Because it’s a lot easier to flame than to do something constructive.

The upcoming release has many bug fixes. Many have posted their appreciation, but there’s still a lot of “Well, you haven’t fixed X, Y, and Z.” Alas, bugs differ in how easily they can be found and corrected.

I for one am glad to get bug fixes as they happen; if others wish an Open Letter #2 “No bug fix releases until all bugs are fixed,” they should go for it, though IMHO it would be far more absurd than Open Letter #1.

You nailed the problem squarely on the head for sure. The only thing I would change in your plan is to put the “personal” blogs somewhere TOTALLY different, not even in view of the technical ones. THe impression that any “play time” is going on when major issues are being “ignored” (the impression given when no information is provided) is still enough to double frustration levels…

They are interested in their own interests.

In terms of SL, they are interested in their own SL.

(I’m going to speak for the residents in this post, as well as for myself. While I can’t really speak for all residents, I can certainly say what I think most people want, and - I have to add! - I don’t think I’m wrong.)

Residents come to the blog wanting more information on what is affecting them, sometimes severely and urgently, and they often don’t find it in a timely manner.

And when they do find it, the comments are often turned off, which adds to the frustration.

And they don’t find enough of it, and sometimes not updated frequently enough.

Many people might like to read and chat about other things, of course, but most just want to know about the things affecting them - such as the payment problems. These are the sorts of things, after all, that are ruining peoples’ enjoyment of SL.

Only when people feel those issues are being addressed sufficiently are they amenable to reading what I might call the “thought pieces.”

I don’t know if LL has the idea that the blog is sort of a combination personal diary for the Lindens; a place to announce things affecting the grid; and a place to announce policy changes - but it seems that they see the blog more or less that way. And - unlike a newspaper or magazine - everything is always presented as if it were of equal value to us all.

I think it would help if the blog were DIVIDED - in such a way as to put the diary-type entries (”My Trip to Wherever,” etc.) off in a sidebar, for those who are interested in that sort of thing, with the important current issues always taking front and center.

I would also like to see more - MUCH more - about all of these issues that directly affect residents, with more detail and more frequent updates, and with comments enabled on all of them.

In other words, residents WANT that “formal news about grid issues, support concerns, etc.” Far from being too much of that; there isn’t nearly ENOUGH of it.

Too little about the pressing issues, and too much of the diary-type entry, fosters the impression that LL fiddles while SL burns.

The “personal Linden perspectives” you speak of are of interest to a narrower spectrum of residents to begin with; and are certainly never as important to residents as the grid concerns, customer services issues, etc., that directly affect us.

The personal perspectives are the sorts of things people want to read at their leisure, not when they are frantic to find out what is going wrong and what to do.

I think two categories of blog entries would help address this problem:

1. SL Blog Entries - front and center
2. Linden Blogs - in a sidebar

The difference: Linden Blogs would be where Lindens speak personally - musings on the future, personal trips to conferences, how their own project is going, etc. These are clearly personal, in that they are clearly associated with and dependent on the Linden writing them.

SL blog entries would be about important announcements; bugs; customer service; updates, etc; and any and all issues and problems affecting many residents.

People want to read all the more personal perspectives, yes - especially when it is from their favorite Linden, or the Linden working on what they are also interested in. But those things should be separate, alongside the main blog.

Personal-type entries shouldn’t be automatically thrown to the top of the blog whenever a Linden decides to write one. Again, that gives the strong impression that what residents care about isn’t very important, and that LL is out of touch.

coco

EVERYONE was there today. Most of us were scratching on the walls of the main sim trying to get in, but that we wanted so badly to “be there” reveals our commitment to this thing called Second Life.

I would say to all those who have made Second Life what it is today, “Happy Anniversary” … 4 years running, and nobody can touch us, warts and all! And to SignpostMarv, and the many Residents who helped put this celebration together, outstanding work.

This party isn’t over.

zk

Monday is too far to wait…..

Get you butts back from the Cali beaches & get back to work the birthday party is over…..

The problems are awful, but no one is forcing us tohang out here

and you make it fun!