SLMC

Xela Veranes · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Switzerland

Hello,
I am Xela Veranes and would like to inform you about the Sternberg Project.
In Morkeleb we have and are building an area which is allmost entirely dedicated to beauty and community life in SL. Weare trying to prove that there are many residents with interest for other things then just commerce or sex.

Sternberg consists of an old town German style, a country side, a palace with park, as well as out Fisherport and the Siwss village that is presently under construction. Throughout our sim you will find fun things to do, such as fishing, arm wrestling, boat rides, ferry, cable car and soon also a functioning subway system.
Our group has a elected a city council, which makes all relevant decisions in our community. There are several "Minister", eg. for ART or Building. A part of there task is also to establish a reasonable ammount of courses to coach new SL citizens into building and SL ethics..... which are designed by our Minister for Ethics and have been passed by our council.

Soon we will go public with our porject by trying to promote it through various Forums and Events, hoping to find other communities that might want to become a "partner town" or likewise. The ultimate goal would be to establish a network of like minded communities as a strong proof that SL residents are a very respectable community. We are ready to offer our facility and sim to host any cultural event, without any profit expectation.

Those that have read this far, must have a real interest in this topic Smile

as I have written to much... but this is my mission and I am enthusiastic about it. Conseqently I would appreciate a dialog, respectively some feedback on how others think about what we are trying to achieve.

Best wishes!!!!
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Sternberg Project --- For a more livable and beautiful SL experience------Xela Veranes

Tabitha_Oxide · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 167 Location: Southeast Michigan

Very interesting and I can share in your excitement for such a project.
I can tell you that I have EXTENSIVE knowledge in bringing such a community (city) to fruition in another online world. Extensive meaning, over 5 years involvement from the flat undeveloped land to a complete operating city with an elected government body which is voted into position by its residency. It was groundbreaking at the time and mostly comprised of adults. The city was broken into Residential and Commercial zoning. At its height the city held a little more than 160 residents who made their homes there.

The Structured Government Body was comprised of the following:

Mayor (2 month term) Voted by the residents and Re-Electable.

Minister of Safety - Head of security detail and the local Marshal units.
Minister of Commerce - City expences, cost of operation, income and tax base annalogy and presentation.
Minister of Annals - City Records, Meeting minutes and publications.
3 District Representatives - City broken into 3 districts. The representative was responsible for the peoples concerns in thier prospective District.

For the first year the city counsel and the extensive citizens rights functioned well. City Counsel meetings were held on regular basis and all residents were welcomed to attend in the "City Hall". It functioned on a democratic platform whereas the voice of the people helped steer the city and its direction towards prosperity.

This you would seem to believe was a perfect society it functioned well in the world and through the forums similar to this one whereas ideas and official discussion and documentation could be found and commented on.

Laws and Ethics were proposed and voted on by the residency which either brought laws to fruition or shut them down.

THE CATCH:

Corruption comes in many forms. And mans thirst for power and or facing the loss of power fuels underground cells of corruption both within the residents as well as within the government body itself.

Greed, Power & Manipulation began to eat at the very foundation of a perfect society fueled by those who disagreed with changes that were voted democratically by the residency. It wasn't long before underground manipulation tried to control the vote and or get certain officials out of ofice and others into it to serve a greater purpose.

We all wondered why this would take place.. why would there be this type of turmoil in a fabricated world which had and was running perfectly by design for over a year. Its virtual. And no matter how many people you bring on board that support it, Its mans programming to try and control his surroundings. This didnt happen overnight. It was over a year of great peace and prosperity on a daily basis which was experienced. Mayors came and Mayors went, City officials.. Some.. held their offices for several years by the voting of the people. Some.. were voted out for reasons of inactivity and not holding up to thier requirements in the position.

But over all the deterioration came from those who at first agreed with the system began to rebel against it. Much like the real governments of the world, this was the same. Corruption and control rear its ugly head as soon as you form opinions that are conflicting.

Some will simply try to tear down the system over time and control it just because its a challenge and in thier nature to do so. Forming and building an underground of like minded psychos to carry out this plan. You won't even know it exists or its happening untill there is a breach and your powerless to do much about it without going against city policies.

Take SL itself...
Gambling, Sploders, Ageplay, Furries...

Even now as SL has grown there are countless groups organized with their own political opinions trying to sway Linden Labs to follow thier beleifes. Everyone has an opinion and there are just some that are driven towards conflict no matter how perfect a society can be run.

"All Ageplayers are pedophiles"
"Furries and Necko's promote beastiality"

We all know that this is HARDLY the truth.
The coined phrase of "less govt the better" certainly applies.

I was apart of this City in an official capacity holding and being elected/bounced into various positions for almost 6 years.
I watched the evil of corruption operate shortly after 1 year from within the structure and out in the public underground.

Many went as far as to HACK the city forums to gain information that was private. Even going as far as creating their own private forum host where plans to put certain people into postion of power were formed.

Reaching nearly the 3 year mark.. Much of that was successful. Bans lifted, laws altered and controlled by swayed votes BOUGHT for.

Your Idea is a good one and may seem "fun" and effective in the beginning but it wont last. It cant. It wont.

If you disolve the ability to vote in new replacing members to the govt, there are those who will think its a form of control and will do the same and organize greifing or planting plans to destroy your foundation.

If you allow the ability to vote in new replacing members to the govt,
there are those who will take advantage of the system and try to implement members all poised at a common gain.

If certain officials are voted out of position of power, it will result in an uprising of an underground support group to avenge and do damage to the system trying to tear it down.

The world.. the real world.. is too opinionated. In every persons perspective they have their own opionions about every country on the planet earth. Everyone Hates Bush.. and yet.. Our president really isnt the person who is pulling the strings at all. He didnt start the war, there is a higher body of govt that controls not only the USA but your contries as well. IF you dont beleive it youre being played a fool, and this has been going on for decades. Still there are people who beleive the twin towers were a terrorist attack and were brought down by the planes that hit them.. not true. It was all part of a bigger plan.

Dont mean to drift here but the point is..
At first it may work but it wont last and will only lead to heartache and dispair for hundreds of people who jump on board to try and form this idea and make it function the way you are hoping.

Whoever the sim owner is.. is the king. Leave it there.
Unless the challenge of working with all that i have mentioned above is part of your interest in a SL experience.. Knowing that will eventually rear its ugly head.. Id not even try.

I speak from experience and extensive involvement in such a city that was run by GOOD HONEST people initially and by a compliment of residents exceeding 160. I wont even go into the horrors of the developments that extended the last 2 years of its existance untill 1 very smart man couldnt take the pain and RL suffering so many were going through who tried to keep things peacefull.. And tore the city from the server.

When it was disolved.. there was peace again among friends.

The idea is novel.. And beautiful and fun when put on paper but it wont work and it wont last. You may not recognize that now nore beleive such things could happen but it will and many who have dedicated hundreds of hours into this will be hurt and good friends torn apart at the roots.
Blame Mankind and the RL world of today and the human desire of control.

Theres my 80 cents on the topic Smile

-Tabitha Oxide
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- Tabi