Sad Story

I tell MIS students that as soon as they publish a corporate web site, they're an international company; so they better be ready for it.

Which Linden perpetrated this crime? Who will they target next?

khamon * kha~m~on * ku~ham~on * kham~oh~na * am I in any danger here?

Please see this thread, there are a few people in it that could use a lesson or two about skinheads, and about tolerance in general:

/112/b7/113095/1.html

I'd like to say that the person who noted that the media is responsible for this is absolutely right. Them, and the people who lick up the pablum the media spews and the regurgitate it.

Who are the REAL intolerant people? Those who perpetuate hurtful and discriminatory myths about an entire culture based upon the action of fringe elements.

I am ashamed to be American when I read some of the ignorant crap some Americans come up with with regard to issues like these.

"Well, where I am from, all skinheads are viewed as racist.'

You know what then? You need to EDUCATE yourself beyond your own backyard for fuck's sake.

For only about the second time, I have to say I am ashamed of and disgusted with Linden Lab.

Give the account back!

My 2 cents:
Chime and Skinhead Mission both owned land near a friend of mine in Baramdolli. Though I did not now him well, I ran into Skinhead Mission on occasion and he seemed to be a nice person. As a non-white human avatar, I detected no racism from him.

This whole thing pisses me off.
I didn't know him at all, so i cant vouch for him personally, but LL should have talked to the guy, and worked out a deal with him.
So, whats next...... will i be banned if LL hire a nutter from the religious right who finds my name offensive?

Exactly what I've been trying to tell 'em! The problem is, of course, people are comfortable in their ignorance. Change, education and tolerance are *scary*

I need a beer...

-S

We could organize mass protests in support for the one who was banned, but LL would not change a thing, because they have the right to do as they please and often do.

In RL, when an employer dismiss any employe under dubious excuses, that employe has the law at his disposal to defend his case. Also, the other employes can take a number of collective actions to bring management to negotiate or revise the case. Like walk-outs or work to rules or even strikes...

Would a massive walk out of this game of SL get LL to listen?

Anyone still arguing the SL is not a game? Can you ban someone from a business platform just because you don't like their name?

Why isn't there a filter in the first name selector so that offending name would be rejected BEFORE it was created and therefore approved.

I do think we should organize a protest. I try not to overuse the word "outrageous" (despite how many things here are!), but this is one case where no other word applies.

This is assuming that we have the whole story here. It probably is, though - I can see why someone in the U.S. would react with that sort of knee-jerk reaction to the word "skinhead."

STILL - what is it with this sudden carting away of people in the night? Couldn't they at least have talked to the guy, even offered him a name change if they wanted to? Do they really care so little about us?

We really do need to do something. It is like what Doc said above, and what I have been trying to say for so long:

'When they came for the socalists and took them away, I said nothing - I wasn't a socalist.
When they came for the liberals, I said nothing - for I wasn't a liberal.
When they came for the Jews, I did nothing - after all, I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me - there was no one left to say anything...'

coco

i most often can see both sides of an argument or debate and thus, stay out of a lot of the drama on these forums...plus it's usually juvenile and not worth my energy. this is not one of those times. there is no other side to examine.

The Linden who made this decision was just flat out wrong and it needs rectifying. i can understand and forgive making a mistake because you are misnformed. but, if that is the case and this Linden geniunely thought this was an offensive, racist name (which i'm sure he/she did), it is still unforgivable to not even let the person know the name was an offense and thus give them the option of changing it, getting another account where important items could be transferred over before account was killed or at the very least just plain discussing it with Skinhead.

this is a big deal in my eyes. where is a Linden response? how are we supposed to truly treat this as our Second Lives when an ill-informed Linden can simply delete our existence.

i am up for organizing something to get Linden's attention and be heard. Personally, if I were Skinhead I would be calling LL and demanding my account be reinstated and if that didn't work I would go to the press...sure the M2, but I would go beyond that to places like WIRED, etc.

We are not infallible. We are human. A huge mistake was made by a LL employee. It happens. LL own up to the error and make it right. Please. If this goes ignored, it is a travasty and demolishes my faith and hope in SL as a true metaverse.

IM me in world if any organized sensible protests or the like are taking place. I'm happy to take part and assist. However, I am hoping this thread is enough to bring attention to this issue.

Well I find this completely un-acceptable. The proper way to handle would have been for Linden Labs to have him change his name and this would have resolved their issue. For them to simply cancel with no warning or anything is bad business and extremely poor service in my opinion.

I will find it interesting to see if Linden even addressses this post.

As for Skinhead - Although he is missing items and L$ - there should be nothing stopping him from setting up a new account and then hopefully Linden will do the right thing and move his items over.

It's just sad that we all sit back and allow things like this to happen.

Just posted a link to this thread in the "Linden Answers" forum, in the hopes of drawing a Linden response of some sort to this issue.

You know, I was going to bring that up. I have no problems with either name but why is Lucifer allowed to keep his name when Skinhead cannot? Seems to me Lucifer is the greater evil. HAHAHAHAHA

The word "skinhead" doesn't automatically conjure up racist imagery to me, although I recognize that it can represent that. And I live in Detroit, one of the most racially segregated metropolitan areas in the US.

I know there is a sub-group of the Gay Leather community that refers to themselves as skinheads, or "Gay Skins" to be more precise. To my knowledge, those 'blokes' aren't racist either.

That said, I find it difficult to decry outrage with Linden without knowing all the facts. We've only been provided one side of the story, and there's no way to verify it.

Additionally, Linden has a policy of not discussing publicly any sanction handed down to another resident. If there truly were another side to this story, even if they wanted to share it they couldn't, being bound by their own policy.

I don't think it’s realistic to expect Linden to come into this thread and give their 'explanation' of what happened.

However, it is realistic for us to ask them to take a second look at what went on here, and decide amongst themselves, based upon the facts that they have & our perspectives - whether the sanction was appropriate or no. Hopefully that's being accomplished here.

Sadly, we likely wont know the outcome of that either.

Absolutely true.

And this is why Second Life is not the Metaverse-in-the-making, yet. And why it will never be anything more than a parochial little West-coast chat-room with a few extra bennies, until LL undertakes a real international perspective.

I hope they do.

After reading the first thread several days ago I was under the impression that the name was was banned only a few days from his inception to SL.

I think it's kind of fucked up that LL would decide to ban the name after several months, even thought the guy has been under the radar and not causing any problems.

I do feel the term skinhead = racist to most folks in the U.S.

Calm and reasoned as always Travis, and i can't disagree with a single point you've made. But if the facts are indeed as have been presented, then surely LL should have at least talked to the guy, and after a discussion either leave him alone, or explained the potential for misunderstanding over his name, and allowed him some sort of re-naming compromise on his name.

Whilst Lucifer was posting his question on Liden answers I have done the same.

There are at least three threads on the forum in various areas about this issue.

Definately, Lucifer. If the facts presented here are a pretty accurate description - then absolutely, I think he should have had an opportunity to change his name.

I just can't help but find it equally plausable that they indeed attempted to contact him in RL using whatever information was on file, got no response, and proceeded to delete the account.

As an aside, I find it somewhat interesting that after doing a search on Skinhead's forum posts, he made two seperate posts to the Linden Land Management forums 3 months ago, and he was replied to by name each time by a Liason.

Logic seems to indicate to me that if he was simply flying under Linden's radar, and it's always been a name they considered intolerant, it would have been identified way back then with those posts.

Rob Aston, also known as Skinhead Rob, was the vocalist/rapper of the California punk rock/hip hop band Transplants. He began his career in music as a roadie for AFI and Rancid.

Aston became involved in the Transplants when Tim Armstrong asked for lyrics to the songs Armstrong was making. The two started jamming in Armstrongs's basement whenever they found the time. They eventually enlisted Travis Barker from blink-182 to do the drum tracks, instead of having drum loops as originally planned.

At the end of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour the Transplants broke up and Rob and Travis joined Houston rapper Paul Wall, who chopped and screwed the Transplants' Haunted Cities album, to form a new group called Expensive Taste.

oh, and if you didnt know.. the transplants came outta Rancid.. which had a number of anti-racist songs such as hooligans.. which was co-lined by the specials.. a ska group from way back which was mixed racially.. oh and there are other races of skinheads and different kinds like queerskins and fringe groups that have nothing to do with racism.

oh, and I figured it maybe easier for people to pop into the store and get their free shirt.. its called lonsdale in junghee


also you can still im me in game or offline for the free crucified skinhead t

From the in-world find menu, with "skinhead" as the keyword:

>BOYZ POINT & Oi! Store

the store for boyz, skins, punks and all cool dressed guys.


>SKINHEAD HAMLET PREMIER

Join us for the first viewing of the fabulous and funny Skinhead Hamlet, a graphic novel crafted in Second Life by Sidra Stern and Sulla Milk. The event will be supplemented as expected by wonderful dance music of love and misery. NOT TO BE MISSED!! Add to the fun, come dressed as your favorite Shakespeare character, or your favorite Skinhead.


>Skinhead Urning in Baramboli

With Solo Slingo, Gambling and Scratch-Games


>Skinhead Urning Park (Mature) Land

Yardsale, flowers, games, ride and so on


>Then, another avatar with "Skinhead" in their name: "SkinHeadChick Wake"

OMG! Flowers, yardsales, and, OH MY! Someone call the cops! Better yet, call Geraldo Rivera!

I can't believe you ratted out SkinHeadChick Wake like that!

so far theres been a good turnout for the for the free shirt... if ya'll wanna organize a protest, I just expanded the store.. so we can meet there.. listen to some tunes take a big picture and email it to LL! as always.. theres a decent stream of punk, ska (1st and 3rd wave), ect.. so come get educated.. meet other folks.. get some free shirts and whatever else

Interesting that the Lindens are choosing not to respond to this thread.

The posts regarding this in Linden Answers remain unanswered also Selador.

While I'll agree it crappy if some people took offense to the name LL had the right to do it without warning that to is stipulated in the ToS. They can end your service for any reason they deem fit. This is usually held to certain standards such as offensive names, racist comments in world, harassment, using some type of hack (not really rellevant to SL though...), and a few other things. LL had the right to do it but i do agree some fair warning or a chance to change the name somehow would of been a better way to go about it.

Being a GM in another game in the past I can tell you a few things. The job itself is pretty stressful for starters and the multitude of people that IM with problems and such is vast. Its not really abuse of power, but it could of been gone about better. If one person found the name offensive in alot of virtual worlds something would be done be that banning that account or that character or whatever. They dont need to give fair warning but it is nice when they do.

Thats how these companies work. If you recall there was something with World Of Warcraft that was similar awhile back. Someone made a guild with a name that offended some people. They that guild i believe it was. Thats why most people dont go pick a name like Skinhead as a game tag because it raises to be offensive to some people and then LL has to do something about it.

Did they go about it right? Who knows really. Did they have a right to do it ? yeah they did. Is it going to happen again? most likely. If a name is found to be offensive good standing or not its bound to happen to some people. This also means that a few people actually reported him for the name. So more then one person took offense to it. While it is a little short sited they cant know all the worlds trends or take on every meaning of the word and ask which the guy means really.

Unless you want them to slap a big disclaimer on him saying which meaning it is really. People arnt going to guess which he means really. The name can be taken offensively to people and thats where the problem itself lies even if it was intended differently people arnt really going to know that . While it may not come off offensively to you or me it will to someone.

And the way it appears in context if someone thats more used to the racist side of the term skinhead see's it they may take offense to it plain and simple. As i said though terminating the account could of been done better even though it was done within LL's rights. You lose more customers by not handeling things with a softer glove =P.

Dont hate me for this post I'm just throwing out some base knowledge as a GM

I'm afraid the view being taken is that a Linden decision has been taken and because it involves 'customer confidentality' it is not possible to discuss the matter.

Any discussion must take place between the parties concerned - LL and Skinhead - and LL probably don't care to discuss it...

By extension I suppose the same rules can and will be used to avoid discussion of the entire subject - viz:
Just WHAT names are currently, or will be within, say six months to pull a number out of the air, considered 'offesnsive' by ANY member of LL staff who happens to notice them?

Likewise I suppose any discussion of the absurdly variable and open ended TOS arising from this thread is out of court?

I guess when LL gets a Jehova's Witness on the staff I'll be in for the chop - after all, THEY don't like Doctors!

Well, if you didn't laugh you'd have to cry...

Picking a first name in LL is now a risky guessing game.

First you have to thoroughly research the bigoted sensibilities of 'little America' in detail and carefully avoid anything that might annoy them.

Then you need to check out the bleeding heart liberals, which is probably easier to research, given their penchant for self publicity, but none the less a tedious job.

Next thoroughly research every MINORITY group in existence so as to aviod giving offense

Lastly, being a reasonable person you will of course avoid anything that really is offensive - to the MAJORITY of people

OK, so, what's left? Jane - or John? Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions...

OK - Jane Yup, I'll go for Jane

*Jane skips happily off to explore an oddly underpopulated SL..*

*Six months later... Jane is enjoying her house and land, she's a bit lonely here in SL though, 'cos there aren't that many people about*

HANG ON A MINUTE BUSTER - GENDER SPECIFIC NAMES? THAT MIGHT OFFEND SOMEONE OF UNDIFERENTIATED GENDER - YOU ARE BANNED!

Hey! Where'd they all go?


Uh... Phil?
Er, Mr Rosedale? I think we may have a problem... .