Recent Comments:
Linden Lab blinks
Massively
Jun 4th 2008 8:45AM The whole thing sounds like a pantload to me. I won't be attending in any form. I enjoyed the last few, but I will not be going to this one. Why? It seems to me, that LL is trying to take credit for the success the events have had in the past. (Even though they were run by residents.) I think this year it will not be so successful. Of course, this is all just speculation...
On another note, I'd like to see someone (maybe even you Tateru) draw a parallel between LL and our current government. It might make an interesting piece.
Peering Inside: Pleading the fifth
Massively
Jun 2nd 2008 2:33PM The very sad truth Prok, is government is not the great almighty force of justice and truth you so dearly believe it is. From the top on down to your local mayor politics is rife with corruption. Not just on once side or the other, on all sides. I don't believe any of these people should be elected to office. In fact the real problem is that the people who should be running the country, don't because they don't want to take a pay cut. They already run successful corporations.
Also your view that government does not bow down to the politically correct mob is absurd. How many laws do we have on the books against things like school bullies? Absurd panels on things like steroid abuse in baseball or global warming, I mean cooling, I mean umm global climate change... I have said it before and I will say it again, you have a narrow view of life my friend.
Now what I find hilarious here is a member of our government, trying to control an adult video game. I say adult because there aren't supposed to be any children on the main grid. If that's the case, why are they concerned about the children? I'm just sayin..
Kirk is just a showboat.. He's prepping himself to move up in the republican party by trying to say and do the right things. I, however, think he has no teeth. Sure he's got a loud bark, but ain't no one askeered of him yet. That may change, but for now he's all talk.
The ironic part here is that Prok is essentially right, but for the wrong reasons. He assumes that there are kids playing child avatars. That has never been proven to be the case, at least not anywhere I've seen. The problem isn't the child avatars, it's the children in adult avatars. Children who gain access through free accounts, obtained with an easily created paypal account for "age verification".
You want to keep kids out? To keep them safe? Require a credit card. And at least 1 payment. Heck, I think if it's good enough for the porn industry, it would be good enough for second life. Until they provide such information, and whatever other hoops the labs wish to make them jump through. Restrict the avatars to PG-Only sims.. Employ a volunteer resident police force to report and monitor the pg sims to ensure content is kept clean. I mean we have to protect the illegal kids in second life.
Calling all cultures? Not any more
Massively
Jun 1st 2008 12:07PM @Prok
Although I disagree with the tone in which you take with your post, I will agree that this is certainly NOT a democracy. It is a business, but it is a business solely based on the ability of the people playing the game to have the freedom to express and do what they wish. I think the point you have missed was that this is a resident-run event. Not a Linden-run event. I for one do not like the fact that they have imposed their will on this event. I don't like it any more than when the government imposes it's will on the people, I think you will agree that to do so is the very definition of tyranny.
Secondly, as this is a resident-run event, they do not need to promote it at all. They don't need to promote it any more than they promote the countless dances, parties or festivals that happen in SL every day. This is supposed to be about the community recognizing Linden Labs for the world that they have been allowed to build and thrive in. It's not about promoting Second Life to the world at large.
Thirdly, I do not agree with child avatars myself. That being said, I am mindful that this is something that happens quite often, and not just in SL. Take yahoo's little avatar system which seems to be based on teenage avatars. Look at the countless MMORPGs that have childlike characters in them. To look like a kid, to pretend to be a kid is not child abuse. But the children that come in to second life using free accounts (which can be obtained easily with a paypal account) and make themselves up to be adults and engage in adult activities IS abuse. But I don't see the Lindens banning the scourge that is free accounts. Your premise is solely based on the fact that kids will be playing child avatars, which has not been proven to be the case at all.
Finally, you are correct. I have not been denied my right to protest or attend. What I have been denied is my ability to show my appreciation for Second Life and it's creators. Yes, that upsets me. Why? Because if they did not want these sort of communities in Second Life, they could easily ban them. Why don't they? Because they would lose all the revenue from these huge communities. So they are in essence telling us that we will take your money, even though we don't like you, and since we don't like you we will pretend you don't exist. It is a lot like the government taxing smokers because it's unhealthy, but not banning the product's use entirely because they make too much money from the taxes.
I think your view on the whole subject is narrow and close minded. Perhaps you should spend some time amongst these people you seem to have a fear of before you go off half-cocked and rip entire communities for what they believe.
Calling all cultures? Not any more
Massively
May 31st 2008 11:15AM I am a Gorean, I find it interesting that they pick and choose what "cultures" to include in this event. Goreans, BDSM and Child avatars are not ok.. But furries, well let's let those guys in cause they are just cute little guys in costumes right? I mean sheesh.. It's a fetish, it's roleplay, just like BDSM (to some), Gor (to some), and child avatars.. Furries have trans-gender, multi-gender, gay, interspecies kinks.. There are sims where people openly yiff each other in the public. But this is some how ok compared to these other groups?
I have nothing against furries, nor all the other groups. I am not a part of these cultures, but I make damn sure I look into them myself before predjudging them.
If they want to show the diversity of the cultures, they should not be leaving out some of the biggest groups in SL.. Gor is huge, as are the others. No one should be discounted because of the culture they associate themselves with.
I applied for a spot, I wasn't going to set up a gorean tavern or a slave auction.. I wanted to set up a functioning arena. I felt it tasteful, and it's a very big part of the SL Gorean culture. After hearing this, I know that I will not receive an invite because the culture I choose to associate myself with, is obviously not "clean" enough to display. Shame on Linden Labs for not embracing true diversity and choosing instead to display that which they can use for profit. I for one, am disappointed.
In Memory of Jesse Malthus
Second Life Insider
Apr 20th 2007 7:40AM I feel for the parents, and for those that knew him. I don't mean to sound like I am putting anyone down here. But I am curious, he was 17 and on the Main grid? Or did he make his contributions on the Teen grid?
