Where Do We Go But Nowhere?

I'm sure everyone has heard the news by now - I'm nothing if not slow in reporting - that Dame Ordinal Malaprop has pulled her shops from Second Life. She explains here. Others have commented here, here, here, and here, and no doubt I've missed still others.

(below: What used to be Ordinal Enterprises in Caledon Prime - now only water.)




People come, people find enjoyment and stay, people lose that joy and leave. Others come and the cycle starts again. No one should stay if recreation becomes a chore. As Miz Dio said, "it's the fuckin' circle of life." Except. Except that some losses are more important than others. From the Caledon trolley system (ripped off countless times in other lands), to the amusing weapons, such as the Bee Cannon or the Clock-Winding Pistol, to her Aether Salon appearance on Weapons (and a later appearance on Whimsy), to her Journal entries (particularly her correspondence with brother Cardinal), Dame Ordinal is one of the signature members of the Steamlands generally, and Caledon in particular.

I can't say I was entirely surprised, as her appearances in ISC chat and elsewhere had become less frequent and less tolerant to the technological and business shortcomings of the Lab That Dare Not Speak Its Name. Still, I hope that some period of reflection will cause the good lady to reconsider her decision. As the above-linked message in her aetheric Journal noted, she has pulled up stakes, but not yet sold the homestead, so reversing her decision is not yet too painful. If this is it, however, one can but wish her well.

(title ripped off from Nick Cave)