Hey all! Sorry to be so far behind with updates lately, but I swear I have a really good reason. I'm 5 weeks from graduating! So, unfortunately this means I'm up to my eyeballs in homework and working on my final project. Uber busy Yora. So, needless to say, I've been a wee bit behind on updates (and totally blown my New Years resolution. But hey who keeps those ;) ). Anyway, there's been some really big things happening in SL and I'm sure many readers know, and I thought I'd put my 2 cents in on it.
So, Linden Labs, the makers of SL have decided to finally go ahead with adult verification. what's this mean? Well, it means that they are creating a new land type, Adult, and making it so if you want to access these areas, you need to provide suitable information that you are such. Also, they are creating a new Adult landmass and all Adult areas on the mainland now will need to move there. If someone owns a private island and they set it as Adult, they are a-ok, no move required. Here's a link with more info on it.
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Age_verification
Some of you may be asking why are they doing this? Isn't SL mature rated? No one under 17 allowed? That is true. If your under 17, there's the teen grid. No adults allowed. Still, I can understand why this is happening to some degree. First off, it's easy to make a SL account. Like really easy. No verification of age required easy. So I can understand why this could let some teens on the grid. Still, I don't think this is a major problem. Oh sure their might be some that try SL. I mean, telling a teenager no, you can't do this is the best way to get them to do it. (On a side note if any of you out there reading this are under 17 and thinking about it, for the love of god go to the teen grid and start there! It's not worth getting in legal trouble over if you caught, and you'll likely learn alot more about SL and how to build, script, and so on by starting there).
It's looking more like this isn't about an existing problem going on, but more of a CYA approach. Apparently, congress has tasked the FCC with looking into how easy it is for teens to access adult content in virtual worlds. And while I don't think world of Warcraft has much to worry about, SL does. Now, I don't want to make it sound like SL is all sex all the time. It really depends what your into there I guess. but it is big business in world.
Does that mean I'm not in favor of Adult verification? Well, it's a pain in the rear I'll admit. but, it boils down to SL belongs to Linden Labs. they can choose to do whatever they want. And if they think it's for the best interest of the company to do it, then that's their choice. I mean, it's pretty clear that this huge focus on sex wasn't what LL wanted for SL to begin with. Still, I think it's going to cause problems no matter how they handle it. For one, people fear change. No matter what occurs someone will freak out about it. And for two, this will hurt LL some. People will leave SL over it. Already, Dari's Haus, a pretty big adult toy vendor,has closed an the owner has left SL for good. http://www.darishaus.com/site/home.html Which is a shame. Still, Darien decided to make all the items she was selling available for free. Very nice of her to do that, and she will be missed If you want a box, IM me in world, or visit her blog and go to the SLURL there.
So, what does all this mean for you're truly? Well, I'm in SL for as long as it's around. I already submited verification. It was pretty quick and painless. Still, it does feel like an end of an era is approaching for some reason. SL is becoming less free and more restricted. How will this play out down the line? Well, we'll have to see. Any who, next post will be more fun I promise. I have a lot of toys to show off :) Til then!
3 comments:
Yeah... the Lindens have to go AVS because the parents of the world don't want to bother raising their kid. So they force everyone else to censor their internet, yet while the kid's off with the boy/girl scouts they're in the bedroom doing the very things they don't want the kids knowing exist.
Censorship "for the children" is still censorship, just like serial murder "for the children" is still serial murder.
Just age verified ... only been in SL actively for a week or so and I sincerely hope that this is not the end of an era Yora.
Based on my first week I, like you, will see it through to the bitter end.
Well after Linden screwed me over and deleted my premium account, I highly doubt I will be giving them any information on my non-premium one.
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