Aug 20th 2008, 11:43 BDVR Blue Diamond Virtual REIT
by ROBO Marx

More one-sided policies by Linden Labs in Second Life !

I was warned yesterday about placing ban lines on BDVR properties because they constitute visual SPAM. LL programs are set to place red lines around properties set to ban as most of you know. If I choose to have my properties set to ban for privacy of myself or other BDVR members it is my right per LL TOS.
We cannot control the red ban lines LL has set to pop-up when we utilize this tool they give us. My problem does not end there though. LL consistently makes inconsistent policies with quote unquote gray areas (basically so they can harass who they please). Being one of the leaders in the SL business community I would never violate TOS knowingly and put my shareholders or my own financial holdings at risk. As a concierge member I expect to be treated with respect by well trained individuals when I log onto the chat. Instead I was treated with disrespect and sarcasm by a staff member who refused to help with a problem or give any clear answers, because of typical lack of knowledge by LL staff. If LL labs expects to move SL forward as a progressive and frontrunner in the virtual community, they need to set clear guidelines and they need to respect all aspects of the business community that help them grow toward the future. Total lack of respect for the hard workers in the business community will only lead to further depletion of new members. Policies have affected all aspects of business community including, investments, real estate, retail and advertisers. They seem to like the in fighting by some because it draws attention away from their lack of management skills. Please read the following chat log, which was filed in a support ticket and sent directly to Harry Linden.

“Maggie: Hello ROBO_Marx, thank you for contacting us. I am probably talking to multiple people at the same time, so please describe your issue in detail while you wait for me to become available. If you have filed a ticket already, please have the ticket number handy for me. Thank you!

ROBO_Marx: I received a warning today as follows: Dear ROBO Marx, This email is notification of action regarding your Second Life account, ROBO Marx, for violation of the Second Life Terms of Service or Community Standards. The violation in question occurred on August 19, 2008 in the region of Dongyeongju. Violation: Community Standards, Disturbing the Peace, Land Use Residents may not use land as a means to harass other residents, restrict the freedoms or movement of another Resident or disturb the peace in a region with visual spam. Action: No additional action is being taken at this time. How am i receiving a warning for a function on my land allowed by linden labs. Where in the TOS does it say I cannot use banlines for privacy?
Maggie: On a 16m parcel? Er. Do you stand in the middle of it and knit, or something like that?
ROBO_Marx: Is there a tos that says I may not, why is the function available?
ROBO_Marx: If the line are visual spam all lines on all parcels are visual spam, make them clear
ROBO_Marx: How long do I have to remove any, not sure which have ban lines
Maggie: We give our residents a lot of tools, to build, create, and manage their lands and objects. That flexibility also requires people to exercise judgment about when things should be used. If you can give me a justified reason for banlines on a 16m parcel that isn't "irritating your neighbors into buying the land from you", I'm interested. I can't think of any, personally. It may just be my limited understanding.
ROBO_Marx: This is a serious matter, where my account may be put in jeopardy and you use sarcasm!
ROBO_Marx: I like my privacy as they do.
ROBO_Marx: Where is it in the TOS that I can not use ban lines?
Maggie: You can't use them to harass your neighbors. If you aren't harassing your neighbors with them, then I imagine you'll be just fine.
ROBO_Marx: Well im not so why was i getting a warning?
ROBO_Marx: If this is such a pressing matter someone could contact me to have them removed.
ROBO_Marx: No such contact was made by LL or the parcel owner.
Maggie: I'm not a member of the governance team, and I don't handle abuse reports or appeals with them - so I can't say. I would imagine that someone felt harassed by the banlines on your parcel. But as I said - if you can present a good reason to have them on a 16m, that'd be useful. 'I like privacy' isn't really a valid reason, if you never use the land for anything and never spend time on the parcel, I'd think.
Maggie: The warning is the contact.
ROBO_Marx: If u assume I am harassing someone, is there reason to believe everyone with ban lines up is harrassing.
Maggie: You may have read the blog recently, about Mainland usage? That may be helpful to you in deciding how to manage your land in the future.
ROBO_Marx: OK so are any other banlines going to lead to further punishment.
ROBO_Marx: Ok is the a TOS that says I may not use banlines?
ROBO_Marx: I cannot be punished for not violating TOS.
ROBO_Marx: I do not place ads on property for sale. As the TOS states.
Maggie: It's a gray area, subject to interpretation. If your use of the object or tool constitutes harassment, then it's a violation of the TOS.
ROBO_Marx: So I am harassed because someone doesnt like my banlines
Maggie: If you want to appeal the situation for clarification, you'll need to submit a support ticket to the Governance team's abuse appeal section. I can't help you any more with abuse related inquiries. Sorry.
ROBO_Marx: Rules are in place so all the resdents in SL can live in harmony and know what is expected of them.
ROBO_Marx: No so people can be punished at will.
ROBO_Marx: I am currently removing any banlines that I have.
ROBO_Marx: I would like this put on record incase I miss 1, and to stop future suspension.
ROBO_Marx: Ok I will forward my chat here to Harry, thank you.”

Thank you. Lets all let LL know we are tired of inconsistent policies and harassment by biased staff.

Robo Marx
CEO BDVR
www.bluediamondvirtual.info



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