Is Second Life really a US state?

You are mocking a rather serious statement. International law is very tricky and technology laws vary greatly from country to country. There are legal reasons to have different servers for different Nations. It is not just some great evil American nationalistc conspiracy. If you aren't going to be logical about this topic there is no reason to continue this converstaion.

Why not try to make a better world by help from SL?.... Instead of ”we” have it ”we did it”... ”you signed a ....” try to say a simple elegant smart clever ” let al have it.. ”

Your point? It is going to be inconvenient or miss out on a large group of players. The reality is that SL is based in the US, and has a majority US player base. If SL were based in England, I doubt you would be clamoring for equal access for Americans. I would like to see them offer things at a variety of times to suit a variety of users - but not every single event makes sense or is feasible to do that with. In the case of the log test, they made a decision on what time best suited them for their testing purposes.

I voted yes, but if you are meaning Linden events, I think it has already been noted that it's to do with the hours that the LL employees work. On the other hand, they could work shifts maybe?

For "regular" events, it's always a problem, but sometimes it's the other way around from what you mention. There are a couple of events I would not mind attending regularly, but being as most of the participants are Europeans, they happen at 2:00 in the afternoon on weekdays.

If you have to go to work (most of us do I imagine), this is imposible to get to except that rare occaision when you are on holiday.

Ah but the Eurocentric attitude is good, eh? We are talking about the reality of events being scheduled RIGHT NOW, not off in the future. The reality is that the player population of SL is overwhelmingly American. The stress test event in particular needs the maximum number of players available. While it is all well and good how many people are in Wales or Suriname, it doesn't change the fact that it makes business sense for them to choose a time period that guarantees them the largest pool of players to assist them.

Hey, so I have an idea.


Let's have a a peak usage test...


DURING A COMPLETELY OFF-PEAK HOUR

Even if most of the population is American..its an American company... These events could be more thought out for those of us not living in the states. If you are to ask us to stay up until 3am GMT could they possibly have it on the actual weekend? Some of us do have jobs to go to. It would be annoying, but at least if it was on Saturday night/Sunday morning I could at least sleep in.

I don't think anyone is saying only to cator to the eurpoeans so you can kindly lay off the go play somewhere else/you choose to play an american game rhetorics. Just a bit more of an ability for us to be included in things.

I am very sorry, when I came over as "complaining" or "whining", Eboni. I really tried to phrase that question (it was meant as one) as politely as possible. I am definitely not "pissed" !

With regard to your example with business in a global economy. I regularily do business with partners in the US and Southeast Asia. Its often hard to find convenient times for video conferences. And we try to switch between times that are most convenient for one side and the other side from time to time. Eboni, thats news to me (honestly). I allways thought the Euro and Asian servers had to do mostly with network topology and the reason to bring together people in the same timezones. Could you elaborate a little on the risks Linden Labs is taking with users in other countries on their US servers? Could be of real relevance to me ...

Christiano, my point was - I probably stated it in a way the lead to missunderstandings - that I thought it polite, to sometimes, occasionally, from time to time ... include even the minorities interests in such decisions. I, personally, have absolutely no probs with the event timings. As I said, I am up usually at 04.00am local (07.00PST) Try it out . I tend to surprise people sometimes ...Thats perfectly true. So true even to me, that I - and others - suggested this explanation.

Sorry, if this poll has ignited one of those typical us-versus-them debates. It wasn't intended that way Maybe it is impossible to find time slots that are convenient for all of us.

But ... I would hate to have completely separated grids for the US, Europe, Asia ... sometime in the future. I love it, having residents of all those different countries and cultures together in one SL. Thats why I raise early, to meet my - mostly American - friends in SL!

They are not asking you to stay up, they are asking for people who are available at that time to help test. I agree they can be more inclusive, but they can't always be in every case. There is no time that they could schedule something that is not going to inconvenience some portion of the world.

Dierdre,

None of my responses were geared at you particularly - they were to the people I quoted. I will say that they do make efforts to schedule events at different times - they have had town halls in the middle of the day in the US, and people still found a way to complain. You can't please everyone. As they expand their staff, they are making efforts to support a variety of schedules. They will never be able to please everyone - like Eboni said, I hate PST too but I deal with it. As SL continues to expand its user base, it is up to LL to deal with the support and techinical challenges associated with an increasingly international audience. That said, it is an American company, used by predominately American (and Canadian) players. Until that demographic shifts more dramatically, there are business realities that affect the decisions they are making.

I like this idea .

But as much as I like it, it has been mentioned sometimes already, that the Lindens have very good reasons to stage this event at that time.

I sincerely apologize for the impression I gave, that I did not see this good reason - and for the infighting this caused here. On the other hand, I guess that is has been stated now often enough that there is good reason - in this and other cases.

... but that maybe it would be possible to stage some events at times that maybe less inconvenient for the minorities of residents living outside the USA while being not inconvenient for those living in the USA (Luth made a workable suggestion in that direction ...)

Thank you, Cristiano. And yes, its true what you are saying.

I am VERY much aware of that . Yes, it is good business sense to stage these events, like it is done.

Dei: ”As I said, I am up usually at 04.00am local (07.00PST)”

I can sometimes put the alarm clcok on but.. i prefer to sleep - live and work at normal time.. (where I live) An international cyber meta play - software world.. must - now or later, have in the mind to inform - let all - have the important info at same time cycle.. IF possible into diff languages to...

I dont think it are possible right now.. maybe next week... but all great ”I want to be alive in the future companys” have a plan.. include this in that. pls Linden Lab.. or why not get a representation (co-operation Co?) in for example Europe that take care of that,,,

This thread are no war between continents.. its a ”we want this in the future” - please. please.. remember that dear colleagues in SL..

I miss the SL world right now.. a lot - wonder why))

Giving away a lifetime account isn't asking people to stay up? If you read what I posted I didn't say I cared about the inconvenience about the being up at 3am. Just that it would be a bit more helpful that it wouldn't be during the average normal work week. A simple compromise is all some of us ask for.

I agree that SL should have official time slots that are convenient for users.

Therefore, any time zone in which at least 10% of the residents of SL live should get a turn at having an official event at a convenient time.

Buster


The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
- ancient Vulcan proverb

No, it isn't, because you can send in an application and get a shot at the prizes without logging in.

Asking them to do it on a weekend also means inconveniencing their staff and forcing them to work on a weekend, most likely with overtime - is that worth your convenience?

The log-a-thon is already scheduled for the weekend, Sunday night. They are suggesting that being held on Saturday instead would make it Sunday rather than Monday in other areas of the world, Europe as well as Australia. It doesn't seem to be that unreasonable of a request since they already will be paying weekend wages.

Yeah, you know, screw 'em, Cristiano. I doubt the staff has anything they want to do on a Saturday night. Like go on a date. Or rest. Or play with their children. Let's drag 'em in.

Or play with us in SL?)))

"Screw 'em"? That is the attitude you get from reading this?

This is one of those "tough diddlies" type of deal. If you play a game based in another country, it's to be expected that it's going to be based on their time zones. Yes, other countries around the world play SL, but until SL is big enough you will have to deal with player events, or waking up at 4 am. This isn't a biased thing, so don't try to make it out as one.

I doubt that they are hourly employees.

If you were a salaried employee, would you rather give up a Saturday or a Sunday night?


Won't someone think of the people in Kiribati!!!!???

Salaried employees can get overtime wages paid out in hourly terms. Cristiano raised the issue of overtime cost. I simply pointed out such costs would be incurred for the event if it were held on Sunday or Saturday. Possible more; Saturday gets time and a half and Sunday gets double in my industry. I am not assuming that LL employees will be overtime for either day not knowing any details of their employment package. I do hope they do; I have no doubt that these are very long workdays for them with all the issues they are currently working on.

I am a salaried employee. On rare occasions it has been necessary to have a 7 day operation to meet the timing requirements of our customers. I can't say if I prefer Saturday or Sunday off as I worked both making a 13 day stretch without a day off. It sucks. We all did it. You pull together as a team and get the job done. Pretty tired and cranky by the second week, but a cohesive element does develop as well as a sense of accomplishment when you break through to the other side.

p.s. Enabran, you forgot the puppy. Kids and puppies are a sure thing.

Thank you, Margaret. It's a little bit hard for me right now, to really understand the emotions flaring up on this. I guess, I would not have put up the poll, if I knew ...