PANIQ Retraction

/ Ever
The time has come for me to retract the statement I made last week. For those who don’t intend to read this entire thing, I will start with what’s probably the largest question on everyone’s minds: At this time, I will not be leaving the platform, and my store will not be disappearing. If you’d like further context, continue reading.

Philip Rosedale issued a statement several days ago in regards to his name appearing many times in the Epstein files. There was a lot left to be desired in the form of context, in my personal opinion. However, I do have to accept that until all of the files are finally released, we will not know whether or not he has been honest with us. I can argue every side of this debate in my head on repeat as much as I’d like, and it will bring me no closer to the truth. And so, I can only decide based on what evidence we have, what my suspicions are, and how this will sit with me.

I don’t trust Philip Rosedale. He is a rich white man. By nature, he is not to be trusted. The platform he created though does allow me to help with charity work that I otherwise would not be able to contribute to as much as I do, and enables me to help friends with their own endeavors. I’ve also had a great many people saddened by the announcement of my departure, moreso than I expected. I’ve heard many opinions, thoughts and perspectives on this situation. Ultimately, it lead to me making a concrete realization that I should’ve never had to have.

Second Life is not my prison. I can come and go as I please. Should the day come that there is no denying the platform or the people who made or own it have tipped the scales into a place where I feel no more good can come of me being here, I can simply decide to leave. Put down what I’m doing and walk away. No one lords over my virtual life, and I shouldn’t treat it as if someone does.

PANIQ’s mainstore will be closed for public access starting the 6th, but the marketplace will remain available. Access to the mainstore will reopen February 20th to unveil the rebrand, an all new mainstore, a new free to join group, a big birthday sale, and the first new release under the new brand name. To those who bought things these last few days under the idea that the store was closing, please reach out with your transaction information if you would like a refund. Otherwise the funds will be put toward Relay For Life at this year’s Fantasy Faire.

Thank you all for being patient and sticking with me while I processed all of this. You have my deepest gratitude. ♥

PANIQ Goodbye

/ Ever
I’ve considered writing this statement so many times over the years. I don’t think I knew what the reality of it would feel like until tonight. I joined Second Life back in April of 2007. As someone who had already spent years online as a poet, a writer, and an avid role player, I immediately lost myself in the role play environments of Second Life. And when I lost my role playing home, I turned to content creation. I’ve given nearly nineteen years to this platform, with this year being the tenth that I’d been creating in an official capacity. I’ve kept faith in the platform all this time, looking for the good and the silver linings anywhere I could find them. The people that I met here who I now call family reminded me that you can find your people if you just keep looking for them, friends and lovers who have come and gone left me with valuable lessons that helped me to grow as a person, and Fantasy Faire filled me with purpose and hope when the world around me got darker and darker.

Tonight, I looked at my Bluesky feed and my stomach dropped. The founder and current CFO of Linden Lab, Philip Rosedale, is in the Epstein Files. I fact checked this for myself, and his name is absolutely there. 116 files mention him. This is not to say that he took part in what is currently being investigated. I did not read each and every file from top to bottom, I am too tired for that. But that he knew Jeffrey Epstein and failed to make a public statement when all of this news came out fills me with a deep level of discomfort that I can’t ignore, especially when paired with the knowledge that far too much that veers toward pedophilia goes by and large unchecked on the Second Life platform. I cannot say what Philip Rosedale has or has not done behind closed doors, but his silence is deafening to me.

I could’ve never guessed that this would be why I’m finally saying goodbye to Second Life. I have spent half of my life on this platform, and I don’t know what it will look like without it. I don’t want to leave, I love it here. It’s been a sort of home, it’s where many people I call family are, where I’ve made so many friends, and where I could express myself through one medium or another. But I can no longer in good conscience stay, especially as a creator. I had been planning a rebrand for February, had so much made for it, and was so excited to launch it and share it with you all. I was so looking forward to Fantasy Faire again this year, to people coming together and helping in a good cause. But the idea of creating where people will have to put money into the pockets of people like Philip Rosedale in order to buy what I’ve made doesn’t sit right for me morally anymore.

PANIQ will remain in operation until February 7th to finish out the round of Made By People that I signed up for. On the 7th, I will remove everything from my marketplace and the store will be dismantled. Any other stores or sims that host PANIQ features, booths, or pop ups will be taken down. I will not be offering a closing sale, I will not be encouraging purchases. If there are things you need redeliveries for that you’d like to hold onto, please redeliver before the 7th. I will be finishing up blogging items that I have been given, and helping with the management of the Chronic Cosmetics, Mysteria, and Violetility blogger teams as I have promised. Once my responsibilities have been taken care of, I will be leaving the platform. Make no mistake that I will miss every single one of you and that I will cherish every memory I’ve made in this virtual world. The PANIQ Discord will remain for those who’d like to keep in contact, but I will no longer be hosting marketing in the form of blogger, store, or event shares.

Thank you to everyone who helped make all of these years the magical experience that they were. I pray that something will someday help change my mind about my presence on the platform. Until then. ♥