Let me just say right off, this is just MY opinion.  Not right or wrong, just my opinion.  Ok then.

People what are you thinking?  Have you looked at yourself?  Is this the image you really want your avatar to portray?  Gentlemen, your neck and your legs really shouldn’t be the same size.  Your waist really shouldn’t be smaller than mine.  And those shoulders…. bigger isn’t always better you know.  Really, it isn’t.  Ask anyone.  So back off on the sliders a bit.  I’m not saying that every guy has to be a GQ model, geez that would be boring, but you all don’t have to be Mr Universe right off the bodybuilding tour either.   Pretty muscled boys are a dime a dozen in SL.  Where are all the less muscled geeks?  The guys who spend more time thinking about the world they are in rather than what they look like in it.  Those are the guys I want to meet.

Ladies ladies ladies…. The waif look is out, has been for a long time.  Put some meat on those bones ok.  Oh, I should be able to see your face without having to cam over your boobs.  Just sayin.  Although in my experience, most of the *ladies* I’ve met with boobs maxed out on the sliders are really guys in RL.  Just sayin.   Curves are great, they give us character.  But do your hips have to be wider than Mr Universe’s shoulders?  Put a system skirt on and see what happens, you’ll be cursing those hips.  Now, has anyone heard the saying *Here’s my head, my ass is coming*?  That’s all I can think of when I see some avatars whose rear end really seems to stick out about 3 feet.(yes I know, an exaggeration but you get my point)  I’m not saying everyone should have a flat butt either.  There is a happy medium isn’t there?

Like I said these are just my opinions.  Like them, don’t like them.  Doesn’t bother me in the slightest.  Have a different view?  Then share it.  Yes, I’m sure you probably think my shape is too *normal*, too *RL*.  Yep it is.  It’s what I wanted, a nice proportioned, toned body.  Will I change it?  Nope.  I’m short in RL so I’m short in SL.  This is how I want to look. 

So you then ask, why can’t everyone look they want.  They can.  They do.  I started this by saying, this is MY opinion.  My personal views, not suggesting in any way that anyone needs to agree.  I’m just sharing my thoughts, likes, dislikes.  This is MY blog afterall.  Don’t like it, too bad.

We’ve all done it.  You need something, you have a question and you IM someone.  You probably aren’t thinking so you start with *Hey, do you (insert question here)*.  If you were thinking you might have said *Hey, how are you?  Do you (insert question here)*.  In both cases, if it happens once in awhile, and you aren’t really busy, no big deal.  You answer the question, they go away.

Let’s think about this for a moment though.  You’ve IM’d someone to get help from them or information.  You have no idea if they are busy or not.  Did you ask if they had a minute for a question/problem/issue?  To me this is like running up to someone in RL, and yelling a question in their face.  Can you say rude?  Would it kill you to say hello first?  Maybe exchange a few pleasantries?

When was the last time you talked to this person?  A few days ago?  Longer?  If you’ve not spoken to them in awhile, why are you IMing them now?  Desparate for help?  Try the wiki.  Try Google.

The last time you IMd this person, was it for a chat or did you want something then too?  Depending on the person, they’ll probably still answer your question, give you the help you ask for.  They aren’t going to be thrilled though.  If it was me, I’d be wanting to know when I started looking like an information booth.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to help people with stuff.  I’m a Mentor and I have no problem answering questions and helping people with stuff.  If I look back at my chat logs though, and the only thing I see under someone’s name are questions I’m going to get pissed.  If you’re only friends with me because I can help you, or my friends can, then you need to find another information source.  If your friends with me because you like me and oh yeah, I might be smart and can help you, then for FFS why not say hello now and then!

End of Pet Peeve #187