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WorldsAway and the Dreamscape FAQ
Guide to the WorldsAway and Dreamscape
FAQ
WorldsAway Guidelines for Community-Oriented
Behavior
How long does it take to download WorldsAway
and get started in the Dreamscape?
How do I prevent vandalism or theft of
my property?
Special social conventions in the Dreamscape
What to do if you can't download WorldsAway
using your CompuServe account
WorldsAway is taking up a lot of disk
space, what is happening, and what can I do?
WorldsAway Guidelines for Community-Oriented Behavior
(Reprinted here with permission by Fujitsu
Software Corporation)
Introduction to guidelines
These Guidelines are provided to help make
using the WorldsAway communities a positive experience for all
members. The WorldsAway Dreamscape and the WorldsAway Community
Forum are presented by Fujitsu Cultural Technologies, and made
available on CompuServe. The WorldsAway Guidelines for Community-Oriented
Behavior is Fujitsu Cultural Technologiesí supplement to
the CompuServe Operating Rules and Service Agreement Terms as
they apply to the WorldsAway communities.
Fujitsu Cultural Technologies retains the
right to modify these guidelines at any time, without prior notice.
Interpretation of the guidelines are at the discretion of Fujitsu
Cultural Technologies. We reserve the right to revoke access to
the WorldsAway services at any time, without prior notice. By
choosing the proceed button at the bottom of this document, you
agree to follow these guidelines.
Introduction to the WorldsAway Dreamscape
and the WorldsAway Community Forum
WorldsAway is not a game; it is real life,
lived through avatars in a virtual on-line community. The avatars
you will meet in the Dreamscape are real people, not programmed
game opponents. The Dreamscape and the Community Forum provide
an opportunity to explore and experiment with our social skills
while enjoying the community found there. This exploration, however,
should not come at the cost of the other community membersí
enjoyment.
WorldsAway provides you with on-line virtual
worlds which are much more than a collection of people or a virtual
chat room. The Dreamscape and the WorldsAway Community Forum are
a living and growing community. The Dreamscape has its own culture,
stories, and taboos. The WorldsAway Community Forum provides members
with a means of text-based communications and technical support
relating to the Dreamscape. The Dreamscape and the Community Forum
are under separate management, interpretation, and application
of any guidelines or rules. So they may differ on certain issues.
As with any visit to a new community, on-line
or real-world, We suggest you proceed cautiously as you become
familiar with your surroundings, the communityís societal
and cultural aspects, and specific to the Dreamscapeóyour
new self. We offer you these guidelines to help ease your move
to this new on-line home, and to help current community members
welcome new residents. We hope that new members will learn from
their mistakes and share their knowledge with others.
Being a valued member of the community
WorldsAway offers its Dreamscape and Community
Forum residents an opportunity to be a valued member of a thriving
community. Individual voices and diverse backgrounds from around
the world meld together to form a unique cultural blend.
As with anyoneís participation in their
own community, each memberís experience can be very different.
The citizens of the Dreamscape and the Community Forum strive
to provide a friendly, supportive atmosphere where avatars may
comfortably explore unfamiliar roles and expand their circle of
friends. WorldsAway is a place for everyone to enjoy. We promote
an atmosphere of genuine concern for our members, where open,
honest exchange is encouraged. Like any community, you will find
that the residents will do whatís necessary to make their
homes comfortable to the majority of residents and visitors.
Remember, weíre all human
The most important thing to remember at all
times, in this or any on-line community, is the person behind
the machine. Just as you sit at your keyboard, communicating with
other community residents through your on-line persona, there
are real human beings all over the world communicating in the
same manner. Approach others online with the same courtesy and
respect that would be expected in real life. Always remember that
on-line actions can have real-world effects, so think for a momentówhat
would I do if we were face-to-face?
Consider the feelings of those other people
in all you say and do. Respect othersí requests to refrain
from behavior that they or others may find offensive, and be forgiving
of othersí mistakes. Take care to show consideration and
respect, and treat others as you would have them treat you. Think
before you speak or act, or you may make mistakes that will prevent
you from making friends and becoming a part of the community After
all, being a part of the community is what this world is all about.
Just because you *can* do something, doesnít mean you *should*.
Communications
The majority of human communications are non-verbal.
Remember that through this electronic medium, much of what you
wish to communicate may not come across through words alone. Very
often, a different life or a different language can add a different
meaning to the words or expressions you use or hear. Make the
extra effort to understand anotherís meaning or point of
view.
Before you speak, think, and refrain from
obscene or offensive language. This applies to any public situationóon
the streets, or in the shops of the Dreamscape, in conference
rooms, in a public message, or the name you choose in any location.
Remember that typing in all caps is SHOUTING, use *asterisks*
or _underlines_ to emphasize a word, or use your words alone to
convey the emotions.
Avoid unsolicited or repetitive attempts to
communicate, especially should the receiver not respond, or request
that you cease. In person, you might say excuse me, or some appropriate
introduction before interrupting, or before speaking to a stranger.
Consider doing the same for on-line, e-mail, and conversations.
Disturbance of the general peace and public slander (insults or
attacks) are inappropriate. Remember, community members will find
ways to condemn actions they feel are inappropriate; they may
work to assimilate you if they feel you have potential, but you
may be ostracized if not. Recognize too, that you may encounter
sexually explicit language and conduct. For more information on
what you can do to make your and othersí on-line experiences
more positive, and suggestions on what you can do to counteract
offensive behavior, please see the file, Dealing with On-Line
Harassment in the WorldsAway Community Forum Help Desk Library
(#1).
Adults and minors
Recognize that the WorldsAway Communities
bring together people of all ages. Follow traditionally accepted
rules governing contact between peers, and between adults and
minors (anyone under 18). These include restraints on language
and behavior, and respect for privacy. Traditionally accepted
rules prohibit improper overtures, sexual activity, and prying
questions in exchanges between adults and minors. With on-line
interactions, it is difficult to know with whom you are truly
interacting.
If there are minors who have access to your
account, we strongly suggest that you and your family read, ìChild
Safety on the Information Highway,î available from the WorldsAway
Community Forum Help Desk Library (#1). This article was jointly
produced by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
and the Interactive Services Association. Written by Lawrence
J. Magid, it provides many helpful ideas in helping young adults
have a positive on-line experience.
You may wish to bar others using your account
from the WorldsAway Dreamscape or Community Forum, including members
of your household. CompuServe offers a Parental Control Center
where you can learn how to set password-protected controls for
CIS and the Internet. GO CONTROL has more information.
Respect one another and respect the
service
Please respect the rules; others with whom
you share the service are the staff members who work hard to provide
you with and improve upon these services. Adherence to these guidelines
will help to make everyoneís use of the service a positive
experience.
Personal accountability
You must recognize your own responsibility
in having access, and allowing others access, to your accounts.
The person to whom the account is registered is ultimately responsible
for any actions from their account.
Use of this service is a privilege,
not a right
Ultimately, use of the service is a privilege,
not a right, and those privileges can be revoked at the service
providerís discretion. Failure to comply with the guidelines
detailed here can lead to warnings or denial of access to your
account(s) and the WorldsAway service(s), either temporarily or
permanently.
Where to go for more information
How long does it take to download
WorldsAway and get started in the Dreamscape?
WorldsAway is large (14MB) and could take
from 40 minutes to well over an hour to download using a 28.8
kbps modem. WorldsAway may update itself with new artwork when
you first connect, and this could take another 5 to 30 minutes.
Downloading WorldsAway through the Internet directly may take
less time than through CompuServe. Many users only have CompuServe,
and cannot take advantage of this.
WorldsAway may be provided on the CD-ROM that
you used to set up your CompuServe account. Check to see if you
can install WorldsAway from the CD-ROM before trying to download
it.
How do I prevent vandalism or
theft of my property?
If you are carrying money or objects in your
hand, put them away to discourage swift-talking street traders
from approaching you for a deal you canít refuse. If you
place something down in a public area (outside your own turf)
anyone can pick it up and you will have no prior claim and recourse
beyond pleading on the finderís good will. Lastly, you
should be very careful of who you invite to your turf and never
give the password to your turf to someone you donít completely
trust.
Special social conventions in
the dreamscape
See Appendix B: Netiquette, the Worlds Manners
Guide for more tips on behavior in WorldsAway and any other world.
The following are some specific good rules of thumb for WorldsAway.
As you often walk through screens to get somewhere,
it is good form to say, ìJust Passin..î while you
go through a crowded area, so other people know that they need
not greet you. Traveling as a ghost often helps alleviate this
problem, and is much faster, too!
If nature calls, or you have to leave your
computer for a few minutes or more, it is good form to turn your
avatar around and stand him or her with their back to the screen.
Donít steal…give back! This is
a very good rule of thumb: if someone puts an object down and
you pick it up, ask if you can have it, or if the person wants
it back. Donít pocket something if it was not specifically
given to you. Above all, if someone gives you access to their
turf, do not remove anything without their permission. If you
do leave a gift in someoneís turf, it is a good idea to
let them know who the giver was, unless you want to remain an
anonymous admirer!
What to do if you can't download
WorldsAway using your CompuServe account
If you are unable to download WorldsAway using
your CompuServe account, and can still get to the Internet through
another service, try downloading it directly from the WorldsAway
Web site at http://www.worldsaway.com.
WorldsAway is taking up a lot of
disk space. What is happening, and what can I do?
When you log into WorldsAway, it sometimes
downloads new artwork. If you have been using WorldsAway for a
long time, new versions of the software may not need older artwork.
One option is to install a brand new version into a new folder,
make sure you have your avatar, name and immigration into the
new version all set up, then delete the folder where the previous
copy of WorldsAway and all its files was. This might save on disk
space by getting rid of unused files.