Rebuttal to Second Thoughts
Posted by Shaun Altman Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:12:00 GMT
I discovered today that Prokofy Neva has been reading my blog, and rather than simply leaving a comment, has responded to my previous post with a post of her own at Second Thoughts. Her post is titled "Shaun Altman's Further Descent into Goonery". While this title does make me smile a bit, the article, much like the title, is as expected, filled with nonsense and propoganda.
As such, I felt that I should set the record straight on a few (ugh... DOZEN) points that Prokofy Neva has raised in her defense of the recent Ravenglass Rentals scandal. First of all, I am not a "goon", nor am I a "griefer". Second Life is serious business, not a playground.
In fact, I have only "griefed" in Second Life one time. This was years ago, and it was done from Prokofy Neva's land, with Prokofy Neva's knowledge, consent, approval and (as I recall) desire. I put up a large image of my old fox avatar facing a build called the "FIC Headquarters" or something, which was operated by a group of people whom Prokofy regularly griefed back in those days.
Does this make me "a griefer" or "a goon"? I think not. In fact I'd be surprised to learn that most readers haven't done something far worse and/or funnier at some point in their second lives.
I didn't intend to grief Prokofy Neva, and I'm not quite sure how one would "provocatively rent". I was just trying to rent a house, and I didn't have any plans to rez anything that was against the rules at either LL or Ravenglass Rentals. I was planning to rez a living room set and possibly some snuggly PG pose balls, but my land was sized without refund, by Prokofy Neva, before I could even find my sofa in inventory.
As a result of this incident though, we've elected to give up on renting any more land. I just can't stomach the idea of being ripped off again by an overzealous slumlord. "Thousands of Prokofy Neva's customers" may possibly "know that she doesn't scam people", but at least two of her victims know that she does. A refund is still not forthcoming.
Instead of renting again, we've purchased a small parcel of mainland in Refugio (pictured above). We welcome you all to stop by and say hello. Since this land doesn't come with a house though, we're not sure if we will go residential or if we will express ourselves in different ways.
It is interesting to note that while trying to paint a false picture of me as some sort of "griefer", Prokofy Neva admits to griefing university staff in real life. If I could elaborate a bit on what she told us in her post, what I feel she actually did was contact the real world boss of an avatar in a video game, in an attempt to have that avatar fired from a real life job.
Since the time of this incident, I've had a nagging feeling that it would be appropriate for someone to contact Prokofy Neva's bosses at the United Nations and have a candid discussion about some of her exploits in virtual worlds. After all, is it really safe, or consistent with United Nations security interests, to have someone with this mindset translating for foreign diplomats? Her name is available on the internet, so it shouldn't be much of a challenge for anyone wishing to rise to the occasion.
I have to say that it really saddens my heart to see Prokofy Neva attacking me with all of this nonsense, after stealing our money. When you put up land for rent to anyone, you shouldn't seize it from tenants who are obeying the rules. Its called theft, and that's just basic common sense.
I find it quite a shame that she won the election to "hold her seat" during the officer recall she mentions on her post. Surely, had someone else won the election to control the group owned land, they would not be running a scam where they rent land out to people for L$750 per minute, while falsely advertising it as a one week rental. It is a pity that the democratic measure of "officer recall" is no longer available within Second Life. The image of Ravenglass Rentals is being tarnished by this officer. It is probably in the best interest of all tenants as well as future potential land scam victims that she be recalled.
Regarding Woodbury University, they don't seem to be a griefing group. Nobody in this group has ever griefed me, asked me to do something, and/or recruited me. I'm not quite sure where Prokofy Neva came up with this, but again its nothing but a bunch of propoganda. I haven't "fallen for" anything. I've just joined a group with some fun people I met at SLCC last year. That's still well within the rules as I understand them.
I also didn't make the "Prok Star" t-shirt. The creator seems to be Cory Edo. Although I do very much enjoy wearing the shirt from time to time, I am unable to take the credit that Prokofy Neva would like to give me for making it.
In conclusion, I feel that Ravenglass Rentals slumlord, Prokofy Neva, should refund our L$1,500, as she has failed to provide any service in exchange for it. It is not right to advertise land for rent and then just take the money without providing the land to a rule abiding tenant for the specified term.
"Second Life is serious business" = tipping your hand. Funny shit though.
Reading your post made me weary. Reading her huge whine-fest seemed to me as if she was doing more damage to herself than you even could. I'm surprised to learn she works at the UN, but then there are those types of people everywhere.
Don't worry, who cares about what Prokofy Neva writes?
I quickly learnt that almost nothing good comes out of her - and when she writes something right, it's something you could have read somewhere else. So, there's no need at all to read Prokofy Neva - it'd only be a waste of time.
PS: I don't put my name here because I don't want to be griefed by her in-world or on the web.