Who owns auction times?

[Kikii Littlepaws]

In a dispute over an auction time slot, whether it is between auctioneer and sim, or auctioneer and auctioneer, the bottom line is, the one who "owns" the time is the one who keeps the patrons. It doesn't really matter who started first, or if the auctioneer brought the time slot to the sim, it doesn't matter if one auctioneer gave up the slot for a month, a year - all that matters is where loyalties lie. Even patrons who consider both friends will wind up choosing one over the other.

Truth is, while no one "owns" time, the auction "belongs" to the patrons - since it's they who make it or break it. "Fairness", "consideration", "compromise", "respect" and even a belief that we are meant to be a *community* - these things don't *really* factor in. The auctioneer who keeps the patrons wins, and is therefore "awarded" the time slot by community "vote" so to speak.

It's a hard, cold realization to have to come to, if you happen to be the "loser".