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[Awenbunny Lisle]

  I know Zayn will not be happy with me for saying this.  But I am going to do it and beg forgiveness rather than ask and be refused permission to say anything.
   That seems to be the technique used by some people to do what ever they want.  Its not the way i do things but I'm sick and tired of some folks running roughshod over our treasured Bunneh and the lovely whimsical home he's enabled us to have in the Raglan Cluster.
  Now first off... I am not administration in the Shire.  I'm just a volunteer,  Dean of the University, which Zayn and I thought you would like to have as a place to learn some techniques you might not have known already, amidst your Tiny Friends.    The rest of the Raglan Events and Activities Group are also all volunteers.  They do not get paid for the hours, or days they spend working together, where  you can't see them, plotting and giggling and fretting , about the fun stuff they have planned for the Shire.  I'm lucky enough to be able to assist them in their efforts sometimes and it makes my heart sing to feel the love that goes into planning Events for you. 
   While you are playing at Winterfest,  The REAG is already discussing well into next year.
  Now..... Time for that Mackerel.....   
      There are other tiny communities which are delightful.  I have been to tea parties, and book readings and had a lovely time. They might even have their chat groups or blogs.  We are all free to go anywhere we want of course.
     But... It is very bad form to advertise, post, or promote other sites or events in Raglan Chat, Website, Calendar or Forum when so much effort and time gone into it for your benefit. 
    Now I know sometimes you see something fun and silly and want to share it with friends.  This is where its complicated. There's a difference between a “Field Trip” to see something fun (or scary at Halloween), and promoting another Event off the shire.    A “Field Trip” still should not be suggested during a Raglan Scheduled Event.   http://raglanshire.com/events/   BOOKMARK IT!!!!   Everything is listed there as soon as it is organized.  Raglan U Classes included when a teacher sets a date.
   Promoting Events off the Shire Sims in Raglan Chat is an insult to all the time and effort put into the work the REAG has done for your enjoyment. Events are plastered in Billboards all over the Shire and chittered about excitedly in chat by a lot of us.  To say you didn't know about it.... and then post your own event shows how little you care about the Shire except as your own advertising vehicle.  That is disgraceful.
   Speaking of Advertising... Friends of Raglan and Artisans Chat are not Advertising sites.   Friends is for general chittering and silliness, Artisans is for sharing helpful information or questions.  There are well over 800 members in the group now and altho that may sound like a yummy Market to some of you... if all of the members start to Advertise there will be no room left for Rizzo's good morning hello and everyone will have left the group anyway because of SPAM.  We have the Shire Times for Advertising, Raglan. Com Classifieds or you may have your own Subscriber group.
  And we aren't anti-other tiny places.. in case some of you are thinking in that direction...which I know some do.   We just want to not have our efforts undermined by our own members.
  The Raglan Cluster is a non-profit Community.  The money we pay as Artisans for our Shop space and land rent and the Residents pay for their homes goes towards the Huge Sim tiers on all the Sims first so we can keep them.  Then it goes on the lovely flowers, trees, plants, and animated animals and whatever makes Raglan such a beautiful place to play and live.  Then there's the Events... A Cave for Pirates, a Haunted House, a Haunted Carnival, Mardi Gras Square,  beautiful new Winter Trees,  and on and on.  Plus all the little touches that add to those big pieces.  They are paid for by Raglan Funds.  And when you go to Primtionary,  Trivia, and go on a Gold hunt during Wild West days.... That's more Raglan money....  It all goes back into the Shire. 
    I love Raglan and the joy and peace its brought to my online life. The whimsy and the creativity.  OK yes some days the stress of having to come up with new outfits for an Event, or trying to think of things for teachers to teach.  ARGH!!
   But I love all you Tinies who are Tinies at heart.  I do it for you.  Like Zayn and the Gang do.  Please don't undermine our Raglan Community and the work we do to make it special for you.
    ** puts down the Mackerel**

[Bloodsong Termagant]

yeah!!!!!


   i fell really REALLY tacky advertising myself, in general.  i mean, i dont mind if somebody asks, 'hey who has yadda yadda' and i can say, 'oh i do!'  sometimes i dont, i let somebody else say so.  i'm just modest like that.  (you think im egotistical now?  you should see me if im not trying to be modest!)
   so... yeah, i think people advertising in group are tacky, too.  but... hey, if the top boss wont step in and MAKE A RULE and have people ENFORCE DA RULE...  heck, i aint even reag or any type of officer.  i can't say squat.

   and i been guilty of posting off-shire stuff.  that was... back before da rule, kinda.  and i been chastised, so i don't do that no more.

  cuz, people decided that it was diffusing the community too much.  and they sorta decided it shouldn't be allowed.  i think the big problem is, the top kahunas are just to soft and fuzzy and squishy to lay down the LAW on yas.  cuz its tough keeping 800 different people happy.

  aright, but there gonna be a RULE, make it a RULE.  lay down the RULE, and enforce it across the board.  'maybe' and 'should' and all that don't cut it.  WRITE IT DOWN.


  speaking of rules... zayn, can i quote you as saying there's a shire ordinance against playing that kitten-strangling maiou-whatsit gesture in public?  cuz i know you sorta said it shouldnt be played in public at a primtionary game once.  ;p

[Catten Carter]

Agrees. People put so much work into the events they do, and trying to pull people away from it in group chat is not fair. :/  Not sure what can be done though except talking to those that do and explain it. I must admit though that I don't always feel like talking that talk, as not all seems to understand, and having someone upset in IM kinda ruins the fun

[Catten Carter]

speaking of rules... zayn, can i quote you as saying there's a shire ordinance against playing that kitten-strangling maiou-whatsit gesture in public?  cuz i know you sorta said it shouldnt be played in public at a primtionary game once.  ;p

Noooooo! I love that gesture

[Karenza McCullough]

I totally agree with Awen on this one.  I don't think it's right to abuse the group this way.  Also, I've seen too many instances of one person being scolded and another not for posting off-Shire events in this way.  And I've seen this happen a few minutes apart, so it's not always a case of no one around to enforce the rule.  It gives the appearance of "some pigs are more equal than others".  (Note - I think pigs are great and know how smart they are; I'm just quoting Animal Farm to make a point.)
We're a large group and it's obvious that not everyone wants to play by the same set of rules.  I'm all for a simple set of rules that encourages maturity and respect without squelching fun.  And the rules should be made public.  I found out about this rule by asking Teal after I heard Awen wielding a mackerel in chat.  However, I think the worst offenders are very well aware of the rule and just go ahead and count on Zayn's good nature to allow them to get away with it.  Not a nice way to treat the bunneh who keeps the Shire up and running.
If people want a group that announces tiny events all over the grid, then someone go for it.  Or maybe look at expanding the mandate of something like Tiny World Publicity.  (That idea's totally up to the owners of course, only a suggestion for tinies who want to keep updated about the entirety of SL tinydom.)  But don't hijack the Friends group for that.

[Wilyoungblood]

It's just bad form. You don't spam other group chats - so don't do it here!!!

Its very different if you're advertising a Raglan Event - then I'm sure noone would mind it being promoted in the friends of Raglan chat.

I have to say that I for one leave groups where I'm constanly bombarded with nonsense in the group chat. People dont like it.

Very Well Said Awen !!!!

Here Here!!

[Awenbunny Lisle]

  And to clarify that a bit more Will..  A " Raglan Event" is one put on in Raglan usually by the Raglan Events and Activities group, but not necessarily so..
  It could be a birthday or rezday party, or something like that held by a member of the community . A sudden Random Dance Party held in the SillyCube because its Friday...  
   But a "Raglan Event" is not some activity a shop owner organizes to promote their own business.  That is Advertising now matter how much it looks like a party.
  If you are new and open a shop, pass out invitations to people you meet and spread word of mouth but the Friends of Raglan Shire and Artisan Chat and the Community Website are not phishing lists for personal promotion.
  Just as there are laws now that businesses can't use the telephone book to call you in First Life to bug you to buy, support, invest, win a free trip to Disneyland (just send us $3000 to hold your room)... Its the same thing.   Its very irritatating to be spammed.  And being spammed on our lovely chittery Friends group is rude, rude, rude.
  
  
 

[Bloodsong Termagant]

Noooooo! I love that gesture

   you can play it in the privacy of your own home, or at small gatherings of friends where no one minds it.  just.... not at public events or where there are a lot of tinies gathered.

PS: handy tip for any type of obnoxious or horrendous sound gesture someone plays near you --  alt click and zoom out as far and fast as you can.  pulling your camera away from sound sources will make them turn down/stop playing on your client.

[Bith Wierwight]

One of the most unpleasant things I ever had the discomfort to watch was a newer-than-me tiny being "mackereled" by this unspoken rule in chat. It was horrible. If I'd been that new tiny, I'd have fled Raglan Shire. I had only learned of this "rule" the day before, and frankly I was surprised. Why?

Because I came here from the Star Wars sims which actually has a group to cross-post events. I was a sim owner there once, and we all felt part of a larger community. Every Star Wars fan who found one sim would then know about all the others. Events benefited all of us.

No new tiny should ever have to go through the "enforcement" of an unwritten rule that I witnessed (and frankly this was an enthusiastic tiny just trying to share our world).

And who will be the enforcers? The (as far as I know) unofficial self-appointed guardian of the rules I saw in chat that day, with the "mackerel" of lead? Costing the cluster a potential renter/purchaser of goods? Sorry to get crass, but really? Do we really want to go down this road?

Of course we appreciate the work of REAG. But the odd request for a tiny appearance somewhere can't really detract from that in my opinion, any more than the caroling calls do right now. Right? I believe it might actually spread MORE tiny love.

Just a fairly new Tiny's opinion. *gently places wrinkly rhino neck on chopping block*

[Catten Carter]

I handle spam and unwanted messages in IM, and I'll suggest that everyone will do as well, in a nice and explanatory way. I've noticed a few times that even though you describe our good intentions, you'll get a mean response. In that case it's just to bite your tongue and say that your sorry they feel that way, but it's for the good of the community. I really don't wanna see assaults in group chat as Bith described.

[Shadow Marlin]

 I totally understand what is being said here but let's not forget that there are people who don't know the rules and regulations like some of us that have been around for a while.  I agree with Catten about handeling it in IM, that's the way it's handled on another sim where I am part of a team that handles griefers and complaints...Did anyone think to hand the "offending newest resident" a copy of the charter and discuss the issue with him/her in private?  Lately I have been approached by other new visiters to our tiny community and they have all have one theme in common, they felt ignored and put off because they aren't part of the group.  When did Raglan ever get that rep?  With the large number of tinies we now have in our community we need to not forget what it took those that started our community to get it where it is...Yes I agree the Friends and REAG group chats need to be about Raglan... But we also need to remember that there is a venue available to us now hosted by Legolas Ceawlin that allows for posts of non-raglan events.  Maybe Raglan needs to think about what we can do to support other tinies while still up-holding our charter.  WE DON'T ever want to get the rep that we are an exclusive community that doesn't welcome anyone and doesn't allow for people, new and old, to make the occasional mistake.  How things are handled will be how others think of the Tiny Community and of Raglan Shire in General. 

[Karenza McCullough]

I agree that the rules need to be politely shared with newcomers.  Though this particular issue is hardly limited to new members.  Some of the most regular offenders have been around for a while, longer than me for sure.  And I've been around the Shire for over a year.
And the group charter could perhaps be amended to ask new members to contact an admin for the group rules.  Or directed to a slurl to slap something and get them.  And that joining the Friends group means that you agree to abide by those rules.  Lots of other groups do something like that.  Otherwise, someone has to send out the rules every other week, which is my least favorite way of doing it.
I'll admit that one of the things that gives me the impression of an in group in the Shire is the way some people break these rules repeatedly with impunity and other newer members are asked to stop spamming.  Granted, they're asked politely when I've seen it.  But IMO, there's a double standard in enforcement.

[Catten Carter]

Taken in mind the size of our group and some of the things that have been discussed here, we have made a much more clear group charter.

http://raglanshire.com/?page_id=504

Everyone in group should follow this charter, and there will be no double standard in enforcing it.

[Awenbunny Lisle]

Thank you Catten for making things clear for everybunny.
 I apologize to everybunny for stirring things up to get this Charter finalized.
 I always got alot of questions from members IM'ing me asking who could post and who couldn't and what was allowable to post when someone did post a slurl in Chat.   This should help immensely.
  I do explain in IM about why the off Raglan slurl is not allowed, but i speak in Chat first so OTHERS know 1. That is the rule and 2.  That its being handled.  
  I have found if i just IM the person i get about 3 or more IM's from other tinies telling me someone posted an off Raglan SLURL...  And noone else listening in group learns that this is the rule..
   I am usually online more often than others in REAG and Rangers so people frequently turn to me to when something comes up.  
   The Mackerel has never been Lead filled.  Its always fresh, ask Karenza who is always stealing it to eat.   Its a reference to a Monty Python skit.
   I am not self-appointed, I was paw-picked by Zayn to be Dean of Raglan U and a Raglan Ranger to protect our Tiny Community.
  If i did not IM someone after telling them no posting of a slurl, it was probably because i was having to pay attention to hubby who does not chat and will not grasp the concept my actually being "with people" when i'm in SL.  Real Comes First.
   I'm sorry Bith got that impression.  She's a lovely addition to the Shire and it upsets me to think I offended her.  I hope she and i can make amends.
    Thanks again Catten for setting out the Charter.. You've made my life a whole lot easier.  I don't like being seen as the "Nasty Possum".  
    Now everbunny can just yell "Charter, Charter" and i'll build in peace 
  
  

[Bith Wierwight]

Oh noooooo! Awen it was NOT you I saw with the lead mackerel!! It was another tiny! That was the problem in my mind...that anyone could just decide to be da law, but not everybunny has a nice fresh mackerel! eeep! No YOU did not offend me at all!

I actually prefer the idea of paw-picked Raglan Rangers to protect us all. Because not all tinies have mad diplomatic skillz. Dat is all I was sayin'.