Category Archives: Philosophy

A Sense of Second Life CEO Humble

by

2

Rod Humble is the new CEO of Second Life, as of January 2011. Many of us are curious what he will do with Second Life. What direction he will take it and does he see Second Life as we do? …well… really… All I care about is does he see it as I do and is my fun time safe?

I can’t say yet. I also can’t tell you whether he sees SL as you do or even for sure how he sees SL. Or whether our fun activities are safe or whether SL has peaked and is headed for decline. One can certainly get enough opinions on the eminent downfall of SL or it being on the edge of an eminent explosion of new users from social media. But, we don’t really know what will happen.

Danial Voyager has posted a blog article that provides links to a collection of the latest interviews with Rod Humble. You can read those to get a first hand sense of who he is and some insight to what he is thinking and might do. (Link to an audio interview added below 2/16)

Continue reading →

Second Life CEO Meets Residents

by

0

Friday 2/4, Rod Humble, CEO and known as Rodvik Linden in SL, along with Pete Linden held a by-invitation-only meeting to talk with selected residents. One of those invited was Chestnut Rau, author of the blog Second Life of my Dreams and writer for New World Notes. Chestnut posted a transcript of the meeting for those that want to read it, link later. Following is my summary and comments on the things I found interesting.

After introductions and a statement of the meetings purpose, not a press conference for Q&A (a later description of the meeting by Garmin Kawaguich is ‘an exchange of courtesies’), Pete as the meeting facilitator setup Rodvik’s initial talking point, ‘what has Rodvik found most exciting about SL.’ The answer:
Continue reading →

Predictions 2011

by

1

Predictions

Image by garryknight @ Flickr

I usually prefer to read others predictions rather than make them. The Dolphin Poll on users’ preference got me thinking and I have not seen many predicting a lot about where viewers are going. Of course that may be because it is a foregone conclusion. But, since this is my blog, I get to voice my opinion and ramble or rant on about it until you click away from boredom. Hopefully not. In this case I think I can put things in terms you’ll find interesting.

I think the viewer development path using series 1 viewer code is a dead end. At some point viewers based on series one code are going to go away. I think this year.

I think the series 1 User Interface (UI) will last longer may be even into next year, but it too will disappear. Simple, end prediction. Following are my reasons and thinking for why I believe this will happen.

Continue reading →

Copyright, Philosophy, Law, and Virtual Worlds

by

Alphaville Herald has an article up this morning: Hacktivism, Governance, and Copyright Debates 4chan Style. This is an interesting spin on ideas many of us consider fixed. In regard to copyright, and actually most of government, it should be no surprise things simply don’t work well (A good reason for small government). The problems created by corporate influence on lawmakers and the lack of intellectual ability and foresight among politicians is reaching some critical mass. For those seeing issues with a philosophical and intellectual interest beyond situational ethics the Alphaville Herald article is well worth the read.

Second Life Viewer 2 Controversy

by

4

Second Life

SL Viewers

Drama swirls around the coming end of the Second Life Viewer 1.23 (SLV1) and SL Snowglobe 1.4 & 1.5 viewers and possibly some Third Party Viewers (TPV). If you are interested in getting perspective and an idea of what is coming and why, read on.

It appears to have many upset and predicting the end of SL over the viewer change from the SLV1 to the SLV2 series viewers.  I personally think these are people not paying attention to what is happening at Linden Lab. Continue reading →

The Loss of Civility

by

0

photo_mind's image

Hate

The Alphaville Harold has published an op-ed by FoxM Ember. (10y/07m/10) Using the title I copied, The Loss of Civility. The loss of civility and the inability of people to debate controversial issues and move discussions forward to a rational solution rather devolving into profanity, name calling, and locked threads has long been a concern of mine.

I think Fox’s article for the Alphaville Harold is an indication that others have similar concerns and are seeing a similar loss of social abilities. Fox feels the anonymity of the net and virtual worlds adds to the problem. Fox is likely correct on that point. But, other than pointing out the problem nothing is said about how to correct the problem or trend. Continue reading →

Inferiority or Transcendence

by

0

I and many reading this have seen the flame exchanges in forums and in virtual Worlds. People form their opinions of who is childish or wise, mean spirited or tolerant, rude or gracious, inappropriate or tuned in, and narrow minded or thoughtful from what they read and hear there. A few people even display serious behavioral disorders. People’s discussions often escalate to the point management or moderators step in and take action. Seeing these exchanges I often wonder how many of us actually choose our personality or even realize we can shape it and by so doing can affect others.
Continue reading →