Remember remember the Fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot….
Hello dear readers, you may remember on Monday I posted a little commentary on the user run hit squads. In it, I stated that they are indeed inherently flawed and that in the end they will do more harm and than good. I had no idea that the Führerette and her council of minions would completely blow it this soon. Recently Führerette made a plurk announcing their latest plan to help “prevent content theft”. A boycott. But not just any boycott Ladies and Gentlemen! Instead they’ve decided to boycott legitimate businesses and content creators. Their plan involves shutting down everything for two whole days. 
According to the notecard obtained by our elite cadre of highly trained ferrets, a notecard is being passed around that states the following:
On the 5th of November, the Artist’s Voice will be encouraging its members and the community to STOP. Stop buying L$, stop selling L$, stop uploading, stop creating, stop shopping, stop selling, stop blogging! Just STOP!
The effect of the content creation community in Second Life is huge. If we all banded together for 48 hours and just STOPPED – we could really send a message to Linden Lab that we will NO LONGER tolerate content theft, and show them – and ourselves – how much of an effect we have on the SL community. This will only work, however, if we ALL work together.
If you want to participate, you will be doing a great service for yourself and the community. If you don’t, please notecard me with one idea for a campaign you would be willing to participate in. Of course, this is completely voluntary, but we would really like it if you participated.
We have several solutions for creators who may find “STOP SELLING” a major task.
CREATORS:
1) Put ban lines around your land after first warning your groups of your intentions and putting it on your blog. Then set up prim signs for “Artist’s Voice” around, so that people know why. You can even set it up to give a notecard with an explanation.
2) Put prims up in front of your items with the texture provided below. Most people stop at the first road block – this will be as effective. If you rent at a mall, please clear this with your mall’s landlord first.
3) Block your shop’s doorways with prims that show the 5th of November texture. Set the prim to give a notecard explanation and a copy of the texture.
4) Please note there is a loophole in all of this – you may still sell $0L freebies! It’s not making the economy any money.
Texture to use on prims for this campaign:
SHOPPERS: STOP buying for 48 hours! You may start again on November 7th. This includes ALL L$ transactions. NO L$ TRANSACTIONS.
BLOGGERS: STOP blogging for 48 hours! On November 4th, post a message on your blog saying you are STOPPING for 48 hours and then don’t post again until Nov. 7th!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS! This movement will be NOTHING unless YOU get involved!
Please encourage your customers, your friends, your colleagues, your fellow designers, to STOP this November 5th for 48 hours! Pass them this notecard!
This folks is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I have seen in Second Life. Let me get this straight in order to prevent content theft, we’re going to stop buying and selling legitimate goods? Why surely that would stop the content thieves dead in their tracks. Surely the Lindens will notice that they’re not making money from one section of Second Life and immediately take action!
In a word? Bullshit.
Let me be perfectly clear, it is my opinion that this tactic will only result in the loss of business by legitimate business owners. Second Life users are by their very nature a fickle lot and if banned from a store for no good reason then the word of mouth will spread and the store will hemorrhage money. To think that a two day shutdown of commercial business amongst in what is in reality a very small percentage of users is going to attract the attention of Linden Lab is incredibly foolish. Instead establishing open dialog, attending town meetings, and office hours and actually go about educating users about the dangers and consequences of content theft. Teach new users how to file successful abuse reports when they find stolen content. People are already aware of content theft. Educating them on what to do about it in the end will be the answer. Not this nonsense of stopping all business.
Will the powers-that-pretend-to-be blackball those who do not subscribe to this ridiculous plan? I am leaning towards yes. According to chat logs received and based on past behavior it leans towards a cute little form of McCarthyism. Isn’t that cute?
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the various logs received through the FNN (Ferret News Network)
Tenshi
Why are you guys so willing to complain and so unwilling to even participate in a 48 hour protest? That’s completely silly imho.Tenshi
I’m not saying they don’t, I’m saying 48 hours won’t kill ANYONE.Tenshi
Hell, it might even drum up more business after the fact
Tenshi
If news blogs pick up on this and have a list of the stores participating, people will make note of that and probably want to visit
Tenshi
you guys are RIDICULOUS. You’re not even willing to TRY! Look at you put up a fight for even 48 hours!Tenshi
That’s pathetic!Tenshi
Okay so you’re willing to take the money and the risks then with content theft. Fine. The next time I see any of you putting your heels inTenshi
the ground against content theft I’m just going to laugh at you.
This is the leader of the “Artist’s Voice” folks. Pay no attention to the crackpot behind the curtain. This is the person who wants to hurt your businesses, inhibit your legal shopping. This person for “the greater good” wants to take money out of your pockets. This same person has made the statement that 2 days of no sales wouldn’t be that big of a deal (Which should tell you how much she actually sells). And the following people agree with her.
Arabella Steadham
Kat Alderson
Ayumi Shinn
Darkley Aeon
Rebel Hope As it stands. Rebel Hope didn’t even know this was going on and apparently is not for it.
Tracy Rubble
Teagan Blackthorne
Arwyn Quandry
If your sales suffer on these two days (November 5th and 6th), don’t blame the content thieves. Blame these people who sought to “protect” you. Blame the ridiculousness of this user run hit squad.
And do not let this be forgot.
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