What is resident POWER in Second Life?

There have been a few threads discussing resident "power" including a Press Op thread regarding powerful women and Hamlet's thread regarding the "power elite". These kinds of threads normally generate disagreements over who is powerful, largely rooted in differences in opinions about what "power" is. So, without naming any residents or making any lists, how would you answer the question:

What makes a resident powerful in Second Life?

Does such a notion even exist in SL? Does it have to do with age? Ability to build or script? Money? Friends? Niceness? Land ownership? If somebody in Second Life wanted to be "powerful" what would they have to do to move in the right direction?

I will start with my own opinion on the subject:

I think power describes a resident's ability to make their arbitrary will a reality in Second Life.

This is a mouthful but this theory brings to light a few "power" traits to look for in residents. For example, multiple skills, and organizational skills are more important than specialized skills. It would be more powerful to be good at mobilizing a team of scriptors, builders, and texturers to make a project happen, than to simply be the grid's finest scripter (but great if you can do both!).

Having a successful blog could be a good path to power in SL, as your words can touch lots of people, and bring about change according to your wishes. Again, this is a better trait if combined with other skills.

When I think about who is powerful in SL, I think "Which resident would I most want to have in my debt for a favor when I really needed it."

Sadly, while being nice is a possible path to power, it is not necessarily a requirement. One could also look at this as a boon as lists of "powerful" people need hardly be considered popularity contests. One can be powerful and hated.


What do you folks think "power" is in SL?

You would have to sleep with one of the Linden Lab programmers to have any influence on Second Life. I'm still trying to figure out which programmer is capable of adding an 'Upload Mesh' option. I just hope it's a female one. But I'd sleep with Andrew if I had to.

To me, the only kind of power that's even noticable in SL, is the ability to influence others.

What anyone has in their bank account affects me not a bit. How much land they own, rent or trade in likewise doesn't even become a blip on my radar. Thier skills at designing, scripting, building, hosting.. etc etc.. only affects me insofar as giving me cool stuff to buy or events to attend, which is great, but still isn't what I'd consider 'power.'

Power is Influence, whether for good or ill. Influencing others to donate thousands of real dollars for a cause outside of SL is power. Influencing others to donate their time, money, reputations and skills to a cause inside of SL is also power.

Power is being able to affect things outside of yourself, and having the presence to bring others on board.



I think just the opposite. I think, "Which resident would I be willing to go above and beyond for, without regards to what I'd get in return."

I get free shit from Aimee Weber. That's power

I accidentally turned off the grid a few times with this.
But it was early hours and no one seemed to notice that they were all logged off at once.

http://burke.godswitch.com/uploads/BL_aboveshot.jpg

Hmm. I wonder what this does.
*click*
You have been disconnected from SecondLife.
(relog)
Damn. I got kicked before I what it did. Oh, well.
*click*
You have been disconnected from SecondLife.
(relog)
Damn, the grid must be fucked up or something, okay giant lightswitch, show me what you got!
*click*
You have been disconnected from SecondLife. Now cut that shit out.
Eep.

Well my close friends get more from me than anyone else in the area of above and beyond. So by your definition, they are way powerful -- at least where I'm concerned.

Well, I meant people we don't have personal relationships with, but yeah, my friends are more powerful to me than any stranger could be.

With shiny I'll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

And, I'll look good.

Shiny lights the way to victory.

Sure. That's what power is. You can have the money to do what you want, the connections and social skills to do what you want, even just the personal ability to do what you want (if you're a superhero) but your level of power generally is determined by how much you can decide something and have it happen, SL or elsewhere.

Dont forget the need of TIME - T I M E - to be IN SL... to be seen - to work - to design - to meet and to chat... to make friends.. keep friends..

Most of us have a life outside SL where we must spend a lot of TIME... making the above hard to get...

/Tina - EXAKT now TIME tells me to go and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - IRL where my body live...

Land == Power in Second Life.

Never underestimate the power of self-illusion, especially on those who have delusions of power. Most especially in Second Life, where illusion and delusion are what the product is all about.

hard to say what may cause a person to be powerful. Maybe they were invited to the Alpha test and gained influence through that.

How? I don't see how Hiro Queso (a guy with a lot of land), has any power over me whatsover. He might be a great customer to LL, he might get good service from them, but he has zero impact on my sl.

(Nothing personal Hiro, you're a nice guy and all, but you're not the boss of me. )

Ingrid is probably the most powerful person in SL. She just doesn't know it yet.

For the sake of discussion, I provide Merriam-Webster's take;

Main Entry: 1pow·er
Pronunciation: 'pau(-&r
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French poeir, from poeir to be able, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin potEre, alteration of Latin posse -- more at POTENT

1 a (1) : ability to act or produce an effect (2) : ability to get extra-base hits (3) : capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect b : legal or official authority, capacity, or right

2 a : possession of control, authority, or influence over others b : one having such power; specifically : a sovereign state c : a controlling group : ESTABLISHMENT -- often used in the phrase the powers that be d archaic : a force of armed men e chiefly dialect : a large number or quantity

3 a : physical might b : mental or moral efficacy c : political control or influence

4 plural : an order of angels -- see CELESTIAL HIERARCHY

5 a : the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product; also : the product itself b : CARDINAL NUMBER 2

6 a : a source or means of supplying energy; especially : ELECTRICITY b : MOTIVE POWER c : the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred

7 : MAGNIFICATION 2b

8 : 1SCOPE 3

9 : the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true


synonyms POWER, AUTHORITY, JURISDICTION, CONTROL, COMMAND, SWAY, DOMINION mean the right to govern or rule or determine. POWER implies possession of ability to wield force, permissive authority, or substantial influence <the power to mold public opinion>. AUTHORITY implies the granting of power for a specific purpose within specified limits <gave her attorney the authority to manage her estate>. JURISDICTION applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits <the bureau having jurisdiction over alcohol and firearms>. CONTROL stresses the power to direct and restrain <you are responsible for the students under your control>. COMMAND implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience <the army officer in command>. SWAY suggests the extent or scope of exercised power or influence <an empire that extended its sway over the known world>. DOMINION stresses sovereign power or supreme authority <given dominion over all the animals>.

synonyms POWER, FORCE, ENERGY, STRENGTH, MIGHT mean the ability to exert effort. POWER may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon <the awesome power of flowing water>. FORCE implies the actual effective exercise of power <used enough force to push the door open>. ENERGY applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work <a worker with boundless energy>. STRENGTH applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack <use weight training to build your strength>. MIGHT implies great or overwhelming power or strength <the belief that might makes right>.

I think most power within SL is percieved power. There may be those that have a Linden ear, or those that have alot of L$, or those that are widely recognized. But their only power lies within what they themselves can control, and seldom does that extend to another SL resident. So while they may be percieved as powerful, and have powerful personalities, they are still just SL residents doing whatever it is they find enjoyable within SL.

I guess to me, a powerful person is one that is well-balanced between confidence and humbleness. One that is honest, yet humorous. A person that is very much human, yet strong in their personal actions or ethics. An open mind with open arms perhaps.

I am in awe of some content creators skills, and very impressed by some SL residents' personalities and energy. I have been equally impressed by some folks kindness and generosity. And intelligence and a sharp wit is a powerful combination in my opinion. But I am never in awe of someone's power within SL, in the sense that they can influence me or move me in any direction that I don't wish to go.

Be your own person and be a good one, and appreciate the good qualities of those around you, and you will have all the power you ever need within SL.

I'd say that we are all pretty empowered in SL.

Those you perceive as already "powerful" are just those who have already made contacts and made something happen.

But in truth, nothing is preventing anyone in SL from doing the same.

Being a good developer yourself helps, but - as afew people i'd rather not name has proven - you dont have to need any skills, or even be intelligent to get something big and elaborate running in SL.

All you need is to have an idea and interest people in doing it. Either for fun or for money.

Thats all you need.

So, in effect, no one is truely "more powerful" then the other in this regard. Sure, some people may have more contacts then the others, but this does not stop you from increasing your social contacts with a little work.

So the conclusion may sound like a corny tagline, but we're all powerful in SecondLife. Its just a matter of choosing if you actually want to use this power and do something with it.

Money = Power

Lack of Morals = shortcut to money.

Therefore those that lack morals have the power here.

Which seems about right *shrug*

*snips her Process to Power post that she really wish she had more time to write*

Briefly, I would say all power is consensual. It is between one individual and/or group that is exerting their influence upon another individual and/or group. Now, it is easier to refuse to be influenced in SL without having to suffer from any social backlash. Well, unless you get another resident in a compomising situation...

*cries as she writes a tear-stained blackmail check to Aimee*

Well, you see... I have this huge line of giant hamster-wheels connected to a generator. Inside each wheel is some poor innocent furry I tempted out to the wilds and captured. Together, they provide heat and light for the whole sim, 4 hours a day, every day...

Now THAT's resident power!

Resident Power.......


is this a hint we're all really in the matrix?

Power is the ability to affect the rules of the world. Anyone can have this kind of power... as long as they are attempting to change things for the better, for everyone. Simply dedicate yourself to helping make SL a better place. When there is a problem, help to resolve it, when there is something needed, help to make a case as to why it should be there...

Of course this may not specifically benefit 'you' unless of course you design your position in world, to benefit, when SL as a whole benefits. Ripoff artists and powerplay posers need not apply.

It tends to be pretty anonymous as well, as people will only notice that SL a whole becomes a better place, your part in it will generally go largely unrecognized, but that will not make it any less important.

There are alot of people with alot more power like this, in SL, than in any other social space i have ever seen. Thats honestly more than anything a testament to LL trying to honestly constantly improve the world for all of their residents. Or at least, all of the residents who are also trying to improve the world for eachother. If you're here for a personal gain, yer probably gonna find out that you're on yer own. (as any number of 'fallen' icons have, over the years)

Power is the ability to move people to make something magikal happen. You dont need. land land by it self is nothing, skills be they project managment or building or scripting mean nothing. iI

ts all in what you do with it. If Anshe sat on all that land and did nothing what power would she have- None. Power is an energy all its own can you marshal that energy make it do tricks for you, make it change the world in a way people recognise and respond to. If you can do that- thats power