The "Individual"

One of the most important things to keep in mind about SL is that although an avatar may look like an individual person, and may at times act like an individual person, it ain't always a person you're dealing with.

Increasingly we will encounter avatars whose behavior is dictated by company policy, whose conversations are authored by PR specialists, and whose actions are motivated not by personal interests but instead by the self-preservation instincts of a corporation. Avatars built specifically to put a human face on a process.

Corporations want your goodwill, because if you're positively disposed to their brand you're:
a) more likely to buy their products
b) more likely to overlook their trespasses
This is why Exxon/Mobile tells you they love the environment. This is why Microsoft says they are all about empowering the user. This is why Phillip Morris built a website about the dangers of smoking. And this is why an avatar may tell you they are interested in promoting freedom and justice when in reality they have a financially-based agenda.

We treat SL as though it were a world of individuals. When an avatar holds a conversation with Philip Linden, it's perceived as a single person expressing their views. We must however be prepared for the idea that an avatar can be the representative of an entire corporate strategy, and that the "one-on-one" conversation with Philip may not be as straightforward as it seems.

You're absolutely right. My avatar is actually a group account controlled by Jews for Jesus.



Seriously tho, I agree with you. Watch for drastic changes in, say, mastery of the english language from day to day.

yay! lets make a group for all us individuals to get together and have a stronger voice!

You don't need a group for that Kris,

JUST TYPE IN GIANT CAPITAL LETTERS

Large type will not save you from the unholy combination of Aimee, Ingrid and wuvme in a single, scientifically formulated avatar built specifically to sell you Axe Body Spray.

The groupie offer still stands, Edo.



If Cory doesn't want a groupie, do you?

(Sure, there exist corporAVies. And, yes, they "are motivated not by personal interests but instead by the self-preservation instincts of a corporation," but doesn't Phillip, himself, also embody a coroprate strategy?)

You are absolutely right, Roo.

Suddenly, I have a fear that Philip's chaps actually mean something, in a corporate sense.

I sold my avatar to congress.

And you guys wonder why I have never contributed anything positive.

Looks like we have a Stand Alone Complex on our hands.

I have always had a SAC on my hands. But I only speak for myself!

I thought that was IN your hands.

In... on... you say potato, I say potato sack.

I'm sorry. The correct answer would have been any of the following:


A) No, I mean "on your chin".

B) No, I mean "on Nolan's chin".

C) WaNNa cYb3r?!?!

C

I'm quoting this post in its entirety because it is a wise mouthful you've said here, Pol.

I know, and I'm pretty sure that many of you probably know that this has been going on for a long time in SL. In an emerging market... heck, in an emerging medium like online gaming/communities, the business world is dying to get a foothold in before others can establish themselves. I think a lot of them are just holding their breath and waiting to see which venues shake out as the best place to position their products for when mainstream North America-Australia-China-India-etc. begins to flock in droves to places like SL.

In regard to the latest Metaverse Justice Watch public relations debacle, public outrage was as heated as it was mainly because the two main players at the center of the storm do not exactly have a warm-n-fuzzy rep with the SL community. It's the players who are generally well-liked, who appear to have a personal stake in the community, and who appear to have the best interests of SL at heart who will be able (and who have been able) to make the most inroads in this area.

Metaverse Justice Watch holds chief among their core values, so they say, to eliminate favoritism given to certain players by LL. This motive, taken on its own, is a noble one, of course. As it becomes more and more in LL's interest to partner with certain individuals and groups in SL who can greatly affect the economy and international profile of this little virtual community, more and more will jockey, as MJW and others before them have done, to position themselves in LL's favor. 'Tis the way of the world and the future of SL.

Ha ha Pol. You're funny. You know I love ya. Just for future reference, if you refer to Aimee(tm) or Aimee Weber(tm) please append a trademark. If Aimee(tm) or Aimee Weber(tm) are used in a post, please include the following notice at the bottom (or anywhere clearly visible)

"Aimee(tm) and Aimee Weber(tm) are registered trademarks of Aimee Weber Inc. a subsidiary of Global Chemical International. No infringement is intended."

thx.

You cannot trademark a noun. So you should also add that every occurence of Aimee or Aimee Weber be followed by a noun. For example:
- I saw the Aimee Weber(tm) person today.
- This Aimee Weber(tm) forum post is very interesting.
etc.

Whoa, Pol, this really hit me in a cyberpunky way. Sort of a neural hive mind of many controlling the appearance of one ... like ... LOCUTUS OF BORG! Locutus, formerly known as starship captain Jean-Luc Picard, was assimilated and had nanites injected to his body to serve as the "mouth of the Borg". So he spoke as what appeared to be an individual (albeit with some ghastly voice processing), but he was actually speaking for the whole collective.

I was flustered by the behavior of one company-controlled avatar here, that was unresponsive and always away, no matter where I encountered this av. Not even a word, sometimes a poof later. This occurred multiple times and maybe I was overreacting, but I couldn't help but feel "cold" and that it was unfriendly. I did IM too, but I wonder why such a representative would be kept inworld if it couldn't be an effective mouthpiece?

I also wonder how many "group-controlled" avatars there'll be like Wilde Cunningham (often cited) that set a precedent for hope where individuals can combine and become stronger in SL.

I should also disclaim I don't speak for the interests of all Torleys, but I do my best to keep an open mind about fair representation.

How about "that #@&!#$ Aimee Weber?" Does that cover all the legal bases?

Sample Usage: "That #@&!#$ Aimee Weber is so pretty and popular, I just hate her! Why can't I be the media darling for once?"

*sings*

I stand alone. Yeaaah, with nobody else. You know when I stand alone, I prefer to be by mahself.

*ends singing and bows*

Carry on.

So Pol is saying that we should expect more avatars that are like Lindens.