Gotta ban em all.

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, habe ich geschwiegen, ich war ja kein Kommunist.
Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, habe ich geschwiegen, ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.
Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten, habe ich geschwiegen, ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.
Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.

For the people who don’t understand German, it’s the original version of a pretty famous quote.

I’m sick, I’m stressed, and if I get worked up in this state I get very angry. Kinda hulk smash angry. Except I don’t start looking green.

I was out of town for the weekend on a trip to Germany. The irony. I come back and run into a shitstorm of blog posts dealing with Second Life’s 5th birthday. I didn’t make it to the 4th birthday since I was still an utter noob at the time and was only interested in camping and club contests for some few Lindens to spend. I was quite looking forward to SL5B though.

So I notice two of the main organisers stepped down because of “differences” with the Labs. The whole deal is apparently about SL banning BDSM, Gor and Child communities from the event. This is yet another moment of Linden Labs bowing down for the US congress and wasp journalists like Fux News.

What bothers me is the whole fucking hypocrisy of Linden Labs throughout the existence of SL. They want to suck Kirk’s cock? At least be honest about it! They can ban whoever they want, they’re a private company. But at least stop lying about it. You’re not showing any respect to your customers with your never ending torrents of lies. So do you really expect your customers to respect you in return?

A quote from M Linden, the new CEO: As I start my second week, I can happily say I have a sense of what makes Linden Lab and indeed Second Life such a magical place. It’s people with passion for the virtual world. And, it all starts with the Resident community. Thank you for a wondrous first week! – That’s why you take a resident-run event and twist it into a big signpost of Linden Labs owned discrimination?

Robin Linden, marketing specialist of SL: Has indicated that the people she banned from the event are welcome to visit and spend money, but they are not welcome to actively participate. Wow. What kind of retarded bullshit is that? She’s also sent a mail to Daniel Regenbogen stating the move was made because it wouldn’t be in the best interest of the event and Linden Lab to allow these people. Please explain those best interests.

Ken D Linden, no clue what his function is, but he was allowed to post this on the official blog, which means it has approval from the top: Please note it does not violate this policy merely to have a child-like avatar. It is not our intent to banish child-like avatars in and of themselves. – Then tell me what the fuck you are doing right now.

The Community Standards display this little gem: Combating intolerance is a cornerstone of Second Life’s Community Standards. Actions that marginalize, belittle, or defame individuals or groups inhibit the satisfying exchange of ideas and diminish the Second Life community as whole. - Oh right, Bush can ignore the constitution as well right? Guess we know now where M finds his biggest inspiration.

And lastly. Furries are allowed. So does that mean if I put on my furrysuit I can build some shit there, even if I’m banned as a RL BDSM lifestyler? For fuck’s sake! It’s ok for a bunch of anthropomorphic, hermaphrodite dogs to be yiffing in public, but it’s not ok for someone to play a child in a non-sexual manner?

I’m not going. Because who knows what they’ll ban next year. Fat avatars? Avatars with too large a nose? Bald avatars?

Vint Falken set up a JIRA. As usual, vote. Not that it matters. Those yank twats won’t listen anyway. But at least it’s a way to voice your opinion if you don’t own a blog yourself.

~ by Soeverein on June 1, 2008.