Chat History - Conversation with Ulrika Zugzwang

I just posted the second interview in the Chat History series for Second Language, which is considerably longer than the first interview (having spent four hours last night talking with Ulrika on an island in Kelham). Love her, hate her, or not even sure who she is, Ulrika definitely gives a great interview.

http://www.sluniverse.com/language/2004/12/chat-history-interview-ulrika-zugzwang.html

http://www.sluniverse.com/language/

Oh great, going to read this now... YAY...

Cristiano,
Nice interview. I'm sure I would disagree with Ulrika on many topics and agree on others, but i found the whole thing intriguing.

re: the progressive tax. Talk about controversy! Personally I think this has the potential to kill SL, but then nobody really knows yet what will or will not work with SL. It's part of the joy of participating in this experiment. However, time will tell if Linden Labs works by the 80-20 rule that applies to so many companies (80% of your profits come from 20% of the customers)... if so, they can't alienate their biggest customers, but nor can they cater too greatly to those players. Balance is always the hardest thing, but the also best...

The game is banking on capitalism and free enterprise to create amazing things. It does not have the infrastructure required to properly leverage it yet (investment structures and basic agreements are needed, just as they are required for real world entrepreneurs... Philip L being a former EIR at Accel should know this), but it could get there... we'll just have to see.

Personally, I hope the neualtenburg experiment continues. Human beings are inherently social and group-oriented creatures. Individual freedom also means allowing for individuals to participate in groups the way they want... as long as they don't infringe on other people's freedoms.

Very, very good article Christiano. As mis-understood as Ulrika can be (or is), she's definately made it to the SL Hall of Fame.

There are ideas of Ulrika's that I am completely against (redistribution of monies from those who have more to those who have less), she makes some compelling arguments for a player-run government. While I'm not personally wishing a government to come my way, I am very interested to watch how this government unfolds.

Another great interview Cris However, I have a question for you. If you disagree with the interviewee's point of view on a question, is it hard for you to hold back your thoughts? Just curious. I personally would have a difficult time lol.

Huggerz,
MJ

Excellent work Cris!

Ulrika too. You answered the questions honestly and effectively.

My only comment is on the progressive/regreassive land "tax" point. How about a flat tax? That would make it proportionate and possibly assuage the ire felt by some over the larger tier/larger discount issue, while not completely reversing the baron's advantage

hijack follows:

There are two main issues I see with what Ulrika suggested for the re-distribution of wealth.

First, is it really fair? Some players have worked countless hours to produce content that is popular, thus creating thier wealth. Those players had to work thier way out of poverty like everyone else, so why should they be penalized?

Second, I think that the implementation of it wouldn't generate the kind of success one might intitially think. If a progressive tax was implemented, I'd imagine you'd see lots of the wealthiest players cashing out via IGE or GOM to keep thier ingame wealth low.

end of hijack. sorry Chris.

It's ok It's only appropriate that a thread about Ulrika gets hijacked since she has taken many a thread in an unexpected direction.

It is much harder to not try to lead them too much with the tone of a question. I definitely disagreed with both Ulrika and Anshe on some things in their interviews, and expressed the opposite viewpoint when I could. I felt in this one I also shared a bit of myself as well, which I didn't do in the first one. I can't believe it actually went on for four hours - it flew by. Great question, MJ.

Oh, that was a fantastic interview. Very articulate and lucid... it was easier to read Ulrika's thoughtline in this interview as opposed to numerous threads I've seen before, because I felt the dialog, question-and-answer format of interviewer-and-interviewee lends itself better to expressing certain opinions than the tired-and-treaded "Start a thread, watch it burn in flames!" method. There is clarity. LOL:



Yes. As Siggy Romulus has said, "Drama is like a suitcase. You can put it down and walk away."

I was honored to be referenced. Awww. What I have valued about Ulrika since early when I came into SL, is that she knows how to mix it up -- from the comparatively serious topic of player-gun government, to the zany fun of Thriller and Chicken Hat dances, it's nice to know that her eruditeness doesn't come at the cost of a sense of humor. And hey, Christmas in Neualtenburg. Wooohooo!

I look forward to the next "Chat History" interview. Good stuff, Ano... thought-provoking questions lead to thought-provoking answers which lead to even more thought-provoking questions! AIEEE!!!

great interview, cristiano and ulrika.



ulrika, do you see no benefit in the liquidity that land traders provide to the market?

Good lord , I've been quoted as saying something moderately usefull again! crap I hate it when that happens...

So to put it all in perspective - I've also compared :

Player Run Governments to Masturbating with a cheesegrater (amusing at first but ultimately painful).

TV News with Sausages (If you truely love them, don't see how they're made)

Socks like Sex (Plenty around but I can never get a pair together)
Socks NOT LIKE Sex (You can't put in the draw for later)

So as you can plainly see, I'm mad and nothing I say is to be trusted.

Siggy.

Siggy, in tha hizzouse and representin'!

Wow! You have truly propelled yourself (and SL journalism) to the next level Cristiano. If you keep this up the Lindens are going to have to knight you.

Here's why your interview works for me:

1. I enjoy how you bring your SL experience to the interview.
   
2. You avoid leading questions (as you mentioned).
   
3. You avoid inserting your own opinions into the interview yet provide counterpoints in the form of questions when needed.
   
4. You touch on controversial topics in a cautious, professional manner.
   
5. My favorite touch is how you pulled together quotes about me and SL from a variety of avatars and worked them into the questions.

The thought and effort that went into this interview before hand is evident, yet the interview is still natural and fun to read. Bravo! I look forward to the next one.

~Ulrika~

I see a woman who strives to be a lightening rod of controversy (SDF Presidential bid, People's Republic of Neualtenburg, anti-war protests, questioning the journalistic ethics of Hamlet), yet seems to be striving to build a socialist utopia where everyone holds hands, designs lederhosen and beer steins as a compelling destination, and sings Kum-By-Ya. "Yeah brother, we'll just redistribute this wealth and get rid of those nasty land barons... Come join us".

Ulrika is very complex woman, and obviously an incredibly bright and talented woman (remember... the Thriller video was pretty damn kewl at the time, since it was one of the first things that really showed off the full potential of our newly introduced animations).

She and I have not always seen eye-to-eye, but I must say that the interview certainly gave me a lot more insight into who she is and where she's coming from.

Mega-kudos to you, Christo.

- Ace

Thank you for creating a new variation on my name I have never seen before, and for the compliment Ulrika is definitely complex, no doubt about that one. I am glad the interview provided you with some new understanding. We all come to Second Life with our own agendas, opinions, issues and needs, and sometimes the mixture can be explosive, and sometimes it can be a beautiful thing. I think the more we seek to understand one another, the closer we get to transcending a lot of what can hold us back and tear us apart, and the closer we get to the vision of what SL really can be.

Silly me... That was quite unintential and only the result of not proof-reading the sign-off well enough. But if you like it, its yours...

- Ace

Cristiano, your interview style rocks. And Ulrika was just as was very engaging too! Great interview!

Thanks, Cris and Ulrika.

Keep it up! These articles are very interesting to read... The SL insight is especially fascinating. I'ts always enjoyable to 'listen' to two intelligent people speak amicably about some truly engaging issues while including such broad-reaching topics.

*applause*

After considering the competition in the 'journalism' stakes here in SL I have concluded that Cristiano is indeed at Level 2, and only needs 400 more experience points to reach the next level.

Cris - I hope your D20 is at the ready.

Ulrika,

Thank you for the kind words, and for taking part in the interview. It was definitely an enjoyable experience and it certainly raised the bar for my follow up You are one of a kind.

zugzug,
i'm not trying to bait you into a drawn out "land baron lynching." considering you've made some strong comments about land trade, i'm curious if you've considered the market liquidity as a service and what your analysis is on that.

*puts on wizard hat*

*taps Cris' shoulder*

*watches wave of gold flame streaking to the sky*

LEVEL 20!



Congrats for keeping the information of SL so interesting.

You are two of two Cristiano! Two interviews with people at the opposite end of the spectrum and you brought out the individual in them. Good job!

As far as Ulrika, I admire her idealism, but Socialism has already been proven wrong in RL at the cost of many lives and of the misery of millions.

Another lesson from Socialism is that it never benefited those whom it promised to benefit. Redistribution of wealth always seems to flow one way; toward the leaders and their cronies.

If the welfare of 'lower' income SL residents is such a concern, maybe Urlika oughta consider getting a group of like minded people together, buy many sims, give the land away, and pay 'disadvantaged' player's tiers our of her own pocket. That is the way it is done in a free society; it is called philantrophy or charity. Leadership by example.

Ulrika must realize that most of us did not come to SL or pay monthly fees to be guinea pigs for some wicked left-wing political experiment. If that is the type of game she wants to play, she must confine it to the sims she pays for, to the people that want to participate, and leave the rest of us paying customers out of it.

Again, Ulrika, nothing personal, you are a nice person from what I could tell from the interview, but your proposals are or will affect us all radically, including the future of Linden Labs - the business...

- T -

Wonderful interview Cris!! Was really great hearing Ulrika's thoughts without the forum clutter. Some great insight and a very comfortable feel to it.