Decorum Forum: Etiquette for Second Life

Words by Cpt. Paul Creighton

DEAR CAPTAIN: While attending a DJ show at a very popular venue, the hostess contacted me to request that I remove my face light.  I was very offended that someone would ask me to change my avatar simply to attend an event.  Was I justified in leaving?  Should I have stayed and refused to remove my face light?  -LUMINESCENT LADY

DEAR LUMI: You are well within your rights to leave when you do not agree with the rules of a venue.  Likewise, venues are well within their rights to require a certain dress code, including body and face lights, particles, and even scripts.  We are all familiar with dress codes regarding clothing styles.  They help to set the mood for an event or location.  Likewise, these other things have an effect on other attendees, and if the venue requests you not arrive with certain things, or to remove them once there, you are being rude if you can comply and don't.

            It is important to remember that when we are in location together in Second Life^TM, we are sharing sim resources.  This is why we should keep out script counts and low as possible when attending events.  HUDs and attachments that are not going to be used at the event should be removed.  Scripted items that can have their scripts removed should have them removed.

            Now, it is true that particles are handled on the client side, that is, each viewer renders the particles.  However, guests should always limit those particles to something that is in theme or a part of their themed costume at themed costume events.  This is not only because one must attempt to remain in theme but also because excessive particles impact the number of particles that everyone can see.  While it is true that a resident can raise the number of particles to a ridiculous amount on their viewers, this is not always practical as some people are running hardware that is taxed by even normal operations.  Just as one would be rude to whisper in a conversation with someone who is hard of hearing, it is likewise rude to insist that those not capable of raising their viewer settings somehow miss out on the intended experience provided by your host.

            Which brings us right back to face and body lights.  If they can be removed, they should be.  At even a lightly attended event, all light sources cannot be rendered if even a few people decide to arrive with face and body lights.  The viewer only renders the light from the sun and the moon, plus six of the nearest light sources.  At a gathering, you just don't have the right to claim one or more of those sources as your own.

            Now, as with scripting and particles, you may be in a situation where you arrive at an event with a light source attached that you simply can find.  Perhaps it is a part of another attachment and you simply are not aware of it until you arrive or are told.  Under those circumstances, just try to enjoy yourself.  If you have made a good faith effort to comply, then you have done your duty as a guest.  Respectful hosts and other guests will assume that you have made the effort.

            So, I don't think you were rude in leaving the event, however, a better choice would have been to comply with the request.  The best choice would be to remove those light sources from your outfits and only use them for photo shoots and similar activities.

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DEAR CAPTAIN: I want to keep our Christmas tree up through the month of January.  My partner says it should come down just after New Year’s Day.  Could you shed some light on the subject for us? -AWAY IN A MANGER

DEAR AWAY: Unless you have a compelling reason to remove the tree before January 6, then it should remain up until that day.  If you are celebrating Christmas for religious reasons, then January 6 is important because it is the celebration when the Magi visited the Baby Jesus, thus being the first physical manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles.  This completes the narrative of Christmas.  As many people also place nativity scenes under their trees, including the “three wise men” or Magi, it makes sense that the tree and nativity scene are present on the day set aside to commemorate that occasion.  Keeping the tree up through the 12 days of Christmas, December 25-January 5, is seen as traditional and it would be hard to argue traditionally or religiously for the removal of the tree on or before January 5.

            If you have some reason for leaving the tree up for longer, that is really a matter of personal taste.  In many traditions, the Christmas season lasts until Candlemas on February 2.  In the United States, this day is traditionally observed as Groundhog Day, which, according to tradition, could be the beginning of spring-like weather.  So, if one is displaying a tree as a celebration of winter, having the tree displayed throughout the core of the winter days seems appropriate.

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CONFIDENTIAL TO CALEDON COMMODORE: The vessel leaving port should give the right of way.  This has nothing to do with the rank of the commanding officer.  Accept the admiral's offer to buy you a drink.

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Note of the Editor: 
Dear Reader, if you have a dilemma, you can always "Ask the Captain”, we promise to keep your identity and anyone else mentioned in the letter completely anonymous.