What I think

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    Something in the Water

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    3 Comments
    Something in the Water

    Are you tired of me starting every post with Blackout August? Well, it’s day 22. The original creator of this challenge, Imogen Aurelia, deleted her link on Flickr and kept part of it on Facebook. I’m not even sure she’s still doing the challenge herself, but I’m pushing through. I’m determined and almost at the finish line. What this challenge has shown me is that I’ve been selective for a long time, so while it started out kind of painful not being able to instantly grab that new hair I wanted, it also revealed that I don’t actually love everything made in SL, and I don’t need to have it right away.

    For today’s look I dug deep into my inventory and remembered how much I used to love a brand called M.Birdie. I don’t think it’s open anymore, since the store’s Flickr is gone and the SLurl in the designer’s profile leads nowhere. I liked this store so much, but most of my items from them came through gacha events. Everything I have is made for Maitreya, but I managed to wear it with LaraX because this top is roomy and I used the alpha layers. If you still want this top, even though it’s at least seven years old, you can still find it on the Marketplace. If you know what happened to the M.Birdie store, let me know in the comments.

    When my friends heard I was doing this challenge, they gave me tips on how to cope with not shopping. One of them said, “You could go spend store credit.” Which is true, I could, if I even remembered where I had store credit. The truth is I don’t want loopholes, I want to go without. I’m still blogging for a few brands and new items are hitting my inventory often, so I don’t feel completely deprived. I decided to sit out on promoting much of it this month, but that doesn’t mean I can’t promote it later. The great thing about Second Life is that when brands create items, they can keep selling them for years as long as the quality is good and people still want them. There’s this constant push to buy new and wear new, but I think that actually does brands a disservice. A dollar earned from a new item or an older one is still a dollar.

    If you like the idea of Blackout August, you can start any time. Wearing items you already own shouldn’t ever feel like a betrayal, and it won’t make your favorite brands think less of you. They probably won’t even notice.

    Something in the Water
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    The Decline of Bellisseria

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    7 Comments
    My new Linden Home | Stilt House | Santiago
    My Stilt home in 2020 – landscaped by Sparkle

    Bellisseria launched in April 2019 as the new continent for Linden Homes, and right from the start, it was a hit. The Traditional homes and Houseboats were gorgeous and instantly appealing. Over the next six years, more themes rolled out. My personal favorite was the Victorians. In those early days, everything sold out fast. Demand far outpaced supply, and landing a home felt like winning a mini lottery.

    But over time, that energy shifted. As new themes were introduced, supply began to outpace demand. Instead of attracting new residents, the artificial demand was created by existing residents shuffling around. Even though more people subcribed to Premium to get a Linden Home, more and more homes started sitting empty.

    At its peak, Bellisseria had a kind of magic. There was even an unofficial competition among residents. People used their five daily rolls to score the perfect parcel. When they ran out, they created alt accounts to keep trying. That Game of Homes era was exciting, and I met some of my closest Second Life friends during that time.

    The early themes really stood out. They were not just well-designed, they felt limited and special. Now, with fourteen themes available, that feeling is gone. For me, the excitement has faded with each new release. I have not genuinely liked a theme since the Stilts.

    Second Life clearly wants our money, but they have not figured out what we want in return. And with few new residents joining, they need to pay more attention to the ones who are still here. What do we want from Linden Homes? For starters, more house models within existing themes. Not just open floor plans, but actual new designs like Traditionals with porches or smaller Victorians. We want new models or parcel sizes to enjoy the themes that we already love.

    A lot of the newer homes feel crammed together. In an effort to maximize income, they are now squeezing 20-24 homes into regions that used to hold only half that, leaving room for community spaces like parks and landscaping. The neighborhoods are losing that curated and upscale feel and starting to resemble tightly packed social housing.

    Another big issue is communication. Back when Bellisseria launched, the Lindens were much more transparent. We had updates and timelines and usually knew what to expect. Now, it is mostly silence. Announcements drop with no warning, nothing feels on schedule, and there are still unfinished coastlines that look completely abandoned.

    It has been six years. Instead of improving what already exists, they keep adding more themes, especially after the introduction of 2048 sqm homes for Premium Plus subscribers. At this pace, Bellisseria may become larger than all of Second Life’s continents combined. Will it ever sell out again? Even if people migrate from the old Linden Homes or new users join, there’s still a long way to go before all the empty parcels are claimed.

    Within my own circle of friends, the spark is gone. Most of us used to have 5-10 homes at a time. Now, some are down to one. Others have walked away completely. We went from collecting homes like ultra rare gachas to barely caring if we have one at all. And I am not sure Second Life is prepared for what happens when its most loyal residents walk away.

    If Linden Homes are not meant for us anymore, they need to attract new residents fast. Because the ones who have been here are already moving out.

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    Danger: You Could Be Banned for Editing a Photo with AI

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    9 Comments
    Amalie

    Recently, I came across a tweet about a photo taken at a Second Life event. The photographer had used AI to enhance the image, and the creator of the build featured in the photo was upset. That moment sparked a deeper question for me about how AI is affecting our community, both in Second Life and in the real world.

    As a journalist and the owner of one of Second Life’s longest-running feeds, I believe this is an issue worth exploring. AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s here, shaping our virtual and creative spaces right now. So, I did what any curious person might: I asked a question.

    I tweeted to Philip Rosedale, tagging him in a repost of the original tweet by the designer, and asked for his thoughts on designers banning paying customers from their stores simply for using AI to edit photos featuring their products.

    Let’s be clear. This was a paying customer, not a sponsored blogger who received the item for free in exchange for promotional content.

    I also asked the designer a few respectful follow-up questions to better understand the situation:

    • Was the anti-AI policy made clear before the purchase?
    • Was the person in question a store blogger or an event blogger?

    Rather than engage in dialogue, the response was swift and hostile. The store owner became aggressive, and what followed was an organized harassment campaign: blocking, banning, public call-outs, and social media attacks from the designer and her circle. All of this over a question and a public repost.

    Now, let’s talk about rights.

    As a store owner, you absolutely have the right to decide who shops at your store. But does that extend to controlling how your customers use the items they’ve purchased, especially when they’re not violating any of Linden Lab’s platform rules?

    Think about it: if you buy a designer dress in real life and enhance a photo of yourself in it using AI tools, can that designer dictate what tools you use? Should they?

    That’s the heart of the issue.

    We’re at a turning point. AI is a powerful tool, and it’s not going away. We need to find ways to integrate it thoughtfully and responsibly. Yes, AI raises valid concerns. Artists have every right to protect their work. But the real conflict is with the AI platforms and usage terms, not individual customers using generative tools for fun or creative expression.

    What happened to open discussion?

    Instead of resorting to harassment and public bans, we need honest conversations about how AI fits into our world. Shutting down discourse through bullying only creates more tension and alienates those who genuinely want to engage.

    Second Life has always prided itself on freedom and creativity. Its slogan says it best: Your world, your imagination. That imagination now includes AI for many users, especially those who’ve found new joy and creative flow through it. If that’s discouraged or punished, we risk losing more of the vibrant community that keeps SL alive.

    Let’s talk about it:

    • Should a customer be banned for using AI on a photo featuring a purchased item?
    • Should designers disclose AI-related policies before selling items?
    • What are reasonable boundaries for creators who don’t want their products used with AI?

    These are real, evolving questions, and the answers deserve more than a block button.

    I’ve included screenshots and a timeline below of the events that unfolded. At no point did I attack or harass anyone. I simply asked questions and engaged with the issue thoughtfully.

    I understand people want to support their friends, but inflating a single tweet into a campaign of harassment doesn’t help anyone. If anything, it shows just how badly we need open conversations around these new challenges.

    Because one thing is clear: if people aren’t allowed to express themselves or explore creatively, they won’t need to be banned. They’ll just log out and may not come back.

    Timeline of Events

    April 23, 2025

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    Banned for Wearing It: How Second Life Creators Are Punishing Their Own Customers

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    6 Comments
    Banned for Wearing It: How Second Life Creators Are Punishing Their Own Customers

    Recently, some Second Life creators have started banning customers from their stores. Not for breaking any rules, not for stealing content or abusing permissions, but just for doing something completely normal: buying an item, wearing it, taking a photo, and sharing it.

    I came across a post about a designer banning a blogger from their store after the blogger posted a photo of a product they bought and used AI to enhance it. This wasn’t about stealing or breaking any rules. It was simply a customer enjoying a product, sharing their creativity, and getting punished for it.

    The reason? Some creators are worried that edited or AI-enhanced photos might somehow be used to train machine learning models that could steal their designs. But that just doesn’t hold up.

    Generative AI doesn’t work like that. These models aren’t trained on a handful of pictures from someone’s Flickr or blog. They rely on massive datasets with millions of images pulled from all over the internet. No one is out there training an AI on your avatar’s jacket from a single snapshot. And even if that were possible, individual users can’t control how the internet works. You can’t blame someone who supported your brand for what tech companies might do with public images.

    And here’s the irony: every brand pointing fingers at customers for supposedly “feeding” their images into AI models is likely doing the same thing without realizing it. If you’ve ever uploaded your ad to social media, that content could be used in large-scale AI datasets. If you’re using certain creative software, chances are those platforms reserve the right to use user content to improve their tools. Even platforms like X (Twitter) allow their AI to train on user data, including posts and interactions. The line between what’s safe and what’s vulnerable is much blurrier than some creators want to admit.

    It’s also worth noting that the most successful brands in Second Life aren’t doing this. They’re not banning their customers for sharing their outfits. They’re not worried about AI filters or photo enhancements. In fact, most of them seem to understand that when people enjoy their products and post about them, it’s a good thing. It helps their brand grow, builds community, and keeps their work relevant. They’re thriving because they trust and respect their customers.

    Then there’s the fairness aspect. A person spends their money on your product. They wear it, they like it, they post a photo. That’s free promotion. That’s literally what most creators want. To then ban them for it? It’s not just backwards, it’s insulting. It sends the message that your customers are only welcome as long as they do everything exactly your way.

    And honestly, this doesn’t feel like it’s really about AI. It feels like it’s about control. Some creators want to decide who gets to wear their items, how they look in them, and what kind of aesthetic is acceptable. If someone edits a photo in a way you don’t like, or doesn’t fit your brand vibe, suddenly they’re out. That’s not protecting your work.

    Second Life has always been about creativity and self-expression. People come here to explore identities and ideas they might not get to explore elsewhere. Fashion plays a huge part in that. It brings people together, helps them feel seen, and makes the world feel more alive.

    But when creators start turning on the very people supporting them, it hurts everyone. In the end, it’s not just the creators or the customers who are affected, it’s the whole community.

    So if you’ve been banned just for wearing something you bought and sharing a photo of it, you didn’t do anything wrong. You supported a creator, and they turned their back on you. That shouldn’t be okay.

    Let’s support creators who genuinely appreciate their customers. The best creators understand that the relationship doesn’t end with a sale. They value the creativity of their customers, celebrate when people share their work, and recognize that customer engagement is part of the creative process. In a community like Second Life, respect and collaboration should go both ways. When we support creators who respect us, everyone benefits and grows together.

    And if you’re a brand that doesn’t mind if your customers use AI tools to edit or enhance their photos, I’d really love to hear from you. Feel free to drop a comment and let people know. You deserve support too.

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    Shelf Life

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    Shelf Life

    Alaskametro creates the finest BoM tattoos on the grid, in case you were unaware. I hold this brand in high regard; the seams and texturing are simply flawless. I’m not just saying that. Few can achieve the level of detail like Alaskametro does, so I was thrilled to see the release of the Doll Parts BoM tattoo, which allows you to transform your existing Second Life body into a Ball Joint doll. This concept is reminiscent of an episode of Black Mirror, where a doll comes to life or where one’s consciousness is forever trapped inside a doll.

    I love the idea of evolving my avatar, which I already consider my digital doll, into an actual doll. The Doll Parts pack comes with BoM tattoos along with extra highlight layers. Despite being made with textures, it’s exceptionally well done and looks fantastic. I appreciate that I can layer this over my current skin, ensuring a seamless blend.

    Have you ever dreamed of becoming a virtual doll? If so, you can get this enchanting set at Anthology.

    Shelf Life
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    Void Lashes, why is it so popular?

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    2 Comments
    Void Lashes

    Do you know about Void lashes? I’ve seen this brand gain popularity and support from various creators, so I decided to find out what it’s all about. I absolutely love the default LeLutka lashes that are attached to the mesh head, so I never felt the need for a third-party add-on. However, I woke up yesterday and decided to delve into Void lashes.

    Void is created by a resident named Pure Void. Their marketplace store showcases a selection of lashes that are rigged for various popular mesh heads. I decided to get a demo of the popular Void Demure Lashes, and to do so, I had to teleport to the store. To access the store in-world, you must accept the land experience. At first, I was annoyed by this, but once I visited the store and experienced the region design and animation sequence, I was thoroughly impressed. It adds so much to the shopping experience, making you feel as though you’re stepping into the introduction of an anime movie.

    I chose the Void Demure lashes because I wanted to wear them with Mila’s Obscura Eyelashes. This motivated me to learn more about Void lashes, because I love all of Mila’s lashes and wanted to wear these as well. Although the Void lashes are pricey at L$1,499, they come with a customization HUD and are rigged for numerous mesh heads. Upon opening the EvoX package, I found a version for each of LeLutka’s heads, including the latest, Camila. This indicates that Void continually provides updates, making it a worthwhile investment.

    Void Lashes

    The lashes allow you to wear the top, mid, and bottom lashes or turn them off entirely. I have only seen people wear these lashes with all three options, and they often appeared somewhat droopy and busy to me. I was very glad to discover that I could turn off the mid lashes! Additionally, there’s a HUD for customizing the gems and toggling the alpha settings between blend and mask. I highly recommend using blend mode because when you set it to alpha mask mode, it can look like chunky spider legs on your face. While some may appreciate that aesthetic, it simply does not resonate with me.

    Void Lashes
    Blend vs Alpha Mask mode

    Overall, I believe the reason that residents are choosing to wear Void lashes is that they offer a different look compared to the lashes included with their head of choice. They can also be longer, more intense, and come in various shapes. Personally, I felt that the Void lashes gave my eyes a hint of droopiness, yet they also appear quite dramatic.

    If you’re looking for something different, check out Void lashes! Even if you’re not, the store is worth a visit; it provides the best land experience I have encountered in Second Life.

    Void Lashes
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    Coraline

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    Coraline

    I loooove skins in Second Life. I get a new skin and make it perfect with tattoos. Rinse and repeat. This is how I enjoy playing Second Life. Recently, I tried on the new Coraline skin from Glam Affair, and to my surprise, it’s nearly perfect. Did I still add a bunch of tattoo fixes? Absolutely.

    A blog reader asked me to share some skin details that I recommend, so I’ll do my best to explain my process here. I wear different tattoos for different skins, but generally, I either enhance or de-emphasize certain features. Most of my face tattoos are from Izzie’s, as I own nearly everything from the brand. This allows me to fix anything on a skin to make it suit my preferences. As for body tattoos, it depends on the body I’m wearing. Sometimes I don’t change anything; other times, I add details or remove shading, among other adjustments. You can absolutely mix and match skin details from different brands, as long as you can tint the colors to match.

    What skin tattoos do I always wear?

    FACE

    • Brows – Find any brow tattoo that you like and wear it if the default brows on the skin do not suit your preference. I typically wear white brows and tint it a very light blonde or brown. Then, I enable the HD brows on the LeLutka head and reduce the opacity.
    • Nostril Lighteninger/Highlight – I always lighten my nostrils.
    • Lip concealer – Sometimes the skin doesn’t need it, but most of the time, I feel that it does. I wear a combination of Izzie’s and Cazimi’s Lip Concealer (it’s free) if I want to lighten the area all around.
    • Blush/Contour Remover – I wear this 90% of the time, though not today. When I do wear it, I apply a layer of blush on top.
    • Face Highlights – I sometimes add to or remove highlights, depending on the skin. Izzie’s offers a great Highlight Corrector if you want to reduce shine. Recently, I’ve noticed many skins appearing somewhat flat, so I tend to enhance them. I enjoy adding a touch of highlight to the corners of the eyes, the philtrum, the nose, the forehead, and other areas.
    • Nose Shading Fix – If one side of your nose is heavily shaded, you need this to balance it out. I wear this 90% of the time, but lately, I’ve noticed that skin designers have begun to do this less frequently.
    • Nostril Changer – I use this 90% of the time because many skins have heavily shaded nostrils, which I find unappealing.
    • Ear Fix – Sometimes ears are ugly. Izzie’s has a great ear fix that sits on top of your skin’s ears.
    • Pale lipstick tattoo – I think it makes the HD lipstick look better.
    • Closed Eyes – You need this if you like taking closed eyes photos.

    BODY

    • Neckfix – For a seamless transition between the head skin and body skin. Your body skin will have this layer available, usually for free. If not, you can get a neckfix layer from any brand and tint it to match.
    • Add Creases for hands and feet if you want more details.
    • Butt Crease Changer/Concealer
    • Inner Thigh Shadow Fix

    Today I’m wearing the new Drift hairstyle from Truth. I love a realistic built-in hairline! This looks great in PBR, there’s no opacity issue, and it’s very natural.

    Coraline
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    Happy New Year

    Bygogo Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    1 Comment
    Happy New Year

    Aren’t these Gigi Balloons from Legna the best? I love that these numbers come with two really nice poses for each hand. Even though the balloons state they are no modify, it actually allowed me to modify one, and I tinted it a light shade of blue. You can also rez these numbers for any occasion.

    This is meant to be an early Happy New Year post, but I also wanted to share my reflections on last year. Overall, I feel I had a good year in Second Life! I upgraded from Lifetime Premium to Lifetime Premium Plus, which cost a significant amount, and at first, I was genuinely excited. However, as the year progressed, I began to worry about the longevity of Second Life.

    I was enthusiastic about the mobile app when I tried it early this year as part of the alpha program; however, I now think it’s completely hopeless. This Open Letter to Linden Lab clearly outlines why I don’t believe we will ever see a usable mobile app.

    I had a lot of fun in the Aurelias region with my friend Sparkle. Still, I ultimately decided to pull the plug when I recognized that the economy and the state of Second Life might be uncertain in 2025. It was actually an easy decision; when faced with uncertainty, it is prudent to eliminate an unnecessary expense. As much as I enjoy having a whole region, I also appreciate the freedom that comes with not having to maintain one. I told Sparkle not to let me bring the region back next year, even if I have new ideas and want another one. 2025 is not the year for significant land projects.

    What am I looking forward to in Second Life in 2025? I am looking forward to Philip Linden changing his outfit. Additionally, I am eager for the next Linden Home theme, although Linden Lab has gone silent on that topic! Will it ever come? Who knows. It has been so long since the next theme was chosen via a poll that I almost forgot we were promised Alpine and Tiki as the next two themes. I am also looking forward to cleaning my inventory; right now it stands at 77k, but I know I can reduce it to 50k if I put in some effort.

    What are you looking forward to next year? Let me know in the comments!

    Happy New Year
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    Second Life Creators, Sign up for the Zoom Meeting with Philip Rosedale and Brad Oberwager

    Bygogo iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments

    In my previous blog post about Second Life/Linden Lab holding invitation-only meetings with Second Life bloggers and influencers, I mentioned that if there ever was a creators’ meeting, you should find out how to get invited. Well, the time has come. There will be a Zoom meeting with Second Life creators, along with Philip Rosedale (Philip Linden) and Brad Oberwager (Oberwolf Linden). Would you like an invitation?

    This meeting is being granted to the members of the Creators Supporting Creators Discord server. This Discord server is invitation-only, but here’s how you can sign up: Creators Supporting Creators Application. Once you’re accepted into the server, you can sign up for the meeting using this link: Connecting CSC server members with Linden Lab (form). The deadline to sign up for the meeting is Friday, December 13, 2024. The meeting will be held on Zoom on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 8:30 AM SLT.

    If you are a creator, you should sign up for the Discord server and attend the meeting, as your input is valuable. You do not want other residents to speak for you, nor do you want their ideas or interests to be implemented without your input.

    I have read some recaps of the other Second Life Zoom meetings with bloggers, and I am concerned by many of the things I have read. I am unsure if the bloggers are reporting accurately, but it seems that if the mobile app does not succeed, Second Life’s future may be uncertain. This is alarming. I am reconsidering my spending on this platform if the state of Second Life is truly that dire. Additionally, someone mentioned that Shop & Hop “may not be the best way to support content creators,” hoping that Linden Lab might cancel this event or scale it back. I love Shop & Hop; it benefits not only creators but also residents. I am sure thousands of residents who visit this event four times a year enjoy it. I am not entirely certain what was said regarding this event, as I am reading it from a fellow blogger’s report, but I hope Linden Lab does not scale back or cancel it. It is the only initiative they have that supports ALL creators and is a fair event that does not charge them anything to participate.

    If you are a creator who enjoys initiatives like Shop & Hop, you should definitely attend the meeting because some other creators are advocating for its cancellation in order to promote their own events.

    Note: I am only sharing publicly available information. I am not an admin of the Creators Supporting Creators Discord server, nor did I initiate this meeting.

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    Linden WelcomeHub

    Bygogo Bellisseria, Events, Fashion, iheartslFeed, JuicyBomb, Second Life, Uncategorized, What I think
    0 Comments
    WelcomeHub
    The WelcomeHub

    Hello from the new Linden WelcomeHub! It’s opening day, so there are lots of residents here checking it out, including mentors on hand to greet and help new residents. My friend, who was volunteering as a mentor, reported that she had already helped plenty of people. The futuristic and bright atmosphere reflects the SL20B slogan — “Our Fantastic Future”.

    The WelcomeHub regions also includes Linden Homes demo, Motown, Helios Casino, a Sandbox, and a few other things to showcase things you can do in Second Life.

    WelcomeHub
    Motown in Second Life

    If you’re new to Second Life, welcome! Don’t feel pressured to go shopping, buy a mesh body, look good, own land, etc. Just focus on making friends, learning how to walk, opening packages, explore public spaces, and it’s okay to wear the free Library avatars. A lot of people swarm new residents with places to shop and help them look good, but they still leave Second Life cos they don’t have any friends or any reason to stay.

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