Hadley+Kiergarten's+Journal

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Hadley Kiergarten Home Group Project Page Places of Interest

__2.10.08__
And so the exploration begins...

I have been on Second Life several times at this point in the semester. However, the bulk of my experience has been geared towards familiarizing myself with the program and also how to teleport home in a hurry when "popular" places turn out to be porn palaces! Nevertheless, it has been interesting.

There are two main aspects which I find particularly intriguing, as of now, in regards to SL. Firstly, I find it fascinating that in a virtual world actual law not only has a place and purpose, but also a necessity. When real economics are involved it becomes less and less virtual and more and more real. It still baffles me that I can make real money in a virtual world by standing around in a seedy techno club. If only it were that case in the real world! Secondly, I think the relatively significant mirroring of RL in SL is quite fascinating. For instance, it seems each time I sign on I resume my quest to find a free motorcycle. This brings up several questions: why do I need a motorcycle in a virtual world and why am I willing to spend an unnecessary amount of time trying to find one? Reason: I just wanna. It does not matter that I can walk and even fly around my simulated environment. I must be Top Gun cool and ride a motorcycle! So what is the relation between human motivation and its translation into a virtual context: though the reality changes, the attitude stays relatively the same. Scary. This would seem to signify that even if circumstance changes, original human behavior generally stays the same. Eek...I don't like this journal. Stay tuned to see if my opinion changes by the end of the experiment.

__2.16.2008__
On this particular visit, I teleported to Capitol Hill North as well as Capitol Hill South. Both were dead quiet with not too much to see. They were interesting parallels to the real world minus the lack of interpersonal involvement. As I was ready to give up and go "home" I finally ran in to someone. While he was a very helpful individual, I felt a tinge of inappropriateness within the conversation. He started discussing politics with me (surprising at the Capitol Hill site) and suggested that the best place I could possibly visit would be the Republican HQ Island. Obviously, I was bursting with excitement being that Capitol Hill was already so enthralling.

Being the obliging avatar that I am, I followed him there to take a tour of the island. As we were walking around viewing the different areas in which meetings are held, basic polls are taken and general information is dispersed, he divulged much personal information about himself in the Real World. He said that he owns his own internet company and is based out of West Virginia. He told me how he is incredibly active in Republican politics and actually ran for a senate position. He did not win but was terribly proud of his insider connections to John McCain and the under-dealings of the Republican party. He told me that his general reasoning for fettering with SL is for the exploration of promoting his online business. Thus far it has been very successful, he told me, in acquiring new clients through this medium. He noted that the exchange rate within SL is a very interesting aspect to monitor. At the time of our conversation, the exchange rate was 1000Lindens = $4.03 US dollars.

I explained in great detail the purpose of our group research project and asked for his explicit permission to reiterate our conversation on this site. He granted full permission to use his avatar name, photo and even his personal website.

[|http://www.garyhowell2008.com/index.html<span]

All of this conversation about real world advantages through a virtual world medium brought up several questions within my mind. I am wondering, which clients are being reached through a virtual world, such as Second Life, that would normally not be touched by current forms of advertisement? Also, how does advertisement under these circumstances differ from that of RL advertisement in approach and result? When it comes to finances I have always been taught "diversify diversify diversify"; but how does one accomplish this in a virtual setting? How can diversification expand beyond the realm of reality? For an un-real world, there are lots of real world attributes as well as consequences. It is as though the game of life is now truly available in game form! The metaphor has become the reality. I can understand that advertising on a virtual community is far more cost effective, generally, than that of the real world as it is a new concept of which many corporations are just now becoming aware. It provides a sweet advantage to the small business owners of the world who want to compete with the big boys in champagne taste on a beer budget. Enter in: Miller Hi-Life a.k.a. Second Life. All of a sudden this community building platform, blank slate of an existence is turning in to a great big never-ending virtual world of capitalist opportunity! Yeah coporatism! Which brings me to my next question: WWTDD? (What Would Tyler Durden Do?).

It seems that even a virtual world model of the real world with all of the opportunity of the suggested free market/societal ice age on which to rebuild a new conception of community relationships and economics, we still revert to what we know best: capitalism, corporatism and a segmented existence. This, just as the above journal, is a bit despairing. How is it that a virtual world with all of the opportunity to create something new, merely recreates its current real world existence? I guess we stick with what we know, for better or worse.

__3.2.2008__
This is a very interesting video with Naomi Klein. :)

media type="youtube" key="UHMuiJwM23M" height="355" width="425"

**__3.29.2008__**
Today's quest was entirely focused on deciphering a more clear topic for my portion of the group project. As I have been perusing through SL I find that the question I am most interested in is the manifestation of the four modalities of constraint and how these four modalities are entirely user created. Nothing is by chance in SL, every detail is a decision. When I started thinking more about law, norms, market and architecture and I became even more interested in how these would translate in to an anarchist SL island. So off I went to Shark Anarchy Island!



The four modalities of constraint break down as follows: architecture (rules), law (how the rules are enforced), market (economic influence in society) and norms (what is considered socially acceptable or unacceptable). Each of these are deliberate choices within each SL environment. Curiously enough, in an "anarchist" society in SL, these rules manifest in complete parallel to those of other islands. There is no apparent difference between an "anarchist" island and the rest. The rules are essentially the same. On Shark Anarchy Island, protections prohibit anything to be modified or taken, everything is protected by the owner of the island.

As I walked around the island I noted that the general atmosphere was entirely stereotypical. There was dark clothing for sale resembling the Matrix, a graveyard with seating for contemplating the faults of the world, and a large warehouse with Rage Against the Machine-esque posters. It was quite disappointing. It seemed to me that the actual philosophy of anarchism was lost in translation. Instead of being about freedom and consensus it became about our the continuation of our current schema of rules and regulations. There was nothing revolutionary about it.





Things brings me to my true question: why did Shark Anarchy Island fail so miserably in representing the philosophy of anarchism? It is because the current architecture of thought and how islands in SL should work is daunting and currently impossible to avoid. If one does not place restrictions on the objects of the island, the island would probably end up empty before the end of an hour. And yet, can we be certain? Would people not build the society up if they felt inclusion and true community within it? I think that if true community was possible within SL anarchist communities would be far better represented. Within a true community there would be mutual respect even if there did not exist mutual affection. The protection and the production of new and exciting items for an island would take precedence rather than looting the virtual economy. This shall be the focus of my discussion throughout the rest of my research. Does SL truly build community and how does that affect the virtual modalities of constraint?

__4.4.2008__
Today, Mastodon and myself explored several different islands together. It seems our favorite place is an Irish Island consisting of a beach and a pub named Molly McPherson's. With Guinness on tap and a piano to play it is about as exciting as SL is for us. Essentially we sunbathed and danced around the beach. Beyond this, Mastodon showed me where the sandbox is and how it works. I didn't understand how the sandbox worked until now. I had acquired a sweet BMW motorcycle (thanks to Kentucky Capalini). I was trying to figure out how to ride it around UK island but it would not drop in. So I had to use my jetpack to fly up to the sandbox so I could then get out my motorcycle and fly it down to earth. While there is no real need for a motorcycle or a jetpack to enjoy a virtual world it somehow greatly improves my experience. I love the ability I have in SL to project which type of personality I want to be, what kind of appearance I would like to have, and how I would like to move through this world. It is not as though I dislike my RL personality or appearance. Granted it has taken years to come to acceptance of these, but apathy has allowed me to finally say "screw it". However, any insecurities or unsubstantiated desires I do still possess, are manifested in the SL. I am able to visually deal with these issues. Now whether or not this is a healthy is incredibly debatable.

__**4.11.2008**__
So while I have been keeping up decently with the research, I have not been posting it to the Wiki at the pace I should. This afternoon Clem, Dumpling and myself chatted about ways to improve the project and how I should organize my research in particular. As of now, my objective will be to do a cross-sectional studies of the communities Clem, Lumpy, Mastodon and Dumpling all reference. I will look at several communities from each specific personal research project and study how the modalities of constraint limit or broaden the ability to form communities. This shall help tie all of the research together and allow more easily...I hope. :)





__4.16.2008__
So I am finally prepared to fully exacerbate the points of my research in great detail on the Wiki...YEAH! What once was daunting is now feasible! Today I visited every site that each of my group members have listed within their journals. As my portion of the research, I am looking more closely at the modalities of constraint in each case study cross-section of the different types of communities within SL. Being that SL constraints are entirely user created, it is interesting what level of protection and resemblance to RL are in play. Surprisingly, the communities that I would assume to be the most open to the malleability of SL are often times the most restrictive.

I first visited all of the sites listed within Garbage's research. There were several in particular that I found particularly interesting. I first visited [|Sununu], a "spiritual" island focusing much of its advertisement and space on "love rooms". However, there appeared to be no love within those settings. Rather, further female sexual exploitation and creepos getting their rocks off while watching avatars commit acts that should only be conceptualized in the privacy of one's own home. Which brings me to my first major observation: the barrier between public and private is very manipulated within SL. The "love rooms" were all behind closed doors, but the doors could not be locked and the activities going on inside of them are some of the most personal imaginable. I spent much of my time in the abandoned (thank goodness) Sununu Cupid "Love Room". There is nothing about these rooms that suggests love and romance. They all blatantly push the agenda of "sexual eploitation" of other avatars. The rules for gender are the same: submission of the woman is paramount. No room offers a dominatrix pose or woman on top mode. It is all submissive sex. In SL the female is fetishisized to an absurd degree. Fetishization within RL is evident, but diminishing over time. Within SL, it seems we go back in time significantly for the respect and the equality of women with all of the cultural subversiveness of today.

Next, I visited the [|Ambrosia Dance Club]. Within this island (and it appears to me most every other island in SL) commerce is strategically integrated in to every aspect of the community. Much like corporatism in Klein's "Shock Doctrine" it seems that culture is inextricably married to capitalism and youth shopping culture. Also, the bulk of shopping is always for ladies. The models for the clothing are also signaling a very specific image of norms and acceptable standards of beauty. For a woman, she must be super skinny, with large breasts (looking as though they are implants) and blond hair. She must wear tight clothing that reveals much of her body. Women, in SL, are supposed to be the subversive male ideal. The norm is disrespect for females and fetishizing.

What is interesting too is that within the above two sites, I would have imagined there to be much greater freedom from the modalities of constraint, but I was sorely mistaken. With a sex culture I expected creativity to be applauded. Well done Joe Schmo57! You just created a new animation to receive oral sex from a furry! But everything from the role-playing to rooms was controlled. I attempted to create new objects and modify different features of the environments and was denied every time. The market however is all well and good! Each of these communities had a large amount of land set aside just for commercial activity. Donations are always welcome but these islands focused on "love" and crap are just trying to make a buck, or in this case, a Linden. The market actually takes up far more space than the advertised purpose of each island. And interestingly enough, no shopkeeper or owner is anywhere to be seen when determining whether or not to purchase an item! It is much like internet shopping: these virtual hot pants from from the indigenous web creator from somewhere! But who cares right? The process of true commerce between individuals is too sticky. Its easier to just do it myself.

Next on Garbage's list I visited [|Caribbean City]. Unlike the sunny happy name it is given, this island is entirely motivated by capitalism and corporatism. There is not a single kiosk or corner that is organized for something other than hotter, tighter clothes for women and bigger genitalia for men. Caribbean City also had the tightest rules of any of the islands I visited from Garbage's list. The entire island is a "no fly zone" with no transfers, no modifying and no taking of anything. In fact, sitting is prohibited in much of the Island. How can a place that signifies such relaxation and fun be so incredibly boring and restrictive?!! Once again, fetisization of the female is paramount along with business culture. This is supposed to be a vacation spot in SL and yet it is entirely geared toward corporatism. What kind of vacation is that?!

The fourth and final island I visited from Garbage's journal was that of the [|American Cancer Society]. I was very impressed with this island in particular because not only did they choose gender neutral colored dots for actions/sitting, but also allow for creation almost anywhere on the island. While there is no modification or taking of anything already on the island, one can add to it as he would like. Thank goodness! Finally an island without a corporate objective that allows for the modifying of at least some of the rules. Creation is allowed on every part of the island, how refreshing.

After Garbage Dumpling's most helpful sites, I studied a couple from Mastodon's journal. The fist was [|The Outer Banks], a "vacation" community. I was deeply disturbed by this island in particular. There are several beautiful houses with glass windows/doors. I want to throw stones. No one will let anyone else in to their house. It's not as though I could rob them of anything. Look. there is a couch in there which I am certain has no modifications allowed from the person who sold it to these assholes. The barrier of protection around these virtual homes is ridiculous. The privacy barrier extends out in to the ocean. I was allowed to walk the shoreline so long as I was not near anyone's house, but I could not even go swim further in to the ocean as there were limitations on that! In addition to this bizarre locale, there were unnecessary and strangely placed cues to RL. Such as a stop sign on an island with with more security than Alcatraz. A stop sign?! Seriously?! What is the need for a stop sign? We are mererly recreating the same norms of RL in SL. What purpose does a vacation home serve in a virtual world if the rules cannot be at least bent from reality? Like Great Grandma said: "Stay out of trouble. And if you can't stay out of trouble stay out of sight because rules were made to be broken. Life is too short to live how others want you to". In addition to the stop sign, there is a restaurant on the island. Within the restaurant there is significant product placement all around. Outer Banks Product Placement: so it's just like real life! Consumed with brands and isolation! Superb.

[|Vacation Island] was not much more interesting. It only had three homes on it and I could not take a picture of any of them. They all had such significant restrictions that I had to go airborne in order to even get a look at the island. Essentially, it sucked. I could not even build/create/modify on the empty land without reading the community covenants first. Which brings me to another question: why are covenants necessary in a virtual vacation community? Strange-o-rama.

Next up, I visited several islands recommended by Clementine. The fist was [|Camp Darfur] (a smaller portion of The Better World Island). The Better World Island offered much more than just a location for the education and hopefully the fundraising to improve circumstances in Darfur. Also included were free newsletters about Baghdad, September 11th education to world hunger are housed here. Notecards, photos and meetings are the forms of education offered. Permissions are not as strict as most place, but nevertheless no modifications or creations are allowed. Avatars are allowed to fly around the island, swim in the s urrounding ocean and take pamphlets along the way. No one is allowed (except the administrators) to actively create or modify anything on the island. So while the restrictions are not nearly as tough as the Outer Banks, it is surprising how little creative work is allowed on an island attempting to promote social innovation and progressive policy for the greater good.

Following Camp Darfur, I visited a church within SL. I went to [|St. Catherine's Cathedral in NYC]. It was a beautiful virtual cathedral and actually someone was in it! We sat together for a while and talked about faith, god and expressions of faith in a virtual world. I enjoyed our conversation very much. After we had finished talking (since it was a catholic church) I went and lit a candle near the alter then left. Now if only there was a function to bless myself with holy water. This area actually did not have nearly as many permissions I would have expected. I was allowed to create anything inside of the church and also to modify several items. Permissions allowed me to sit on normally inappropriate surfaces and also, as a woman, to recite the entire mass from the alter! I was surprised that was not carefully monitored and or managed.

Then I went to the [|Virginia Tech Memorial Island]. There were monuments for all of those who were killed in the attack as well as candles and a donations center for the victim's families. Interestingly, this memorial island was a "no fly" zone and as such I had to travel on foot around to see the different areas of the island. Granted it was a pretty small area but it was frustrating that I had to walk everywhere and I could not get an aerial view of the territory. Creation permissions were also very strict requiring that anyone who wished to create on the island donate lindens to the island before being added as a an admissible creator. I can readily understand the concern of allowing all to create on the island. Regardless of how sincere and appropriate a creation might be, it is far more important to protect against possible vandalism.

Lastly, I visited the [|Gay and LGBT Resource Center], as recommended by Clementine. This center was awesome. There was a far greater availability of resources and programs than any of the other social activist islands I had visited. In addition to free hot cocoa/lattes (which I love almost as much in the virtual world as I do in the real world) the Gay LGBT Resource center is much more sensitive towards gender norms as well as allowing its visitors to truly be creative and and part of the creation process as they sort out their own identities. Permissions do not prevent individuals from creating most anything the island. Norms are not mentioned nor enforced and the general atmosphere produces a far greater sense of calm and freedom than any vacation home could ever provide. This is the example of what should be the norm in SL rather than the exception.

Last but not least I visited some of the islands recommenced by Lumpy. Mr. Mumfuzz suggested visiting A&S Sports Club, some of the different shops around SL and Ron Paul Island. Starting with A&S Sports Club, after teleporting, I was notified that I was in a restricted area and would be ejected in 15 seconds. Hows that for a welcome note?! With no time to spare, I ran around the island like a mad woman with my hair on fire before being sent back to UK Island. And while I was unable to gather significant research from this island I was able to get kicked out. This, for me, speaks volumes. I was not even allowed to be in the presence of this sports club, much less peruse around. I didn't have any rights within this community, and not because I have committed some SL crime or am a SL radical. My mere existence was enough to discount me from participating.

As suggested by Lumpy, I have visited several different shops within SL because even communities in which corporatism is not the intended goal, it's presence is undeniable. Every site I went to sold something except the Gay and LGBT Resource Center. Every other island was selling books, club membership, land, creative rights, memorabilia, trinkets, clothing etc. And most all islands with wider variety and corporatist presences restricted more and more creativity within its visitors.

I am getting more and more intrigued within this project and viewing the SL modalities of constraint in these kind of terms. I think it is interesting to parallel the RL to SL and see what communities provide more freedom/creativity/acceptance to their members over others. More often than not, the same level of freedom associated with different groups within RL are transcendent in SL. This shall be the thesis of my section of the group project.

__4.17.2008__
These are some of the pictures from my extensive research yesterday.