The recent "knicker twist" (a *very* ugly and overly dismissive way to blow off what I read as being well-thought out and reasonable points raised by Marianna) does bring up a couple of questions:

Are there amateur builders left in Opensim?
It would be useful to define "amateur" -what do we mean by that term? Myself, I mean "self-taught", someone who has not been to art school or taken formal (not counting Builder's Brewery etc) courses on building. Other people may have different definitions -let's hear them.

It would also be useful to define "builder". When I say 'builder' I mean someone who makes creations with prims or mesh (Blender). (I'm excluding scripting, that's programming.) I'm aware that others define it in such a way as to refer to making modifications on pre-fab/pre-made mesh. Basically a "modder". In my mind it's a valid thing but it's different than building.

But language shifts and definitions change, "hacker" used to mean "someone who comes up with clever approaches to computer problems or design" -but for roughly 30 years it's been used to refer to people who break into computer systems and/or write viruses. As I say -definitions change.

So how do we define "builder" now? What constitutes "building"?

I can only think of a small handful of builders in the sense of making something from nothing, there's a larger pool of people who modify pre-made content -and unless I'm mistaken Marianna and Luna Luneria do a mix of both. Again, one isn't better than the other and both are forms of creative expression. But they are different.

The point of all this is to assess *need.* Do we need an organization? By "we" I am referring to "amateurs", I'm not referring to AuroraAsteria's group.

Moreover with the extremely low user numbers of Opensim would there be a point to creating an organization (beyond a collection of friends -I mean, if you already know each other knock yourselves out)?

I suspect -and have for years, that any such group would wither on the vine from lack of interest. Otherwise I'd be trying to start something myself.

I reserve the right to delete obnoxious comments and lock the comments entirely if it looks like they're going to simply be a shit-show. Show me that you *can* adult, OSW. Don't post insults (I'll delete them), paranoid rants (I'll delete them), off-topic diatribes about how somebody done somebody wrong songs (again -will delete). If there's a question about what the topic is intended to be -ask.

Make this a pain in my ass and I'll delete everything and lock the comments.

what if.....
we spent our time focusing on our similarities
instead of our differences?

I have seen many discussions here become very toxic recently because people are focused on how we are all different. I love how we all are different, but we also have some common similarities; the most obvious is that we are all people behind the pixels.

Sometimes in life and Opensim, it is much easier to tear a person down than to build them up. Let's make the extra effort and support eachother!

This is our Opensim.....lets take pride in it!

what if.....
we spent our time focusing on our similarities
instead of our differences?

Howdy Folks!
With the new year, the buffaloes have returned to Fort Sand!
We wish you a 2025 full of happiness, health, love and peace!
Mitakuye Oyasin!

Visit Fort Sand!
Here ist Your Stagecoach: hop://moonrose-grid.de:8002/Yggdrasil/89/36/1003

GREAT OPENNING
(OPEN) Date: 01/04/25

Time: 16:00 P.M. OST
PARTY, FRIENDS AND SHOPPING!!
!!welcome!!
hop://lfgrid.com:8002/hop%3A%2F%2Flfgrid.com%3A8002%2Fmexi...

Exotic Hyper-Grid Portals Set v2.0
This is a set of 3 different Hyper-Grid Portals, they use an easy to update destinations notecard, just touch and select your desired destination and simple walk through! Enjoy!!
hop://login.exoticrealities.com:8002/Lush Isle/381/212/22

I created a 2025 Circlet for you! Please find it in the foyer on the little table, thank you for all your support! It is going to be a great Year!! 2025 This is PBR

three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002:Monentes Jewelry

I posted this image so Leo can see the settings.

The FORMAL GROUP ACCESS ONLY Ballroom requires attendees to join the group and wear formal attire. Individuals who fail to comply with these rules are not my responsibility. I ask that you refrain from reviewing me based on your lack of understanding regarding the event's access and dress code requirements.

May 2025 bring you endless joy, success, and cherished moments with loved ones.
A new year is like a blank canvas. Paint it with bold colors, bright ideas and your beautiful imagination.
Happy New Year!
Cheers from C&C

It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the New Year, to stop and reflect on the year that has passed. Remember our triumphs and our missteps - our promises made, and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures - or closed ourselves down, for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what New Year's is all about: getting another chance. A chance to forgive, do better, do more, give more, love more. And stop worrying about 'what if' and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight - and it will drop - let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long

Happy New Year to you All.

Don't miss Opensimulator's HOTTEST New Years Eve Party!!
Tonight!! 9pm PST!! Littlefield Grid's - New Years Island!!

Come on down and ring in the New Year at Littlefield Grid's 12th Annual New Years Eve Formal Dance Party!!!
Free party favors (sparklers, hats, tiaras, horns, balloons), Live DJ, Ball Drop and Fireworks every hour
on the hour starting at Midnight EST!! We also have a Formalwear shop at the region with free Tuxedos and Gowns for all!!

Starts at 9pm PST ends at 2am PST!!

lfgrid.com:8002:New Years Island

I am thrilled and honored to be ringing in the New Year at the Wolf Pack @ Wolf Territories!

Come on out and share yourselves! Have an experience of family!

And most of all, have an amazing New Year's wherever you may be!

8 PM - 10 PM
THE WOLF PACK CLUB

COME DRESSED AS YOU ARE! BE YOURSELF! :D

grid.wolfterritories.org:8002/Wolf Pack/437/539/27

There are quite a few New Years Parties across the Hypergrid tonight. I will be DJing for five hours, bringing in the New Year for each time zone across the continental United states: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific.
Beginning at 8pm until 1am grid time.

I will be spinning a mix of genres, from rock to pop to dance and some in between.
equinoxgrid.com:8002:EQG Club Equinox
This is an Adult party, Child Avatars are NOT permitted.

Don't miss Opensimulator's HOTTEST New Years Eve Party!!
Tonight!! 9pm PST!! Littlefield Grid's - New Years Island!!

Come on down and ring in the New Year at Littlefield Grid's 12th Annual New Years Eve Formal Dance Party!!!
Free party favors (sparklers, hats, tiaras, horns, balloons), Live DJ, Ball Drop and Fireworks every hour
on the hour starting at Midnight EST!! We also have a Formalwear shop at the region with free Tuxedos and Gowns for all!!

Starts at 9pm PST ends at 2am PST!!

lfgrid.com:8002:New Years Island

Zoree Jupiter Live
New Years Eve Party
2-3:00pm SL Time
Club Fire
Gentle Fire Grid
Semi Casual attire
hop://gentlefire.opensim.fun:8002/gentlefire.opensim.fun%3...

Wishing everyone a great 2025 !
The final posts on the HG Safari blog for 2024 include
a conversation with Yana Dakota
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-warmth-of-yana.h...
exploring a beautiful medieval german roleplay grid
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/candoranien-romance....
Vela-dreams in celebratory mood
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/vela-turns-eight.htm...
Novale's amazing Canadian landscape (and yeah also gifts and freebies)
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/novelties-on-novale....
News about HG Safari trips beginning on Jan 1
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/safari-25.html
and finally, the new calendar "Men of Opensim"
https://hgsafari.blogspot.com/2024/12/calendar-guys.html

Happy New Years OSW!!!

This ad is for all the guys that wear Legacy Male body, just in time for the new year's parties, my friends at "The Silo" have donated a very hott Tux for you to come grab! > hop://login.exoticrealities.com:8002/Lush Isle/382/263/22
Enjoy and Happy New Years 2025
♦Tara Exotic♦

♦♦♦ ] CC – CLUB [ ♦♦♦
♦♦♦ Presents ♦♦♦

════▷▶ New Year´s Eve Party – Silvesterparty ◀◁════

☑ When: Tuesday/Dienstag 31.December 2024
⏰ 01:00 OS – open end / 22:00 Uhr – offenes Ende
☑ Where: New CLUB ICE - Neuer CLUB ICE

╫◈ DJ CRAZY Livemix Travel into 80´s-90´s -2000`s
EDM, Dance , House , Tech

NO Clothcode – Keine Kleiderordnung

TAXI:
╠═here: hg. hg.osgrid.org:80:FLORES SeaVibes

¡🎉✨ Feliz Año Nuevo 2025! ✨🎉

Que este nuevo año esté lleno de bendiciones, amor, salud y muchos éxitos para todos mis amigos, familiares y quienes me acompañan en este camino. 🙏❤️ ¡Gracias por ser parte de mi vida y por todos los momentos compartidos!

🌟 Que sus sueños se cumplan y que cada día esté lleno de alegría, esperanza y nuevas oportunidades. 🌈💫

¡A celebrar juntos este inicio de año con toda la energía positiva! 🎆 ¡Feliz 2025 para todos! 🎊

DJane Dragon at The Coffin Club on Carpe Noctem : today 8:00 AM to 10:00 playing classic rock and more

Dragon loves gothic rock, her sets are lively and often feature the less well known european artists

The Coffin Club is a gothic club in a church surrounded by a cemetry, furnished with coffins, music is gothic, rock, metal, EBM and Industrial.

Alternate Metaverse Grid Opensim
DJ Dragon  17 bis 19 Uhr im Coffin Club mit Klassik Rock und mehr
Nehmt Eure Freunde und kommt rüber in den Coffin Club
hop://alternatemetaverse.com:8002/Carpe Noctem/56/170/23 or send IM for TP

Wishing all Opensimers a great 2025 - To celebrate the new year - come visit the Africa sim to listen to African vibes at the entrance on stream, or visit the Amapiano lounge for some amapiano tunes .... or check Kippie's Jazz for South African jazzy vibes.

You will find TPs to these two vibey spots at the entrance :)

As we step into a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect and share something from the heart. For me, every project, every collaboration, and every goal is deeply important. I approach them with care and a genuine desire to help them succeed.

Sometimes, in critiquing or offering suggestions, my words might be misunderstood. I know that criticism can be hurtful, but please know it is never my intention to harm or discourage. My aim is always to help sharpen focus, highlight what works, and guide positive change.

I understand that some may find me strict or perhaps even overly passionate at times, but that intensity comes from love—love for what I do and for the people I work alongside. It’s my hope that this energy inspires growth, understanding, and progress.

As we begin this year, I hope for open hearts, understanding minds, and a shared determination to make this year better than the last. Thank you for being part of my journey, and I look forward to all we will achieve together.

Wishing you a joyful, peaceful, and successful New Year.