The Metaverse

links for 2007-11-27

• Doc Searls Weblog · Time to write our own rules
  Doc doesn't write a lot of long posts, but when he does they're well worth reading.
  (tags: docsearles facebook web2.0)
• Long Road Behind, Long Road Ahead « Official Linden Blog
  Big Phil ponders the future of Second Life.
  (tags: philiprosedale linden lindenlab secondlife)
• New World Notes: Second Life in China: Philip Linden on State Censorship of SL
  Big Phil talks about what will happen in SL expands into China. Censorship?
  (tags: SecondLife china linden lindenlab philiprosedale)

A ' Twitter' for your thoughts? Daden's new Twitter fountain comes to SL

A ' Twitter' for your thoughts? Daden's new Twitter fountain comes to SL:

"Twitter fountain displays thought bubbles of real thoughts floating up and away from the fountain in a cutting edge and original visualization within Second Life. The messages are answers to the question ‘What are you doing right now?’. The answers are then fed into the fountain creating an image of the ephemeral thoughts of people from around the world."

This is a lovely example of how you can use virtual worlds as places to experiment with different forms of media representation. A fountain of Twitters isn't at all efficient - but efficiency isn't always the best way to get things done in a human way (DOS is efficient: a GUI isn't).

Almost certainly the best headline today

"Tired of Your Gorean Slaves? Be This Chickens Master!"

This is why I love virtual worlds.

Prokofy accuses yet another person of griefing

And this time, it's Michael Linden:

"But nobody is as much of a griefer as Michael Linden, who establishes the tolerance bar for griefing very, very high with his insolent, cynical, and cunning remarks that out-Eddie-Haskell even Eddie Haskell. Even I was rather taken aback, to see a Linden so *obviously* engaging in Woodbury University-taught behaviour. BOGGLE."

And what is this terrible, griefing behaviour? Denying Prokofy's request that megaprims be banned on the mainland because they're sometimes used to grief her. Note that everyone else in the conversation - as usual - points out that Prokofy is talking out of her arse and that megaprims are mostly used for building. And as usual, Prokofy griefs the office hour, pouring out more wordage than anyone else and dominating the conversation. She who shouts loudest...

Quite why I'm giving her link juice, I don't know.

(Disclosure: I am on Prokofy's ludicrous enemies list for the crime of calling her by her given name. Bless!)

At last, something interesting happening on the teen grid

British Council isle to open beta in teen grid tomorrow

"The island is looking for feedback and suggestions from teens in Second Life. The project, which will let visitors solve quests based on history, should officially launch in early 2008. Teens will be able to explore the sim and participate in events and workshops."

Technorati Tags: Second Life, British Council

10 Reasons marketers hate Second Life

Jaffe Juice: Top 10 Reasons why Marketers hate Second Life (but really just hate themselves)

"Ahead of tomorrow's Virtual Thirst finale, I thought I would write a different kind of post...which isn't directly in favor or against Second Life per se; nor is an endorsement for or against Virtual Worlds; but rather an analogy using SL as a metaphor for change and emerging media and juxtaposing it against the mainstream marketing mentality. So here are my top 10 reasons why some (not all) marketers either don't get Second Life or don't want to get it."

To which I'd add "because marketers mostly don't get social media." In particular, note this bit:

"Your brand is not my friend -  Friendship is earned; conversation is permission-based...I could go on. Bottom line is that brands that just show up (often as party-crashers) to someone else's party had better be the life of the party or they will be tossed out on their asses. Without taking the time to listen and learn; to partner with the "locals", brands become nothing more than clumsy buffoons. Working with your customers as partners is quickly becoming a mandatory in this day and age..."

Those marketers who are currently wetting themselves over Facebook ads should probably take note...

Technorati Tags: Second Life, Facebook, Marketing

Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery in Second Life

Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary interview in Second Life - Massively

To tie in with the launch of the film Beowulf, the writers Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary will be interviewed in Second Life on Saturday 10th November at 11am SL Time. Paramount ran a competition with 40 prizes of tickets to Beowulf Island, which seems to be closed now (sorry, I heard about this rather late), but you can see the interviews live at Eternal Flames Pier, Joysco Community Center, Hollywood Bowl, OnRez Event Center or The Shelter.

Top 10 Reasons why Marketers hate Second Life (but really just hate themselves)

Top 10 Reasons why Marketers hate Second Life (but really just hate themselves):

"Ahead of tomorrow's Virtual Thirst finale, I thought I would write a different kind of post...which isn't directly in favor or against Second Life per se; nor is an endorsement for or against Virtual Worlds; but rather an analogy using SL as a metaphor for change and emerging media and juxtaposing it against the mainstream marketing mentality.

So here are my top 10 reasons why some (not all) marketers either don't get Second Life or don't want to get it."

(Via Jaffe Juice.)

links for 2007-11-07

• Is Second Life worth $5 billion?
  Golden rule of reading news stories: the answer to any headline ending with a question mark is always "No".
  (tags: secondlife)

links for 2007-11-05

• New "AgeLock" Service Addresses Liability for Access to Adult Content by Minors in Second Life; Interview with Creator 'Allana Dion' | Virtually Blind | Virtual Law | Legal Issues That Impact Virtual Worlds
  A new resident-created service which lets you ask for confirmation that someone is over 18 when they enter your land.
  (tags: secondlife ageverification)