A decent conversation

I had a private message conversation with the bane of second life today. Not the bane for me, exactly, I just ignore the ugly signs and try to encourage others to do so, along with banning them from your space. I figure, if we all band together to ban the "rule breakers" that LL won't deal with...ban them from your cool spots, places to explore, hang out, do stuff...then eventually, the message will be clear. As it is in many groups, both human and animal, follow the rules or be shunned.

I noticed that Mr. Lazarus Divine is very covertly hostile in his interactions with those who disagree. Many people get angry...I matched his mood and found that we were soon having a very interesting conversation. Read on:

Lazarus Divine: Hiya Ms. Marlowe. Have you got a second to talk?
Lazarus Divine: Awww...sorry I missed you. I just read my first forum articles today, and yours got my attention.
Lazarus Divine: It seems you think that people are aiding me by buying the land I post signs to. This is not the case. I have had a few supporters donate land, but for the most part, I own every plot I've bought in months.
Lazarus Divine: Just a little fact to go with your assumptions.
Lazarus Divine: Take care, and enjoy your Second Life. (oh, and Impeach Bush!)
Lazarus Divine: OOps, one more point...No alts. Just lil ole me. ;)
Lizbeth Marlowe: Hello Mr. Divine...you still around?
Lazarus Divine: HI. I'm in another interview.
Lizbeth Marlowe: good luck, talk another time then.
Lazarus Divine: Alright. Thanks.
Lizbeth Marlowe: it is an amazing feat how you manage to have a group with no alts and no one helping you. I'm in awe.
Lazarus Divine: Busy busy busy!! :D
Lizbeth Marlowe: You are amazing. :D
Lazarus Divine: If you're around in 15 minutes, may I speak with you?
Lizbeth Marlowe: sure thang
Lazarus Divine: Hi Lizbeth. Are you free?
Lizbeth Marlowe: I can be
Lazarus Divine: Just wanted to chat for a moment. No need to interrupt you excessively.
Lizbeth Marlowe: oh certainly, I understand.
Lizbeth Marlowe: how did your interview go?
Lazarus Divine: Oh fine, I was interviewing a resident for an interesting opportunity. I'd like to offer a similar opportunity to you.
Lazarus Divine: WOuld you hear me out?
Lizbeth Marlowe: let's hear it sir.
Lazarus Divine: Well...I was reading my first forum postings today, and followed through a thread that I believe that you began.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I believe I know the thread you speak of.
Lazarus Divine: You proposed a method for "dealing" with the infamous Lazarus Divine.
Lazarus Divine: Is that you?
Lizbeth Marlowe: that would be me yes
Lazarus Divine: As I read through the thread, I asked myself, "What would it take to getthese people to believe that I'm not into this for money?"
Lazarus Divine: I was reading another poster's article about definitions for extortion, etc.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I am trying to get the community to realize that constantly bitching and moaning is only castrating their power.
Lazarus Divine: I understand.
Lizbeth Marlowe: yes I saw that and I agree with that post as well,
Lazarus Divine: The idea dawned on me....
Lizbeth Marlowe: I would agree that you are profiteering.
Lazarus Divine: "Walk a mile in my shoes."
Lizbeth Marlowe: but you can do that in here and that's cool.
Lazarus Divine: I thought, what if I let one of these folks rind my account for a day or two.
Lizbeth Marlowe: rind?
Lazarus Divine: ride, occupy
Lizbeth Marlowe: how would you propose to do that?
Lazarus Divine: Be Lazarus Divine. Full disclosure to an unassociated, unbiased party.
Lazarus Divine: There would need to be a certain level of trust established, and I would have to take several precautions to protect myself financially, but essentially, I'd let another resident log in as me.
Lizbeth Marlowe: well, Mr. Divine, I am hardly unbiased. There is no such thing.
Lazarus Divine: Surf my numbers, meet my contacts. Pla with my toys, talk to my friends. The whole schmere.
Lizbeth Marlowe: and I do believe that is against TOS, so I would be careful who you made that offer to sir.
Lazarus Divine: The burden of proof lies with the accusor. Nobody would be any the wiser.
Lizbeth Marlowe: So, you are either testing my integrity, whish is in tact, as always, OR you have shown your card. Which is it sir?
Lazarus Divine: As far as the information that was collected, and how it were published, that would be the important part.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I would rather not be breaking the rules. I like my second life and will not consider any proposal the may jeopardize it.
Lizbeth Marlowe: But I can appreciate what you are trying to acheive here.
Lazarus Divine: Certainly, I'm interested in your concerns, and if you feel that strongly, I wouldn't want to press you.
Lazarus Divine: Are you sure?
Lazarus Divine: (that you follow my intent?)
Lizbeth Marlowe: I do follow your intent..and if it weren't against the rules I would consider it, but they don't so I won't
Lizbeth Marlowe: May I ask you something?
Lazarus Divine: How about this proposal, to limit your exposure to any sort of risk...
Lazarus Divine: My avatar would be used jointly, via wevex or a remote desktop session.
Lazarus Divine: It would be no different that the two of us sitting sife by side.
Lazarus Divine: I drive? You drive? There's no difference.
Lazarus Divine: Each sees what the other does.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I would not open my pc to someone I do not know, nor would I wish to do that to another.
Lazarus Divine: That actually minimizes the risk to me as well.
Lazarus Divine: That's not what webex or remote desktop is. You access my PC via a web browser. See webex.com for details. I use it in business every day.
Lizbeth Marlowe: may I ask you something?
Lazarus Divine: You onmly see what my screen sees.
Lazarus Divine: Your keyboard can act as mine. There is no way to touch the internals of the PC itself.
Lazarus Divine: Of course.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I know how thos programs work, I use them too, and again, it's not for me.
Lazarus Divine: Alright, enough said, then. No harm done.
Lizbeth Marlowe: my question to you is: how much of an affect do you think you are having with you signs in here, and what are you doing in real life to make this same statement?
Lazarus Divine: I've also proposed the ofer to a reported from the Dallas Morning News, and another poster to the thread that brought me to you.
Lazarus Divine: Where shuld I start, RL, or SL?
Lizbeth Marlowe: wherever you like.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I certainly am not in disagreement with your sentiment...just not sure about the delivery and it's impact in SL...so what else are you doing to make your point known/heard
Lazarus Divine: In the interest of personal provacy, I won't name the cities, however, I attended a conference in my home town, 800,000+ residents this past weekend regarding efforts to end the war in Iraq.
Lazarus Divine: Next week, I'm travelling to London to attend a similar conference.
Lazarus Divine: I am active in local elections, community service, and an active supporter of the American Disabled Veterans association.
Lazarus Divine: I donate blood, and am a registered marrow donor.
Lizbeth Marlowe: again I am impressed
Lazarus Divine: I support two local shelters. One for displaced women and children, another for homeless adicts.
Lizbeth Marlowe: And I am sure that our residents in SL who are not US citizens are impressed as well
Lizbeth Marlowe: support how? with your money?
Lazarus Divine: The shelters?
Lazarus Divine: Or the Vets?
Lizbeth Marlowe: either.
Lazarus Divine: Vets, mostly money. The family shelter, I mentor/tutor kids in math and schence, also provide financial and material support sucj as clothing, toiletries, food, and the like.
Lazarus Divine: The adicts shelter, mostly money and support at fund raisers.
Lazarus Divine: (I don't tutor typing)
Lizbeth Marlowe: heh, me too neither.
Lazarus Divine: My wife and I both protest in support of the Planned Parenthood organization.
Lazarus Divine: We stand toe-to-toe with the anti-PP folks.
Lazarus Divine: Also money and time with them.
Lazarus Divine: In SL?
Lazarus Divine: Signs, signs, signs, and a few more signs.
Lizbeth Marlowe: an active citizen.
Lizbeth Marlowe: one last question if I may?
Lazarus Divine: Please.
Lizbeth Marlowe: Why is the land at most sign locations for sale? why not uncheck the box?
Lizbeth Marlowe: you have it priced so high...if you don't mean to sell so high, why put it for sale?
Lazarus Divine: When land is not for sale, it does not appear in the land finder. Next time you look, open the land finder and sort the entried in decending order by price, or $/SQM. You to this by clicking on the column headers.
Lazarus Divine: Then you tell me where I learned that and who I learned it from.
Lazarus Divine: Free advertising. The very best kind.
Lizbeth Marlowe: do you mean to sell this land then?
Lazarus Divine: Nope, and I have records to prove that I haven't. You're welcome to review them.
Lazarus Divine: That is the kernel of my offer.
Lazarus Divine: If you're reluctant to log into the system as L.D. You might consider a webex of the account data web site?
Lazarus Divine: It would be much more credable that screen shots.
Lazarus Divine: (than)
Lazarus Divine: AND a lot less work.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I figured it was something simple, but if it irritates so many people...why do it that way? why not find a peaeful way that isn't inducing so much angst?
Lazarus Divine: Discomfort, my dear, and I don't mean that disrespectfully, is something too many folks in the US don't understand. They don't know how to deal with it well. It releases the old hormones.
Lazarus Divine: Making meople uncorfortable (or comfortable) is a large part of the art of persuasion.
Lazarus Divine: My goal is not, and never has been to change anyone's mind.
Lazarus Divine: I'm not concerned whether people are pro or anti-Bush.
Lazarus Divine: I'm just trying to poke them in the ribs and make them pro or anti-Anythink. Even Lazarus Divine.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I agree, however, you are trying to reach people who are BORED and you are using covert hostility, that brings about anger, not and interest in what you have to say. you are bringing the m down, rather than building them up.
Lazarus Divine: Of course I have strong feelings about the War, about Bush, and abut how the US presents itself to the rest of the world.
Lizbeth Marlowe: to get people into action, you have to inspire them...yes anger can be useful, but never constructive
Lazarus Divine: As I said, I am not trying to get people to rise into action. Only to think about it and make a decision.
Lazarus Divine: More brains, less Barbie.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I agree with that too. I think we look pretty bad to the rest of the world. Yet...didn't we look pretty bad to Brittain when we fought to break free from their oppression?
Lizbeth Marlowe: well, you've seen what they are thinking about...did you reach your objectives?
Lizbeth Marlowe: if you read thru the forums that is.
Lazarus Divine: LOOOOONG discussion there. None the less, I think we'd both agree, the US is a little different than it was when we were being "oppressed."
Lizbeth Marlowe: nods
Lazarus Divine: It's an ongoing mission.
Lizbeth Marlowe: well, Mr Divine, I wish you luck. If you read anymore of my posts you will see that I am for your freedom of speech, but I do think you are going about it the wrong way.
Lazarus Divine: I have a collection of email/IM's demonstratingthat I have an impact.
Lizbeth Marlowe: I am sure you do. :)
Lazarus Divine: ENough said. Thanks for your time. Keep your eyes peeled for an article disclosing my finances.
Lazarus Divine: Oh, and Impeach Bush!
Lizbeth Marlowe: That means nothing to me. I just want the griping to stop and everyone to get on with their second lives...and do what they can in their first lives
Lizbeth Marlowe: you got a petition I can sign? hahahaha
Lazarus Divine: ;) take care and enjoy yur Second Life.

In closing, again I will note that the conversation was pleasant, with a few barbs tossed back and forth, but inviting me to use his account? I want to believe he thinks he trying to do the right thing and show the residents of Second Life what he's really about, but I find it hard to trust someone that invites me to break a rule that is clearly stated in the TOS as grounds for bannishment.

The problem, Mr. Divine is you have become a public nuisance and you are taking advantage of the commons. I searched the land for sale as you stated I should, the other resident is promoting a business venture for networked advertising. What w yas it you are promoting again? Oh yeah, more brain, less Barbie. You obviously didn't know Barbie very well, that bitch has everything! ;)

Second Lifer's, again I urge you to resist the need to make the signs go away. Don't buy the land, you only empower him to bother someone else. Don't!