sl-kids
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Linden Lab doubles-back on approved skins
Linden Lab's governance team has started removing vendors for Second Life skins (that is, avatar textures) that are intended to portray teens and juveniles. It is not exactly clear why the action is suddenly being taken, as Linden Lab themselves approved the skins which have underwear 'baked in' to avoid any licentiousness. All in all, the affected skins are less lewd than a K-Mart kidswear catalog. However, since the vendors depicted the skins 'as is' (that is not completely clothed, so that you would be unable to see what you were trying to purchase), Linden Lab has unexpectedly reneged on previously granted approval and is now acting to remove them. The removals that we are aware of have been appealed, and those appeals have been rejected.
Calling all cultures? Not any more
Remember "Calling all cultures to the Second Life 5th Birthday Celebration"? Remember "Celebrating the cultural diversity of Second Life"? How about "This is a Resident-created, Linden Lab-sponsored event, which means that Linden Lab has donated the land and various basic resources, but the rest comes from you, the community. And there is room for many people to get involved"? Well, not any more. Linden Lab feels their hand (and presumably the attached eye) has been forced. Linden Lab is taking "a more active role in the event." This means at least one of the groups of communities that has been the mainstay of the previous four anniversary events is being refused participation this year.
How many times do you have to prove it?
One of Second Life's (non-sexual) child avatars -- let's call him "Joe" for the moment -- used Linden Lab's beta Age Verification system to forestall any issues of being possibly suspended for being an underage user. Unfortunately, "Joe" was subsequently suspended after being abuse-reported as an underage user. Subject to an age-check, he had to provide copies of assorted government-issued identity documentation to Linden Lab's office, where, satisfied that he had proved he was an adult user, his account was re-enabled. Unfortunately for "Joe", it doesn't end there.
