The "Linden Corps" vs. "Welfare" and the Economic Value

For those who would argue that the recepients of stipends add nothing of value to the environment of the Second Life Experience...i.e. nice clothing, terraformed land, houses, cars, skins...etc.... That stipends are harmful to the economy in general as it provides for an artificial increase of $L in the supply, resulting in the devaluation of the L$ ....ultimately leading to The Apocalypse...

And, for those who would argue that the REMOVAL of stipends would ruin the environment because many would have nothing to do, other than to spend more USD, or simply walk about SL from house to house looking at the land owners, and retailers....or stand on a corner begging for L$....(which would not be an entirely fun way to spend ones real life free time) and that this would also result in the collapse of the Second Life economy as all of the users would leave out of boredom, thus further resulting in the failing of Linden Labs....and ultimately leading to The Apocalypse...

So, let us eliminate the giving away of free money. Yet, let us still offer a way for those who wish to have a way to earn money without spending USD to recieve it.

I suggest the possibility of the creation of optional Government Employment. If you want $L, you can get them from Linden Labs. You just have to volunteer to serve in the "Linden Corps", and EARN your money. It would be ugly work...but you would get to go to wild, foriegn and extreme places, experience things that most residents would never see...though many might apply, only few would last. Certainly a place for the Few and the Proud.

All you would have to do is patrol and survey Linden owned and protected land for errors and trouble with the enviroment. "Blocked Waterways" "Phantom Bugs" "misaligned land and structures" ...This already happens today, and they are reported to Governor Linden. Quite an ugly job. But it does help create a more realistic and enjoyable environment for everyone. As the amount of Private and Linden Land increases, there will be a continual source of area to patrol.

If you want to earn Linden...Help out your neighbor, help out your friend, and help to build a better Second Life. Freedom is NOT free.

Join the Few, the Proud, the "Linden Corps" !


How many Linden per error found and confirmed?
A top limit to Linden earned?
Minimum amount located and confirmed to maintain a base pay?

All thoughts welcome !

Even if those doing Linden provided jobs could be trusted (or prevented) to not abuse power, I don't think the amount of maintenance jobs available are enough to pay more than a few residents. Even if the pay was 1L$ per worker.

*cough*

I do spend USD for lindens. Its called premium fees.

Oh look, another stipend thread.

There is no power to abuse. They are not given any authority. Simply reporting errors in the grid to Linden personnel. It is already done when they are found, usually by land owners who are bothered because govenment property has flaws that affect their land or its surroundings. They are reported in "Second Life Land Management".

Once reported, Linden personnel who are responsible for this area check on the report and repair the error if the report is accurate and fixable. How many errors are there? Well, in just a few hours of walking up and down the land in one section of land I found about 14 errors. That took several hours of doing nothing but finding them and documenting where they were with all of the coordinates so they may be found again. I think there are quite a few sections of land, and more being added every month.

This is not a stipend thread. This is a way for people who want to have Lindens without having a Premium account to EARN them, instead of them being given away. I believe it to be far more productive to the enhancement of the community than land owners paying people to SIT in their chairs all day doing nothing. At the same time, errors are located, and corrected.

By the way, I should clarify myself. This is not only a way for basic users to earn small amounts of money. It can be done by anyone, even those with Premium accounts. These are reports that already are made, and often MUST be made in order for features to run properly around Resident owned land. It is something for those who complain about having no money to do that helps everyone.

There can be no more complaining about Stipend removal when an option is offered to earn L$. Unless someone wants to complain about the work being too hard. If they are not happy with that, then they can always use USD to cover their play time.


As Jonas said....I spend USD for Lindens. That is the easiest way to do it. Certainly the way that I prefer. But, if I am unemployed, concerned about my unemployment check that I am using to survive being cancelled, reduced, or never even getting one (if I am a new user) I do not think I would have much room left to complain if I was offered work in place of a government check for nothing.

Once again, with the overall effect being that the grid would be greatly enhanced with the locating and correcting of errors.

What "Government Work" would you suggest though?

If you search this forum for a thread from Vasudha Linden about 2-3 months ago she wanted ideas for jobs for newbies. Just about the only one I remember that didn't require a major restructuring of SL or a significant RL talent was cutting and pasting stuff into notecards.

Sure SL is changing and will continue to change. It's possible that someone will come up with a killer concept for SL "government work" that can be done by new residents and we'll see a move that way. I won't hold my breath though, and even if it does come through there will be bleating from the anti-stipend brigade.

Ugh, that's even worse. I made the assumption you were suggesting something that would create less work for Lindens on grid monkey duty. This would just greatly increase the amount of land management requests. Lots and lots of residents submitting every single minor land issue they run across. Then each one is verified, dealt with and paid a reward on. Crazy amounts of time spent for little to no return.

I think you're putting to much belief on how important land maintenance is. If it's a land issue that really matters (like it's actually effecting the sim load) an owner in that sim will report it without monetary compensation.

Maybe LL will pay me $L to finsih the roads that are missing though most grids

Yes, that would be nice....ways to become authorized Linden Greeters and Mentors....Should be a way to become a Linden Contractor as well....<grin>

Work subject to review...but, at least they get built...roads already have errors in them, as you said...at least they get built this way. I like it.

If we are going to complain about all the other problems of government and economy, we might as well open the door for Government contractors and corruption as well....hehe

On the errors in the grid, Yeah....they may not kill anything, or cause the worst of harm, but it sure is better not to have them....and if they are not that important, they can go to the back burner for repair, but at least they are logged, and the presence and location is identified.

Allow me to repeat... One more time... So everyone can hear


If I had wanted to work in a Virtural World, I would had gone to the Sims on-line.

I come to Second Life to escape the Conservative Work Ethic, I come to Second Life to escape the Economy of Real life.

It would be no skin off my back if Second Life went into a deep dark financial depression. none at all.

And that so-called """""Welfare"""" Is not at all welfare... We pay for it. When we signed the agreement it said we would get so many lindens a month for coming and playing (Or in my case with my 11,900 square Meters, Living) in Second Life.

Second Life is not suppose to become First Life.

Second Life is not suppose to duplicate the boring Conservative Work Ethic

Second Life is suppose to be a fun place where people come to escape the un-fairness of conservativism and the Conservative Work Ethic.

The Vast majority of the Content creators seem to want to make Second Life like the Sims On-Line...

You made a proposal, so... Allow me to make a counter proposal


All those who want to earn real Dollars go find a job in the real world. (You will make far more money there than in Second Life)

Those who want to work in a Virtural World go join Sims on-line.

Those who want to have a conservative Work Ethic, go back to the real world and join the repubnik Party and leave those of us who come here to relax and talk with our friends... Alone.

Amen I agree totally with you. and I put down US$225 for my 500 a month.

Ring Ring Ring

Helloooooo

the Basic free accounts are not getting lindens for free.... They are receaving 50 lindens a week for coming to Second Life.

Its like a barter system. The Basic Accounts log into Second Life and in exchange they get 50 lindens a week.

I certainly owe you an apology, it would seem I did not know that Second Life was "supposed" to be anything. I had no idea that people were not supposed to work here. I was under the impression (mistaken, it would seem) that one was free here to do whatever one wanted. Whether that was work, or not work. Find ways to make money, or not make money. I did not realize that Second Life was not supposed to have the ability to have First Life elements enter it....or have First and Second Life be able to have any kind of connection and interaction...or merge in any way.

But, I really do hate being ignorant and not knowing what the rules are. Since I am only a new user, and have only spent several hundred dollars to come and enjoy myself here exploring the potentials......I suppose it would be really wise for me to learn that in fact, this is not a free world, before I find myself in too much trouble.

Would you be so kind as to tell me what the EXACT purpose of Second Life is..and what it is SUPPOSED to be? Again...I thought that the limits of the world were simply ones imagination....but I guess there are rules everywhere, crimes everywhere and police states enforcing the way that things are SUPPOSED to be., placing limits on the freedoms of others. Of course, I always equated that kind of behavior with Conservatives myself.

So, I am really glad that you pointed out my misunderstanding and would once again ask that you would be so kind as to further educate me about what this place is SUPPOSED to be.

I thank you in advance for your gracious help.