MISSING CONVENTIONS

If you read this when it's posted, I should just be arriving in New York City, for a few days-- after which, we'll escape Manhattan right before the launch of the Republican National Convention. That means I'll be missing two conventions, so to speak, while I'm on a vacation over the next week and half. Because right now, the Second Life forums are starting to flood with debates and debates on debates, on the desirability (if any) of representative self-governance in the world. The inagural topic was launched last week by Linden Lab, located here, and since then, the conversation has been progressing at a furious clip. To be sure, the idea of a company floating the idea of letting its subscribers have a role in running their own virtual world is bound to attract passionate supporters and equally passionate detractors. Some Forum topic responses to that original conversation can be found here, here, and here. Most recently, as of this writing (August 15), the most striking Forum response to emerge from this is perhaps found in a topic called "Social Democrats Unite!". It begins with a proposal by resident Ulrika Zugzwang to form an in-world party that espouses principles of democratic socialism, in Second Life. ("We support the taxation of land purchases to discourage land barons... We seek to protect the snow sims, create open space, and minimize rotating for-sale signs to enhance the quality of life in sims.") Meanwhile, in-world, the response has been equally energetic: a new group called Anarchism is now one of the largest, in a short time boasting over 240 members. ("We believe in maintaining freedom from all forms of resident governance," runs its charter, "and a promotion of individual rights. Let those that wish to be governed, achieve this through Group membership-- we will walk our own path.")

Hopefully, some of my fellow Second Life bloggers will employ their reporting skills on the matter, while I'm away. Meanwhile, New World Notes entries will keep flowing in my absence, with a slate of stories already in the pipe. While I'm out-world, I should still be accessible via Instant Message, as those are forwarded to my e-mail inbox. So please keep sending me news tips/observations/opinions/etc., and I'll do my best to respond when I can, during my travels-- or when I'm back in my virtual office in Shipley, on the Monday of August 30.