RC Questions

He's very smart for being so young.

http://www.mixedrealities.com/?p=1396

sl as a 3d facebook/twitter? no wonder they had an option for the most favourite emo place during that contest..

Well, hell, how about adding an XMPP/IM gateway while you're getting all standards-based and web-2.0 on us?

http://jira.secondlife.com/browse/MISC-2727

Now it is 3000 and growing.
Just got ahead of the curve by 20 hours

Fantastic - Now we need another 3,000 - tell all your groups and please translate into your mother tongues if not English, we're still only scraping the bottom of the barrel.

*waves her hands in the air* I would like a Blondin Bondage Bear please especially sinde your office hours conflict with my rl work hours and I cannot attend and get one from you in person (well - kinda in person anyway )

Sapphire

And Yes *I* Am Adult Content

OK, that works too. The idea is not to have to re-create *everything* from scratch.

There is a famous paper by the economic historian Paul David called "The Dynamo and the Computer" in which he reflects upon the conceptual lagtime for the implementation of new technologies. A brief description can be found at . I believe the same problem afflicts Linden Lab concerning their strategy for Second Life.

When factories were first built with steam-powered engines, the factory was literally built around the engine. Machinery was connected to the central engine by leather drive-belts. When the electric engine was invented, factory owners removed the steam engine, installed an electric engine and hooked up the drive-belts again. It took 30 years before factory owners realized that the electric engine was an entirely different technology. Small, decentralized engines replaced one big central engine, electric cables replaced belts and pulleys and factories were built flat with machinery reconfigured in an assembly line. The new technology generated a new commercial and economic paradigm.

Before Second Life, a variety of IT platforms facilitated communication and social networking. These were essentially 2-dimensional platforms enabling crude information exchange (email, bulletin boards, chat rooms, graphics-based online games). Linden Lab had the brilliant insight* to create an information-rich social ECONOMY - a significant advance over social networks.

Linden Lab created not simply a virtual world; they created a metaphorical world of user-generated content within a free-market property rights structure. Second Life became more than a platform; it became a new 'country'. Residents and entrepreneurs were not attracted by the platform itself, they were attracted by the ability to transcend RL restrictions and social norms, to join an open society and participate in new political economy. They didn't play Second Life; they immigrated to Second Life.

In 2007, Linden Lab changed direction. For existing residents, the sudden and significant policy reversals generated much confusion. In an article published in SL-Newspaper ("2007 Was a Bad Year for Second Life; 2008's Not Looking Much Better", 23 January 200, I said, "Philip Rosedale and the Board of Directors are highly skilled engineers with little or no knowledge of economics, economic history, strategic planning or customer relations. As Second Life grows from a technological startup to a mature business, they are out of their depth."

Linden Lab is essentially a Silicon Valley engineering firm. It is understandable, therefore, that they would focus on the technological infrastructure of Second Life instead of the political economy that floats upon that infrastructure**. Unfortunately, as LL improves the platform, they seek strategies that take advantage of the technology instead of the social economy. The current 'adult' policy appears consistent with the direction since 2007 to optimize SL for RL conferencing and educational purposes - to make SL a better IT system for the RL corporate market.

While the current 'adult' policy makes sense for an IT platform catering to RL political and educational organizations, it is anathema to Second Life the 'country'. By plugging an electric engine into an old factory, Linden Lab is not only squandering the full potential of Second Life but alienating those residents and entrepreneurs who are 30 years ahead of the technology.

* now looking more like an accident than a coherent strategy
** this is NOT a reference to Marx

Hi Wyncohee - yes please I would love a M Linden bear. I don't have one and am collecting bears - not even sure why Thanks so much

Sapphire

Actually, the quote is:

"Any Region must be designated Adult and therefore require account verification, if it advertises or publicly promotes the following:"

Its not just ads according to the current definition, merely showing in search is enough. Depending on how they interpret "publicly promotes", having kiosks with information about your place, even if it *does not* appear in search, may be enough.

There's also the case that LL hasn't implemented the changes wholesale yet. A lawsuit would have to come *after* the harm is inflicted, unless you ask the judge for an injunction- The issue of future possible harm is a lot harder case to make than evident *current* harm.

I imagine that there is also a case to be made that LL is still collecting tier fees from the owners of mainland and private sims, knowing full well that the nature of the product they are selling is about to change drastically, while at the same time, not informing their customers.
I think that there might be a case for fraud here as well.

I'll repeat, I don't *want* anyone to sue LL. I want LL to notice the legal freight train bearing down on them and stop walking in the middle of the tracks. I want there to still *be* a Linden Research Inc. and a Second life grid when the fallout from this settles.

I don't think that a million people are going to leave, I think that a relative few angry are going to bankrupt their sorry asses because LL is leaving them the opening to.

^V^

We aren't holding him up as a shining *anything*- we're holding him up as a disgruntled lawyer, who sued LL and got a federal judge to say that their TOS wasn't any protection against the sort of thing that they're doing now.

Period. I don't care that he was a land bot fiend, or that he exploited a loophole to snatch up a bunch of land that other people were trying to sell to their friends and alts.

The point is that when he did it, it wasn't against the TOS, and then LL changed the TOS and deleted his account after taking his tier fee.

They changed their rules, and the nature of their product *after the fact*, and a judge said *they couldn't do that*.

That's the *only* thing about this case that matters. It is a chink in LL's armor, and anyone sufficiently motivated can exploit it to soak LL for big bucks.

I wouldn't want to see that happen. it could kill SL if it gets bad enough, and these changes affect so many people that LL is practically Guaranteeing that a sufficient number will exploit it to do them significant economic damage.

^V^

Again- you don't have to like him or pity him. the only thing that matters is what the judge said- that LL's TOS was like unto "A contract of adhesion", One that was so one-sided in its benefits that it was unenforceable.

Sorry, but it wouldn't matter if Bragg was Charles Manson and ate babies. It's what the judge said that sets the precident, and puts a hole in LL's defense.

^V^

I do though. I'm well past the stage of being a junkie protecting my dealer. Unlike LL even dealers will throw their customers a bit of a crumb when it looks like they've crossed the exploitation line.

If LL want to indulge in sharp practices then I have no sympathy for them with the consequences. This is why I think all those in the US should contact those agencies I repeat listed earlier and see if there is anything to nail LL with.

http://satiateddesires.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/possible-avenues-for-real-life-redress-if-linden-labs-new-policy-adversely-affects-you/? has the list

Not trying to paint you into any corners, just saying that I don't think that LL's methods are prudent, because there will be a backlash. I agree that it will be whatever LL says it will be- past experience shows us that in spades!
LIke you, I am preparing for the situation as announced on the blog, not what blondin *says* it will be- and my group's parcel definitely meets the criteria given for an ursula swap.

What I'm trying to do here has a vanishingly small chance of succeeding, I know that- But I'm trying because I care about the future of my group's business, and I can look down the road and see some bumps that are bigger than LL seems to think that they are.
I'm trying to get their attention, both in-world and here, to get them to see these bumps clearly, so that they don't make a mistake that could take *all* our toys away.

So, I consider it rational to *try* but not *expect* changes, I suppose.

Not insulted, though.. I'm a tilting at windmills kind of guy

^V^

Well if there's not contract, then why have I been *paying tier*? If LL breaks the contract, they owe restitution- (Which I don't want them to have to pay, BTW



I'm not threatening anything. I'm pointing out that they're vulnerable, and that there are some easy way to make themselves *less* vulnerable. Not the same thing.



Which makes *now* a good time to warn them about the consequences, no?



See, this is what I'm trying to say as well, I'm just being more specific about the possible harm to the company- Their track record tells me that LL has a difficult time with things like nuance.
What was it that Carol Kane said in "Scrooged"? "Sometimes, you have to slap them in the face to get their attention!"

Well, that's what I'm doing- followed up with "And here's how you can accomplish what you *want*, without shooting yourself in the foot".

^V^

All the more reason to create a space on the grid with heavy "brand control" and allow people *into* the space only if you have enough payment info on file to nuke their accounts if they act up, and *keep* them off. Also, to have a place for heavy brand control that keeps people *in* until the "opt in" to see the rest of the show.

It amazes me that MK hasn't been banging the drum for Ursula to be the next "g" rated paradise that contains all the welcome areas. It could be the Emerald City and a showplace for showing off the glories of SL to all kinds of clients. and it would keep the newcomers from getting penis-bombed and Bloodskeetered more than once- eventually the greifers would run out of credit card numbers or it would be more trouble to them than it was fun.

Do away with *new* unverified accounts, leave to old ones in place, and restrict access to the *welcome* areas to verified only. Eventually, the unverified accounts will die off, stay on the books because nobody is using them or get verified.

Add a "shelf-life" to SL avatars that you get an even better kind of "brand control". Everyone knows that 15 million users is bull. Why keep pretending? Go easier on your asset server, and delete any account that goes unused 90 days, with warnings at both the 30, and 60 day marks.

The way MK talks, you'd think he's come up with something like *that*, not this pile of dog's breakfast.

^V^

"BIG BOO_*TAY*"


^V^

I think I love you.

I totally understand your view, and if it was just me to consider, I'd say "screw this! I might as well play Guild wars again", BUt as I've said, I have loved ones who are trying to make a go of this, and I don't want to see them heartbroken *again*.

Not really trying to protect my dealer- more like trying to get him to put down the gun and not shoot himself in the head

^V^

I was thinking the same thing. I'm clueless on all the technical details of things like SL, but I am a professional consumer in RL, and in SL. I know what works for me as far as marketing goes, and have worked a bit in retail and food service over the years. Before MK came in, I could see why LL was a den of business futility, but he and the other guy from AOL are supposed to be marketing guys, aren't they? but LL's overall business practices haven't improved one iota, possibly they have worsened. I wouldn't let them run a rade school bake sale.

Aw shucks...

Just wanted to give props to another Hong Kong Cavaliers fan!


^V^

One more word out of you, Bigbooty...

I'm still playing Guild Wars. Gives me something to do whilst I ponder my options at this point.

GW ain't perfect, either, but gads, at least ArenaNet is consistent.

Me or the dog? lol