A Very Curious Question

In a week or two I am going to start a fairly unique economic experiment, which through its success or failure may be a highly valuable data point for everyone interested in the Second Life economy.



I'll need a few participants that are active in this forum, regardless of economic viewpoint - on the hopes that they will provide a hint of the success or failure of the experiment. Yes, folks, I'll need your observations and insights. The data will be available to all, if posted here.


However, I am left with a unique problem.

I shall make exactly $L 990 from the experiment. There is no way around this, for reasons that will later become clear.

So! To prevent this experiment's removal from the Land and Economy forum, and elevate it to 'experiment' status (so it isn't moved to the Classifieds!)- I need to donate the $L 990 proceeds.



And the Very Curious Question is:

What economic study group, foundation, or just plain opportunist exists, that would accept a donation of $L 990?

Please form your line in this thread. I shall try to make an informed decision regarding who gets the donation, and the experiment will proceed in a week or two. I'll make the donation when the experiment begins.

Before all the me,me,me posts,

How about "The Shelter", "HAND" or one of the other worthy causes helping new and old cits alike.

Or maybe establish a fund for hunting down the vast mark up, resellers of freebies and crucifying them :¬)

Me, me me me meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

You beat me to it, The Shelter was the first thing that popped into my head.

Evening Desmond,

I'd agree with Metawraith. The two big ones would be either Shelter or NCI; I'm sure they'd both be interested.

I don't see any issues with it not moving from this forum, from what you discuss so far (and exactly for that reason - you're asking us to discuss it and looking for info).

:link:

Yep, The Shelter, unequivocally and without reservation.

Travis is one of those people whom if you had $10k in a briefcase and needed someone to hold it for you (this is always happening to me) you could get it back and not even think about counting it. And I don't even really know the guy.

Plus, at present he is running the best services organization I know of in-game.

990 ? damn. i'd take a cheque for L$9 if i could get it.

Ah, Travis is the fellow with the little dog icon, yes?

This may well do. So far I have that name, and 'me me meeeeee'

Edit: And Mr Sirex, to whom I would advise, watch my experiment closely, you just might make $L 9 out of it if you participate, but no guarantees!

Note that the data from this is certain to be worth far more to me (and I'm certain, many, many others) than $L 990. Even if it fails - that's valuable information. But as with any economic experiment, I have to keep it as 'pure' as possible lest this be considered a 'scam' or just a fancy 'advertisement'. Hence I have to give away the proceeds.


Paging Dr Travis?

I wonder if this is a really strange thing: "go to the Land and Economy forum, there is some $L in a thread there waiting for you..."

i'd like to be involved with this experiment. im on GMT time in the uk though, is that going to cause issues ? if not, IM me in game, ill be on in a few hours once i get home.

edit: is it possible to provide more details of the experiment here ? - would be a good read.

Details will be forthcoming in a second thread, in a week or two.

It will take about a week to deploy the experiment, and after that it will run on its own, potentially for years. I expect useful results within mere weeks, however.

Anyone is welcome to participate and ALL comments are welcome, regardless of economic perspective.

I have no doubt that the results are worth a LOT more than the initial $L 990 (3 USD and change) to many of us in Second Life, regardless of the outcome of the experiment.

you've got us all curious as to the exact nature of the experiment now

chomping at the bit now.

The experiment was to see if for L$990 he could get the forumatti to point unanimously at one shining member of the community.

Heh! No, it's not all that big of a deal, and not even that big of a secret, really.

But it's an economic participation thing, totally dependent upon what *other* people's actions as a group will be.

More of a collaborative, maybe even fun thing.



I won't get 'scientific feedback' - like a real research experiment per se; result should land somewhere on a spectrum between 'That was really cool!' to 'I told you so.'

If someone is willing to point Mr Travis to this thread so I can be sure he knows why some unknown fellow dropped $L 990 on him, and why, meh, I may start a bit sooner than planned. I'm almost done setting up anyhow.

well if thats somehow related to a pyramid seheme, ponzi scheme, or short selling i think yer right at home.

Wow - thanks for the kind words, guys I don't know what to say

The Shelter may fit what you're looking for, Desmond - we're non-profit, and we survive off the generosity of the community. We certainly do our best to put any donations we receive to good use.

Ah, now that you are clearly aware of what's going on, Travis - when I begin, I'll drop the 990 to your account. Might be a week or so.




It is none of those, but there *are* obvious ways to abuse what I'm about to do.

The only real insurance is this: cost-benefit-analysis and presumption (or lack thereof) of my rationality.

Boldly stated, I've been in business only five months, and bring in $L 200k a month handily with West Trade Imports. I trust there are enough of my creations dotting the Second Life landscape as evidence for this. I've done it the 'hard way.'

So the question will be this: will I risk blowing a reputation intimately tied to an income that is even now well over $L 2M a year?

Answer: not unless I lose my rational mind.

Unless I'm wildly wrong, this experiment won't reach levels near enough to be worth destroying one's good name, even for the average premium accountholder who makes nothing more than $L 500 a week.

Eltee, I've noticed you are quick to sort out a scam. I invite your comments.


Edit: pfft, just noticed I hadn't typed that correctly - bold text added! Wah, does that change the meaning...