Question about the new registration system

After reading about the new free accounts that require no billing information to be entered whatsoever, I just have to ask what in the hell is LL thinking? Are they so desperate to bulk up the low population numbers that they will resort to forgoing even the pretense of preventing underage users from getting into SL? Cory Linden's comments about SL surpassing World of Warcraft seem ridiculous enough, but now this just seems to be some last ditch effort to inflate the population numbers. I thought the cell phone authentication method was bad enough - but not requiring any verification is just opening up the floodgates even more to griefers and underaged users. Is it really worth forgoing all common sense to just get subscribers at any cost?

Yes.

To quote a certian futurama character...
Well, we're boned.


LL, what the f*ck are you thinking?!

on the upside the gun business is in for a boom..

This is a joke right??????????????

With no age verification it does bring up a question:

What is the future of Teen SL and are we to expect that Second Life will be merged into one?

I don't see the point of Teen SL if there isn't going to be any age verification to ensure that the main grid is 18+ so, if that's the case, isn't it logical to think that everything will merge into one? And, if so, where does that lead us with regards policy changes on content for the main grid?

Has anyone thought of the legal aspects of this yet ?

I mean with the world tightening up on under age access to porn sites, LL is just saying

"Cant get it from elsewhere - come to us - you can either get it in world or use the in world browser to gain access to it"

I imagine quite a few concern groups are at this very moment unleashing their sharks and getting ready to rip LL to shreds.

BAD MOVE

I've posted a question on the answers forum about how Teen SL/main grid fit together now:

/139/00/112228/1.html

It's going to be interesting to hear the reply (presuming I get one). I can't see how they could even pretend that the main grid is 18+ only now.

Maybe SL should use something like this http://www.birthdateverifier.com/ in an affort to protect their asses over underagers getting in here

Moopf, after reading your hotline post, I would say you have painted the picture about right.

THERE was suppose to be an 18 and over world when it was in private beta. Upon the last beta stage they changed it to +13. The general explaination was they could not restrict access because age verification was not full proof. They also use content approval to ensure all content in world will meet pg13 guildlines.

I think this is a stupid move on LL's part, but lets face it, credit card companies will give credit to anyone and don't actually verify the card holder is over 18 any more then Linden Labs verifying the credit card number actually belongs to the person registering and that THEY are over 18. (My opinion of course, not trying to state a fact here.)

I suspect we will see some major changes and this is just the first sign of it.

Although it's hard to tell if it was merely coincidence but last night I had 2 ( minor ) griefers in the sim. The behaviour of both suggested they were underage This is the first time I've had any trouble in Svarga at all.

Maybe its the first step on the road to the Disneyfication of SL.
If it is, then, I'll be packing up and leaving, I don't want to play in a sanitised corporate playground.

Do I see a total PG sl comin????????????????

The fact that there was a grey goo attack last night, comitted by a day-old user....

Oh. We can disable the goo fence now, right? It's NOT WORKING

Having been assaulted multiple times (for just walking on Linden road) on Satyr sim (aka griefer haven). I usually check the map to see how many people are there. Since yesterday, the population seem to have doubled/trippled. I guess this would be a fun time for those living up north there as most replicating objects/sim assults that appear around there seem to be from someone associated with that sim.

Just chucking something else out there that's sprung into my mind: If this does lead to the 18+ policy being scrapped, would LL restrict access to Mature sims for only those on Premium accounts, which would still require the same presentation of payment credentials as is used now for age verification?

I'm not sure I like that myself and I bet you anything the landlords wouldn't either. But the only other option would then appear to be removing Mature content from the system full-stop and that would be (a). a real cost burden on Linden Lab to police and (b). probably impossible as they'd have to screen everything in order to be accurate.

I have to say this isn't making much sense to me. I can understand the point of doing it (to raise subscriber numbers) but I'm not sure I like the after-taste that's going to be left behind because of it.

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Moofp thanks for the info here. This issue is indeed serious and I am wondering if SL nolong cares about griefts and or future laws problems dealing with minors in mixed in with adults. Its a scary mixure and the results can be dealthy!

What in the frak are you smoking?

It must be good but the amount of griefers is going to go through the roof! We pay good money for service and this is going to let every pre teen out there with a computer get on line and go crazy griefing.

What are you thinking, ah are you thinking this through?

I can't even imagine the amount of content that is based on the sex industry that would need to be removed or restricted.

I think the restriction idea is a valid way out but in the opposite sense.

Scenario: A free, non-age verified account would be restricted to controlled sims of LL's design and policing. These sims would have the basics needed to "try out" the world. If you want more, you become a premium subscriber and at this point they age verify with a credit card. Now you have access to the full world with all content.

That is the only way I could see them letting people try for free and still allow a means to demonstrate they are taking age verification seriously.

The question becomes, why jump through these added hoops? It looks like another, "oh, look, our registration system isn't broken, let's break it!" idea to me. They got a lot of reviewer complaints about the long registration form and credit card needed step by impatient adults that didn't like to give out credit card info on the internet for a trial account.

If they're that impatient to understand why the credit card idea, then they are really going to enjoy the time it takes to fix up your avatar the way they want it and figure out how to take the box off their head. /sarcasm

I can't even imagine the amount of content that is based on the sex industry that would need to be removed or restricted.

I think the restriction idea is a valid way out but in the opposite sense.

Scenario: A free, non-age verified account would be restricted to controlled sims of LL's design and policing. These sims would have the basics needed to "try out" the world. If you want more, you become a premium subscriber and at this point they age verify with a credit card. Now you have access to the full world with all content.

That is the only way I could see them letting people try for free and still allow a means to demonstrate they are taking age verification seriously.

The question becomes, why jump through these added hoops? It looks like another, "oh, look, our registration system isn't broken, let's break it!" idea to me. They got a lot of reviewer complaints about the long registration form and credit card needed step by impatient adults that didn't like to give out credit card info on the internet for a trial account.

If they're that impatient to understand why the credit card idea, then they are really going to enjoy the time it takes to fix up their avatar the way they want it and figure out how to take the box off their head. /sarcasm

When you are desperately trying to boost subscriber numbers because you think your future is non-existence, there is a strong urge to "discount the future" and specifically overlook future consequences.

When you are desperately trying to boost subscriber numbers because you think your future is non-existence, there is a strong urge to "discount the future" and specifically overlook future consequences.

SMS message signup seems to be the thing of the future. I remeber telling one newbie about 3 months agao to try it. Well support told him where he is located in simgapor it was not offered. But i checked myself and it said yes. But what gets me is why do they have SMS message signup and their coutries that are able to get them. NA then turn around and tell them they can`t use it. I know i am off subject but this leads me to the rational that LLabs is merging the teen and adult games and creating one hell of a populas! Its goig to be a scary time this summer on sl with the new changes. Better get your shelds updated and orbs up to par...... ITS GOING TO ME A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG SUMMER!

So in light of this relaxed registration, would Linden Labs back away from their do nothing about Child AV sex issue? (right now they say it's between two consenting adults).

This opens a huge door to sick pedo's who'd come here instead of myspace or something and ruin the game for everyone else.