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Feb 9, 2003, 6:48pm

dose noone yet realize the tourists were (key word were) the future cits
of AW? really very simple sigh

Feb 9, 2003, 11:38pm

Ironic huh? =P

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Feb 10, 2003, 3:40am

Well stated, Linn.

I think AWI shot themselves square in the foot this time. If tourists must
be restricted, should it be at the expense of those who already bear the
greatest expense of all - worldowners?

What was AWI thinking? Did they think the revenue generated from their
decision would outweigh what is well on its way to becoming a wide rift
among a very important segment of AW community? Once 3.4 is released and a
special designator is given to tourist enabled worlds, worlds without the
designator will still stand out. Negatively. They'll stand out as
unfriendly and unsupportive of AW's future. They'll stand out as cheap and
second rate, as worlds owned by "poor folks" who can't afford yet another
AW-related expense. Non-designated worlds will stand out for these reasons
whether they're true or not.

Before implementing the tourist restriction did anyone from AWI try standing
in a tourist's shoes for a couple of minutes? Did they consider how
tourists felt suddenly being catapaulted back to AWGate because they were no
longer allowed in most of their old familiar worlds and places? Did AWI
really think that feelings of shock, isolation and resentment would serve as
incentives for tourists to register when such feelings never, ever serve
anything positive at all?

There's something more that flies in the face of everyone , world owner and
regular citizen alike, who DOES pay. Tourists who keep the software and
access AW to the point they're acknowledged as regular users SHOULD pay just
like everyone else who has paid and keeps paying for citizenships, for
worlds, for hosting, for high-end computers and software which makes it
possible to enhance their worlds so they can be seen and enjoyed by ALL, not
just a limited portion of an already limited audience.

Sure, locking tourists out of most of AW's finest content has already
compelled some world owners to ante up but what happens when the fee comes
due again next year? Will they pay again if the fee comes due at an
inopportune time? Will owners of smaller, lesser known worlds pay again if
their worlds haven't seen a significant increase in tourist visitation? If
they don't pay again, will AWI find someone else's shoulders to place this
burden upon?

Just a few things to think about. And here's at least one more...

Tourists SHOULD pay. After a generous time limit, after given ample time to
learn to build, after enough time to establish themselves in AW's community,
tourists should pay, no more but no less than any other citizen or world
owner pays. After a gratis, generous time limit to learn the ins and outs
and make friends in AW, tourists should pay. It's a burden which should
never be foisted upon those who already pay enough.

Like the time limit on most shareware, just like the time limit on
citizenships and world ownership, tourists should be placed on a time limit
and as that limit draws to an end AWI should make every effort to cultivate
these potential customers into paying ones. Their efforts won't pay off in
full but they won't be entirely lost. Like advertising, something else AWI
should do, it's simply called the cost of doing business. Some tourists
will let their time limits expire and never return. Others may not pay up
immediately but they'll return, payment in hand, sometime in the future.
But some of them will pay and they'll pay without having to be convinced.
Chances are they'll bring family and friends with them.

Just like there's no free lunch, there is no free ride. Those who take it
should pay for their own ticket, no one else.




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Feb 10, 2003, 8:46am

this might work all I know is I used to bring ppl (tourists) into AW by
the dozens I build The Art Room (with the help of my students in real
life) and now they cant even go see it This is a very sad thing to me
Also I miss so much taking ppl to Alpha and showing them what I have
learned after which some remained and are still my friends in AW What
I just cant seem to understand is why ppl look down on tourists we were
all one at one point or the other or most of us This thing about
blaming tourists for the vandalism was not clearly thought out maybe? Cits
can log in as tourists too so who says it was truly a tourist who did it
all? this is so simple why cant someone at the top of AW see thru this or
did he (and you know who bragged about that award) really think all the
adult worlds would pay the way well sex does sell but there just may be
more decent ppl in AW than he thought ........... flames welcome I
didn't say the name or the word ENZO told me not to talk about here hummm
freedom of speech right !

[View Quote]

Feb 10, 2003, 3:02pm

I guess it is the first time I 100% agree with Linn * LOL*

If I had a shop, I would like people to come in. Maybe they would not buy
the first time anything; but one thing is sure, if I banned them at the
door, they would definetly not buy anything from me ever.


Drac
linn <ironhead at digitalpassage(dot)com> kirjoitti
viestissä:3e46bea6 at server1.Activeworlds.com...
> dose noone yet realize the tourists were (key word were) the future cits
> of AW? really very simple sigh
>
>

Feb 10, 2003, 7:43pm

Right I got a lot of friends from programs outside of AW. I use to invite
them onto AW and show them around but now it's like out of the question =\

Feb 10, 2003, 7:59pm

God how I agree with you on the issue of Tourists. I used to bring in dozens
of people into AW myself all the time. I would tell them how great AW was,
how cheap it was, and how much quality chat they could get in AW.... and the
bonus of being creative in AW was a huge bonus.

Now.... sadly... several of the people I brought to AW who actually PAID for
accounts are now moving on.... they SEE how addicted they became to
building.... they see how much they enjoyed chatting.... BUT they are not
willing to pay so much for what they get. Sad but true.... and I've seen
several of my friends in RL abandon their accounts.... which is not so bad
for me, cus I can still talk to them in person or on the phone.... but its
bad for AW. The "draw" is gone.

I will stay with AW as long as I can... I will not abandon her.... but it
sounds to ME as though AW will eventually DIE and move on, that the
programmers and staff will finally realise that they can find better, more
mobile positions with other entities. *sighs*

Respectfully,
Talisan

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