How to greatly reduce or eliminate networked advertising

[BilliJo Aldrin]

We hear over and over about the evil of networked advertising on mainland, about how it is the bane of mainlanders existence, about how it should be eliminated now and forever.

But how?

We hear that networked advertising is mainly a phenomenon of micro parcels, since what else can you do with 5 prims except stick a sign on it?

Its been suggested that parcels not be allowed to be cut smaller than a certain size, but that would cause a lot of unintended consequences.

Similarly, banning the sale of micro parcels would cause also undesirable consequences.

A forum resident suggested charging each micro parcel  the equivalent of a 512 sq m tier, which is both unworkable and unfair.

My suggesting is simple, clear and fair.

I propose that Linden Labs make a new rule banning construction on any parcel under  64 sq m

Parcels under that size would only be allowed to have natural elements rezzed on them such as trees, flowers, and rocks.

As soon as this rule change is implemented, all those 16 sq m networked advertising holdings would be rendered worthless, either for use or for sale at inflated prices.

Networked advertisers could divest themselves of their holdings by offering them for sale at reasonable prices to neighboring land owners, or just abandoning them

Lets face it, no one will pay hundreds of $Ls for a 16 sq m parcel just to put a rock or shrub on.

Under this new rule, networked advertising won't be eliminated since it would still be legal, but I think it will certainly be greatly reduced.

Implement this suggestion, and take a giant step to beautifying the mainland by largely eliminating the "scourge" of networked advertising once and for all.

Note to LL, if you do implement this rule, please publish it. Don't just sneakily change the TOS and say gotcha.

 

 

 

 

[Qie Niangao]

I doubt the Lab will make any significant changes to existing Mainland rules.

On the other hand, they've definitely moved away from allowing new land to be subdivided, joined, etc. That's always been the rule in Linden's "urban" zoned areas such as Bay City, Nova Albion, Nautilus City, etc., and applies to a big chunk of Zindra. Also, of course, Belli and the old Linden Homes continents, and most predictive of anything to be added in future: the Horizons continent. So, basically, they realize that virtual land is most productive when it follows the same practices as Estates, and that just doesn't include microparcels.

If they did anything, I'd favor just banning everything under 144 sq.m. from being set for sale at all, just as they can't appear in Search.They were just a mistake, so let them die out as painlessly as possible.

Networked advertising, qua advertising, has never really been a thing. There have been a few folks who genuinely misunderstood and thought it might be a business, but that's never been why there are microparcels, and most microparcel-based network "advertisers" know darn well they couldn't pay to light the pixels with the eyeballs and clickthrus. It's always been just a cover for land extortion, with a handful of saps who mistook it for actual advertising. There's just no business to be had there.

[Mollymews]

3 minutes ago, Qie Niangao said:

If they did anything, I'd favor just banning everything under 144 sq.m. from being set for sale at all, just as they can't appear in Search.They were just a mistake, so let them die out as painlessly as possible

if there was a minimum then I would prefer 96m. As 96m is what we need to bring a 1024m up to the 1120m group limit

agree that adfarming was in the overwhelming cases all about extortion sales

i think Linden have aged this issue out quite well.  As parcels have been abandoned then Linden rejoin them to neighbouring parcels. On my new home region, it used to be cut to pieces, and now there is only 4 microparcels left from the dozens that there used to be. 2 of which are owned by Linden and are not able to be joined well to existing Governor Linden land. 2 others are owned privately. A derelict ad network sign on one, and the other is empty

[animats]

5 hours ago, Mollymews said:

As parcels have been abandoned then Linden rejoin them to neighbouring parcels.

Yes, that seems to be working.

About half of ad farm ads seem to be selling more ads,  which suggests the ad farm industry isn't profitable.

 

[BilliJo Aldrin]

9 hours ago, Qie Niangao said:

 

If they did anything, I'd favor just banning everything under 144 sq.m. from being set for sale at all, just as they can't appear in Search.They were just a mistake, so let them die out as painlessly as possible.

 

But they do appear in search. I bought all my 16 sq m parcels from the in world search function on firestorm.

[Qie Niangao]

3 hours ago, BilliJo Aldrin said:

But they do appear in search. I bought all my 16 sq m parcels from the in world search function on firestorm.

Yeah, that's actually a bone of some contention. They show in land for sale search, but otherwise they're not supposed to get a listing under the usual L$30/wk option ("Places" search). At least that 144sq.m. minimum is still in the Limits wikipage; pretty sure it's documented somewhere else, too.

Anyway, right, maybe a first step towards making microparcels ineligible for sale, would be to just make them ineligible to be listed for sale.

Not sure which would be easier to implement, actually.

Can't really imagine anybody eager to pull in a jira for either change. Can't say I'd blame them.