LL acquires avatar social network Avatars United

Yeh, you can see that Argent Stonecutter is a friendly fella who accepts friend requests from everyone, and has a nice SFnal background that's copied largely from Argent's profile on another virtual world's website. But there's no link to my player or my SL alt (even Argent David) or any other meta-information that RL linking through Facebook would create.

Why on earth would I do that?

You didn't need to do that, is what I'm saying. You could have just added a new avatar to whatever-your-email-is and deleted "Joshooah". The account name is just the email address. The full name is ONLY the avatar name.

That was a funny, Argent. But if you've ever had SL pulled up in your office, and had to walk away from your desk.....this is highly likely. I had my laptop in the shop a few weeks ago...and I had to explain to them why I couldn't log into SL or some other sites...and had to pull SL up. My name was on the log in screen. They saw it.

Errr...

Have you ever heard the expression "career-limiting move"?

If I had SL pulled up in my office and walked away from my desk with it up, I'd likely have a lot more to worry about than what someone can google about "Argent Stonecutter".

The last time I took my laptop into the shop I made sure the hard drive in it was secure-erased before I handed it over.

I'm not saying I don't talk about SL with anyone, but I don't talk about SL with anyone who I would be worried about them knowing anything I do, and I don't hand over my email and other private information to random screwdriver jockeys.

Haven't read this whole thread, but, has anyone found that when they returned to log in, the website said they'd never registered? I registered, added a few friends, those friends accepted, and then when I went to log back in again, it was like I was a brand new person, they could not find me. The email was correct, and I began receiving friend requests and acceptances and such, added a picture and all and now it's like I am brand new? Confused...........

For a while I was getting 503 errors ("The server is currently unavailable (because it is overloaded or down for maintenance).", and now I have no requests or messages showing, even though I got email notifications telling me there are requests and a shout waiting for my attention.

No, but just now it seems they crashed and I lost a lot of my work.

Ooooh! Betcha "My Adventures with Mickey" would make for some pretty interesting reading . . .

Lock your screen when you step away from your desk no matter what's on it.

There are different degrees of risk. Someone may be comfortable with their office knowing about them using SL...and that alone, might be no risk.....but I'm always thinking about the person trying to take your position or your reputation, or the drooling dude about to stalk you. People are just too careless with the trails they leave on the Internet. Even if it is an avatar name. Now that I look at it. and run some scenarios.....I think that being anonymous with an avatar name (false sense of security).....is more dangerous than just busting out some boring stuff on FB. Unless your Avatar is boring too. Most aren't, and reveal quite a bit.

I harp on this constantly.....because I used to have to do background checks on people. I rarely even had to pay a service....it was all there in a search, by taking a few links....then a few more links....then a few more. The trail and web that people weave.....is generally very easy to track. A co-worker that despises you, or a spouse that is not happy, or a weirdo that has been watching your every move.....they have enough gumption and energy to figure it all out, pretty easy. I think that people are very naive about this. Even if they are not in a position to worry about it today.....when they go for a promotion next year....or go through a nasty divorce next year.....they need to be concerned about the trail they left on the Internet. Even as an Avatar.

Um. Did anyone else just get a pop-up survey screen at AU, asking all sorts of RL questions, like age, sex, and occupation?

LOL

Yeah, right . . .

I'm not talking about knowing they play SL. My boss knows I play SL. He also knows I don't play SL *at the office*. That's the part that's a career limiting move... while there may be a few places where playing a video game while you're supposed to be working wouldn't be a CLM, I would expect they're few and far between.

I don't think that they are as few and far between as you think. Half the people I talk to during the day inworld in SL, tell me that they are at RL work. And when I had an office - I was self-employed, could do whatever I want, whenever I want. Still people milling about an office set-up though. Also - SL is a part time job for some people. It is legitimate work. They may very well work in a set-up that allows them to go inworld and address store issues....while they are at an office or workplace.

One of the things that bugs me about AU is that in order to get 'Coins' to load new backgrounds or send gifts it looks like you have to jump through a load of data-mining hoops.

Sorry to read that Osprey. I just saw a quoted email from AU saying the huge increase in signups caused them to need to upgrade their database, during which process some records were lost. I suppose you should get an email from them.

I think I'd wait a few days before spending too much time uploading pictures and such there.

social networking sites have always been about datamining. Nothing new there

Good idea, so, the few friends I added, who accepted and the few who asked to friend me, are just typing into a void cause the new account I did that from, now doesn't exist. I did sign up again, and saw Scylla has asked to friend me. So now, she is the only one I have there on the new one but not going to do anything else for awhile. I have a screw wheel for a picture. Default thingy I guess, it said my pic was now uploaded, but it's not.

Its the same company that FB and the game devs use for micropayments for Yoville and all the other related games.

i feel like i know ya'll, cause i read here everyday...but i've rarely posted...
anyway...here's my profile
http://www.avatarsunited.com/avatars/bliss-zufreur

Yes, that's it, but of course I had my initial enthusiasm!

Yes, I wouldn't care at all but I would like to change my background.

Did you really? That's so wrong, but no I didn't get one.

I united with Jumpy. I feel so dirty now.

Heck I did the same and seriously, it's far more an issue for a male!