POLITICS IN SL

It has been interesting writing on the topic of politics in SL. The AvaStar is a tabloid newspaper covering all types of happenings, from style and fashion to how the Linden Lab is doing, to events and business and all else that is of concern to residents. As such, there's room to discuss the issue of politicians swarming on SL in the same way major brands have. In Issue 19 and 21, I wrote about the topic of the French general election, as well as touching on other countries, namely the US, realising the potential for RL campaigns. On a eurocentric level, the French are generally more interested in politics than, say, the British, but the last week and a half have seen the real comedy antics coming from the grid's Spanish residents. People purporting to represent both sides of the political spectrum have been running across the grid making each other's lives hard, griefing and causing all types of 'terrorist' activities, as the Partido Popular was quick to say.

Isn't this all a bit daft? SL residents are not all so thick as to think that their virtual world is not being used by politicians of all sides to further RL ambitions - the point is that it sells RL newspapers (the RL press in Spain have been quite interested), has a quick media impact (although this is cancelled out by the fact the opposition party gets its name in too) but looks, well, pretty damn 'tonto' as the Spanish might say. If only fire breathing dragons were to engulf RL political offices, now that might be worthy of the name terrorism. As it stands, supporters of both major Spanish political parties, as well as smaller ones, have managed to get 'huevo' all their faces. You look great guys, really. Now do something constructive.

Joining the Avastar

Well! What a week. That's what you say after a week in a new job, I guess. It's been interesting. The Avastar, for those who don't know, is SL's professional tabloid newspaper, covering, well, all the important stuff that goes on across our world.

I've been writing for some time. I'm a media junky, a news fiend. I love it. Give me a newspaper, you can keep the reality TV - go on, have it. I've been writing for several years (and I'm still young, I guess). On music, politics, technology, media. Now, along with Manta Mesmer, I've been taken on board at the Avastar, as a reporter.

I've not been in SL for so long, but it's been a matter of immersion over the last week. There are some decent folk in SL, I've had some good conversations, met some nice peeps, and added a bunch of friends. There are some tools here, too. That's life, huh? I've moved around plenty, all over the RL world. Same thing there too.

It's not hard to make friends in SL, at least it's not hard to talk to people. Most people are intrigued. Hell, you can walk round in some cracked-out T-shirts with a bushy red beard and bald head, and people barely notice. It seems that plenty of people would argue SL is a tolerant place where you can rock whatever you like, cos it's cool like that, it's democratic, liberal, happy to indulge the fashion tastes of others. But is it really? Ninety per cent of the residents are too blinded by each other's dazzling bling and shiny tanned legs to care less about the imperfect residents. The Avastar led with a story on Barbie SL being boring, and this week freedom of speech is the top topic. Do we want an SL where people can say whatever they like? Cos if people say whatever they like, this by nature includes inciting hatred, violence, and the denial of historical atrocities.

Do we want right-wing extremists in the form of the French Front National around? By the same token, do we want left-wing cyber guerrillas blowing the crap out of sims? Residents have different viewpoints, clearly.

A world created as a utopia for its users, and the problems from RL are slowly being imported in.