New Metaverse Messenger Column: Consumer Affairs in SL

I don't have a snappy title yet, bear with me, but here's the basic idea:

I want to be SL's first consumer reporter. Do you have a dispute with a merchant--or are you a merchant with a dodgy customer? Tell me about it and I'll look into it, and if it turns out there's something to the story, I'll put it in the M2. Caveat emptor is the watchphrase of the SL marketplace, and having a consumer reporter out there makes it a little easier for the emptor to caveat, if you know what I mean.

IM me inworld if you have a story for me, or if you have an idea for the column name. I was thinking Taking Inventory but I'm not sold on it.

MeiLin

ps: Fair warning--if you bring me a FALSE story, it'll backfire on you; I'll print that you're a scammer, and then see who wants to do business with you. So just keep that in mind if you want to blacken someone's rep. through the column.

Sounds very cool. Good luck with that.

I've moved this thread into Land and Economy where it might have an easier time finding an audeince.

Cat Out of the Bag?
Spilled Beans?
Shopped?

This is a great idea Mei Lin. There are a lot of shady businesses--and customers in SL. I don't remember if you took my "Making Money in SL" class, but went over a number of common scams. I'll be happy to pass you a transcript of that part if it would be a useful source of ideal.

Also--as a title--may I suggest "Caveat Emptor"?

Sooooooo how will one distinguish a true story from a false one...especially if each side has a differing interpretation of the same story?


- Newfie

Well, Newfie, we can lean on MeiLin to clarify that. Because, after all, reporters are our touchstone to the truth, right?

While the concept of consumer protection is a good one, in an environment such as SL one must guard against becoming judge, jury, and executioner by printing press. Like it or not in RL the reputation of the organization publishing information serves as a governor to what is said. In the world of blogging (which is really more what we have in SL) there are no restraints.

Keep in mind words Ben Franklin wrote many years ago, and unfortunately can still hold true today: never argue with a man who buys his ink by the barrel.

So my advice to MeiLin would be, if you go down this path, keep yourself very clean and VERY neutral so that you don't become part of the problem. You will be wading into difficult waters.

P.S. I hear a phrase echoing in the back of my head. I hope you do as well as you consider what you write: TOS violation.

...so I'm familiar with the drill. Been doing this for...well, lessee...started when I was 16...and I'm 44 now...



I'll do the best I can to figure out what really happened in a dispute, as well as talk to other folks who've dealt with particular individuals. I have a reputation to defend, too.

You tread where Angels fear to walk Meilin.......

I hope your Second Life newspaper has a good lawyer!

Indeed, because the RL courts are packed with defamation of virtual brand cases from virtual merchants who sell vitrual goods for about one USD with a potential loss that might just be enough to cover court filing fees.

Maybe they should get a vLawyer instead who takes retainers in L$.

Not only is MeiLin an excellent reporter, I'm a fairly good publisher. I know what would constitute grounds for a lawsuit, and how to avoid that.

In fact I'm working on a story right now about an SL incident that may result in RL litigation and so far I haven't found a single caseof RL litigation arising from SL. I'm still lookin'...tips (of the info kind) welcome...