Second Life users offput by content-ratings test area

by Tateru Nino May 29th 2009 at 10:30AM

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Second Life, Virtual worlds

Linden Lab has set up a group of test regions for the new three-way content-ratings system, but the reactions we're getting from users indicate that many are less than pleased with the setup. Featuring electric fences, warning signs, barbed wire and floodlights, some feel that the setup evokes more of a wartime German feel than anything. An avatar approaches the fence, gets zapped and comes away trailing smoke.

"So, which way are the showers," he quips.

"It's like some wry commentary, hoax or rick-roll," observes another.

I spent the next hour listening to users engaging in a lively debate about the build. Some few are convinced that it is intended to be a joke, and that the implication that verified users with access to Adults-Only content are somehow second-class is just an unfortunate side-effect.

Some think the staff-builder was himself raising a bit of a mutinous objection to the company policies by selecting such an oppressive construction.

One or two think that the setup was intended to convey a protective feel.

"Protective like Orwell's Big Brother," says one.

Another avatar approaches the fence, and the floodlights swivel to track her movements. She backs away.

"Umm ... I'm not really sure that I want to try this," she says, and teleports away.

Admittedly a few think it is genuinely funny.

Have you visited the location? What are your thoughts?

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Tags: culture, linden-lab, opinion, second-life, sl-adult-content, virtual-worlds

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Bettina Tizzy said on 10:33AM 5-29-2009

What happens in those testing regions? Is there a Linden committee there to determine if things pass muster? Or does a bot decide what the rating will be? :D LOL

Tateru Nino said on 10:37AM 5-29-2009

It's essentially for verified and unverified users, and has sims of all three ratings types, presumably to demonstrate what can and can't be done by verified/unverified users across ratings boundaries.

SignpostMarv Martin said on 10:38AM 5-29-2009

I find it rather hilarious that even though I've never gone through one of LL's dodgy age-verification schemes, I'm able to get into the AO regions.

(I used paypal to pay for my subscription)

Kara Harkins said on 12:17PM 5-29-2009

So there are 4 types of areas now? PG, Mature, Adult, and too-adult-for-resis?

Adric Antfarm said on 11:43AM 5-29-2009

Are we talking about the same place?

I found a pretty cool near-riot protest going on.

Got a sign, someone gave me a ptichfork. I am loving it.

http://www.adric.us/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/coolpeeps.jpg

Tateru Nino said on 11:48AM 5-29-2009

Looks like the same or similar, judging by the fence-corner area. I think the people that were there at the time more or less trumped a protest. They were reacting quite negatively. Very thoughtful and full of consideration, but clearly unhappy and offput by it all.

Tateru Nino said on 11:50AM 5-29-2009

I hasten to add, that that was not because of the adult content rating or verification, but merely the presentation of the test area was disturbing them.

Adric Antfarm said on 11:53AM 5-29-2009

This is now.

Come on down. I can hook you up with a pitchfork.

Marianne McCann said on 12:01PM 5-29-2009

I spent about an hour there last night. The "fenced" area seemed confusing to many, who were already standing in the adult sim, yet felt they needed to be able to cross into the "fenced" area to prove verification.

Thud said on 12:47PM 5-29-2009

chalk me up for the "genuinely funny" group.

Iggy O said on 12:59PM 5-29-2009

Wait until the Alphaville Herald gets hold of this story.

Not that I'd tell them or anything....

Kara Harkins said on 6:49AM 6-19-2009

Pixeleen was just there yesterday.

Adric Antfarm said on 1:32PM 5-29-2009

The griefers have arrived.

http://www.adric.us/2009/05/29/grief-arrives/

Linden has lost their area.

Ari Blackthorne said on 2:28PM 5-29-2009

FUN-EE!

People are just taking themselves WAY too seriously in-world. Sheesh.

I wouldn't be a surprise if it's a Linden-built, tongue-in-cheek parody against the whiners. As in "be careful what you wish for" or "the world is a mirror" - if you see it this way then this is the way you'll see it.

I don't know. Have no idea.

But it's funny as hell.

1angelcares Writer said on 3:06PM 5-29-2009

I age-verified .....erm...."ages" ago and merely teleported to that location to confirm that I was good to go. What awaited me there was "shocking" in the most literal of senses. Electric fence? Barbed wire? Floodlights that follow your every move? At first I thought I had been tricked somehow and sent to some fakeout hoax "verification center" but when I inspected the build, it was Oskar Linden's name that came up as owner. This issue is already so controversial to many of SL's residents and has been the subject of such debate; why throw fuel onto the fire with a build that provokes such a negative reaction? Who runs SL's PR, the Gestapo? Can they honestly think that it was acceptable to create such an unwelcoming and aggressive build? It didn't feel like a joke, when I landed there. It felt like a hostile act.

Kara Harkins said on 3:25PM 5-29-2009

Oskar was just there. I have yet to meet a more condescending Linden so I doubt the fence is a joke.

orinoco.beresford said on 3:57PM 5-29-2009

hmmm... i went there today. Felt is was very odd. Not just the build, but the hostility and lack of information regarding the tools there for testing.

Moe Greene said on 5:40PM 5-29-2009

It's funny.

But, as with everything LL does, there is a collection of the usual whiners who have to shoot down everything and puff each other up with talk of how they would do things so much better.

TigroSpottystripes Katsu said on 9:38PM 5-29-2009

they've actually built a porncentration camp?! LMTO!!!!

I find it quite amusing, but I understand that both concentration camps, and the screw ups that the content restriction stuff is, are very serious things and to in itself laughing matter. For me it's how it is like with jokes with stereotypes and when I go face first into a pole or low hanging sign or somthing, I laugh at the joke, but take reality very seriously