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Group Seeks to Liberate Second Life
Techtree News Staff, Feb 25, 2007 1359 hrs ISTImagine a wildly popular virtual destination such as Second Life in the throes of a power struggle!
Imagine a wildly popular virtual destination such as Second Life in the throes of a power struggle!
According to an AFP (Agence France Presse) report, the last six months or so have seen the rise and rise of a group which calls itself the Second Life Liberation Army (SLLA), and which aims to replace what it perceives as the rule of Linden Labs (creator of Second Life) with a government of, by, and for the four million-odd residents of Second Life.
With claims none less than being an 'in-world military wing of a national liberation movement', the SLLA has been busy setting-off virtual atomic bomb explosions in Second Life.
The bombs explode in hazy white balls, blotting out portions of the screen, and more often than not blasting nearby avatars, which are essentially animated virtual world proxies of residents of Second Life.
Of these blasts, Linden says they are brief, and not serious enough to cause lasting damage in Second Life. Linden even views the bombings as a sort of 'mock terrorism' intended to spur debate on the power structure within Second Life.
Marketing Director of Linden Labs, Catherine Smith, expresses the view that recent events involving SLLA protest lack malicious intent, and that residents have actually reacted to the attacks in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Meanwhile, the SLLA all but gives the impression it means serious business...
The SLLA Web site at http://secondlla.googlepages.com demands that Second Life give its residents 'basic rights' by going public, and allowing each avatar (resident) to buy a share of the stock at a set price.
A message on the Web site says that as Linden Labs is functioning as an authoritarian government, the only appropriate response is to fight.
The message even goes on to say that when the organization succeeds in its aims, it will disband, and hand back power to the political wing of the movement.
In the words of Smith, Linden has, and will always welcome creative dissent - within certain bounds.
As long as residents do not indulge in what is typically called 'griefing' in game-speak, they will continue to be given free rein in Second Life. But instances wherein residents engage in simulated violence will be dealt with appropriately. So also, wherever residents feel harassed by the SLLA, Linden will have the prerogative to dole out temporary banishment or any such penalty as outlined in Second Life's written manifesto of conduct.
Summing up, it's not the first time that Second Life is assuming political overtones. Around three years back, avatars modeled upon American revolutionaries recreated the historic Boston Tea Party, and forced Linden's hand to stop the tax that was till then charged on items created by residents of Second Life.
Linden itself cites other instances of mischief, like the case of the 'push gun' that would blast other avatars back when fired...
Also Read:
Swedish Embassy in Second Life?
According to an AFP (Agence France Presse) report, the last six months or so have seen the rise and rise of a group which calls itself the Second Life Liberation Army (SLLA), and which aims to replace what it perceives as the rule of Linden Labs (creator of Second Life) with a government of, by, and for the four million-odd residents of Second Life.
With claims none less than being an 'in-world military wing of a national liberation movement', the SLLA has been busy setting-off virtual atomic bomb explosions in Second Life.
The bombs explode in hazy white balls, blotting out portions of the screen, and more often than not blasting nearby avatars, which are essentially animated virtual world proxies of residents of Second Life.
Of these blasts, Linden says they are brief, and not serious enough to cause lasting damage in Second Life. Linden even views the bombings as a sort of 'mock terrorism' intended to spur debate on the power structure within Second Life.
Marketing Director of Linden Labs, Catherine Smith, expresses the view that recent events involving SLLA protest lack malicious intent, and that residents have actually reacted to the attacks in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Meanwhile, the SLLA all but gives the impression it means serious business...
The SLLA Web site at http://secondlla.googlepages.com demands that Second Life give its residents 'basic rights' by going public, and allowing each avatar (resident) to buy a share of the stock at a set price.
A message on the Web site says that as Linden Labs is functioning as an authoritarian government, the only appropriate response is to fight.
The message even goes on to say that when the organization succeeds in its aims, it will disband, and hand back power to the political wing of the movement.
In the words of Smith, Linden has, and will always welcome creative dissent - within certain bounds.
As long as residents do not indulge in what is typically called 'griefing' in game-speak, they will continue to be given free rein in Second Life. But instances wherein residents engage in simulated violence will be dealt with appropriately. So also, wherever residents feel harassed by the SLLA, Linden will have the prerogative to dole out temporary banishment or any such penalty as outlined in Second Life's written manifesto of conduct.
Summing up, it's not the first time that Second Life is assuming political overtones. Around three years back, avatars modeled upon American revolutionaries recreated the historic Boston Tea Party, and forced Linden's hand to stop the tax that was till then charged on items created by residents of Second Life.
Linden itself cites other instances of mischief, like the case of the 'push gun' that would blast other avatars back when fired...
Also Read:
Swedish Embassy in Second Life?
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