Second Life Forums Archive - Avatar invisibility -- why?

Travis Bjornson

Registered User

Join date: 25 Sep 2005

Posts: 188

06-29-2006 16:21

From: someone

From http://secondlife.com/vote/index.php?get_id=52
allow avatars to be invisible when they want and even just to certain players which would also remove the green dot from the map allowing more privacy

Um, why is it a good idea to allow avatars to be invisible?

From: someone

Beginning with map presence we'll start working toward greater privacy. This means you will not be in the directory. Additional privacy from IM contact is in the works.

I'm not sure what this means, but I don't like the sound of it.

Kathmandu Gilman

Fearful Symmetry Baby!

Join date: 21 May 2004

Posts: 1,418

06-29-2006 18:29

Never encountered a stalker before have you? Never had someone map you and barge in on you while you were having pixel sex I take it? Never had some yo yo you exchanged cards with a year ago and hardly know pester you to join them at some lame fetish club or something every time you log on.

The list of reasons for it are long but with the recent opening of SL to the unwashed masses the griefing potential may far outweigh the benefit.

_____________________

It may be true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease but it is also true that the squeaky wheel gets replaced at the first critical maintenance opportunity.

Travis Bjornson

Registered User

Join date: 25 Sep 2005

Posts: 188

06-29-2006 18:40

From: someone

Never encountered a stalker before have you?

So, it's better if they can become invisible, and then stalk me?

Aodhan McDunnough

Gearhead

Join date: 29 Mar 2006

Posts: 1,518

06-29-2006 18:48

@Travis

I think you misread Kathmandu's reply.

It's better that YOU become invisible so they can't find you on the map. It's better so YOU can sometimes appear as offline on the friends list even if you're on.

It's something like Yahoo Messenger. You can log on in a way that you will see everyone but they can't see you since you appear offline. It's for those times that you require an extra bit of privacy.

Travis Bjornson

Registered User

Join date: 25 Sep 2005

Posts: 188

06-29-2006 21:36

It depends on your definition of "see you".

From: someone

remove the green dot from the map

This is my main concern. I want the green dots to reflect the truth, and scanners to reflect the truth. And if two avatars are standing in the same parcel, they need to be able to physically see each other. Otherwise, I can violate someone else's privacy by seeing their avatar when they can't see mine.

There are certain ways to implement "enhanced privacy" that I would agree with wholeheartedly. I just wish the specifics would be spelled out before implementing. For example, I like being able to map my good friends, for friendly purposes. But I would be glad to give up that ability to have the feature removed entirely.

onionpencil Musashi

Registered User

Join date: 20 Nov 2004

Posts: 324

06-29-2006 21:42

i don't think most folks mean actual invisibility, they mean not seen as online and being findable by map and the like....

Argent Stonecutter

Emergency Mustelid

Join date: 20 Sep 2005

Posts: 20,263

06-30-2006 20:09

Removing the green dots is a bad idea. That enables stalkers more than it protects stalkees.

Better is to allow you to be "in world but offline". In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system, so even your friends can't tell that the green dot in the next sim is you.

Phoenix Psaltery

Ninja Wizard

Join date: 25 Feb 2005

Posts: 2,599

06-30-2006 20:14

From: Argent Stonecutter

Removing the green dots is a bad idea. That enables stalkers more than it protects stalkees.

Better is to allow you to be "in world but offline". In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system, so even your friends can't tell that the green dot in the next sim is you.

So you're saying to SHOW your green dot when you're in invisible/stealth/whatever mode, but make it so your friends can't map you and tell where you are. Hmm. That could work.

Which of the 7500 green dots is me? Guess!

P2

_____________________

Travis Bjornson

Registered User

Join date: 25 Sep 2005

Posts: 188

07-01-2006 12:14

From: someone

In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system

Yes, that could work. If one of your friends happened to walk up to you, they would see that you were really there even though it still said you were offline. But that's similar to Yahoo: if I accidentally talk to someone while I'm appearing offline, they'll know that I'm lying about my status.

Avatar invisibility -- why?
Travis Bjornson Registered User Join date: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 188	06-29-2006 16:21 From: someone From http://secondlife.com/vote/index.php?get_id=52 allow avatars to be invisible when they want and even just to certain players which would also remove the green dot from the map allowing more privacy Um, why is it a good idea to allow avatars to be invisible? From: someone Beginning with map presence we'll start working toward greater privacy. This means you will not be in the directory. Additional privacy from IM contact is in the works. I'm not sure what this means, but I don't like the sound of it.
Kathmandu Gilman Fearful Symmetry Baby! Join date: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1,418	06-29-2006 18:29 Never encountered a stalker before have you? Never had someone map you and barge in on you while you were having pixel sex I take it? Never had some yo yo you exchanged cards with a year ago and hardly know pester you to join them at some lame fetish club or something every time you log on. The list of reasons for it are long but with the recent opening of SL to the unwashed masses the griefing potential may far outweigh the benefit. _____________________ It may be true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease but it is also true that the squeaky wheel gets replaced at the first critical maintenance opportunity.
Travis Bjornson Registered User Join date: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 188	06-29-2006 18:40 From: someone Never encountered a stalker before have you? So, it's better if they can become invisible, and then stalk me?
Aodhan McDunnough Gearhead Join date: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 1,518	06-29-2006 18:48 @Travis I think you misread Kathmandu's reply. It's better that YOU become invisible so they can't find you on the map. It's better so YOU can sometimes appear as offline on the friends list even if you're on. It's something like Yahoo Messenger. You can log on in a way that you will see everyone but they can't see you since you appear offline. It's for those times that you require an extra bit of privacy.
Travis Bjornson Registered User Join date: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 188	06-29-2006 21:36 It depends on your definition of "see you". From: someone remove the green dot from the map This is my main concern. I want the green dots to reflect the truth, and scanners to reflect the truth. And if two avatars are standing in the same parcel, they need to be able to physically see each other. Otherwise, I can violate someone else's privacy by seeing their avatar when they can't see mine. There are certain ways to implement "enhanced privacy" that I would agree with wholeheartedly. I just wish the specifics would be spelled out before implementing. For example, I like being able to map my good friends, for friendly purposes. But I would be glad to give up that ability to have the feature removed entirely.
onionpencil Musashi Registered User Join date: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 324	06-29-2006 21:42 i don't think most folks mean actual invisibility, they mean not seen as online and being findable by map and the like....
Argent Stonecutter Emergency Mustelid Join date: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 20,263	06-30-2006 20:09 Removing the green dots is a bad idea. That enables stalkers more than it protects stalkees. Better is to allow you to be "in world but offline". In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system, so even your friends can't tell that the green dot in the next sim is you.
Phoenix Psaltery Ninja Wizard Join date: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 2,599	06-30-2006 20:14 From: Argent Stonecutter Removing the green dots is a bad idea. That enables stalkers more than it protects stalkees. Better is to allow you to be "in world but offline". In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system, so even your friends can't tell that the green dot in the next sim is you. So you're saying to SHOW your green dot when you're in invisible/stealth/whatever mode, but make it so your friends can't map you and tell where you are. Hmm. That could work. Which of the 7500 green dots is me? Guess! P2 _____________________
Travis Bjornson Registered User Join date: 25 Sep 2005 Posts: 188	07-01-2006 12:14 From: someone In-world, so that you can communicate with people in your physical presence, but offline to the "instant messaging" parts of the system Yes, that could work. If one of your friends happened to walk up to you, they would see that you were really there even though it still said you were offline. But that's similar to Yahoo: if I accidentally talk to someone while I'm appearing offline, they'll know that I'm lying about my status.

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Avatar invisibility -- why?