[amsat-bb] Re: Additional Thoughts on SL...

[Luc Leblanc]

On 2 Mar 2007 at 14:29, R.Haighton wrote:

> Emily,
> As I rapidly approach my next decade, I am not sure that an active
> participation in SL is where I want to go,
> However that said I will be investigating SL over the next few weeks and who
> knows what the result may be.

Additional thoughts!

Second Life (abbreviated to SL) is an Internet-based virtual world which came 
to international attention via mainstream news media in late 2006 and early 
2007. Developed by Linden Lab, a downloadable client program enables its users, 
called "Residents", to interact with each other through motional avatars, 
providing an advanced level of a social network service combined with general 
aspects of a metaverse. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, 
participate in individual and group activities, and buy items (virtual 
property) and services from one another.

Second Life is one of several virtual worlds that have been inspired by the 
cyberpunk literary movement, and particularly by Neal Stephenson's novel Snow 
Crash. The stated goal of Linden Lab is to create a world like the Metaverse 
described by Stephenson, a user-defined world of general use in which people 
can interact, play, do business, and otherwise communicate. Second Life's 
virtual currency is the Linden Dollar (Linden, or L$) and is exchangeable for 
US Dollars in a marketplace consisting of residents, Linden Lab and real life 
companies.

While Second Life is sometimes referred to as a game, it does not have points, 
scores, winners or losers, levels, an end-strategy, or most of the other 
characteristics of games. In all, over four million accounts have been 
registered, though many are not active, and some Residents have multiple 
accounts. Despite its prominence, Second Life has notable competitors, 
including Active Worlds, There, and newcomers such as Entropia Universe, 
Dotsoul Cyberpark and Red Light Center.


Issues and criticisms

Second Life issues and criticisms

Because it is under constant development, and is an open environment that can 
be used by almost anyone with internet access, Second Life has encountered a 
number of challenges. These range from the technical (Budgeting of server 
resources) and "moral" (pornography) to legal (legal position of the Linden 
Dollar, Linden Lab lawsuit).

Prior to June 6, 2006, all Residents were required to verify their identities 
by providing Linden Lab with a valid credit card or PayPal account number, or 
by responding to a cell phone SMS text message. Residents providing information 
were not charged if their account type cost nothing to create.) After that 
date, it became possible to create an account with only an e-mail address; even 
standard verification methods such as e-mail reply verification are not used. 
Access to Teen Second Life (the parallel world for 13-17 year olds) still 
requires credit card details. Linden Lab has the ability to ban Residents from 
Second Life based on a hardware hash of their local PC, preventing them from 
returning with other accounts.

In January 2007, two articles were published on the Internet which compared the 
economy of Second Life to a pyramid scheme. In the same month, a "virtual riot" 
erupted between members of the French National Front who had established a 
virtual HQ on Second Life, and opponents, including Second Life Left Unity, a 
socialist and anti-capitalist user-group.Since then, several small internet 
based organizations have claimed some responsibility for instigating the riots.

Parody

Second Life is parodied by the website "Get a First Life" by Darren Barefoot. 
Instead of sending the site creator a cease and desist letter, Linden Lab sent 
him a humorous "Permit-and-Proceed" letter.


>From my point of view it is another way to going out the reality without having 
to take drugs and pills or going in alcoholism. Some are using this tool the 
right way some other not it depends of your own minding and what you are 
looking for!

It is the new "chat system" a pale copy of  the various science fiction "Hollow 
deck" rooms.

A further step towards the virtual unreality...

Locutus Beaumont :)




"-"
"It is not the class of license the amateur holds, but the class of the amateur 
that holds the license."

Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE