Lip Service

Linden Lab's customer facing departments seem to prefer it; I don't.

For several years I've enjoyed helping others and building communities within Second Life and it's associated webspaces, and also tried to make that easier for other to do, sometimes succeeding, sometimes not. I'm not the only one by any means, and hold no illusions that my contributions make or break the effort. There are others who have contributed far more, and there are some that still do. SL has never lacked for clients willing to promote and improve it's platform.

Recently the weight of what I feel is poor decision making by LL in their forum webspace (arguably one of their first lines of customer contact and service), came to a head, with the outright abusive treatment of it's customer community. I became more and more aware of it, both through personal exposure, and word of mouth which was thoroughly checked. I stood up and said something about it, pointing to what was wrong, and focused on specifically why it was damaging, and what needed to be done to fix it. Unconnected to that I made a personal statement of intent, that if I couldn't see improvement or effort towards such, I would withdraw my efforts to improve the forums. I haven't seen it, so true to my word, I've packed up my bags and moved out of the forums. Thankfully, I feel that there is now quite a good pool of people in what's always been my personal home of the scripting forums.

The truth is, my exit was probably late in coming. Over the years I've watched as customers were treated as a convenient workforce, while multiple programs supposed to encourage and assist those who wanted to help died out to neglect and mistreatment. Each time alienating more clients, and leaving more by the wayside confused about where to find help. I'm now among the ranks of those alienated, and a little sad to know how many good people are in the same company. I think it's unfortunate that LL will eventually send more here if it doesn't wake up. As far as I can see, they are their own worst competitor in their effort to expand; If they can't catch and hold onto the spirit of devotion that drives their clients to help others find as much enjoyment in the platform as those clients do, they'll never manage to keep the clients they do have.

As for myself, I'm currently stepping back and reevaluating my other contributions within and outside of SL, so that I can refocus on what matters to me and others like me, even if it means stripping the tree bare rather than nourishing it's growth.

This is where I press post rather than edit my thoughts

Open letter to Rod Humble, RE: Second Life Forums

To Mr. Humble, CEO Linden Lab

  I'm writing you today, in the hopes of bringing your attention to what I feel is a detriment to the public image of SL and goodwill of it's residents. There is a trend of what appears to be worsening misapplication of guidelines in the official forums culminating with my own recent experience which I will detail shortly. I do wish to note first that I am not contesting the actions taken by LL staff, as I believe that they are only operating under the guidelines given to the best of their understanding and ability, and I hold no malice over it. My only issue is the clarity of the policies involved. Regardless of this, my understanding of the guidelines tells me that my discussion of the following details will very likely result in a ban from the forums. I am willing to accept this, because I believe the issues need to be openly addressed.

  Recently a poster upset by recent events posted a suggestion that others who felt similarly about those events, should join them in a sort of "blue flu" protest for a week, by refraining from answering questions. I don't know the details of those events beyond that a person (who is a known agitant) was banned. This is not my issue however. In reply to that I pointed out that historically (within SL) such protests had little effect, and that it would be more effective to direct those questioners to official support channels (original text below). The following day I logged in to find a private message from a moderator informing me that my post was removed for a violation of guidelines, specifically, "Flaming". I also found that the original thread to which I had replied was also removed, although I'm not aware of it's reasoning. Believing this to be a mistake or a simple misunderstanding of my intent, I requested a clarification, which was received the next day as "disruptive with the intent to abuse support" (text below), I can only assume that similar reasoning was applied to the original thread.

  I feel that this is both a gross misinterpretation of intent, and misapplication of guidelines that does a disservice to both the original poster, and myself, as well as the community at large. As examples of our depth of commitment and dedication to SL, the original poster is a long time and frequent assistant to those in need of help in SL, and my own efforts go back to 2005, with contributions across a wide array of fora and topics, the wiki, jira, and various inworld groups both official and resident run. These things are not a claim to some special privilege, we have neither expected nor asked for special consideration or recognition of our efforts, nor desire them.

  I believe that history speaks to intent though, which has ever been to help others where we can. I do realize my own statement could be misread, however I feel the suggestion to use (and education to find) the many scattered official sources can never be a bad thing... at the very worst it might slow response times, and at it's best it enables users to more easily help themselves. Similarly, residents are not paid workers, and the suggestion to temporarily halt their own voluntary efforts in a show of support is not deserving of punishment. It my firm belief that silencing these statements sends the message that LL considers resident helpers as an unpaid workforce, which are only tolerated so long as they fulfill the express purpose of easing LL's burden of providing support to residents. This is not a message I can support. I am not seeking an apology, or even a reason, but rather a change.

Sincerely,
- Void Singer (the only name anyone would recognize me by here anyway)

ref: Original Post as quoted in the warning letter

ref: Request for clarification

ref: Reply to clarification request

SIP: Teacup + RedTea

  So I've been playing around with MOAP and LSL's HTTP-in, which lets you not only display media inworld, but also serve it from there to the Outside world as well...

Help withTexture Mapping

the following images were designed by Chosen Few, and DanielFox Abernathy respectively. the first is an alignment texture in decimal (easier to use with the built in controls) for matching textures across prims. The second is a similar texture designed for sculpties, that also show LOD points for each vertex

UUID = "11e68b89-6693-e3bf-35c9-876ae2a2e78b"
UUID = "c595dad5-e439-fe75-1220-9dddf6cdf4b3"

the following formulas may also help with tiling
repeat = individual prim axis size / total axis size of surface to tile across
offset = prim distance from center of total surface axis size to tile across

non-rectangular prim faces should use planar mapping mode, and non-touching prims should use half the distance between it and the next prim to calculate it's sides for axis size.

hollow faces use a different formula:
horizontal repeats = (number of hole sides * desired repeats per side * 2 if the shape is prism) / hollow as a percentage
horizontal offset = -.5 - (horizontal repeats - horizontal repeats * hollow as a percentage) / 2)
vertical repeats and offsets are calculated normally.

the Forums Are Dead, Long Live the Forums

on February 9th (after one weeks notice) forums.secondlife.com went offline, and after a short while, were reborn in a drastically reduced form on blogs.secondlife.com/community/forums.... I'm not exactly happy with this fact, especially since vBulletin was replaced with (such an apt company name) Jive Software's "Clearspace".... meh... lots of missing and broken features, but at least they're still alive.

Now one weeks notice kinda hurt, and I spent most of that week ignoring phonecalls, archiving most of the scripting library, and starting a group to collect the people that frequented Scripting Tips, plus all the Content Creation stickies, and several posts and items of personal value. then it was off to Jira to file over two dozen bug reports and feature requests for the new forums, so that they could be as feature rich as the old ones... I was in the middle of doing that during the changeover.

The Old forums are set to be archived, and should be searchable sometime in mid March.

So what have I been doing the last few days since it died? Well I cleaned my house (since I hadn't touched it since this mess started) took a moment to congratulate myself for doing what I did, caught up with some friends, and did something that YOU dear reader, will appreciate... I wrote a Greasemonkey script for FireFox, that allows you to IGNORE those pesky people that just really seem to add nothing to your forum reading....

// ==UserScript== // @name SL Forum Ignore // @namespace Private // @description +Ignore Links on User Posts on SL Forum Discussions/Questions, +Make Linden Names RED, +OP Edit fix // @include https://blogs.secondlife.com/thread/* // @include https://blogs.secondlife.com/message/* // @match https://blogs.secondlife.com/thread/* // @match https://blogs.secondlife.com/message/* // @version 1.3 // @copyright Void Singer 2009 [ https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Void_Singer ] & BlindWanderer [ http://userscripts.org/users/4223 ] // @license CC-BY [ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0 ] // @licesne.ext Free to copy, use, modify, distribute, or sell, with attribution. // ==/UserScript== /*//-- added match statements for compatibility with chromium 'content scripts' --//*/ /*//-- IE7pro unsupported: lacks CSS inheritance & getElementsByClassName --//*/ //-- compatibility replacements for Chrome4+, Opera10.5+, Safari4+, I hope if (typeof GM_addStyle == 'undefined'){ function GM_addStyle( vCss ){ var vStyle = document.createElement( 'style' ); vStyle.textContent = vCss; document.getElementsByTagName( 'head' )[0].appendChild( vStyle ); } } //-- "it's possible that *this* GM_ function is supported in chromium, but the others are not. can't find docs" //-- compatibility replacements for Chrome4+, Opera10.5+, Safari4+, I hope if (typeof GM_setValue == 'undefined'){ //-- native JSON and localStorage for GM_*Value replacement GM_getValue = function( vKey, vDefault ){ var vReturn = JSON.parse( window.localStorage.getItem( vKey ) ); return ((vReturn == null)? vDefault: vReturn); } GM_setValue = function( vKey, vValue ){ window.localStorage.setItem( vKey, JSON.stringify( vValue ) ); } GM_deleteValue = function( vKey ){ window.localStorage.removeItem( vKey ); } } //-- function contributed by BlindWanderer function uHide( vPostNode ){ vPostNode.className += ' ignored-user'; } //-- function contributed by BlindWanderer function uShow( vPostNode ){ vPostNode.className = vPostNode.className.split( ' ' ).filter( function( v ){ return v != 'ignored-user';} ).join( ' ' ); } //-- function contributed by BlindWanderer, modifed by Void Singer function uToggleIgnore(){ //-- no ancestor support outside of xpath? var vName = this.getAttribute( 'username' ); //-- ?is there really any savings to caching instead of a direct call to GM_getValue? var vAction = (vIgnoreCache[vName] = !vIgnoreCache[vName])? uHide : uShow; if (vIgnoreCache[vName]){ GM_setValue( vName, true ); } else{ GM_deleteValue( vName ); } var vSwaps = document.getElementsByClassName( vName ); var vCount = 0; for (vCount; vCount < vSwaps.length; ++vCount){ vAction.apply( vAction, [vSwaps.item( vCount )] ); } } //-- adds styles, ignore toggles, and marks post containers function uTweakPage(){ //-- use style to reduce load, contributed by BlindWanderer, modifed by Void Singer GM_addStyle( [ '.GM-Fix-Thread-Edit {', ' background: url( "../images/jive-icon-edit-16x16.gif" ) no-repeat scroll left center transparent;', ' font-weight: bold;', ' padding-left: 17px;', ' margin-right: 0.5em;', ' float: right;}', '', '.GM-ignore-link-wrapper { cursor:pointer; }', '', '.GM-ignore-link-wrapper .ignore { display:block;}', '.GM-ignore-link-wrapper .unignore { display:none;}', '.ignored-user .GM-ignore-link-wrapper .ignore {display:none;}', '.ignored-user .GM-ignore-link-wrapper .unignore {display:block;}', '', '.ignored-user .jive-author { padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; }', '.ignored-user .jive-author-avatar-container { display:none!important; }', '.ignored-user .jive-author-avatar-container { background-image: none !important; }', '.ignored-user .jive-author > em { display:none; }', '', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-body-container { min-height:0; background-image: none !important; padding-bottom:8px; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-subject { float: left; width:auto; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-subject h2 { display:none; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-message { display:none; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-details { background-image: none !important; padding-top:0; margin-top:0; width:auto;}', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-subject-content { background-image: none !important; padding-bottom:0; margin-bottom:0; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-post-subject-content .jive-thread-post-reply { display:none; }', '', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-reply-body-container { min-height:0; padding-bottom:6px; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-reply-subject { float: left; width:auto; padding-bottom:0!important;}', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-reply-subject strong { display:none!important; }', '.ignored-user .jive-thread-reply-message { display:none; }', '.ignored-user .jive-content-controls { text-align:right; width:auto; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0;}', '', 'div[class$=".Linden"] div.jive-author div.jive-username-link-wrapper > a { color:#BB0000; }', ].join( '\n' ) ); //-- clone edit thread link to OP var vGetOP = document.getElementsByClassName( 'jive-thread-post-details' ).item( 0 ); var vGetEdit = document.getElementsByClassName( 'jive-link-edit' ).item( 0 ); if ((null != vGetEdit) && (null != vGetOP)){ //-- need to text both for flat paged views (edit still shows on follow-up pages) var vCloneEdit = vGetEdit.cloneNode( true ); vGetOP.appendChild( vCloneEdit ); vCloneEdit.className = 'GM-Fix-Thread-Edit'; } //-- create generic toggle for ignore buttons, contributed by BlindWanderer var vToggleBox = document.createElement( 'div' ); vToggleBox.className = 'GM-ignore-link-wrapper'; { var span = document.createElement( 'span' ); span.appendChild( document.createTextNode( 'Ignore' ) ); span.className = 'ignore'; vToggleBox.appendChild(span); } { var span = document.createElement( 'span' ); span.appendChild( document.createTextNode( 'Unignore' ) ); span.className = 'unignore'; vToggleBox.appendChild(span); } function uInsertToggles( vPostNodes ){ //-- contributed by BlindWanderer, modifed by Void Singer var vCount = 0; //-- loop through posts for (vCount; vCount < vPostNodes.length; ++vCount){ //-- get user profile link for position, and grab their system name var vUserLink = vPostNodes.item( vCount ).getElementsByClassName( 'jive-username-link' ).item( 0 ); var vName = vUserLink.href.substring( vUserLink.href.lastIndexOf( '/' ) + 1 ); //-- tag post for ignore handling vPostNodes.item( vCount ).parentNode.className += ' ' + vName; //-- changed to class vs custom attribute if (vName.split( '.' ).slice( -1 )[0] != 'Linden'){ //-- check and ignore post if user already on ignore //-- ?is there really any savings to caching instead of a direct call to GM_getValue? var vIsIgnored = vIgnoreCache[vName] = GM_getValue( vName, false ); if (vIsIgnored){ uHide( vPostNodes.item( vCount ).parentNode ); } //-- clone ignore toggle into user info box, and tie it the switch function var vIgnoreToggle = vToggleBox.cloneNode( true ); //-- ?no ancestor support outside of xpath? vIgnoreToggle.setAttribute( 'username', vName ); vUserLink.parentNode.insertBefore( vIgnoreToggle, vUserLink.nextSibling ); //--contributed by Blind Wanderer vIgnoreToggle.addEventListener( 'click', uToggleIgnore, false ); } } } //-- insert Toggle in OP uInsertToggles( document.getElementsByClassName( 'jive-thread-post-body' ) ); //-- insert Toggle in replies uInsertToggles( document.getElementsByClassName( 'jive-thread-reply-body' ) ); //-- not happy with the separate inserts for OP and reply, but it wasn't worth a custom function to grab both } //-- ?is there really any savings to caching instead of a direct call to GM_getValue? var vIgnoreCache = {}; //-- contributed by BlindWanderer //-- jive version checking if (document.getElementsByClassName( 'jiveVersion' ).item( 0 ).textContent.indexOf( '80211' ) != -1){ uTweakPage(); }

Ah... ignorance IS bliss =)

Ahhh good times

Ok, so I'm back on the downgraded comp (about to call the comuter store with a WTF message), and I logged in last night, basically to hang out, since getting anything done, or doing any exploring on this comp is about like building an igloo in the sahara...

So to start off, the night wasn't great, I had a semi-break-up with a very dear girlfriend, basically because she needs more from me, and I can't provide it (and she deserves more than I can offer right now). That was hard, I cried, but it's the best chance for her to be happy, and that's what I want most. So She'll be looking elsewhere (single woman alert), though we'll still be quasi-together till she does

The evening did brighten up though, as I attended a little informal get-together of forum people, slightly themed as a heckling session. Ok technically it was more like a field trip of experienced forum regulars, to a class aimed at newbies, Hostessed by Lindal Kidd (who was a good sport about it all, above and beyond the call of duty)... Mostly it was just goofy fun, plenty of innuendo, and playful conversation. I have to say, I had a blast, and literally fell out of my chair laughing more than once. Met alot of people I didn't know, or only knew through a few forum posts, enjoyed myself immensely with new friends. I'll have to do this again soon... this is what I missed about SL the most during my hiatus... the people. now if only LL would realize that it's the peole the make the place, and treat them right, maybe we'd have less issues.

See it's a post that's actually about SL, aren't you so proud of me? =P

Return of the ...

Well I'm back from my rather long getaway.... and upgraded too....

That's right folks, my return brings with it a few changes, and one of them is the computer I'll be using for SL. It's Big, Shiny, Black, and Pretty... and it's all mine...

dual Gigagbit LAN nForce750i northbridge, 1333 FSB, 2x16 PCIe2.0
Intel q6600 (quad core) running @ 2.4Ghz (not overclocked...yet)
EVGA nVidia GTX 280 (was a 9800GX2, got a better deal)
3Gb DDR2 Ram, RAID 0+1, 660GB HD total after RAID
7.1 Surround Sound, DVD-RW-DL + lightscribe
WinXPPro ('cause I HATE Vista)
22in Flat panel.

Let the jealousy begin =)


yes I know I could've opted for more RAM, by tweaking the registry XP will support 4Gb... but I've heard of issues with this so I skipped it... for now. However when (not if) I bite the bullet and migrate to Vista I'll be adding more ram, in matched sets

the q6600 is a good overclocker, and should be able to do 3.2Ghz safely with few changes in cooling

I'd have stuck with the 9800GX2 but they're back ordered indefinitely, and I'm impatient. The GTX 260 (next line up) doesn't really perform as well IMHO based on what I've seen... however the GTX 280 is pretty much par, especially at higher resulotions, and won't require a higher priced Motherboard to run in SLI with a second card (nevermind that scuttlebutt is, nVidia is scaling down support for GX2)

RAID is a HUGE bonus for this system, seeing as I just lost ~150Gb to HD failure, most of it irreplaceable personal items, and programming work... and here I was worried about SL screwing up my inventory eh?


So, I'll bet you're wondering how well it runs, in terms that mean something to you as an SL user? Well after having to tweak my settings to a great degree on my old comp just to be able to move and see, it's so refreshing.... I've got every setting on the 1.2 viewer maxed... even draw distance, running windowed at 1600x900 ... and it slides though SL like silk... zero client related hiccups, very few server related ones (group messaging is still hit and miss) and rez time is... scary fast.

the odd thing is with all these new pretty features, I can now see some of the things that suck about my Av... and the world around me... you'd be amazed at what differce bump textures make, or shiny effects, or even local lighting... and also how wrong they can go when people that can't see them try to use them...

Well anyways, that's my brag-n-bitch seesion, I'd also welcome any suggestions on games to play with this fun new monster, preferably RPG styles, online or off, SP or MMORPG (although subscription fees irk me)