Official Linden Blog just informed us that Linden Lab launched a new web-site SecondLifeGrid.net,
a resource for businesses, organizations and educators for creating a successful virtual presence on the Second Life Grid platform.
Ok, that doesn't tell much.
Basically, it is stuff for techs, organizations and business. There are programs, source code, API's, resources and what_can_you_do_in_SL stuff. Nothing wrong there. Linden Lab actually needed a site like that. But, because of
Second Life is the showcase virtual world WHERE end users can create an infinite variety of content and participate in a robust virtual economy, free of traditional social and technological restrictions. The Second Life Grid is WHAT makes Second Life possible: a service platform that provides scalable server infrastructure, highly detailed and configurable features, field-proven customer service tools, and a massive existing base of end users and user-created content that can be leveraged in your own virtual world offering.
on the front page of SLGrid.net, the blog post got critics like Cocoanut Koala's:
Ooooh, good to know that we’re not really on the GRID anymore.We’re just part of the WHERE. We’re the “massive existing base of end users and user-created content” that can be “leveraged” by the REAL people on the REAL grid (you know, the real-world companies, businesses, educational institutions, etc.) for their own purposes.
And good to know that they will be getting all the WHAT, not us. I wonder what all the WHAT goodies are that are in store for them?
The following is my benevolent two cents addressed to the Lindens…
First, GRID in the second life (and beyond) is some kind of a holy term. Residents are sensitive to the use of it. It has literally metaphysical meaning. Yes, it is by large your merit, but that makes you even more responsible for the future uses of the term.
Second, there is nothing wrong with making a new web-site for technology that goes beneath what we know as second life. But, for grid's sake, when you publish things like this double check what you wrote. Then get in the role of somebody who will read it, not common resident but the most venomous of your commenters. And after that read it as a common resident. Sincerely. And see if anything is poking eyes or scratching the skin. If it is, polish it, don't just throw it on the blog.
It is called good public relations. Good public relations are very important for the business. They are even more important than your addressing the big companies and RL media. Especially if your business is dependant on the residents. This happens over and over again. At least every two months we have an announcement which provokes comments like above and blog posts that will follow this time too. Neither you or we don't need that. Let's fix that communications for the benefit of all of us. Shall we? Thanks.
Both images taken from SecondLifeGrid.net
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