair. Give somebody control over a virtual patch of land and occasionally they begin behaving as though Buckingham Palace has asked for the keys back. But there is another side to it. If you enter somebody's region, you know they have rules and that breaking them can have consequences. If you behave badly enough, somebody can actually do something about it. After my experience with Neverworld Grid, I find myself wondering why removing that is supposed to be an improvement. If the alternative to somebody saying “These are the rules here” is somebody behaving abusively and the person being abused getting told “You have a mute button,” which system is actually friendlier?

There has to be some middle ground between petty little dictators throwing people off regions because they don't like the colour of their shoes and a free-for-all where nobody wants to intervene.
Rules can be abused. So can the absence of rules. The difference is that when there are sensible community standards, ordinary people know where they stand. Don't abuse people. Don't deliberately disrupt things. Don't make somebody else's experience miserable. Hardly tyranny. And if somebody does cross those lines, there should be consequences. Neverworld seems to dislike the way people in Second Life exercise control over their own regions. Fine. But what is being offered instead? If the answer is greater freedom, then whose freedom are we talking about? The freedom of somebody to enjoy an event without being abused? Or the freedom of somebody to behave however they like without anybody in authority becoming involved? Because those freedoms collide eventually. Mine did. And apparently I had a mute button.

Then there is the question of tier. People pay to be on grids like this. That makes it reasonable to ask whether somebody who keeps paying can expect considerably more tolerance than somebody who just visits but still contributes to the success of the grid. I cannot prove that this is what happened in my case. But the response I received certainly gives me reason to ask. If somebody pays tier and behaves disgracefully, what happens? Are they warned? Are there consequences? Or does everybody they upset simply get reminded where the mute button is? Because if the practical message becomes: Pay your tier and management will look the other way, then who exactly does that attract? Most decent people don't need immunity from basic standards of behaviour. Creators don't need it. DJs don't need it. People running events don't need it. People who simply want somewhere pleasant to spend a few hours don't need it. The people who benefit most from a place where bad behaviour carries few consequences are, rather obviously, the people most likely to behave badly. That seems an extraordinary foundation for something calling itself “The Friendly Grid.”

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be different from Second Life. But different does not automatically mean better. If Second Life says, in effect, “behave yourself here or somebody may throw you out,” while Neverworld's answer to abuse is “you have a mute button,” I know which approach now looks more like a community and which looks more like an incompetent Management avoidance strategy. Being different is easy. Being better requires rather more than a tagline. If Neverworld Grid believes this account misrepresents its standards, it can explain them.

What happens when someone reports serious verbal abuse? What behaviour actually results in action?
Are paying residents treated exactly the same as everyone else? And why was “You have a mute button” considered an adequate response to my complaint?

Those answers would tell people considerably more about Neverworld Grid than any slogan ever could.
Until then, perhaps the tagline deserves a small amendment:

“Neverworld Grid — The Friendly Grid. You have a mute button.”
or
" Welcome to Neverworld the Friendly Grid where you may have to mute your fellow residents"
or perhaps as almost happened in my case:
" Neverworld the Friendly Grid (we let you away with murder just keep paying you'll see)"

The bottom line has to be this:

If you claim friendliness you automatically accept a duty of care to all users. and paying doesn't excuse unfriendliness. Community standards you claim must be enforced swiftly and across all tiers of membership and extend to visitors. I was told my abuser hadn't broken any TOS. I guess there is no actual TOS beyond the owner's mood. Yes you guessed it my abuser is a friend of the owner.

My final advice to anyone looking for a new home...lift the carpets before you decide.

I won't see a resolution to this issue or see Virtual again but that doesn't mean you can't learn from my experience.

Azraella.

Inspired by the elegance of Cuba's colonial silver craftsmanship, Herencia Cubana features engraved floral conchos joined in a graceful collar design with a matching teardrop pendant.

Created for Corazón del Mar, this necklace celebrates the beauty of historic Cuban-inspired jewelry.

Free • Full Permissions • OpenSim

Herencia Cubana – a tribute to Cuba's rich artistic heritage.
three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002/Corazon%20del%20Mar/128/128/51

We've been working on our wolfstorm web based viewer for opensim, with VR and Mobile support, I'm excited to say we are really getting to our first release (beta), it will only run on Wolf Grid right now because when you login you are giving your username and password. Just wanted to show you our welcome centre rendered in a web browser, no downloads.