Ok, I realize that there is zero privacy in Second Life. Locking windows and doors is a joke. Even privacy windows, all they do is draw attention to the fact you don’t want people watching you. Now knowing all of this doesn’t change the fact that it’s bloody rude to walk right into someone’s house. Especially when the owner is there!!!!
Here’s what happened. Good friend of mine had some guy bugging her. She IM’d me to tell me he’d offered her a TP to The Reach(my island home) and to see if I was there. I wasn’t but tp’d right there to see what was going on. Sure enough, he’s standing in my bedroom. So, not only did he walk in the front door but he went upstairs to the bedroom. When he finally responded to my question of why he was in my bedroom he explained he was finishing an IM conversation and wanted to land. Yeah right. I have a whole sim to myself, he could have landed on the deck, near the waterfalls, the beach, anywhere.
I asked him politely to leave the house. Sorry but I don’t like strangers using my bed. Just a quirk I have. *rolls eyes* The more I tried to reason with this guy, the more beligerant he got. I finally had to ban him. The next day, his alt littered the sim with 98 invisible prims. Very childish. I thought of returning them to him one at a time rather than in bulk but I couldn’t be bothered. A few days of the Reach on private and it seems he’s given up.
I have to ask though, just because this is SL and locked doors and windows don’t mean much does that mean we ignore the fact that the windows and doors are locked or the privacy screen is down? Shouldn’t we expect a little bit of respect?
The gardens and waterfalls on the sim are beautiful. Rrish did a wonderful job landscaping. The cove is great and has a fishing server. If you want to wander around the sim, please enjoy. If you want to see the house, I’d love to show it to you. I’m rather proud of it having built it myself. If I’m in the house all I ask is that you knockfirst. I could be in the tub for heavens sake! lol
So really what do you all think about people who simply walk in and out of other people’s homes? Rude? Or is it all fair game because of how SL is? I think it’s rude. Same thing with camming in on people. That’s rude as well but no one can really tell what you are doing.
Just because this is SL should the rules of respecting each others property/space be any different?
Hey sis — I totally hear you on this one — it’s one of my soapbox issues — why on earth would you behave any differently in SL than you do in RL. Well, I guess primarily because SL doesn’t carry the same consequences that RL does — but that shouldn’t make any difference to the degree of respect you show for others.
I realize there is a difference between pixels and reality but dammit — my space is MY space in both worlds — my friends and family are always welcome – because they *never* barge in — they use the common sense and good manners that made them my friends and family in the first place.
I think we’ve all had the mortifying experience of exploring old LMs and accidentally turning up in some stranger’s home quite by accident (and hopefully not in their bedroom at some critical moment) – this stuff is part and parcel of the joys of teleporting — and I’ve found a quick and sincere apology and short explanation followed by a rapid departure does the trick to calm feelings and stop them thinking you’re some random rude intruder.
As with everything in life — it all comes down to the Golden Rule and doing unto others as you’d have done unto you.
(hugs) Mars xx