Comments on: Throwing Sand Into the Works

By: Orion_NGC1976

Orion_NGC1976 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000

Thanks for the kind words and I agree with the comments that have been made here. There nothing that is inherently wrong with participating in multiple chats as long as the people are aware and don’t feel like they are being ignored.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:10:41 +0000

Great article Orion. You touched on some very real problems in Home. I used to have a friend (still on my list but we don’t speak anymore) that would stop chatting with the group they were with and disappear for 30-45 minutes at a time to answer messages and private chat with someone else. It was very annoying and it seemed like they were taking advantage of the people they were with.

That being said. I think the virtual world SHOULD have different communication norms than the real world. If a person can successfully pay attention to public, PMs, and group chat at the same time then why should we think ill of them for doing so. The problem is when people stretch themselves too thin and end up ignoring one of their communication pathways. If a person can’t switch between them on the fly, and they need to stop talking to one friend to talk to another, then they need to be realistic about their lack of multitasking skills and pay attention to whomever they are “actually” with.

I guess it comes down to intent. If a person is speaking with you, are they talking to you so that THEY feel like they are important and have a friend or are they speaking with you because they find you interesting and care about you? If the person is disappearing for lengths at a time… it’s likely their motivation is the former reason and they really couldn’t care less about you.

By: cthulu93

cthulu93 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:17:33 +0000

It’s not that hard really,just put 1 chat line on voice chat and if necessary take turns with a keyboard for the other 2.It requires some speed but having a mic and a keyboard helps quite alot.Usually I’ll put the group chat on mic and switch between club chat and local chat with the keyboard.I usually don’t need to “brb” anyone as the local chats are usually kind of slow anyways as most randoms don’t have a keyboard but if I ever do “brb” anyone it’s always the randoms 1st as I believe I have less of an obligation to randoms than to friends when it comes to attentiveness.If there isn’t much going on the group chat I can switch the mic to another chat.When it comes to typing I’m fairly decent considering I never did much of it before I found Home but compared to a friend of mine that does Data entry for a living I’m a novice.She can easily handle 3 chats with a keyboard alone,I guess it just takes alot of practice with a keyboard or having a good mic to be able to use multiple chat lines without offending anyone.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:39:17 +0000

I for one cannot handle the task of multiple chats/texts. Whenever I tried, I would get scolded by some people for not responding back fast enough to their messages or texts. As GlowingMickeyVan stated,there have been way to many instances when I find myself texting in the wrong chat. I almost never go into a text chat while in Home unless it is something that cannot wait. I almost never do that while in the presence of other people. Like I said, I just don’t have that skill. The other day I was chilling at Sullys’ Bar. Noone was really talking but some guy kept saying- brb, messsge. Even though it was courtious to say, I found myself saying ” dude, enough already, only you care!”

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:28:41 +0000

Well said..

By: Godzprototype

Godzprototype — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:09:08 +0000

This is an excellent article. Being sociable for me means being polite and having manners. Traveling the world and experiencing different cultures demands this. The disconnect between R/L and and a persons avatar shouldn’t be too far from the way a person would conduct themselves in the world if they were experiencing a new country or a totally different continent. Respecting new people and new avatars in a virtual setting is no different. Lines of communication are different and to pay attention and to be personable as an avatar in a virtual setting is the honorable thing to do.

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:30:45 +0000

I believe many people on Home are guilty of this kind of behavior. I always tell someone I am speaking to if I have to answer a message and I wait til a lull in the conversation to do so, I don’t cut them off unless the message is a real cry for help or something, then I might. I agree that we need to be polite in Home just as we would in real life, but unfortunately this is true for everyone.

By: cthulu93

cthulu93 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:13:20 +0000

*speech

By: cthulu93

cthulu93 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:12:08 +0000

When it comes to the Internet and parenting another thing I’d like to point out,if the parents are online with all their free time how much time can they be spending with their kids?Back before the Internet came along(I know,here comes the “back in the old days” speecg) parents spent quality time teaching their children(even if indirectly).It seems nowadays from the viewpoint of a childless person that spending quality time with children by parents is on the decline.When it comes to multiple chats I often use 2 or 3 at the same time for different reasons.Fam members get on club chat,random people get local chat,non-fam friends list people get group chat if they wish to speak privately.Very seldom do I say anything in these seperate chat lines about people in other chats,if I have something to say to or about someone I say it to their face.The main reason for the different lines is that most Fam business is private so that other Fam’s don’t hear.Friends list people only get the group chat if they want privacy.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:23:46 +0000

I thought Olivia, that we talked on the phone while he was here about no phone conversations while reading Orions articles…

By: Olivia_Allin

Olivia_Allin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:07:21 +0000

Orion again you have artfully and with great thought expressed the truth with such… opps …phone… brb

By: GlowingMickeyVan

GlowingMickeyVan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:12:48 +0000

Interesting article. What you’re discussing also works in reverse.
I once was in a formal meeting with the Homelings on one screen (we have 3 PS3s) and was watching my son get trolled on the other screen. I usually don’t interfere with my son’s situations on Home, but this particular evening my son had left the console on and forgot it. He was still dancing on the bench at Central Plaza when a troll began trolling him viciously. This particular troll was a long time enemy, which made it more personal. He was “back soon” but this fueled the troll’s fire even the more. I was watching both screens, the meeting and the trolling. Some nasty remarks were made, and I finally had enough and picked up the keyboard and slammed this troll really good. It was only then I realized I had used the wrong keyboard. Ooops. One formal just meeting came to a screeching halt as I slammered to try and cover up what had just happened.
It was a story of much humor later on, but at the moment… and for the rest of the evening… It wasn’t any fun.

The troll and I have made amends, but I never told him of the story. I probably should. He’d probably die laughing.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:45:36 +0000

Orion, you couldn’t be more dead on. I truly believe this behavior is because of ” kids raising kids.” teen moms raising their children when in fact they are not fully themselves developed sociably. I truly believe a main reason we have “trolls” on HOME is because of lack of peoples parenting. Now there are people who choose to make this their pastime because, well, they lack morale fiber in their diet..