Month: March 2010

Trends are interesting things to observe. Sometimes you can learn a lot from them – other times, you can end up looking a complete twit for ever getting involved.

I’m really not sure which way this will go, but I’ll mention it anyway, given I’ve already posted on the SL blogrum.

There has been a lot going on around the subject of SL and RL identities of late – almost all of it initiated by Linden Lab. Vis:

• Drawing ever closer to Facebook
• Wallace Linden’s utterly mishandled posting on the subject of aligning rl and online identities
• Running a Valentine’s day “scavenger hunt” in which the main prize can only be won by those prepared to “out” themselves on Facebook
• The arrival of Viewer 2.0 with the Profile section rearranged to place rl information right below SL information
• Running an advertising competition that encourages residents to reveal their rl selves in return for some unspecified prize…

And now, to add to the list, we get Lexie Linden initiating a conversation on residents meeting up in RL (which, at the end of the day, is the most intimate means of linking one’s rl and SL identities).

Leaving aside my astonishment at Lexie initiating a discussion, rather than stomping on one (oh, me bad!), as far as I’m aware, she’s not come anywhere near starting a discussion on anything up until now.

So I can’t help but feel that her choice of subject is not entirely…random, shall we say?

Given the trend demonstrated to date, I cannot help but put “ulterior” and “motive” in the margin alongside Lexie’s thread. After all, if people indicate that, under the right circumstances (such as at events like SLCC, etc.), they’d be prepared to reveal their rl identities, might this not be seen by some in LL as a sign that closer in-world linking of rl and SL selves would be acceptable…?

Or should I simply lay off the cheese late at night?

Linden Lab seem hell bent on making XStreet as merchant-unfriendly as possible.

First we had the Freebie and listing commission debacle. Yes, freebies can be a nuisance – but no more so that low-priced goods, and freebies all too frequently serve a constructive purpose. However, the issue here was not so much the road LL decided to take in order to “handle” freebies and “reduce clutter” on Xstreet, but in the fact that any attempts to discuss the matter was met with a flat-out “no” from the likes of Pink and Colossus Linden (both going so far as to warn people attending Commerce Office hours that attempts to raise the issue of listing fees, etc., could lead to people being ejected from said meetings…).

Then we started having issues around customer service – this is one among many complaints.

Most recently, we had the stunning situation where ripped content (animations) not only got to the number 1 sales ranking on XStreet – but LL allowed the goods to stay on sale for several days (including a weekend), despite protests.

None of the above are liable to inspire trust or confidence.

Now it seems as if one of the most useful tools at a merchant’s disposal has gone: the ability to send your own items as gifts.

Why was this useful? Simply because it presented a merchant with the ability to deal with customer issues quickly and easily when unable to get in-world to handle problems. Customer failed to receive an item purchased via an in-world vendor? Send it to them via XSL. Customer has problems with an item received? Send them a replacement via XSL….

And now the function is gone. What is more, it has gone without any warning or discussion.

Surely LL cannot be so desperate for income they begrudge merchants occasionally slipping an item out of XSL that avoids the commission it would otherwise have earned LL had it been purchased?

A jira has been started to get the function restored. Merchants and customers should vote for this. LL should consider it carefully and ensure the function is returned.

Either that, or face the fact that this move give us all yet another reason to simply drop XSL altogether in favour of Metaverse Exxhange, Apez, Slapt.Me and the rest.