Linden collusion to violate the TOS?

Hello, This is in the form of an open letter to LL but specifically to those that administer the forums (I guess that's Torley and Jeska). I would like other folks comments of course, but before any moderators or resmods consider deleting or freezing this post please read the justification in the last paragraph as to why it isn't a violation of the forum guidelines of the TOS.

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Now that moderation for the group forum for Neualtenburg has been returned to Kendra Bancroft and Ulrika Zugzwang, as a citizen of Neuatenburg I want some answers as to what LL is going to do about the constant harassment we have to suffer from a certain forum "personality" associated with the Neualtenburg Projekt. I also think as the victims of this person that we have the right to know once and for all what connection this "personality" has to Linden Lab and why LL continues to let her, and her alone out of all the other avatars and players, get away with the things she does.

There has been a rumour going around for some time now that the entire Neualtenburg Projekt is actually a kind of "experiment" that was not only allowed by but actively participated in by Linden Lab. Essentially that Linden Lab is colluding with the founders of the Neualtenburg Projekt group, giving them special privileges, allowing some of the AR's against them to slide etc. and is therefore partially responsible for all the goings on. It has been described to me as simply one of many Linden Lab "experiments" that they are conducting on the populace, but I feel that is almost certainly wishful thinking on the part of some of the founders.

Those of us that know this particular "personality" have always known that she has some kind of inside line with LL or at the very least is able to get information out of them that no one else can through her contacts there. It's not particular unusual (although fairly rare), for a player to have friends within Linden Lab although most profesional companies would have a strict policy against player/emplyee involvement on this level.

This is different however in that a particular Linden has been described as one of the "founders" of the Nburg Projekt! Curiously this person is the only Linden I have heard of ever to be "let go" from LL and under somewhat dubious circumstances. But even though this person no longer works for LL, the rumours still persist. Certainly several other Lindens are very "friendly" with the founders of the Neualtenburg Projekt. It's certainly true that the founders of the Neualtenburg Projekt are able to call up individuals at LL, ask questions of some Lindens, and get immediate replies. I have seen this happen myself.

Even if no formal agreement between the founders of Neualtenburg and Linden Labs remains in effect, doesn't Linden Labs' assistance, participation and continued support of the Projekt still make them liable? Especially since that support (at least on the surface), seems to violate the very TOS that they hold so dear.

I for one, have suffered many many times at the hands of a particular person who is one of the founders of Neualtenburg but have never seen her disciplined for it in any way. She has started entire threads who's only purpose is to defame or harrass individuals (me in particular, but many others as well) or groups (the Nburg government). These threads are never deleted and rarely closed. How can a company that hold the rest of us to the TOS ignore it in the case of one individual, especially when its an individual they are "working with" on some level?

Even though I have rarely reported a post on the forum, the particular behavior from this person is so over the top, so outrageously despicable, and such an obvious violation of the TOS and all the words and lovey-dovey feelings spewed by LL, that I have AR'ed LL until I can hardly click any more but still nothing is done.

Nothing at all.

There are people who have left the game because of this person, there are people who have suffered real financial loss because of the harassment of this person and now there is an entire SL community that is in ruins because of this one person, yet nothing is done.

Consider also that other citizens have been banned for life from the forums for making lesser statements than this one person. What will it take for this person, this "friend of Lindens," this golden girl who can do no wrong, to be similarly banned from the forum? Will someone have to actually be so distressed that they actually slit their own throat before any action is taken?

Consider that there are threads posted on the Nburg forum at this minute that contain libelous statement about me personally, that I have reported to LL and to the moderators of the forum, yet they are not removed. Why?

I am citizen of Second Life. Where is my protection from "naming names."

Where is my protection from harassment from an individual that is making libelous untrue statements about me?

And what about the dozens and dozens of other people that this individual has defamed, insulted, and harrassed?

How is it that a company that promotes "tolerance" and "community" is actively engaged with with one of the most hateful "personalities" to ever post in the forum?

Under what moral compass does LL collude with the founders of the Neualtenburg Projekt to treat other citizens of Second Life as if they were guinea pigs in some kind of twisted social experiment?

I suggest that this is an abomination. A virtual sleaze-fest of lies, harassment and abuse. It also seems, at this moment, to be something that LL not only knew about, and not only did nothing to stop, but something that they were actively engaged in themselves. After playing SL for a year I didn't think I could be shocked, but I was wrong.

Please note that this thread is not "about" this person, it's about the possible collusion of Linden Labs in enabling the harrassment of their own residents. If you think this post is harsh, or even actionable, consider that I haven't "named names" and that even if what I say is totally made up (it isn't), you cant rightfully delete it, without also deleting the threads that exist on the Nburg forum that equally defame, embarrass and harass me and all my friends.

You can't have it both ways.

Aside from the fact Nburg stole her creations and violated her IP rights, right?

And she was addressing a self named government group, not a person in most cases..and those she did call out individually, I believe violated her IP rights?

Oops.

Get off the FIC card, Prok is the owner.

That being said..

Free your pixels and creativity
Unfold your powerful Xcite enabled wings
Create the least laggy scripts
Kick peaople off your sim
You may now play forever
Or return to this grid
Under another alt

Sounds like a pack of rabid conspiracy theories, just from an outside perspective. The fact that you yourself are engaging in exactly what you're accusing her of doing, right here in this very opening post, doesn't bolster your credibility much. Just sayin'.

Additionally, anyone who actually gets that distressed from Second Life seriously needs to unplug for a while.

And since I'm sure you're going to come back here indignant with 'I AM NOT', allow me to quote:



Pot and kettle, maybe something about glass houses and rocks. I dunno.

1 sim... special.. so so special..

The TOS isn't a legal agreement between LL and the players. It's their rules, so they don't really have to follow them.

I have been a consistent participant in the venue known as SL as well as a regular forum reader since my join date in December of 2004. I have been exposed to and entertained by much drahma and many incredible tales. In spite of the emotional overtones and dramatic rendering of this tale, I have to admit that at it's core it 's a pretty credible read.


I'll go off now to ponder how someone with a December 2005 join date is managing to channel Prok and FICisms.

So your all okay with some players being more "special" than others? And being allowed to shit all over everyone else and get away with it while others get banned?

And we are all supposed to selflessly volunteer to be a part of this unequal community? For why?

It is a lot of conspiracy theories, and some of you comments about me are probably valid, but isn't anyone going to actually comment on the substance?

Someone like Coco makes a post that *might* be construed by some people as offensive, and she is banned for a week. Someone else that starts entire threads of complete lies and insults about an individual is not banned or even reprimanded and the thread is still allowed to remain?

And we are all okay with a company that works closely with the same individuals that are getting pretty clear preferential treatment?

Way LL abides and enforces, they're more like 'guidelines'.
(yarrr)

The problem is that the hysteria is out of proportion to any offense. It's a computer program. A game. Unless SL is putting food on your table, it is only a game. Why let yourself get this worked up over it?



Then why keep associating with a place or project that "this person" is also involved with. If it is such a drain in your life, ditch it.



Jeebus. If someone would really do that over a game, then they're the one with the larger problem, not LL or anyone else.

Proportion. Boundaries. Live them. Love them.

Whoa there. Wait a moment. This is probably just a way distorted and exaggerated rumour.
I was actually there in the beginning. And way before it. I know exactly what kind of "experiment" was done and how LL helped Nburg get off the ground.
LL set aside some land in the snow sims for a themed build that would preserve the natural look. They opened a public contest. Ulrika applied, she was the only one that did, really.
Now all of a sudden people come IMing me, saying that I had been a GUINEA PIG and that this was all an experiment on THEM, to see how they would react under pressure, as part of some wacko psychological research somehow vaguely related to Ulrika's RL alt being a professor or part of some new age clinic or something.

Read the damn wiki people. Seriously. Those who do not know history are doomed to make up weirdass myths and legends oO
http://history.secondserver.net/index.php/Anzere
http://history.secondserver.net/index.php/Democratic_Republic_of_Neualtenburg

Exactly. It's way more interesting then the truth.

after reading this and briefly looking through the Nburg group forum i would have to say not knowing anything else about Nburg. I would conclude that this whole project is filled with drama from beginning to end.
I think you all would be better off leaving the drama out of things and getting on with business.

Although you have my sympathy over your frustration with the Neualtenburg situation, I'm frankly floored at this comment. The below is what got Coco suspended for three days.



That was Coco to Enabran in this post:
/108/ca/101645/5.html#post997967

You participated in that thread too, so I am really confused.



That was an excellent thread IMO, and luckily avoided being derailed in spite of the severe drama injection.

/108/ca/101645/1.html

If you are referring to a different incident, then you have my apologies.

Well, it is a whole lot better than the way LL USED to conduct their psych experiments:



-Ghoti

I never said it was OK.

But a TOS being carved in soap instead of stone is pretty common among MMORPGs, MMOCs, and MUDs. It's hard to bail on one to go to the competitor if the competitor is doing the same thing.

Consider it a trust on trust.

Please, Dianne, your intentions might be good, but at this moment, it's really not a good idea to create that type of discussion here.

No matter where the truth is.

Come now Eggy, surely it's happened to you... Ghosting, prim-drift, things dissapearing, scripts not properly saving new changes, permission bugs... If the Lindens aren't messing with our heads, then there's an indian burial ground with a gypsy curse on it beneath the hosting facility or something...

Dianne,

If you remember way back when NBurg was first started, Ulrika was on the forums implying how official things were. I was one of the people that actually stated, "No, they're just giving you some land." From all the research I've done, this is precisely the case.

As for the "dubious" circumstances surrounding "a particular Linden leaving", Haney Linden has been happily working with Omidyar for a while now which - not so coincidentally - is a major force behind SL. I doubt very seriously that there was any kind of "dubiousness" to his leaving Linden Lab.

Your conspiracy theories should have been checked with Gwyneth first, she would have told you the straight deal. It's also further evidence that N-burg folks don't have any clue how to have only one representative to officially speak for them. Such conspiracy theories only give more gravitas to people seeking to delete, rewrite, and sue for DMCA violations.

Regards,
Hiro

Lindens and collusion and coups d'état, oh my! Excellent use of the word gravitas. As always, the only thing I have to say on this subject is Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! * hums 'O Fortuna' *

First off, you don't know that that is what got me suspended. And if it was that, look at what Enabran called me that caused me to paraphrase his words back at him. First he said:

“Man, nothing like some shrill, self-righteous donkey braying to make my afternoon complete.”

Then he went on to say:

“Everyone needs hobbies, man. Nature abhors a vacuum, all that stuff. It's very instructive, in fact. I'll just remember that if I ever have kids, I gotta start filling the vacuum before empty nest time starts kicking in. This whole "Spend Your Day Nannying, Harassing and Braying at People Who You'll Never Meet" plan doesn't really pass muster as worthwhile activity for those twilight years.”

That is not the first time he has said such things to me, which I had in the past ignored.

Then, when I finally responded with my paraphrase, he bragged about finally getting to me:

“Bahahahaha.
”It took me about... 10 months to accomplish that goal. But the results are so, so, so sweet.
”Kids, when you have a goal, stick to it. Reach for the stars. With enough work, you too can accomplish anything you want.
”Thank you, Cocoanut.”

You'll notice nothing happened to him. It is a fact that some people can say whatever they want and nothing ever happens to them, regardless of abuse reports, and my saying that - regarding another poster - is probably what got me suspended.

I said so, and I got suspended. Admittedly, I was a bit short-tempered or something, not quite my right self, to be so outspoken in pointing out that the emperor has no pants, but my mother had died the previous week, and I wasn't my usual very careful self.

coco

*humps your head*