Comments on: Abuse Reporting Begins Overhaul http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/ By Linden Lab Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:54:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Local government study group - Page 2 - Talk Second Life - Business Resources for Your Second Life http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-154207 Local government study group - Page 2 - Talk Second Life - Business Resources for Your Second Life Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:08:00 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-154207 [...] or wish to divest themselves of 'behavior that make Second Life feel unwelcoming or unsafe...' Official Linden Blog » Blog Archive Abuse Reporting Begins Overhaul « It could be done of course, but the bigger issue lies in the content of the Reports; the vast [...] [...] or wish to divest themselves of ‘behavior that make Second Life feel unwelcoming or unsafe…’ Official Linden Blog » Blog Archive Abuse Reporting Begins Overhaul « It could be done of course, but the bigger issue lies in the content of the Reports; the vast [...]

]]> By: Richard Trigaux http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-126423 Richard Trigaux Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:56:22 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-126423 About Unverified accounts. Some above asked that unverified accounts should be limited in time or banned. Many people can have good reasons not to pay an account. For instance I plan to build a sim, but for now I am far too busy to involve into building, so that I don't need to pay. That unverified accounts allow for abuse is another issue. This is not a matter of paying, but a matter of anonimity. Even if we don't want to pay, we can accept that LL asks us some identity checking, for instance an email address (in a known Internet provider which checks its users) or a credit card number (not everybody have one). In this case we would appear as "identity checked" even if we don't pay. And there would be a fair ground to ban people who don't want to be identified by LL. (knowing of course that LL is strictly not allowed to disclose identities, unless requested in a real world court action). About Unverified accounts.

Some above asked that unverified accounts should be limited in time or banned.

Many people can have good reasons not to pay an account. For instance I plan to build a sim, but for now I am far too busy to involve into building, so that I don’t need to pay.

That unverified accounts allow for abuse is another issue. This is not a matter of paying, but a matter of anonimity. Even if we don’t want to pay, we can accept that LL asks us some identity checking, for instance an email address (in a known Internet provider which checks its users) or a credit card number (not everybody have one). In this case we would appear as “identity checked” even if we don’t pay. And there would be a fair ground to ban people who don’t want to be identified by LL.

(knowing of course that LL is strictly not allowed to disclose identities, unless requested in a real world court action).

]]> By: Richard Trigaux http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-126389 Richard Trigaux Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:31:23 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-126389 Newbie, I am alarmed by the rate of provocations and attacks in SL. Not ordinary social disputes, but gratuitous acts by people who come in SL only for this, because it is so easy. These can range from simple provocation (showing off in war gear in peaceful areas, or having sex in PG areas) to deliberated attacks (alway frustrating and humiliating even if there is no real damage). For this issue there is no possible mediation. There is no simple solution either, as anybody can also fill false abuse reports. I however think some solution should be used: -as suggested above, a "police call" button -the first thing this button does is to get a record of the action, in 3D with playback of the last minute, together with infos such as names, scripts which interacted with the victim, etc. This would greatly help further human action, in assessing exactly what happened and by who. -For people banned from the game, it should not be so easy to just create another account. The viewer on the local computer should not allow this, knowing that the person was banned. If so, the viewer should not allow any new connection, even under another identity. -A volunteers task force? This may be possible, I encountered another newbie who suggested this to me. But this may be difficult to spend time on line, unless we get some real world remuneration or in game advantage. If so, of course Linden labs will not hire anybody who asks... -a method for LL or policemen to summon a reported person. Of course if this person tries to elude this, the case is worse... -a standardized cybercop avatar... that we would be able to make look smiling or angry! Newbie, I am alarmed by the rate of provocations and attacks in SL. Not ordinary social disputes, but gratuitous acts by people who come in SL only for this, because it is so easy. These can range from simple provocation (showing off in war gear in peaceful areas, or having sex in PG areas) to deliberated attacks (alway frustrating and humiliating even if there is no real damage).

For this issue there is no possible mediation. There is no simple solution either, as anybody can also fill false abuse reports. I however think some solution should be used:

-as suggested above, a “police call” button

-the first thing this button does is to get a record of the action, in 3D with playback of the last minute, together with infos such as names, scripts which interacted with the victim, etc. This would greatly help further human action, in assessing exactly what happened and by who.

-For people banned from the game, it should not be so easy to just create another account. The viewer on the local computer should not allow this, knowing that the person was banned. If so, the viewer should not allow any new connection, even under another identity.

-A volunteers task force? This may be possible, I encountered another newbie who suggested this to me. But this may be difficult to spend time on line, unless we get some real world remuneration or in game advantage. If so, of course Linden labs will not hire anybody who asks…

-a method for LL or policemen to summon a reported person. Of course if this person tries to elude this, the case is worse…

-a standardized cybercop avatar… that we would be able to make look smiling or angry!

]]> By: Lex Neva’s thoughts » Reputation in Second Life http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-110877 Lex Neva’s thoughts » Reputation in Second Life Thu, 28 Dec 2006 03:31:56 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-110877 [...] Ultimately, the problem is about consequences. The Internet allows us an unprecedented amount of freedom to do whatever we want, and the aforementioned anonymity makes it very difficult for others to enforce any kind of rules. In Second Life, we have the Abuse Report function, which everyone knows is currently almost completely non-operational (including Linden Lab themselves). We can ban people, but, with free accounts provided to anyone with no real-world information required, there’s nothing to stop a jerk from grabbing another account and hopping around your ban within 5 minutes. They can also, with a little work, get around being completely banished from the game by LL… and LL is hard pressed to fight this. [...] [...] Ultimately, the problem is about consequences. The Internet allows us an unprecedented amount of freedom to do whatever we want, and the aforementioned anonymity makes it very difficult for others to enforce any kind of rules. In Second Life, we have the Abuse Report function, which everyone knows is currently almost completely non-operational (including Linden Lab themselves). We can ban people, but, with free accounts provided to anyone with no real-world information required, there’s nothing to stop a jerk from grabbing another account and hopping around your ban within 5 minutes. They can also, with a little work, get around being completely banished from the game by LL… and LL is hard pressed to fight this. [...]

]]> By: Attacked « Rainy London http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-94810 Attacked « Rainy London Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:12:16 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-94810 [...] The plan to deal with this is to overhaul the abuse reporting system. I hope that means they will allow reports of unknown assailants. They don’t have a true picture of crime in SL if they are only told about known criminals. More than a reporting overhaul, they need a police force—or a 911 button—that will bring a Linden to the scene of the crime. Something has to be done, with the abuse growing at an alarming rate. Two thousand reports per day—and that doesn’t include attacks like the ones on me in which the name of the griefer was not logged, so no report could be filed. The actual number of assaults, caging, killing, damaging, hitting, push scripts and throwing is unknown because either the victim isn’t allowed to file a report (like me) or doesn’t bother filing a report. (The Linden I spoke to admitted that many people don’t file reports because they perceive nothing will be done…geee….what makes them think that?) [...] [...] The plan to deal with this is to overhaul the abuse reporting system. I hope that means they will allow reports of unknown assailants. They don’t have a true picture of crime in SL if they are only told about known criminals. More than a reporting overhaul, they need a police force—or a 911 button—that will bring a Linden to the scene of the crime. Something has to be done, with the abuse growing at an alarming rate. Two thousand reports per day—and that doesn’t include attacks like the ones on me in which the name of the griefer was not logged, so no report could be filed. The actual number of assaults, caging, killing, damaging, hitting, push scripts and throwing is unknown because either the victim isn’t allowed to file a report (like me) or doesn’t bother filing a report. (The Linden I spoke to admitted that many people don’t file reports because they perceive nothing will be done…geee….what makes them think that?) [...]

]]> By: Amanda Ascot http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-47846 Amanda Ascot Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:17:35 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-47846 It's as easy to do the delay with verified accounts, assuming that the user is logging in under his/her verified account. Again, though, I wouldn't want to see this implemented, since there are valid reasons to swap out avatars, and since I have an unverified account, singling out those is a rather touchy subject for me (as I've explained almost ad nauseum on a different thread). Besides, if LL isn't actually identifiying the computer being used, it's trivial to trick the system into believing you're a different user -- or you could just use a different computer. The problem isn't avatar-switching. People do that all the time. The problem is griefers who get banned and then log back in with a new account. I don't see this as the same issue, really. We *do* need to address the issue of griefing. Me wanting to swap from my human to my furry avatar, and then back in the course of a half hour, because one of my clients prefers me that way, shouldn't be restricted by the system. It’s as easy to do the delay with verified accounts, assuming that the user is logging in under his/her verified account. Again, though, I wouldn’t want to see this implemented, since there are valid reasons to swap out avatars, and since I have an unverified account, singling out those is a rather touchy subject for me (as I’ve explained almost ad nauseum on a different thread). Besides, if LL isn’t actually identifiying the computer being used, it’s trivial to trick the system into believing you’re a different user — or you could just use a different computer.

The problem isn’t avatar-switching. People do that all the time. The problem is griefers who get banned and then log back in with a new account. I don’t see this as the same issue, really. We *do* need to address the issue of griefing. Me wanting to swap from my human to my furry avatar, and then back in the course of a half hour, because one of my clients prefers me that way, shouldn’t be restricted by the system.

]]> By: Erika Mahana http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-47253 Erika Mahana Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:35:26 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-47253 Thats true Amanda. I did not thought about that situation. Maybe its an option to do the 30 min. timedelay trick only with unverified accounts. Thats true Amanda. I did not thought about that situation. Maybe its an option to do the 30 min. timedelay trick only with unverified accounts.

]]> By: Amanda Ascot http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46737 Amanda Ascot Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:05:37 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46737 Erika: I'm not sure how that would be enforced, and it might cause problems for people who aren't coming back with new accounts just to stir up trouble. I have several avatars that I use, and it's not always possible to wait 30 minutes to change from one to the other -- especially when I'm in the process of modding them. As I've pointed out, unless LL is, somehow, identifying unique computers (which they might be, considering we have to run their software in order to access the service), someone could easily force an IP change and trick the system into believing that they're logging on as a completely different person. Besides, how about my situation, where we have one computer that accesses SL, but several people who use it? Why should one of those other people have to wait a half hour after I log off to log on? I imagine there are other families in a similar situation, too. Erika: I’m not sure how that would be enforced, and it might cause problems for people who aren’t coming back with new accounts just to stir up trouble. I have several avatars that I use, and it’s not always possible to wait 30 minutes to change from one to the other — especially when I’m in the process of modding them. As I’ve pointed out, unless LL is, somehow, identifying unique computers (which they might be, considering we have to run their software in order to access the service), someone could easily force an IP change and trick the system into believing that they’re logging on as a completely different person. Besides, how about my situation, where we have one computer that accesses SL, but several people who use it? Why should one of those other people have to wait a half hour after I log off to log on? I imagine there are other families in a similar situation, too.

]]> By: Erika Mahana http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46716 Erika Mahana Tue, 12 Dec 2006 22:24:17 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46716 Maybe there must be a build in 30 minuts timedelay before its possible to change from avatar to avatar. It will make it impossible for banned people to come back with another account (from the same computer) in a short time. (just an idea). Maybe there must be a build in 30 minuts timedelay before its possible to change from avatar to avatar. It will make it impossible for banned people to come back with another account (from the same computer) in a short time. (just an idea).

]]> By: Broccoli Curry http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46455 Broccoli Curry Tue, 12 Dec 2006 09:24:57 +0000 http://lindenlab.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/abuse-reporting-begins-overhaul/#comment-46455 If Second Life truly is capable of being 'the future of everything', there's absolutely no reason why individuals can't work from 'home' (wherever that may be), and meet in-world to discuss issues of interest - or, in fact, use Skype or something on conference chat. There already are international Lindens based in different parts of the world. My guess is that with all the recent issues, processing the applicants following the town hall has taken a bit of a back burner. Broccoli If Second Life truly is capable of being ‘the future of everything’, there’s absolutely no reason why individuals can’t work from ‘home’ (wherever that may be), and meet in-world to discuss issues of interest - or, in fact, use Skype or something on conference chat.

There already are international Lindens based in different parts of the world. My guess is that with all the recent issues, processing the applicants following the town hall has taken a bit of a back burner.

Broccoli

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