Do we need a land rush?

Most of the older sims have scattered parcels of abandoned land. The Lindens obviously can't keep up with this; in Kendall, for example, there are at least three parcels that clearly have been abandoned for months. But it takes time and work for them to be auctioned, and it's mostly the investors who grab them.

So, here's another idea:
Once a year (or once a quarter?) the Lindens might declare a land rush. At high noon on Jan. 1, or whenever, anyone standing on a marked abandoned parcel can buy it for $1. Period.

This means that newbies have equal chance to get the land. It keeps big developers from cornering the market, or at least makes them get all their minions into the field for that day. And it puts all that land back into paying land tiers.

Is there a downside to this that I'm not seeing?

What happens if two avatars belonging to two competing individuals are both standing on the same parcel at the same time -- just as the clock ticks over to the time when standing on abandoned land allows you to buy it? Presumably the individual with the faster connection would get the land. This puts whole categories of SL residents at a disadvantage. For example most non-USA residents would be at a disadvantage.

Can you clarify what you mean by "clearly abandoned for months"?

If the residents who own that land have not logged on to SL for months, but they prepaid their accounts or have it on a recurring payment, why are they not entitled to keep their land?

If the owners want to sell the land, there is no work in listing it for sale. Are the parcels you were referring to shown as for sale?

Have you tried sending an IM to the owners to offer to buy it from them?

Wouldn't the government seizing and giving away private property that someone decided was "underused" drive down property values for the other neighbors?

Even if the give-away idea were improved by having a lottery, should land go to those with some investment in it, so that they are more likely to make an investment in improving it?

LL used to do it this way; it was a miserable failure; especially with people wanting to build big group projects.

"Land Rush" brings very ugly historical examples to mind that I, for one, do not want to be reminded of.

I've emailed the owners and been able to resolve a couple of parcels. But at least three are owned by residents who are not listed in Find or who come up as "unknown" as to whether they are signed on. I don't think these are people who have longterm payment plans. These folks do not respond to emails nor to IMs, and there has never been any activity on their land. They haven't listed their land for sale - they simply walked away.

I've IMd members of their groups, who have told me that their friends no longer play or cannot be reached. This leads me to believe that the land is truly abandoned.

I don't suggest this as a way for people to gain land for large projects. In fact, the opposite would be true; the developers would face a more level playing field. But I do admit that people with a slower connection might face a disadvantage in a hotly contested parcel.

So, if a land rush isn't a solution, what is? Clearly the Lindens must use their limited resources to relist the sim-sized parcels, while the smaller pieces languish. So how do we get these back in circulation?

O, I've seen that before... ahhh if it's somehow been forgotten, post on SLLM, let Nova Linden know!

Thanks - I'll do that. But it does take them a really long time to post one of these, even after they condemn it. I was hoping to be able to suggest a better overall solution.

In away I think it is a good idel, I will admit I am on the free basic account and I do not come to SL much cause I do not have all that much to do there.
But if I had a reason to come like take care of a pice of land or doing some thing with it like thoughing a party or something like that I would be in SL all the time.
I just read that if I sign up for fuul membership I can buy a pice for $1a meter but that is just to much and I just cannot aford it.
I am on a fixed income do to a bad heart and a ton of bills from the hospital and the Dr,'s and just the stuff to live on.
That is the main reason I have not upgraded to a Premium Account.

But if the Lindens would give the new people that have been with them for more then 6 mouths a acre of land then they would get more people here and keep them.

I was thinking of putting it to a vote but i do not know if it would go though or not so I will see what come about here..

I agree. We normalish types that want to own a small plot of land without having to pay exhorberant RL fees to 'Land Barons" with shady reputations at best, to be sure. Land should be available for *us*, not just them.

That is just it there is so meny out there that has so much land that they can basicly do any thing they want at any time they want to.

All I say let the little people have just 1 acre of land if you are a full member or have a free basic account, if you have been with SL for more then 6 mounths then you should be abel to get at lest that, look at the size of the SL world there is so much space that they could let every 1 have a acre and still have a lot of space left over, I saw the actions where land going for $1000 or more not L$ that I could not belive.

Hell I do not have that much money any where, I only have 10L$ any way so how in the world am I going to do any thing to start with.

Over all what I am trying to say is that maybe not have a land rush but have the lindin's give land to thoses that have been there for 6 mounths 1 acre of land and let us take it from there who knows we mite even take that and buy more cause we need the space to build more.

If I had that acre i would build me a house and have some partys and if they turn out good then I mite want to build a club if it gets to big I would have to buy some more land for that and so forth and so forth, it will be like a snow ball going down a hill lol.

It will get to the point that I would have to get a Premium Account to keep up with what all is going on and to make sure all my friend are haveing fun right :>

Just think about it, if you agree with me tell me so and I will put it up for vote..