[New Premium Membership Features]

My premium is about to expire.

I rent land on an estate because most of mainland is an eyesore or outrageously priced (sorry, I'm not gonna buy your 2048sqm plot for 384 USD kthxbai) so free tier is pretty 'meh'. I don't use voice so morphing is irrelevant to me, I have tons of furniture in my inventory already and using opensim I have as many sandboxes as I want.

 

The stipend is nice, at least, the cost of lindens has increased, it might be nice to nudge up the stipend a touch.

OTOH, I buy lindens enough that the stipend really doesn't add that much value.

So ...why should I renew? What am I gonna get?

[Viewer 2.5 with Web Profiles Has Arrived]

Bleah, I prefer the old profiles.

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

It's a good question that wasn't answered and I don't think will be answered, which is the answer?

 

blearg, edited. It was answered, actually -as Suella Ember points out below.

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

I'm sure Amanda has answered it somewhere in this thread, and I know she answered it at yesterday's Community Tools User Group. https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Community_Tools_User_Group/10-Feb-2011

The answer is essentially this:

Of course critical posts won't result in a ban either in-world or on the forums. Criticism and constructive debate is welcomed. However, the moment it becomes trollish, rude, insulting, harassing etc it could result in warnings/susensions/bans.

Amanda also confirmed at the User Group that a warning/suspension/ban on the forums would not normally result in an in-world ban too.

Which just seems obvious to me. It's never once crossed my mind that anyone would get a ban simply for criticism. This very thread shows that critcism is welcomed - just not downright rudeness!

Criticism and even heated debate is good, but the moment it becomes trolling, rude, insulting or harassment it should be dealt with and I really hope they do enforce the new participation guidelines effectively.

I see she did, I'll go back and edit my post to acknowlege that.

I hope that there's a clear guideline for what's considered 'trollish', some people present valid arguments in what appears to be a contrarian, or outright annoying manner -it would be a loss to the community if arguments were lost simply because the moderator didn't like the tone of the post, regardless of it's merits.

But no one wants slagging and harassment, on that I think most of us agree!

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

I have decided the safest bet for me personally is to just not participate in community forums any longer because expressing an unpopular opinion really isn't worth the risk of losing your account. These newly created restrictions (guidelines) really don't make me feel any safer either.

I've come to the same conclusion about participation in community forums, and I'm told that we're not alone.

The restrictions, I mean 'guidelines' actually serve to verify what I'm hearing in the grapevine, which is that dissent and critical posts will be met with warnings and then bans.

If true then this will create a climate where those with the most vested in Linden Labs financially would be in the least posistion to 'rock the boat' because they would be afraid of having the virtual property that they've invested (tens of) thousands of dollars yanked away simply for saying the wrong thing.

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

I also hope that you won't depend on Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with us. I'm busy enough already without those two. Second Life is a good medium in itself; you have websites and blogs galore.

It looks to me like that's exactly what they're doing. Otherwise what else would " Facebook is the best place to find out about cool  things going on in Second Life, share ideas, and get the inside scoop on  inworld events, contests, machinima releases, PR activities, fun  discussions, and more" mean?

[Improving our Lines of Communication with the Community]

NEW COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES SET THE STAGE FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE

We've  updated our guidelines about community participation and they're  largely the same, just clarified and streamlined for easy reference. The  purpose of these new guidelines is to keep the conversations   constructive, courteous, respectful, and in the spirit of collaboration  so that we can have more thoughtful and effective discussions. The new Community Participation Guidelines outline the ground rules, in addition to our Terms of Service,   for all Resident and Linden communications on the blogs, forums, bug   tracker (JIRA), SL Answers, User Groups, and the Knowledge Base.

I want to know if forum and blog posts that are critical of Linden Lab and Linden Lab policies are now going to begin to earn in-world bans.

[Second Life Story in HBO Documentary this Valentine’s Day]

I hope this show won't be anything like the "Life 2.0" documentary,  those of you who have seen that will know what I mean.   It was aired at the SLCC convention last year.   That film was not flattering to SL.   Has anyone seen a preview of "When Strangers Click" ?   Be prepared for disappointment,   documentary film-makers tend  to play up the negative, controversial aspects of their topic.  I haven't seen his film "FOOD, inc." but am looking at the trailer now and I can see that Robert Kenner is a propagandist,  so don't expect a fair and balanced portrayal of SL from this director.

Sorry for being cynical ... and I know I should not pre-judge something I have not even seen .. but after my disappointment with "Life 2.0" I am wary of any documentary about SL.

Sounds to me like your judgement is keen and accurate, since the hype bubble popped most portrayals of SL tend to be along the lines you described. Sopiliia's comment in this very thread reflects how ingrained the negative image of SL is.

I share your reservations -for the same reasons.

[Second Life Story in HBO Documentary this Valentine’s Day]

HBO has no meaning to me at all I know I could look it up but I would rather be able to read the blog posts right away

Well played, Dora, well played indeed.

@Paisley, obviously I haven't seen it, but what I'm reacting is the fact it appears to be a glurgy hallmark lifetime-ish saccherine fest. I'd love to be wrong -in fact I hope I am.

SL could use some good exposure for a change!

[Second Life Story in HBO Documentary this Valentine’s Day]

It's good to see SL in the media for all the wrong reasons again.

Too bad it's for some glurgy saccherine valentines vomitfest.