Penal Grid

Linden Labs runs a teen grid to protect teens from mature content. Currently, one of the biggest issues of concern and complaint in the SL community is the inadequate policing of the main grid, enforcement of the terms of service, and prevention of griefing by Linden Labs.

Why not develop a special "penal grid" -- like a penal colony -- separate from the main grid where known griefers and TOS violators can be banished, either permanently or for a term depending on severity of misconduct? This third grid could function like a MMORPG PvP server -- attracting as residents those people who enjoy social interactions others deem inappropriate. It could then have a relaxed TOS to accommodate the behaviors (up to a point) of chronic griefers and TOS violators.

This grid could also dovetail with the future and ongoing development of formal and informal social dispute resolution procedures and community standards.

Beathan Vale

Would that be anything like the penile grid parts of the main grid have been turned into?

Seriously though, there is already a penal grid to which you can be banished. It's called RL.
Setting up a special grid where they can engage in certain behaviour will only encourage potential griefers to violate the TOS in the first place.

Greifers do not deserve to be on SL at all. Give them a special place because they defied the rules - no way. Just kick them out permanently.

Hehe.. You said penal..

edit: the above is a prediction of the general mentality of the penal grid.. Everybody standing around with megapoofers saying "we're on the giant penal". Sorry.. It's been a long week.

Sys and Serennara --

I agree with you that TOS violations and griefing deserve punishment, even serious punishment. However, I see several problems with how things are happening now -- problems that would bre solved by a separate and isolated penal grid.

First, the current punishments are in the nature of "denied access for three days." What kind of punishment is that? A person is tossed for three days. So what? In three days they are back in and back to their tricks.

Second, a penal grid would allow for some investigation and due process. A person can be banished to the penal grid pending investigation, a banishment made permanent if the charges stick. This would allow more griefers and TOS violators to be punished, without punishing many innocent people as well. At the moment, the rule appears to be that no behavior is prohibited, not matter how egregious, unless a Linden sees it. This is the worst form of policing as it creates and active and organized outlaw culture. Far from encouraging griefing, I think banishment to a separate grid, where griefers and TOS violators would stay, would not encourage misbehavior. It would isolate it -- quarantine it -- which would be a great improvement over the current system.

Beathan Vale

The #1 way to rid yourself of all griefers:

Ignore them.

Very seriously...if a griefer is banned/ejected as soon as they are spotted and you don't bother to socially interact with them at all...they soon lose interest. AR them and they lose their account for a bit. Getting punished without getting any attention destroys a griefer in seconds.

Griefers thrive on knowing that they've disrupted your happy life. They LIVE to hear you complain. It's like a terrorist...the best way to defeat them is to NOT be afraid...the best way to defeat a griefer is to NOT pay them attention.

Ignore
Eject
Ban

Works wonderfully.

I've actually had full on discussions with people while being constantly bombarded by a griefer. Sure, it was hard to ignore the flying and exploding watermelons...and then him purposely running into me...but after about 5 minutes...he realized that I didn't give a flying f*ck who he was and he wasn't gonna get a rise outta me. He left. Of course, if I were on my land...I woulda eject/banned him in 0.5 seconds flat...but I wasn't...so I just ignored.

Penal colonies...well...there are all people we'd like to send to penal colonies... Top on my list are people who use gestures and people who wear poofers. Neither of those people are considered griefers...but they're more annoying to me than griefers. Thing is...people have a right to poof and people have a right to use a gesture.

Doesn't the cornfield exist anymore?

what is a poofer?

..sorry

If it does, I bet it hit it's maximum 40 agents.

Will you have to be verified to enter the Cornfield?

I believe the Corn Field now exists as a "hidden grid". I think LL uses one of the old grids that were for testing or Production, for Corn Field Grids. Maybe the DeMaterilliZed (D.M.Z) grid is now used? Who knows.

-Smiles.