Following the seemingly specious rejection of the contributed prim-alignment tool earlier in the week, Qarl has declined to make the changes suggested by the Lab.
In the past, when code contributions have been made, the Lab has been willing to pull out all the stops to make its own contribution to the code in some cases, even going so far as to rewrite a contribution’s code from the ground up to meet its requirements or to overcome stylistic or technical objections.
The Lab has not chosen to do that this time and, while I cannot reasonably speculate on what the Lab is thinking and why – in this instance, the temptation is so very great.
But Qarl is right. He’s provided the code, and it is up to the Lab or someone else to push it across whatever line the Lab sets.
Certainly it has been mentioned repeatedly by Lab staff that many of its developers detest and resent the company-mandated open-source programme for the Second Life viewer, such that few of them choose to participate in it. Perhaps some balance has tilted internally with all of the staff turnover.
Qarl makes suggestions about the psychology of oversized avatars (research done by the magnificent Nick Yee and his team), and wonders at the ongoing effects of virtual godhood (about which John “Pathfinder” Lester has written so eloquently).
I am, as I mentioned, hesitant to ascribe specific motives to the Lab in this, or dig too deeply into its reasoning (perhaps another day), but something feels quite different about the way the Lab is treating this contribution to the way it has treated many others.
| Following the seemingly specious rejection of the contributed prim-alignment tool earlier in the week, Qarl has declined to make the changes suggested by the Lab.
In the past, when code contributions have been made, the Lab has been willing to pull out all the stops to make its own contribution to the code in some cases, even going so far as to rewrite a contribution’s code from the ground up to meet its requirements or to overcome stylistic or technical objections.
The Lab has not chosen to do that this time and, while I cannot reasonably speculate on what the Lab is thinking and why - in this instance, the temptation is so very great.
But Qarl is right. He’s provided the code, and it is up to the Lab or someone else to push it across whatever line the Lab sets.
Certainly it has been mentioned repeatedly by Lab staff that many of its developers detest and resent the company-mandated open-source programme for the Second Life viewer, such that few of them choose to participate in it. Perhaps some balance has tilted internally with all of the staff turnover.
Qarl makes suggestions about the psychology of oversized avatars (research done by the magnificent Nick Yee and his team), and wonders at the ongoing effects of virtual godhood (about which John “Pathfinder” Lester has written so eloquently).
I am, as I mentioned, hesitant to ascribe specific motives to the Lab in this, or dig too deeply into its reasoning (perhaps another day), but something feels quite different about the way the Lab is treating this contribution to the way it has treated many others. | |  | |
Tags: John Lester, Karl Stiefvater / Qarl Linden / Qarl Fizz, Linden Lab / Linden Research Inc, Nick Yee, Opinion, Prims, Second Life, Source code, Virtual Environments and Virtual Worlds
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Possibly related posts
Linden Lab rejects Qarl’s prim-alignment tool, Qarl contributes alignment tool to Linden Lab, Qarl’s open letter to Linden Lab, Unencumbered viewer code, Linden Lab to open up viewer mesh code
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I note that the Linden who rejected the code contribution appears to be a veteran of ILM, and of EA. Neiher one exactly a hotbed of user-created content, and a stint at EA would make him a possible crony of Rodvik’s.
Everybody was excited when Rodvik came on board because of his previous gaming background.
This attitude towards the users as carnival “marks”, noobs and “food” may be one of the downsides of that background. At one time LL had respect for all the creators in-world (not just the high-end pro content houses), out of an awareness of and appreciation for how vital they were to the early success of SL.
Those days are gone.
(subscribing to the comments)
As I have suggested elsewhere, I do not expect civility, diplomacy or even courtesy from the geeks at the lab (although I greatly appreciate it when it shows itself). I will be among those who object to their social blunders and recognize the corrections made in response.
As infuriating as this may be, it is a vast improvement over “I can not comment, submit your suggestion in writing to the PR department” or the Silent Treatment, both of which we have endured in the past.
It took a couple of tries, but thank you OZ for straightening out the jira status and comments.
Qarl had pointed to a couple of sources for the problem of Virtual World administrators and arrogance. I’ve certainly seen enough, not just in SL, to make me wonder. I am not sure how much as arrogance and how much is down to other social failings. The Secret Justice of the AR system in SL could easily be both.
i’ve gotten a few questions about whether i mean this literally, or whether i’m just being antagonistic. i mean this literally.
here is an essay Pathfinder wrote on the issue back in may:
http://becunningandfulloftricks.com/2011/05/05/railing-against-the-gods-the-unfortunate-metaphor-of-virtual-world-administrators/
and here is an amazing talk about the power of avatars on human psychology:
Subscribing to the comments.
Charlar has added a further comment on the JIRA (https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/STORM-468?focusedCommentId=306270&page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:comment-tabpanel#comment-306270).