In the summer of 2008, the Second Life group Elf Circle had a growth spurt, increasing membership from 300+ to nearly 1000. Chat began to heat up with controversy, casual chat, and “adult” conversation. There were many calls to moderate chat, restrict casual conversation or to set up a separate group for chat. Owners of private invitation only groups, formed for casual communication and fun chat between friends, were approached to see if one of these groups might serve as an alternative chat group for Elf Circle members.
Urban Elfs had always been an open enrollment and self-moderated group. Rose Mackie and Lady Forcythia Wishbringer (the owner of the Elf Circle group and queen of the Elf Circle lands) discussed guidelines for such a group and agreed to promote Urban Elfs as an alternative chat group for EC. Lady Forcythia was offered group ownership and declined, stating that she didn’t want to discourage free and open communication. Urban Elfs was opened to Elf Circle in July, 2008.
They agreed that:
1) Urban Elfs would remain a neutral, unaffiliated group. It would not become a sub-group of Elf Circle or any other group.
2) Chat in Urban Elfs would be self-moderated, that is moderated by the group members themselves, rather than appointed monitors.
3) Membership in Urban Elfs would remain open to anyone in Second Life.
4) Urban Elfs would continue to support fantasy artists and events throughout Second Life.
The rules were simple. Be Nice. (Rose really wanted it to read “Be Excellent to Each Other”). Don’t Advertise Your Commercial Business.
The success and growth of Urban Elfs as a chat group was completely unexpected. In the early days members tested the resolve to remain neutral in political and personal disputes. The limits of self-moderation were pushed and tested daily. Gradually members found that UE, or Urbies as they became known, was a place free of “chat police” and retribution for expressing one’s opinions. Favorite fantasy performers and events held outside of Elf Circle lands were promoted through notices and IM announcements.
In October, 2008, after discussing the goals of UE to insure that they agreed on most points, Rose made Tiggs Beaumont co-owner of the group. Since that time, they have had some serious disagreements concerning the group’s role as a social chat venue.
Is Urban Elfs “A chat group founded in support of the best fantasy world and group: Elf Circle and its affiliates.” Absolutely not. It was founded as an alternative to Elf Circle. It is a social outlet and chat venue whose members tend to be participants in groups affiliated with the fantasy continent.
Is Urban Elfs a private group? Yes. Urban Elfs is a neutral, unaffiliated group. It is not a sub-group of Elf Circle or any other group. It is free-form, self-moderated, open to all, adult, and outrageous. It always has been and it will remain so.
Is Urban Elfs “a group held, (in essence), in trust for EC and affiliates”? No. No. And NO again. Some fantasy groups have “official” casual chat groups. Elf Circle decided in 2008 when UE was promoted as an alternate chat venue and again in 2009 when demands were made for a “PG” chat group NOT to have a separate “official” casual chat group.
Is Urban Elfs “in full support of Elf Circle and the Fantasy Continent”? Yes. It is also in full support of fantasy groups outside the fantasy continent. It supports and encourages artists and events of general interest to fantasy groups which occur anywhere in the greater world of Second Life.
Members of Urban Elfs feel proprietary about the group, continuing to make suggestions about how the group should be run, what should be allowed or disallowed, or acceptable topics of discussion. All comments are welcome however the founders believe that Urban Elfs MUST remain neutral, unaffiliated, and self-moderated in order to provide a platform for freedom of expression and an alternative to Elf Circle’s “traditional elven culture”.
It is difficult to create a group and a set of guidelines that pleases everyone. Some individuals will feel slighted that their ideas are not adopted. Some will be offended by other’s ideas and chat. Controversy to be expected in any diverse group. The founders of Urban Elfs believe in the ability of a group of adults to self-moderate, to look out for one another, and to respect, if not accept, another’s opinions. They believe adults are capable of handling disputes in a mature and caring manner.
Urban Elfs was always intended as a way for members of the fantasy community to follow favorite artists and publicize events occurring outside traditional venues. This provides performers and event organizers a way to reach a broad fantasy audience without having to resort to individual group memberships. Rose believes strongly in the Do It Yourself school and she recognized that certain individuals could be trusted to post their own notices for events occurring outside of traditional fantasy continent borders. Although there may be a growing issue with the number of notices sent out daily, she believes this can be controlled in a way that does not remove notice rights from proven individuals.
All this being said, the question which arises is this — Should Urban Elfs become “a group held, (in essence), in trust for EC and affiliates?” Should the founding principles of freedom of expression and inclusiveness be changed for a “comfortable environment?”
The founders believes the answer is No. On two previous occasions the leadership of Elf Circle itself decided against an official casual chat group affiliated with Elf Circle. It would be presumptuous of Urban Elfs to decide that we are a “trustee” of Elf Circle. Affliates of Elf Circle, those privately held sims adjoining Elf Circle lands, may have their own official chat channels. Friends of Elf Circle, other fantasy-themed sims and groups and even individuals may have their own chat channels. Urban Elfs reaches across all those groups, providing in one group a common meeting area.
Urban Elfs was not founded to “(accommodate) a comfortable environment … to assure the pleasure of as many as possible.” It was founded as an alternative to Elf Circle and a venue for open, unmoderated chat. It was founded BY rebels FOR rebels. Diversity can only strengthen us as a group and as individuals. If this is not your cup of tea, Rose understands and doesn’t take it personally.
The founders of Urban Elfs are adamant that it remain neutral in political and personal disputes, free of “chat police” and retribution for expressing one’s opinions. The hope is that members of Urban Elfs agree with this ideal. Comment is welcome.
