Capitalists Everywhere Support Philip Linden's Dwell Decision

THe changes being made are not just random reactions to a heated economy or a sliding exchange rate. These are longer term plans, well thought out...

Meanwhile, it just strikes me as awfully sad that someone would have to consider charging for amusement park rides.
coco

I think you misunderstand the general consumerist nature of SL. It's not about being able to save it to your hard drive, it's not about it being useful outside of second life. It's more about psychology, I guess. In RL, we've had a consumerism sold to us a means to happiness and satisfaction since the end of the second world war. Hell, even the concept of 'teenager' developed around this time, to facilate the creation of a new consumer market (before that you were a kid then you were an adult). Marketing and advertising are usually pitching a dream when it's all said and done. They're always tring to find a new way for us to desire something we don't need at all.

In SL, you can achieve this 'happiness' and 'satisfaction' for a whole lot less. How many of us really get to shop once a week RL? How many of us have our own planes? How many of us have villas on waterfront land? In SL, you can live whatever dream you wish for a fraction of the RL price. Consumerism has never been need-driven. It's desire-driven, impulse-driven, and status-driven.

Corporations spend a fortune trying to crack the 'luxury code', so they can tap into this. Think about how often advertising has nothing to do with the products function, think about how often you never even see the product in an ad. The best example I can think of off the top of my head, is the kind of cigarette ads they used to run in print before they banned cigarette advertising it. A noxious product, but the ads were filled with sandy beaches, gleaming pools, boats, fancy cars, the suggestion of a beautiful woman, wealth...

Consuming has little to do with reason or function. Shopping in SL is here to stay.

If it (Second Life) was a game I would agree with you.

But it is not, it is a platform. See Governor Lindens statement on this if you doubt me.

As a platform you need to have trade and profit to be viable

So with respect I believe you are misguided

Real life amusement parks charge. Why shouldn't a virtual park charge to cover scripting, building, maintenace, and land expenses?

Real life amusement parks charge. Why shouldn't a virtual park charge to cover scripting, building, maintenace, and land expenses?

What I am saying that all of these things are NOTHING without second life. Also they are really rather shallow copies at that. You can "own" ocean front property but not all of the things that make it worthwhile. There is no feel of the wind in your face, you cant smell the ocean. You can not go swimming or feel the sand on your feet. A real ocean front lot is not dependant on Second Life being operating, a active internet connection and a active computer. What you get is a 2d image of a cartoon ocean, etc.

Because vitural amusement parks are so BORING. I am not saying there are expenses to be covered, just that they are not worth paying real life money to visit. If one could get away with an admission charge it better be very low. A persons bathtub or shower is better than any vitural water park ever made

Imagination takes me a long way. I love staring out into my virtual ocean...

I feel like like such a prince on my new land I forget about the tiny RL unit I'm sitting in. It feels very serene while I build too. It's no different to... how should I put it... have you ever had the experience in SL, where you're with someone you're so drawn to, so in tune with, that you feel their presence, you can hear them breathe, sense their closeness to you? You've forgotten all about your avatars, that you're typing, and become absorbed in the person and the conversation. When words are more than words, they're a gesture with the same intimacy as touch?

I think you underestimate the power of virtual reality. There are different ways of seeing, and the way people see has changed over the course of history. There is no absolute truth to sight, it's a learned thing. You don't see with your eyes, you see with your brain.

Oh well, SL was good whilst it lasted.... this is the beginning of the end.

Lewis

Imagination takes me a long way. I love staring out into my virtual ocean...

I feel like like such a prince on my new land I forget about the tiny RL unit I'm sitting in. It feels very serene while I build too. It's no different to... how should I put it... have you ever had the experience in SL, where you're with someone you're so drawn to, so in tune with, that you feel their presence, you can hear them breathe, sense their closeness to you? You've forgotten all about your avatars, that you're typing, and become absorbed in the person and the conversation. When words are more than words, they're a gesture with the same intimacy as touch?

I think you underestimate the power of virtual reality. There are different ways of seeing, and the way people see has changed over the course of history. There is no absolute truth to sight, it's a learned thing. You don't see with your eyes, you see with your brain.

Yes, me too. The VR experiance in Second Life was strong enough for me to be worried of falling when I was building a sky platform above the flying celing that unpowered Avators can go.

But reverting to topic the recent polls herein this forum suggest many more people see Second Life as a platform rather than a pure game. Therefore having a stable currency (Gold Linden or US Dollar) would enable real trade and turn around the current economic depression in Second Life.

But it would not really impact on those who wish to treat it as a pure game as it (currency) is unlikely to impact on their own useage, therefore I fail to logically understand the opposition to a change. In fact without such a change Second Life may fail to be successful.

It is a bit like people objecting to the economic success of companies like Google and Yahoo, when they only use them to find things rather than pay to use or are shareholders (is that the right US term? or is it common stock holders)

I dont even worry about my big stipend. The only affect of losing that is no more buying. I refuse to part with more real money for fake money

Me too. I will pay Anshe Chung her Dreamland rental because that is the equal of tier I would pay Linden, and at least in Dreamland I enjoy the pleasure of good builds and a nice enviroment.

But as for the rest of your statement, I am sure many people feel the same way, hence the relentless Linden devaluation. As other posters have pointed out there is absolutly no incentive to maintain real money in Linden dollars.

Hence my support for a new more attractive currency

Regards

Paul

If you hate it around here so much, why are ya still here? By my calculations, SL continues to grow despite the constant Lewis Nerd doom and gloom updates.

I can care less if some of the stores go under and the "creative" types go away. It is not my problem is it? I feel under no obligation to support the "creative" residents of second life.

Because despite the best efforts of people like you and LL to screw off all the incentives to play this game, I still continue to enjoy the creativity, building and social aspect that SL offers.

You forget that to many people SL is just entertainment - not a real life income.

It might pay to do some research on a person before questioning their motivations or actions.

After all... its only a game

Lewis

Any particular reason? After all, people don't do that with me, as the post I replied to clearly showed.

I think you are one of the most negative and bigoted individuals I've ever come across. If that's not how you are in person, that's certainly the persona you portray on the forums. Deal with it.

Makes one wonder what he tells newbies, being a Greeter.

Scary, very scary.

I will accept A$ and I'll accept the gold linden - at 100 times the L $ cost. And Ill get my lindens before I send the item.


Thats how much value I give them..my exchange rate. 1 l$ = 100 A$ or GL$

Blaiim it on me being capitalist and free to set my own prices.