The
winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
Edward
Gibbon
The recent announcement by Ebbe
Altberg of a new virtual world, which for all practical
purposes, will replace Second Life (SL) has, to put it mildly, sent shockwaves
throughout the inworld community.
This is why I’m setting
aside my regularly scheduled topic for this week and blogging about the current
state of affairs with SL. In the three
years that I’ve been blogging
about SL I can’t recall any single subject which has so galvanized and, at the
same time. polarized residents.
In my opinion, the lack of
specifics as to Linden Lab’s intentions as well as the fears and rumors flying
about have only exacerbated the situation.
Confusion reigns!
There are several reasons
for all this hubbub.
First, Ebbe’s announcement
was premature and ill-considered.
Something like this should have been better thought out and the possible
questions, issues and concerns prepared for.
This is basic Crisis Management 101.
Next, this announcement
shows a complete disregard for the SL community. I have long written that
behind every avatar inworld is a real person with real feelings. Many are there because of the vicissitudes of
Real Life (RL). SL fills a need in their
lives. Anything that threatens SL
threatens their RL stability.
Finally, the state of
affairs right now leads me to believe that no detailed plan exists to go from
what SL is today to whatever feverish imaginings are taking place in the Linden
Lab mother ship in California.
I’ll speak from my own RL
corporate experience here. (Significant
Other feels I must be feeling strongly about this as I normally don’t like to
admit this in public.) Normally, before
launching a major change in direction, a company will do a feasibility study
and a business case before making any announcements. Then when announcements are made, public
relations professionals use these materials to assist management in preparing
to meet whatever happens. Does anyone
think Linden Lab’s announcement sound anything like this?
I suspect that Linden Lab is
reacting to recent developments at High Fidelity and
Facebook’s
acquisition of Oculus
Rift. I’m also vain enough to wonder about this
announcement coming out shortly after I recently posted a story
to my blog asking what’s going on at SL?
This whole thing smacks of a knee jerk reaction.
The days of the late, great
Steve Jobs not saying anything until he launched a superb product that would
leave us all awestruck are long gone.
As the virtual smoke and
dust settle, the community’s very real issues and concerns are starting to
stand out. A few of the more noteworthy
ones are:
· What
will happen to existing inventories and sims?
Builders have put much time and effort into creating their worlds? Can any of this be imported into the new
world? Some feel that pre-mesh will be
lost forever.
· Will
avatar names and identities be retained?
· Will
friends’ lists and groups be transferred?
· Will
Linden monetary balances be carried over and, if so, at what rate of exchange?
· Will
Linden Lab continue to maintain the existing world?
· What
will future pricing look like?
· Will
the existing ToS controversy finally be resolved?
There have been some
generalizations that a few of these will be addressed. But, saying it and doing it are two very
different things. Help desk support
hasn’t been good for a while. Who do you
call with problems?
Some have said, “So what?”
Others have jumped blindly
onto the Linden Lab bandwagon and are already talking about the brave, new
world awaiting all of us. My advice to
them is that they shouldn’t sell their hard earned credibility so cheaply.
Some tell us that we should
all be happy that Linden Lab management is finally talking with us. Yes, but what are they saying? More importantly, what aren’t they saying?
I say let’s stop for a
moment and think about the bigger picture.
What’s really at stake here?
Does the SL community really
need Linden Lab as some sort of an Unmoved First Mover? (I took philosophy instead of psychology at
university.)
What’s important to us
inworld?
Are we more concerned about
our virtual community or are we mesmerized by bright, shiny things albeit
virtual and a new, possibly improved, virtual world experience?
What are our options? Do we even have any other than blindly
following Ebbe in a Pied Piper-like fashion?
Can social media be used as
I once blogged to keep the community alive regardless of what Linden Lab
does?
Here’s what I propose:
Let’s come together to meet,
to discuss our situation, and to develop possibilities to keep the community
alive as we go forward.
Let’s publish our manifesto
and invite the other residents to join us.
Let’s go forward together
and keep our community whole!
This is also in the best interests
of Linden Lab. While I doubt there will
be a mass exodus from SL, there will be a natural reluctance on the part of
many to sign onto another virtual world that may simply be extinguished like a
candle someday at someone’s whim?
Who’s with me?
Drop me a line if you are
and let’s talk before it’s too late!
I’ve included a few pictures
of some of the beautiful places I’ve visited in my time inworld. Places that we may never see again unless we
act now.
As always, I’m grateful to
all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who
was passing through their lives.
I welcome feedback from
readers, please either comment on my blog or
e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com
.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.
Photo No. 10 Asian Victorian Gardens
