Socially|Mundane

Katt Linden has made another informational post at the Second Life blog, reminding all of us that Linden Lab does in fat have a Second Life podcast. Well, it's really more a Linden Lab podcast, but since Second Life is their primary product... but I digress.

Though the podcast is billed as a 'behind the scenes' look into the what Linden Lab is up to, or more to the point how they run things with respect to the Second Life Grid, this particular episode, along with news last week of limitations regarding participation in the Second Life birthday celebration, should give a glimse of the shape of things to come.

This Discussion on Education in Second Life is fourth in the series of behind the scenes looks at Second Life, talks with a variety of Linden Lab team members about what they’re doing in Second Life and how their work could impact your experience.

Once thing most "oldbies" will notice is how conservative Linden Lab is becoming with regard to their public face and the goings-on inside of SL. Of course the 'scandals' and 'sex' and anything controversial will be reported. We never hear about good news because it's boring. It doesn't get ratings.

So, you will see Linden Lab highlighting the socially fuzzy-warm-feeling things that happen inside SL. Such as how educational institutions and scientists and medical industry are all embracing Second Life.

Fortunately, Linden Lab is not censoring the other things: the freebie sex areas (face it, that's what brings people in and they stay,) Gorean, BDSM, Vampire and other 'verticle' role-playing, some of the more 'offensive' things that go in in dark corners of the SL world.

However, Linden Lab needs to control their 'public' face, and their public face is whatever makes the news. So, they prohibit presentations from the BDSM, Gorean and other controversial communities - yes, including the "Children" community - those who choose to live their second lives in an innocent, child-like way.

Can you really blame Linden lab for this?