Put Linden-only content in InfoNets at InfoHubs

Behind the angry hyperbole of Anshe's "Governor Linden is slandering me" is a completely valid point that affects all of us, not just Anshe and how you may feel about her business. No paying customer of Linden Lab should have to tolerate disparaigning content about them in a publicly available, Linden-sponsored and condoned system, hosted on Linden Land. This situation gives tacit approval to the content within. Regardless of any disclaimers (which are an attempt to shirk responsibility), Linden Lab is very much responsible for the information being put forth in their name.

No resident of SL should have to be subjected to having their person or business treated like this in a system designed to provide the public with information about SL. It is a slap in the face to Linden Lab's customers, and anyone it happens to should certainly consider seriously whether to continue to pay for the privilege of being slurred.

If they insist on continuing to use this system (in the face of incredibly negative response to doing so), then the InfoNet terminals at these hubs should only contain the Linden channels and nothing else. I don't blame Anshe for being pissed off about this, I would be too and would not tolerate it. I hope that Linden Lab takes this issue seriously, and that Anshe is successful in her efforts to get this information removed. It is not about the validity of the information, it is subjective. It is about the principle behind it, and Linden Lab is not showing any good faith toward their customers by allowing this to continue.

Hear hear.

The FIC does not exist. LL is unbiased. Nothing to see here. Move along.

They did at least add 2 disclaimers saying they weren't responsible for resident content, and don't neccessarily agree with it.

The way I see it there are three possible courses to take here, all of which have consequences that go far beyond the worst of SL list.

1. If only LL information is distributed at the hubs then that means no other resident publications will be available there and the hubs will just be the equivelant of the LL announcements forum and MOTD. Rather a waste of space if you ask me.

2. If other resident publications are available at the hubs but Infonet is denied the ability to print what they want then that means ALL resident publications available at the hubs will be subject to censorship.

3. My personal recommendation... the availability of resident publications in a convenient newstand along with the importance of allowing a free press within SL outweigh the unpleasantness of the admittedly mean spirited worst of list. Squagmire should adopt a policy of not printing things from anonymous authors. Then any anger over something that gets published can be directed at the rightful recipient. The problem would be self-solving then. Since the majority of people seem to think the worst of list is a rotten thing to do, then most people would think the authors rotten people. The author can make up their own mind if it's worth it.

ALL of the SL grid is Linden property if you want to get technical. Are we going to start censoring the press? Is that really what we want? Do we want half the sims to have their center land taken up by nothing more than what can be more easily and quickly attained from a quick read of the announcement forums? Should the Herald be censored? No shortage of mean spirited and inflammatory stuff there. Lindens have been interviewed in it so does that mean they endorse it? What about M2? Should it be censored if it's going to be distributed at the hubs? I think people are being way too myopic about this whole issue.

well said Cris. I dontn think the placement of Infonet was thought out enough. They do have a responisibility to somewhat control the content Infonet gives the public.

Or another option... LL allows a free press at the infohubs, and offers various free periodicals from whatever group wants to put them out... but they don't choose one over another to put their own content into. Instead, they make their own official news distributor, and offer it alongside the other periodicals, thereby not making advertising in one more valuable than advertising in any other.

Ta da! No oppressive government squashing of the media, no favoritism, no apparently Linden sanctioned You Suck Ass lists... just a place to get all your morning papers and have some coffee while you bitch about the news with other residents.

So... anyone can write articles for InfoNet?

If access to create and edit articles is restricted to only one or few, that voice aught to be the offical 'Voice of LL'. Just the Linden channels makes sense to me.

If access to create and edit articles is open for anyone to add content, I think Anshe should hire a publicist to create 'AnsheLand News' articles to be her official mouthpiece in InfoNet.

All kinds of interesting possibilities, if its open access.

-Ghoti

I think this is an excellent suggestion, though I personally don't have a problem with LL using infonet. When I read a disclaimer that says "we are not responsible for any other content in this publication" I'm fully capable of grasping what that means, as I imagine most other english speaking persons are.

Evidentally not.

1. Define one set number of information channels
2. Auction off those channels for L$
3. Use those L$ to attract traffic, maybe by pay into money trees or mission terminals

This disclaimer means that "We may or may not support them, but we are too chicken to say so".

Since only Infonet was choosen to display their information on Linden Land, they are defacto endorsed by Linden Labs. Linden Labs is not impartial, like everyone would like them to be. They play favorites, and are just ashamed to say it outloud.

Those three suggestions would benefit few people and put a damper on the 'press'. I think that the suggestions made to allow other publications access to the info-hubs is an excellent idea and far better than letting some people bid up the price of the channel and get a stranglehold on it as we've seen with sim auctions and now with classifieds.

By that logic if I place a public service announcement in the New York Times I'm defacto endorsing all of the opinions expressed on its editorial page? Look, I hate the worst of list too. I think it's mean spirited and unfair. But if people are going to push this issue they at least have to consider the other consequences and implications. I don't think people are doing that. This isn't a binary equation.

But you can't just plunk down your own info system at Linded Land, it'll get autoreturned. Wrong analogy.

Companies always say that, and they're usually full of shit. They claim not to endorse when it suits them, and then threaten to pull their ads, sponsorship or backing over 'offensive' content when that suits them. It's the Company way of saying they do sponsor, until they don't.

I may have given my money to a pimp to have sex with someone, but that doesn't mean I endorse prosititution!

That's a horrible idea. Essentialy your advocating AdverHubs instead of InfoHubs.

Personally I'd like to see the space used for amazing builds, fun games, social spots and other places for people to go when they are looking for something to do.

In this case I'm reasonably sure that LL didn't write the worst of list. If LL distributing information through a publication that contains content some people might be offended by is not acceptable, then LL shouldn't distribute information through any resident publication or website, or even the forum for that matter. There's more rude and offensive stuff here than anywhere else. Is LL responsible for what you write on the forum or are you? Sorry to be overly rhetorical but I'm trying to separate logic from kneejerk reactions.

I don't mean just ads, but channels. I would imagine resident publications like M2 bid for channels, place content and sell ads to users.

No, LL didn't write the worst-of list, and I haven't seen anyone say they did. I'm sure you realize that though. back atcha. What LL did do was choose a system that contained not only the lists, but paid advertising, and set them above everything else by making them the official outlet for Linden news.

If the government chose to only air their press-conferences on Fox News and allowed them access they allowed no one else, but then said they didn't endorse Fox News, they would also be full of shit. (Moreso than usual.) If they allowed the same access to everyone who wanted it, then the claim would hold more water.

Allow everyone access, or allow no one access. One or the other. Allowing only one, but then claiming you don't endorse them, is doo-doo.

My preference, which I stated in a previous post, is that they allow everyone the access, but they distribute their news from their own vehicle. I don't think that's a knee jerk reaction at all, though your mileage may vary.

Bravo, Cristiano! Very, very well stated!

And Jonquille, I agree. It's not enough to add other newspaper names or whatever in the area, if you are still elevating one resident business above all the others and making it the official Linden channel. That Fox News analogy was perfect!

coco

P.S. Forget bidding for channels and all that on the Infonet. That would simply be further lining the pockets of one resident business who has a special placement and monopoly power, as the official Linden conduit, to profit unfairly from the rest of the residents.

Infonet should be listed along with the other newspapers on the sandwich board. Period.

I would agree with you if that were the case, but it's not. Robin already said the information would be made available for any resident publication that wanted to publish it. But, that brings up another issue. I assume that they chose infonet because they can release the information and have it out and available for people with a fast turnaround time where other publications go out at much slower intervals. So should they hold back information until everyone who wants to print it can do it at the same time or should they go with what best suits thier needs and gets the information available to residents the fastest? Are there other competing systems out there that can do the same thing?

If Squagmire can't publish anything else on those terminals but LL information then wouldn't that mean they'd just appropriated her product so she can no longer profit from it, and it would be done by public demand? Isn't that what so many people accused them of doing when they opened the LindeX (only this time it actually would be a direct lifting of someone else's code?). Seems to me then infonet would be being punished because other resident publications available at the hubs would be able to print whatever they please.

If we're going to take one monkey out of the barrel we have to deal with all of them. This all just strikes me as a big "be careful what you wish for" kind of deal.

I would think, Chip, that they could make their own product for "Linden Information" on their own land.

They would not be appropriating someone else's business, as this would only be on their land, and not everywhere, I think.

coco

could someone kindly SMASH ME IN THE HEAD WITH A FRYING PAN!?! ..preferrably one with a high prim-count.. and physics turned on.. with a blood-spatter anim effect.. with sound.

Jonquille, good point with the Fox analogy. much better than the shoddy New York Times/Starbucks/Penn Station newspaper-handing-out-homeless guys..

it's simple. honestly.

InfoNet is a nifty product/service.. works great on private land. in the InfoHub areas? nah.

now, if Squagmire would like to provide a seperate, exclusive "LL InfoHub" which includes only LL releases.. then, right on.

then again.. if Squagmire would get a bit ballsy and stand up for some integrity in practice, then maybe we would see submissions from anonymous submissions rejected.. we might see negative crap left to fester in non-LL parcels and blocked from belching its stench into the InfoHub areas.

now, don't get me wrong.. free speech is free speech and i certainly don't want to put limits on it. a tour of "this is crappy and that sucks, too" is just fine.. but not in areas sanctioned by LL and meant as places to help both newbies and oldbies alike.

anyway, i've ranted way too long to simply say..

Squagmire, maybe you should do something to improve this whole fiasco. if anyone's in a position to bring resolve to this mess, it's you.

LL, perhaps you should re-think this whole idea and just distribute your info through your own InfoNet-esque service. hell.. maybe like those nifty billboards Pathfinder has been trying to get people to use?

everyone else, keep bitching and arguing. if we shut up, it'll stay the same.. or maybe die out and not matter anymore. could go either way.. but it should help by keeping the issue in the public (and LL) eye.


and that's about that.

Just get rid of them, no one will ever be happy.