Caledon Oxbridge General Q&A for 2019-12-22

15:00 Carl Metropolitan Welcome to this Sunday's Oxbridge General Q&A. Andrea and I (maybe just me tonight) are here to answer any of your questions about Second Life, Caledon, Oxbridge, Steampunk, Linden Lab, and anything vaguely related to any of the above. I'm also good at trivia questions.
15:00 Carl Metropolitan If we don't know the answer, we can Google it. In other words, we know where to look, or at least can probably put you in touch with someone who does know the answer.
15:00 Carl Metropolitan Hyperion, lets that your question first.
15:01 Carl Metropolitan Hyperions' question was “I understand that skills are needed to enter and advance in a trade. What kind of jobs does this environment offer?”
15:02 Carl Metropolitan Well to start with, most jobs in Second Life are not really worth doing unless it is something you just enjoy.
15:02 Carl Metropolitan A job that pays you even 1000L$ an hour, in RL terms is only paying you about $4 US per hour.
15:03 Carl Metropolitan At the beginning of your time in SL, you are almost always better off buying L$ from the Lindex exchange.
15:04 Carl Metropolitan Once you understand the world and understand the skills people need to make real money, then you can try to move into business here.
15:05 Carl Metropolitan The major skills that would help you in making and selling stuff are: 3D modeling and texturing, creating animations, scripting (in the LSL language mostly), and making clothing (a specialized sub-division of 3D modeling)
15:06 Carl Metropolitan If you are already good at 3D modeling or computer coding, then you have a leg up on most new people.
15:06 Gronk Seriman Skills and trades aren't like leveling up in a game. They are real here. Almost nothing you see was made by the Lindens. Almost everything you see is SL was made by the Users.
15:06 Carl Metropolitan It is just a matter of learning how to apply those skills to SL.
15:06 Hyperion0931 I can't say computers are my forte...
15:07 Hyperion0931 But why do people aim to obtain virtual currency here?
15:07 Carl Metropolitan Another way that people make money in SL—and this is a higher risk path—is by purchasing sims from LL (i.e., virtual land here) and reselling or renting that land.
15:08 Carl Metropolitan The L$ (SL's virtual currency) can be sold for real life dollars on the Lindex exchange
15:08 Hyperion0931 Ah, I had no idea.
15:08 Carl Metropolitan So if someone makes a lot of L$, they can sell them and get US dollars.
15:08 Carl Metropolitan Note, USD payments are taxable in RL.
15:09 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) Real estate is not as lucrative as it was. I have mainland and since the new Linden Homes came out a lot of people have vacated the old mainland.
15:09 Carl Metropolitan People who need smaller amounts of L$ (like me) buy them on the Lindex ffrom people cashing out.
15:09 Hyperion0931 Evidently, but I assume one must obtain a lot of virtual currency to be able to convert it into a reasonable amount of dollars.
15:10 Carl Metropolitan "cashing out" = selling their L$ for US dollars.
15:10 Carl Metropolitan Right
15:10 Carl Metropolitan One US dollar equals approximately 250 L$
15:11 Carl Metropolitan Hyperion, down below in Oxbridge, there is a tutorial hall on Money & Commerce that might be useful to you
15:12 Hyperion0931 I'll go over it, thank you.
15:12 Hyperion0931 What about building things?
15:12 Carl Metropolitan We also have weekly classes on "How to Buy & Rent Land in SL" and "Smart Shopper Fundamentals" that go over different parts of the SL economy.
15:12 Sandie Harbour I write software professionally and sold a script for 50000 Lindens. But it was not really worth the hours I put into it.
15:13 Carl Metropolitan If you are building something for resale, you will likely need to do it in mesh (as opposed to the built in "prim" 3D modeling that is part of SL)
15:13 Carl Metropolitan Mesh requires the 3D modeling skills.
15:13 Carl Metropolitan People can learn those.
15:13 Carl Metropolitan Check out Blender Benders for free in SL courses
15:14 Carl Metropolitan Be careful saying stuff like that Sandie. Wordsmith has needed a new "Dean of Engines" (as in Analytical Engines) for ages :)
15:15 Carl Metropolitan Any other SL money & economy questions, Hyperion?
15:15 Gronk Seriman We have a lovely sandbox where you can learn and try out your building skills.
15:15 Hyperion0931 If you could give me the landmark, I'd be happy to try later,
15:15 Hyperion0931 What is the easiest job one can do here?
15:16 gia (gia.boxen) DJ is nice.
15:16 Gronk Seriman I don't have a landmark, but there is a teleport pad for it in the Plaza on campus.
15:16 Hyperion0931 Okie dokie.
15:17 Carl Metropolitan I have no idea about the easiest job.
15:17 Carl Metropolitan I would once have said "being a virtual stripper", but I've actually since talked to people who have done that job, and it is not.
15:18 Hyperion0931 That was not on my list of priorities...
15:18 lovejoy2199 lol… lol.
15:18 Hyperion0931 Still, good to know.
15:18 Gronk Seriman Gia ia probably right. A good DJ for parties and dance halls can be very busy in SL.
15:18 Carl Metropolitan Right. That's a good suggestion Gia
15:18 Carl Metropolitan DJs do pretty well.
15:18 gia (gia.boxen)
15:19 Carl Metropolitan Still not RL US minimum wage well, but if you are having fun, then it is not a bad way to make L$
15:19 Hyperion0931 I unfortunately have no music skills. Perhaps waiting tables?
15:20 Phrynne There are modeling jobs, but they pay very poorly.
15:20 gia (gia.boxen) Host
15:20 Phrynne There are ads in Search for people for jobs.
15:20 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Some stores have greeters, actually.
15:20 Carl Metropolitan DJ's don't sing or play music. They just run MP3s and take requests.
15:20 Hyperion0931 Where would one find job advertisements?
15:21 Carl Metropolitan There really are no restaurants in SL. Except as decoration. Avatars don't have to eat.
15:21 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Some places actually have been looking for DJs recently...
15:22 Carl Metropolitan To the best of my knowledge there is nothing like a "Help Wanted" posting place in SL
15:22 Carl Metropolitan Hello Andrea
15:22 Phrynne Some DJs do sing and do live performances. And there are things to learn to be a DJ, and equipment required.
15:22 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) hi
15:23 Mellie (musicalmelody7321) Helping Haven has a DJ class, I think.
15:23 Carl Metropolitan But really, you should start out in SL just learning about the world and what can be done here. Trying to find a "job" here will just end up wasting a lot of your time.
15:23 Kara2016 And have fun.
15:24 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) I you want to make a few bucks play Linden Realms. After you complete it you get L$500 and you can go back and make more daily after that.
15:24 Jorge Serapis Follow the SL freebie blogs. You'd be pleasantly surprised what vendors offer for free.
15:25 Carl Metropolitan Let me give you the freebie notecards, Hyperion.
15:25 Gronk Seriman Does Linden Realms even still work? I heard and seen many things are broken and unmaintained there.
15:25 Larky (larkylouz) It is entirely possible to do SL without spending many L$. I did it for the first couple of years.
15:25 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) They redid Linden Realms recently. It's all new.
15:25 Carl Metropolitan Yes, the Linden Realms areas do work and seem to have regular traffic and active players
15:26 lovejoy2199 I was there a couple of days ago. Winter Wonderland is working fine.
15:26 Hyperion0931 The Linden Realms are where exactly?
15:26 Carl Metropolitan Hi Andrea, I was busy typing and missed you coming in.
15:26 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) You get to it from Portal Park or Search.
15:26 Carl Metropolitan I dropped you a LM [to Linden Realms]
15:27 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Linden Realms are kind of for grinding...
15:27 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) grinding?
15:27 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) it's a game
15:27 Carl Metropolitan I would strongly recommend doing our tutorial walk through if you have not. Also pick up the notecards from the posters about places to see in SL.
15:28 Carl Metropolitan Next question?
15:28 Larky (larkylouz) I'm unfamiliar with the term "grinding"
15:29 Gronk Seriman Grinding is a gaming term where you have to follow and complete tasks for rewards. After a while it becomes a grind.
15:29 Hyperion0931 I can't really think of anything else at the moment.
15:29 Larky (larkylouz) LOL. thanks, Gronk
15:29 Carl Metropolitan How about some questions from the other 20 people here.
15:30 Carl Metropolitan Not that Hyperion is not welcome to ask more if some should occur to him.
15:31 Carl Metropolitan hears the sound of crickets in the night.
15:31 Carl Metropolitan is impressed given that it is winter.
15:31 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) collects pins from the floor
15:31 Jorge Serapis *raises hand*
15:31 Hyperion0931 Do I need some special equipment in the Linden Realms?
15:31 Phrynne (Special crickets, with little mittens on their feet.)
15:32 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) no
15:32 Carl Metropolitan Andrea, while people are thinking about questions, do you have any announcements for the next week or so?
15:32 Carl Metropolitan No. The only equipment you need is supplied free of charge
15:32 Jorge Serapis To Andrea: How are the fundraisers coming along so far?
15:32 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) it gives you a HUD when get there
15:32 Frigid Cryotank You'd probably need a lot of patience to play that thing.:
15:32 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) We are done for the year, Jorge.
15:32 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) A slight deficit in the reserve. But we go into the new year well placed
15:32 Jorge Serapis Oh, that's good news.
15:33 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) January tier and stipends won't be a problem.
15:33 Carl Metropolitan Are there any events coming up in the next week you want to promote?
15:33 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Tuesday night is canceled as it is before Christmas
15:34 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) The next Tuesday is at the goblin cave as Cynthia does a yearly party for New Years.
15:34 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Thursdays are at the Juke Joint with Poppy doing blues music
15:34 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) that is still on
15:35 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) We had a party at the mansion last night for everyone.
15:35 Carl Metropolitan Thank you for that donation Gronk
15:35 Hyperion0931 Why am I wearing a necklace?
15:35 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) about 20 people showed up for the party for Caledon.
15:35 Carl Metropolitan You are wearing a "garlic necklace". I recognize it
15:36 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Christmas park is open now.
15:36 Carl Metropolitan It is designed to have you "opt out" of an annoying Vampire role playing game some people play in Second Life
15:36 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) It is in Southend and has a new train ride.
15:36 Carl Metropolitan Once you have worn it, you can take it off, and you are marked as "stay the hell away from me" in the game's database.
15:36 Carl Metropolitan Lots of new user areas give those out to keep "vampires" from bothering new residents
15:36 Phrynne Click on the garlic bulb before you take it off.
15:37 Carl Metropolitan We just stake them here.
15:37 Phrynne That puts you on the list and saves you a lot of bother.
15:37 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) blocked dozens of "bite invites".
15:37 Carl Metropolitan (i.e, aggressively enforce the "no vampire game" rules with ejects and bans)
15:37 Frigid Cryotank Carl? They can visit but not solicit?
15:38 Larky (larkylouz) Yes, Frigid
15:38 Phrynne People wearing vampire garb who do not do vampire roleplay and don't bite are welcome at Oxbridge.
15:38 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Some vampire clans ere recruiting in the entrance hall some years ago. But they have apparently learned better.
15:38 Carl Metropolitan Right, exactly. We will not kick someone out for looking goth!
15:38 Convex (drakortha.hull) Can we talk about my banning from Oxbridge?
15:38 Phrynne Those who do vampire roleplay learn quickly that it is unwelcome.
15:38 Sage McLeod (zenptiness) That vampire stuff is largely dead. I got to social areas all the time and can't remember the last time I was propositioned.
15:38 Carl Metropolitan Good news Sage. They were a worse pain than the organized griefer groups for a while.
15:38 Phrynne If you want to discuss your ban, you will have to take it up with the Chancellor, Convex.
15:38 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Splendid. Absolutely splendid.
15:39 Phrynne This is not the proper venue.
15:39 Hyperion0931 I did come across a vampire while exploring, but I wasn't approached. That's when I must have activated the necklace.
15:40 Carl Metropolitan Convex, I can't help you with a ban. Send a notecard to Wordsmith Jarvinen Oxbridge's Chancellor.
15:40 Sandie Harbour <-- pictures Bob Hope singing Vangs for the Memories
15:41 Gronk Seriman The whole vampire thing is an annoying pyramid scheme game to them. Bite somebody, then they are your underling. Go find more underlings for me!
15:41 lovejoy2199 That's our Sandie
15:41 Hyperion0931 I understand people engage in all sorts of activities in this world. During my visit to London, I even found a shop selling... genitalia?
15:41 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) One new lady asked in the vampire ban was due to too enthusiastic Twilight fans....
15:41 Phrynne Yes. Anything that can be done in offline life can be done here, though not necessarily in the same way.
15:41 Larky (larkylouz) It's a good theory, Elf.
15:41 Carl Metropolitan Yes. There is plenty of sex in SL
15:41 Convex (drakortha.hull) My appeal was already rejected by Wordsmith under unfair grounds and I'd like to dispute it. I was banned for being AFK for too long around Oxbridge, which I see people do all the time without repercussions. The only difference being that I had made a complaint about the staff of Oxbridge a few weeks prior, and that was the justification.
15:42 Hyperion0931 Why would anyone do that here?
15:42 Larky (larkylouz) Convex, this is not the appropriate place to air your grievances.
15:42 Phrynne Convex has been removed from here.
15:42 Carl Metropolitan Yes, Festivus is tomorrow.
15:42 Larky (larkylouz) What is Festivus?
15:42 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) People who want virtual sex have their own areas for that.
15:43 Carl Metropolitan It is a joke holiday from Seinfeld
15:43 Carl Metropolitan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus
15:43 Larky (larkylouz) Ah, okay. I'm am probably risking death and permanent banishment from all things good, but I never watched Seinfeld.
15:43 Carl Metropolitan One of the things done on Festivus is "airing of grievances"
15:44 Carl Metropolitan Festivus is December 23rd (tomorrow)
15:44 Frigid Cryotank without fear of retribution?
15:44 Sandie Harbour On my father's birthday
15:44 badgerofzen Caledon should have a court for people with grievances may help
15:44 Phrynne I think Mondrago will celebrate Festivus in January.
15:44 Hyperion0931 You mean people gather here to complain about each other?
15:44 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Some do, unfortunately...
15:44 Phrynne Not generally, Hyperion
15:44 Carl Metropolitan People do that everywhere, Hyperion.
15:45 Carl Metropolitan Virutal Worlds are no different from RL in that!
15:45 Larky (larkylouz) Wordsmith is beyond fair and equatable. And he doesn't get upset easily.
15:45 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) At least here we can block people.
15:45 Carl Metropolitan Yes, generally it takes a persistent and unrepentant asshole to get on his bad side. He is much harder to make mad than Oxbridge's two previous chancellors.
15:46 Larky (larkylouz) Second Life is so large that if you don't get on one place, there are gobs others you can go to. "Gobs" being an advanced mathematical term known only to the pros.
15:46 badgerofzen haha
15:46 badgerofzen I never ban just tell people to cool down and send them a happy link
15:46 badgerofzen :)
15:47 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) I do not like to ban but some people persist...
15:48 Frigid Cryotank I tend to embarrass them, preferably in front of large crowds.
15:48 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) on a happier note. Who would like a Christmas prezzie? If you were at the party last night, you might have gotten one.
15:48 Carl Metropolitan Yes. Some people enjoy pushing to see how far they can go. Then they blame the person banning them.
15:48 lovejoy2199 Me, please, Andrea
15:48 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) They often want attention. I give them as little of that as possible.
15:48 Gronk Seriman Yes, please!
15:49 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) Just click the box on the floor in front of the stage
15:49 Hyperion0931 What can you do with a pretzel, if we don't eat here?
15:49 Gronk Seriman Thank you!
15:49 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Good food items have eating and drinking animations
15:49 lovejoy2199 Thank you
15:50 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) you eat pretzels
15:50 Soup Jonson She's a Pretzel
15:50 Sandie Harbour That's a new twist
15:50 Soup Jonson applauds mildly.
15:50 Carl Metropolitan I think I gave rather short shrift to the question about adult activities in SL.
15:51 Hyperion0931 It was more of an observation than a question, really.
15:51 Carl Metropolitan Just a note that sims in SL are rated as either G (General) or M (Mature) or A (Adult)
15:51 Carl Metropolitan You will see a G, M, or A in the location bar for the sim you are in when you look up to the top of your SL or Firestorm client.
15:52 Carl Metropolitan More information on these ratings and what they cover can be found at:
15:52 Carl Metropolitan https://community.secondlife.com/knowledgebase/english/maturity-ratings-r52/
15:53 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) And not all Adult areas are for virtual sex.
15:53 Carl Metropolitan Any other questions tonight? We have another five minutes or so.
15:53 Carl Metropolitan True, Elfbiter. But most are.
15:54 Soup Jonson I am glad to have Caledon for my Holiday. As a bachelor, alone it is an utter joy.
15:54 Hyperion0931 Miss, or Mrs. Kidd who gave a lecture earlier today, talked about all sorts of dangers. Is there a safe area in this game?
15:54 Sandie Harbour oxbridge is safe
15:54 Soup Jonson Oxbridge is safe!
15:54 Soup Jonson :)
15:55 Soup Jonson Sandie you owe me a coke
15:55 Carl Metropolitan It depends on what you want to be safe from.
15:55 Sandie Harbour motions to security and points to Soup
15:55 Larky (larkylouz) You just have to be aware and sensible. If you're an adult, you should be able to handle it fine. And if you're not, you don't belong here.
15:55 Carl Metropolitan Oxbridge makes a great effort to be as much of a safe place as we can.
15:55 Soup Jonson laughs
15:55 Gronk Seriman Actually, most areas are safe. SL has made it difficult to damage or harm users. That does not mean it can't be done, though.
15:55 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) SL has its share of idiots, just like RL
15:56 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Lindal has tried to cover as much as she can.
15:56 Hyperion0931 I'm an adult no worries, I was only concerned about scams.
15:56 Hyperion0931 From what she explained, some of them are quite cleverly designed.
15:57 Sandie Harbour I recommend her class to many
15:57 lovejoy2199 Remember, behind an avatar is a real person.
15:57 Carl Metropolitan Yes. But she covers how to avoid most of them.
15:57 Andrea Jones (andreajonesms) I would say to beware your heart. There are some users in here like RL. That what Carl said.
15:58 Carl Metropolitan There have been many many scams over the years here. The biggest ever was a guy who operated a second life bank called Ginko Financial way back in the early days of SL.
15:58 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) And another avatar cannot kill your avatar permanently, no matter what some may claim.
15:58 Carl Metropolitan Spoilers: most people who put their money in lost all of it.
15:59 Carl Metropolitan But LL banned "banks" here.
15:59 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Unless there is RL bank behind it.
15:59 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) But I have not seen any myself.
15:59 Carl Metropolitan And a lot of other past scams have been made harder by new rules from Linden Lab or changes to the technology.
16:00 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) And there is the email rule; do not open suspicious attachments.
16:00 Gronk Seriman Hyperion, just remember. SL has been around for over 16 years. Layers and layers of traditions, features and bugs. Nobody knows ALL of SL, not even the Lindens. Just find what you like and live it.
16:01 Hyperion0931 I'll do my best. Thanks for all your answers and tips.
16:01 Sandie Harbour I like playing dress-up :)
16:01 Larky (larkylouz) smiles. "Don't we all?"
16:01 Soup Jonson motions for security and points at Sandie.
16:01 Carl Metropolitan I have described SL as "Barbie for Adults" at times :)
16:02 Hyperion0931 Except Ken, like the real version is not anatomically correct...
16:02 Carl Metropolitan Okay. It is Six SL time, so I think that's it for this week's General Q&A
16:02 Sandie Harbour thanks Carl
16:02 Larky (larkylouz) It's 4pm
16:02 Carl Metropolitan Right. 4pm SL time; 6pm my time. Sorry!
16:02 Larky (larkylouz) Thanks, Carl, Andrea, everyone.
16:02 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) 2 AM for me.
16:02 Hyperion0931 Thank you.
16:02 Elfbiter Skysmith (elfbiter) Past my bedtime
16:03 Oxbridge Donation Coin R1 (Alternate Lecture Hall) badgerofzen gave a generous donation to help support classes and tutorials at Caledon Oxbridge Gateway.
16:03 Soup Jonson Be seeing you Elf.
16:03 Carl Metropolitan Goodnight everyone and see you next week
16:03 Carl Metropolitan Thank you Badger!