Members Suggestion - Griefer problems

An idea came to mind when I was reading a post today. I want to suggest an alternative for free trials. In anoher 3d community I used to belong to, Free Trials members are restricted to be able to talk and interact in the welcome area only.

I was thinking to offer a true free trial why not offer a download similar to a preview grid or only stay on orientation island when on a free trial. Many free trials limit the acess to the games. This would give a fair opourtunity for those who honestly want to try second life that are really new. Can put SL Mentors on this area also to help.

This would filter out the "make a new character just to grief people in world" on going problem we are having. I am sure everyone is more then aware that no credit card age verification required is also allowing too many children onto the main grid too.

Just some ideas I had to ensure a real trial but protect the members that pay alot of money out of pocket to be here. I am sorry it is getting harder and harder to justify why we pay so much in teirs, land purchases, and membership fees for daily griefing. It is getting out of hand. ALL our griefers lately have been no information on file people. But Not all No information on file people are griefers. Please do not ignore the fact there is alot of real money the members pay to play second life. It is totally unfair that free members are ruining our experiences and wasting our money.

So which is the lesser of the two evils for us? I hate to have to bann all no payment people but we have more and more griefers filling up our estates list.

So my main suggestion:

Free Trial - Can not sell or buy LIndens. Can only learn the building tools and avatar making. Restricted to a preview grid or Orientation Island

Basic Member - must provide a credit card Limited buy and sell of Lindens. Can not buy land. Access to Main Grid

Full Membership - Can buy and sell land, buy and sell Lindens. Access to Main Grid

Anyone else like this idea? I truely believe it to be a better solution to filter out the dishonest people.

I like the idea of limited ability of free accounts as a landowner who has had griefing problems.... (hey, how about right click ban?) but I'm leery of forcing people into a leper newbie colony.

I'll go out on a limb and say that the accounts of frewbies (free weapon newbies) are short lived. After they get banned a few times they probably go back to fragging each other in another game, which is fine and dandy. That school's out adds to the problem. And even then, these griefers are really a minority in the grand scheme of the new free accounts.

Could it be possible to disable weapons scripts for accounts with no payment information? Technically, I'm sure this is possible. But some griefers show up WITH payment information, arguably the majority I've dealt with are paid account griefers (which may be the kid at the computer when Mommy and Daddy are milking the chickens or whatever).

Then there's the notable stuff that is happening within SL. Networks, informal, are being used to ban folks in advance once they take part in griefing activity. I saw it in action last weekend (you know, when the grid was up - wink wink nudge nudge), and I think that things like that are the most effective way to deal with griefers.

So sure, we can isolate griefers - but we don't need to stick them in the Welcome area until they put payment information on file, especially considering that for some payment information is impossible - the majority of the world is not serviced by PayPal (let me count the ways that PayPal sucks...) and credit cards around the world remain a minority... more people probably have internet access somewhere than have credit cards (unsubstantiated, but worth a study).

That is my point right click and bann is getting full, and why should land owners have to babysit griefers all day on land they paid for?

I am talking free trial restriction not basic membership

1. No "free" accounts. All new accounts are either:
a. Premium accounts paid for at account creation time.
b. Basic accounts paid for at account creation time, just like an "alt" account, or like Basic used to be.
c. Basic accounts sponsored by an existing user.

2. When you sponsor someone, it doesn't actually cost you any money.... but until they pay for a premum or a regular basic account YOU are responsible for them. If they get banned, all your sponsored accounts get banned for the same time period, and you get points. Enough points, you join them in the cornfield.

3. And of course if your sponsored account upgrades to premium, you get a bonus. It's not all downside...

Umm. Free trial restriction is creating a newbie leper colony. Surrounded by newbies, SL loses a lot of allure.

And right click/ban... umm... if you have that in your pie menus, give me the hack. Please.

SL is about to lose alot allure for paying customers. Sorry any business in their right minds would limit free trial acess whether it is the area or 30 day trials. something needs to be done about making it easier for people who dont care about second life and just makes an anonymous alts to shoot, bomb, and harass.

you obviously dont own land or you simple don't know your own tools.
you can right click in the pie on a person on your land go to more eject or freeze duhhh its been there for the last 2 years I have owned land. when you select eject you can eject or eject and bann.

Free Acounts Rock Thats What Keeps Peopel Coming In If They Just Stop Doing That And Did Trails Poeple Would Not Come Any More It Would Stop 99% Of What They Get Each Day So Isay Hell!!! No!

actually when I joined 2 years ago they had 7 day free trials. Didn't stop me from joining and paying as soon as I saw in Orientation Island. I was impressed instantly. during the free trials you couldnt do much but explore. That didnt stop what over 100 thousand other people from joining. Far as I am concerned Make free trials again or get rid of unverified accounts. Or limit per computer 1 unverified per computer ID. So you won't convince me it will hurt SL to have a Free Trial again. They had it years ago and people still joined so your 99% is a very bad estimate. But you are welcome to your opinion you are obviously new so it's cool. FREE accounts with no verification lets alot of children in which is a high risk for Linden Lab with all the adult content in SL.

ya free accounts need to stay
i really dont want to be forced out of the game
i cant pay for it
and im sure there are others that think the same

They had 1 FREE Basic accounts before Unverified accounts
But it was only the first account made after you paid for more alts.
and as a reminder to folks you don't need a credit card, you can use a debit card from your bank.

The main point of this discussion really is FREE Trials unverified people that just want to try it out risk free.

What will happen to Second Life if the Premium acounts with alot of land or sims decide that all these unverified alt attacks is wasting their time and money and it is no fun for them anymore, which btw for some thousands of real US dollars are spent for the free peoples enjoyment. Guess there wouldnt be much to do then or places to go. So to clarify more it is the bad apples making it hard for the good apples to stay free when you have paying members upset at the continuous attacks by people who can make an alt jsut to come and ruine your business and homes and fun.

The point is they are allow too many people to freely make unlimited free unverified accounts. I'm a paying customer and it's getting old fast and I know many large business owners that can concur.

btw a Basic Account in SL is cheaper then McDonalds dinner for two.

not all free account users grief. to punish all for the actions of a few is silly. i do however agree to limit the number of avas a free account can have(i have had only one ava since i joined). to limit a free accounter to the welcome area cheats those who are genuinly interested in the game, and want to get the full experience before investing thier money into it.

yes i have a free account, but i also have rl obligations as well, so pardon me if i think keepin a roof over my head is a bit more important that keepin you in lindens.

i agree griefing is a problem, but look for other solutions before punishing those who actually enjoy this game, wether its with a free, basic, or premium account.

I agree and have stated not all free accounts are griefers but most are and agree they should be limited. You don't own land you don't know it is more then just a few, if it were jsust a few, Linden Lab would have no reason to raise bann limit heights on parcials, impliment no push, and raise the ban limit to 300. oh and lets not forget now payment access.

As far as you worrying about a roof over your head then sending me lindens, well honey this is my full time RL job that puts a roof over my head in Lindens, Pays my bills, feeds my family, and pays for my medical bills that I now have because I spend 12 hours a day on average 7 days a week trying to build, design, and answer customer IMs which reach about 15 open almost all the time.
and many other designers out there can relate to exactly what I am saying.
You really think that the land and sim owners arent concerned about a roof over their heads too? Responses like that just make me want to close my two sims down that I bust my ass for to make a nice place to visit and shop at for everyone. It's just Lindens to you but to those with businesses it's their roof. So becareful about how you word it. While businesses are puttting REAL money into the game and work very hard, you are probably playing house for free.

So I apologize for the rant but you hit a sensitive subject there by thinking your obligations are more important then ours. Some of us business owners do care. I don't like anyone coming to my Mall and shooting you for example just because they are a bored alt.

So yes I see you agree with me on some subjects but I am looking for constructive suggestions.

Im sorry for those it offends but I am in complete agreement with Katana .My SL has been miserable since free accounts . Free accounts are running around having a grand old time while pay accounts are baby sitting . Sorry, doesnt seem fair to me . Katana and I both joined on the same day , we both did the trial and we both paid to play because we saw the potential in SL .

I am also a buisness owner in SL . SL pays my real bills (keeps my roof over my head)...My REAL income has been greatly affected since the free accounts as I dont have the time to create like I use too . My time is spent hunting down theives and griefers and fighting lag .Ive been in Sl for over 2 years,it was an enjoyable place to be not so long ago ..sorry its not that way now . I'd love to see the things Katana listed implemented .I dont see Sl surviving another 3 years at this rate .

I don't have a problem with free accounts. I have a problem with UNVERIFIED accounts. Since this has been implemented, my SL work and experience have been spiralling down the toilet. There's NOTHING stopping anyone who's banned from turning around and walking RIGHT BACK IN to do it again. This is an open gateway for theives and griefers alike. There's nothing stopping them from doing it again and again and again.

Oh, and they are.

I have to agree that the non-verified freebie accounts are creating a burden for those of us trying to create something unique here. Why should we as active paying participants have to bear the costs of down time due to either over-loaded asset servers or badly behaved individuals. I have serious concerns over those underage being given a portal to a realm they are not ready to handle or for us to police.

https://secondlife.com/vote/

Fetch Prop # 1773

Just in case you missed it.

btw had to ban 2 griefers today both Unverified.

Okay so you people are forgetting some people dont have credit cards or paypal accounts! and they want to play sl ! i am a person who has a free acount today..gonn aget one tomarrowtho probaly..butmost of my friends dont...i did one thing i got banned for nd i never did anything of the sorts again (i was a newbie and wasnt aware of the rules (XD) but any ways if you have aproblem witha free avount ushould ban them from your parcel or mute them! it right to take freeedom from free users.. but eventually all free users will either submit paymen info or... stop playin sl because you cant really get any money with afree acccount unless you camp all day....i am a currently free resdent who has building ablities...i dont care what other people think on this matter I think its sorta stupid and besides free users bring traffic to SL business's thus bringing in more customers...its a win win situation...if the sl economy does well then so ill the SL community...thats my opinion..think about it... sorry about the grammatical mistakes...too much instant messging slang...

Traffic means nothing to Sellers. Not many Places makes good sales because people are sitting on laggy camping chairs.

Read the post better, this is a suggestion asking for more suggestions, not boo hoo I want to play but I can't afford to.

There is nothing wrong with free accounts but unlimited unverified accounts is getting out of hand. YOU would not know or care because you have NO money invested into SL.

Do you think the people who own camping chairs are crying boo hoo I can't afford to be here? NO they are paying to play to give you money for a bigger traffic number.

I know for a fact I make some of my better sales from Places that have lower traffic numbers and make squat but pay higher rent because of numbers.

It's the unlimited unverified accounts that happen to me mostly alts that are making it no fun for those who want to play and can''t afford it.

I couldnt afford it when I first started but I worked hard for what I have. So Free accounts really don't get much sympathy from me when 9/10 of them are greifers. I pay to be greifed, wow that is just so much more fair then you losing something for free.

I agree with you Kat, I co own a business that gets griefed on a daily routine by one guy, you report him and he goes and gets a new account. UNVERRIFIED also means SL doesnt know the persons age, half of these these are probably kids from the teen grid. I have no suggestion at this time, except to say SL was wrong for opening the grid to free accounts like that. OK so maybe Free accounts, But VERIFY it... if your 18 you should have some sort of job or at least a checking account, you have a checking account you can get a paypal account... theres a way to verify your age... these idiots are making it no fun anymore. Keep up the good work Kat... go get em!!!

3/4 of the unverified accounts i talk to that are begging us to let them in to Combat Samurai Island Zone which we limited the access to, have credit cards or bank accounts they just don't want to give them to Linden Lab even though it would not cost them to keep a free account, they just don't want to. Also a good portion of people that are unverified are perma banns from the past and can't give their info out because they will get caught sneaking back in. I say wtf good is reporting abuse anymore? then You got the kids under age. I have directly had beggers walk up to me not knowing they are on my sims and say I need money I have no way of getting money. I said you can buy lindens. the response I got was I don't have a bank account I'm only 15. My 6 year old daughter has a bank account.....

For those of you who think you can't get a credit card because you don't have a bank account and all these excuses.

Western Union offers a prepaid mastercard

The Western Union® Prepaid MasterCard®1 is easy to get. No credit checks, no lengthy application, a non-refundable $9.95 Enrollment Fee for the card and you don’t even need a bank account.

1. Shop wherever MasterCard debit cards are accepted.
   
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3. Reload cash on your card at any of our 47,000 participating
   
4. Western Union Agent locations in the U.S.
   
5. Directly deposit your paycheck3 on the card and we'll waive the $4.95 Monthly Account Maintenance Fee4!
   
6. Check your card balance online or over the phone.
   

And those of you that don't read:
1 First Basic account is completely free. A credit card is required for verification only. Additional Basic accounts are available for a one-time fee of $9.95.

If you are over 18 you most likely have a JOB, you can waive your monthly free by direct deposit to your prepaid card.
There really is no excuses anyone can give me that proves they can't afford 10 dollars for a prepaid card when you own a computer and pay for internet, and I listen to many talk about playing other MMORG's that I know damn well cost 50 dollars for the program then a monthly fee to play.

Wow no thinking nessesary either! I just gave youthe information.
p.s. Western Union is World Wide

And credit cards like this are available in bascally all countries. The "i can't afford a credit card!" excuse is quite overrated, even considering that most major online games (that have MILLIONS users more than SL) require a credit card to play.
LL should work on increasing quality and stability to attract new long term customers, just opening the floodgates to alts and kids is useless.
If you are an adult you CAN afford a credit card, if you're not, you shouldn't be here.

In any case, there are alternatives that LL could use to "rein in" abuse of free accounts by greifers. There's my sponsorship proposal, for one.

The "unverified minor" issue is a bigger one, and it doesn't address that (It didn't occure to me that it was a big deal, to be frank), but in my tests with an unverified alt I wasn't able to find an adult-oriented parcel I couldn't visit nor a vendor or other scripted adult-oriented object I couldn't use. I didn't spend much money testing whether I could buy stuff, but I didn't have a problem there either.

nods and bumps