MARK OF THE BEAST

Yesterday's update of SL comes, as promised, with a new account status panel, designating whether a given user's account has payment info on file with Linden Lab.  (Though the new panel doesn't seem to factor in former contract workers who were given a comp account on their way out the door.)  This feature, coupled with the ability to restrict land access based on payment info status-- another tool coming down the pike, according to Robin Linden-- may be an effective guard against would-be griefers and minors who've fudged their way into the world.  If it works as intended, it'll address much of the concerns raised in last week's protest against the recent removal of the credit card/age verification process, at sign-up.  Then again, it might work, but still create a polarizing, tiered service effect with negative social consequences-- Mark Wallace speculates on those.  I'm too busy getting ready for a much-needed vacation to give much thought to the topic either way, but if the past is any guide, the new system will provoke an outcry, a strong reply to the outcry, a backlash against the reply, and then a strong outcry against the backlash.  And then a month or two later, no one will even remember what the fuss was over.

Comments

[Alfa RUbio]

>if the past is any guide, the new system will provoke an outcry,
> a strong reply to the outcry, a backlash against the reply, and then
> a strong outcry against the backlash. And then a month or two later,
> no one will even remember what the fuss was over._

Sounds like you need that holiday!

Enjoy.

[Tao Takashi]

I could not have said it any better ;-)

Enjoy your vacation!

[Hiro Pendragon]

On the real Internet, they have secure html for people who want to be sure a business transaction goes through. Websites and software ask you to register so that your IP can be linked to a record. This is just another form of verification. No big deal.

I also imagine if someone is unverified but has a born-on date that's months old, that will more than make up for it.

[rikomatic]

Have a great vacation. Hope you spend it somewhere beautiful without internet. Havana is nice this time of year.

[Hamlet Au]

Thanks! No Havana this time, though a bit South of that. :)