Chat History - Conversation with Ulrika Zugzwang

What a fantastic interview!! I know I said it already, but I think you did a fabulous job Cris. It was great to see all sides of Ulrika. I am loving the interviews and hope that you are able to continue!! *hugs*

This is false. Social democracy is the most prolific modern sociopolitical movement to emerge from post-WII Europe. Social democratic parties are among the largest parties in most countries in Europe, as well as in the majority of European-influenced parts of the world (with the notable exception of the United States).

~Ulrika~

Nope. There are no benefits to members of SL at all, however I feel that there is a huge benefit to LL. By allowing large land holders to buy up large parcels of land sized and priced (on purpose) beyond the means of most players, they immediately receive an up-front payment and monthly land-tier payments from land barons.

The land barons then subdivide and sell the land slowly in parcels. In addition to the cost of the land, land-tier fees accrued over time and a sizable profit are added to the price of land. Thus when we buy land, the majority of the markup goes in a manner of speaking directly to LL in the form of land-tier payments with a markup for the land baron.

This is why I think we don't see LL moving in to regulate land barons. It's because it benefits them financially.

But wait! It's not just LL who benefits. Let me discuss a few solutions and you'll see.

If we do have to live with land barons, I'd at least like to see the playing field leveled (with some progressive taxation tossed in to account for RL inequities). Right now the regressive land-tier pricing and group-land discounts serve as tools for making land speculation profitable for those who have large RL purchasing power. I'd like to see the land-tier fees flattened and group-land discounts eliminated or capped. With respect to group-land discounts, it would only apply the multiplier for the first 2048 m^2 of land donated by any single player. Finally, I'd like to see all markups on total land sales (contiguous and noncontiguous) in a given time period progressively taxed.

The problem with leveling the land-tier fees is that they were put in place by LL as an incentive to upgrade and could lead to a loss of LL revenue. The problem with capping group-land discounts is that some groups will have to reduce the size of their holdings. The problem with taxation of markups is that is that large land owners might be taxed for selling land which they've added value to (structures and dwell).

To solve the problem our elite SL groups -- LL, large groups, and large land owners -- will have to come together to make sacrifices to protect the small SL player from exploitation at the hands of land barons.

Standard class-struggle, really. Can the elites who are benefiting from the current system come together, accept a cut in their profits or ability to profit to prevent the exploitation of the small player? If not, are these elite groups, LL included, not complicit in the exploitation of SL players at the hands of the land barons?

~Ulrika~

P.S. - More solutions exist. These are just a sample.

Mmmm, alright. If you mean that people with high real life income pay higher tier fees than people with low real life income you really do me favor. I am looking forward to you pay part of my tier fees

And can my parents in China also join? Really, I don't mind the Second Life government pay for my parents' living. Then I can stop work hard and won't have to try make profit!



With my markup I already pay:

- land tier fees
- GOM fees
- PayPal fees
- bank fees
- credit card fees
- EUR-US$-EUR conversion fees
- losses on some land
- my very very substantial business risk

From what little profit is left I already have to pay 30% income tax. So now you suggest not only double tax my profit, but actually double tax me *and* tax the money people like me need to cover costs?

And that money goes to whom? To somebody who make 10000 US$ per month with RL job?

Sorry, but if you would have your way you would collect exactly 0 L$ tax from me because I would quit!

Anyone feel like founding the Second Life Freedom Party? Lol. Somebody need to stop this!

Ulrika said a level playing field. (not you specificaly either)

I dont read what she said as taking food out of your mouth or any of your 10k per month rl salary. What I did read however was a suggestion to stop some from paying 205 per month for 70k m2 of land while others are paying a little less than that for 1/4th the land.

I'm still pissed about that little fact. I would like to hear the Lindens point of view on this also and why this "loophole" hasn't been closed.

Cat

As someone who was mentioned in Cris' article, I thought it appropriate to add my own impressions.

As many of you know, Ulrika and I have had a historically adversarial relationship within the SL forums, though we've never met in-world. While perusing this article, I was taken aback to find that Ulrika experienced genuine angst over some of our more unpleasant interchanges. No, I still don't agree with most of Ulrika's philosophical and/or political ideals, but this article revealed that there is a very human heart behind the avatar.

With that, I am touched that Ulrika took this opportunity to publicly apologize to me. It means a lot. Bygones, I say. We should meet up sometime, Ulrika. Who knows? We could even become friends some day. Promise - I don't bite like I bark.

You're actually one of my favorite posters! I just exercised bad judgment that day.

Sorry again and thanks for being so kind.

~Ulrika~

And here you have what was my favorite moment from the interview, a totally unexpected and vulnerable moment. Paolo's response to you was a wonderful postscript to the interview.