Hadley's+Research+Page

Second Life (SL) itself is a very interesting community upon which the modalities of constraint play a significant role. SL is an entirely user created virtual world. The rules, regulations, land, customs, culture are all chosen by the people who employ the program. While the modalities of constraint within real life (RL) are the product of a long history and circumstance, SL parameters are being created instantaneously, in real time. This allows for great change and great parallel at the same time. So the question is, to what capacity are the modalities of constraint within RL re-created in SL? By visiting the major sources of research from the previous studies of each type of community, great similarities can be observed. The following research is entirely ethnographical in type as conducting significant interviews can be deemed nearly impossible within SL.

__Constraints in Vacation Communities__ //The Outer Banks// SL vacation communities provide rest for the weary avatar attempting to seek refuge from his/her/it’s stressful virtual existence. As such, vacation homes and beachfront property are not only a grand status symbol, but also a wonderful opportunity to redefine the restrictions/constraints upon one’s home and life. The //__Outer Banks__// community, touting property with beautiful beaches and absolutely no one else to disturb the peace, is laced with far more rules than freedoms. But then again, with no one to disturb the peace one is left alone and alone on vacation is not much better. While individuals here are allowed to create whatever they like, they must first own the land on which they wish to create. As such, the landowners here are the only people with true power.

The law in SL was incredibly open and unrestrictive at the beginning of the Linden Lab project. However, recently, a new corporative aspect of the program has been established to “protect” and promote greater economic sustenance. However, the creativity and original mission of SL as a community building virtual world has now bowed down to the all might dollar, or in this case Linden. So while the law originally protected only the freedom of individuals to determine what rules and restrictions they wished to place upon themselves, the law is now providing a far more resilient framework.

The architecture is perpetuated by its residents by placing extensive restrictions on their property as well as that is contained upon it. Walking around the island alone is a task. Avatars have taken claim and created property rights from their homes out in to the ocean and along the street. It is the exact same as RL. It is easy to imagine the neighbors yelling “stay off my lawn you darn kids”. But in SL, one does not need to yell. Rather, one must only modify the land and surrounding area such that the only person to have total access to it is the one who paid for it. Rather than this island being a community, it is merely several small segregated nationalistic fortes of avatars keeping everyone else outside of their bubble.

The market within SL has a very unique function. Though SL is obviously a virtual world, its economy is far from it. Lindens are traded just as any other stock with SL with a constant fluctuating rate of exchange. Whether it is for clothes, skins, cars and other toys, giant genitalia, land or services, the purchasing power of the Lind and the market is alive and well within this world. In the instance of The Outer Banks Island, product placement plays a significant role. Companies like Coca-Cola, Doritos, Heineken and Budweiser (to name a few) have logos and virtual products posted all over the island. Though they are not actually selling anything of RL value, the mere existence of branding within SL goes to show it’s translatability as a far greater community builder and definer than purely a game. The market is restrictive in that the means by which services and products are purchased and received directly affects how individuals conduct the business of virtual life.

Finally, the role of norms (what is/is not socially admissible) greatly impacts the way in which lives are led within vacation communities in SL. The typical white, suburban family of four is absolutely perpetuated in The Outer Banks. While very few people were around, the entire design of the island was “Leave it to Beaver” meets “Desperate Housewives”. With a very ‘look, don’t touch’ atmosphere the sterility of existence was stifling. One way in which this was created was by a sweet looking picnic set by the ocean. There was a nice, plaid blanket and upon it was a basket filled with goodies and wine. Upon sitting down it became apparent that no modifications were allowed with any of it. The food was not movable, available to copy, changeable or useable. It was more like the plastic display food in furniture stores. The only people on the island were those who were wearing brand names (lacoste, Burberry etc) and refused to speak to anyone outside of their home. On the Outer Banks, isolation was the norm. With no furry or subversive culture in sight, the necessity to move on to the next island was crucial.

//Vacation// //Island// Vacation Island is not much better. With only three homes on the property, each their own mini island, very little activity was present. The architecture was so strict that each home had a protective barrier around it extending in to the ocean. Neither walking near the homes nor swimming in the ocean around the homes was permitted. The only way to maneuver around the island was to sit on the one vacant property or to stay idle in mid-air. Pictures were prohibited except for the vacant property of only the vacant property. If any portion of the protected property was in the shot the picture would be prohibited. In order to create and or modify items on the island, one must first be a landowner. Even on the vacant property the rights of modification and building belong only to the current owner. As part of the community the vacant land also had a copy of the community covenant that had to be read and agreed to even to be eligible to purchase the land. Essentially, this is a virtual community designed to be exactly like RL. What is the point then?

The market is alive and well on this island. Though commercialization has not yet reached it (due to the low number of residents) it is certain with these kinds of current restrictions Coca-Cola is not far behind. The community covenant is strictly enforced and the protection of each property is paramount.

The norms are much like The Outer Banks. Middle-class, white, suburban life is completely paralleled in SL and it seems to be exactly what its constituents want! No outsiders allowed. So long as the rules are followed to a t (according to the covenant) residents are able to maintain their right to live on their land that they purchased. Restrictions are no longer just for land and the safety of its inhabitants, the rules are being imposed on the personal lives of its community members.

__Constraints in Social Activist Communities__ //Camp// //Darfur// How does virtual social activism manifest the modalities of constraint while attempting to cause RL change? This depends entirely on the issue at hand. Within the SL community of Camp Darfur avatars are allowed to fly around the island, swim in the surrounding ocean and take pamphlets along the way. However, only individuals with administrator power are allowed to create/modify anything on the island. The law for SL does not so much provide these freedoms of creativity for individuals visiting islands like Camp Darfur. Rather, SL law protects the land owners as well as the corporate organizers of the program and allows them to create their own subcultures and rules accordingly.

The architecture within Camp Darfur extensively limits what its visitors can do while there. Avatars are allowed to fly, look, touch etc. but cannot modify, copy or take anything except pamphlets. The architecture still allows individuals to also take pictures of everything. In order to upload the picture in individual must pay $10 Linden (as is with most islands), but sending the picture through e-mail I free.

The market is relatively inactive on Camp Darfur. Individuals are asked to donate at several different locations. However, no obligatory spending of money is required to fully utilize the island (minus, of course, administrative rights for change and modification). So while the market is very active and influential among different communities, it seems not to be within the realm of social activism.

The norms of Camp Darfur are not nearly as strict and finite as those within the vacation communities. All genders, combinations of genders, races, individuals with different sexual orientations are welcome. However, subversive sexual culture manifested in naked individuals and individuals performing erotic sex acts around the island are subject to ejection. So while the open-mindedness of helping save the world and welcoming spirit to all different types of individuals, some actions are certainly outside the boundaries of accepted norms.

//Gay and LGBT Resource Center// The Gay and LGBT Resource Center provides services and information to its visitors for free as well as a relaxed atmosphere to meet others in SL who deal with the same RL issues. The architecture here is the least extensive of all of the different communities studied. Permissions do not prevent individuals from creating most anything the island. Visitors can touch, modify, alter and copy most anything on the island. Be it for personal or public use, all avatars are created equal here. Individuals are allowed to fly the entire expansion of the island as well as utilize any and all modes of transportation present (such as the hot air balloon). Without permission or administrator assistance, individuals are free to entirely express themselves through whatever medium they choose.

The market is also, like Camp Darfur, relatively non-existent here. Visitors are asked to donate if they can to help continue to provide free resources for all. However, nothing is for sale and no one is required to spend money in order to receive any of the benefits.

The suggested norms here are more to deal with personal interaction rather than as the management of status symbols (like in vacation communities). Any sort of dress, language, and or personal expression is valid so long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. This is one of the few places within SL that most anything goes. Granted, some subversive sexualized actions are not permitted if they are considered particularly offensive. However, individuals are warned before ejection that their action is outside the realm of acceptable behavior. Generally speaking, individuals are free to not only create objects and their own environment here, but also allowed to create whatever sort of persona they desire.

__Constraints within Business Culture Communities__ //A&S Sports Club// Place Holder

//Café Ambrosia Dance Club and Shopping// Place Holder

__Common Constraints within the Different Communities__ __Conclusions__