Abusing abuse… (>.>)

Terms of Service.  It’s the law of the digital land.  A living document of what no-no’s apply to using the service.  All for all kinds of reasons like; Keeping admins out of court… Keeping the FBI from kicking doors in… You know, all the fun stuff. =^-^=

So, SL has a ToS that it kind of doesn’t enforce.  I mean, people get banned for violating it all the time… But, also, people get away with murder for years simply because they haven’t been reported.  It’s a little unspoken rule.  I mention it often:

“AR or it didn’t happen”

Yeah, that. (^_^)

It’s kinda like the forum/chat meme “pix or it didn’t happen”… It’s like, we won’t believe a thing until we see it first hand. (^_^)

Well, really, Linden Lab will not act on anything until someone is bothered enough to report it.  Other than the rare case of a Labbie just happening upon really obvious stuff, just about everything slides until it’s reported. (-_-)

But, how do they act?  It seems, if the claim ‘sounds’ legit enough, they’ll pop right no it.  I’ve had a good number of Labbies land on my head moments after sending an AR.  Usually over pretty obvious and legit stuff.  So, I’m confident that they’re doing their job at least a little bit. =^-^=

But, then there are peeps who lack that confidence.  That’s when we get AR parties. (>_<)

Okay, so when I AR something and I see no action, I let it pass.  I’m happy to assume I misinterpreted the ToS, a Labbie looked into my report, and there was no valid violation. (o.o)

Lesson learned, no? (^_^)

Well… No. (=_=)

For some people, that ain’t enough.  What started as “this person violated blabla by blablaing another blabla” to “I am not satisfied with how things are done and I will scream until you obey me!” DX

That’s really what an AR party is saying, ain’t it? (=_=)

I mean, if you think such a thing is actually necessary, then you probably had a history of being ignored… Probably because you been crying wolf all along? =^-^=

But, anyway, there are those out to “force the hands of the gods”… (=_=)

Like, as a revenge move, ARing you for being underage or ageplay, or whatever kind of quick&dirty thing will impact your account the most. (>_<)

I got a biiiiiiiiiig problem with this. (=_=)

Why?  Because sometimes, it works! (T_T)

I’ve seen, over and over, people getting suspended and even terminated over things they’ve never done, filed by a person who simply doesn’t like them.  Which may just be a bit bad if the lab were to turn around and look at the details. (>_<)

I mean, they did with me.  Years ago.  I got B& for “ageplay” while in a grown-up avatar, on PG land, dressed in a PG manner, during a PG building event.  I fought all high hell over it and got the lab to apologize. (^_^)

Others ain’t been so lucky. (>_<)

I know of a couple people with completely terminated accounts based on vague claims of repeated violations of something they’ve possibly NEVER involved themselves in. (=_=)

Add, when appealing, they get told that no mistake was made. (T_T)

Jeebus, a vigilante’s dream come true. DX

And, of course, that’s who uses it most. (-_-)

The big hubbub lately has been over the JLU and their practices of what’s starting to look like simply getting rid of anyone they don’t like. (O.o)

Or, simply, peeps is abusing a system ripe for abuse. (-_-)

And who gets in trouble?  Surely NOT the abuser.  According to docs, they reported a “wrong” and the lab acted appropriately. (=_=)

Blergh…  Not good!! DX

I see this AR thingie… It needs reforming. (-_-)

ARs need to be actionable and directly connectable to the ToS.  Instead of the existing (and outdated) list of reasons, put in a drop box of the actual ToS/CS guidelines.  Yeah, that’ll make the form tougher to fill out, but, stick with me a minute. XD

ARs need to be valid.  Once someone has picked the specific violation, it better be frigg’n true.  There should be a score against false or misleading ARs.  If this score adds up, well, THERE’s your abuser. (=_=)

But, that score, it’s gotta be real.  I mean, INVESTIGATE y’alls ARs.  A Labbie gotta be on the ball for any AR.  Since the ToS violation is clear-cut as picked from the list, shouldn’t be any guesswork, eh? (-_-)

And, really, treat a false abuse report with the same impact as it would have had if the report were true.  If someone BLOODY LIES about another being a CP peddlar, well, they’re putting someone at risk of full-on termination and possibly even criminal investigation. (=_=)

What if someone were to do that in real life?  What if you’re enjoying a sno-cone while sitting on a public park bench and some psycho popps on the cell phone to report that you just fondled their kid?  It’s nearly the same, ain’t it?  Obviously, in scale it ain’t… Maybe. (>_<)

But, that’s the ticket.  At this moment, the environment is in place for someone to lie about you and effectively ruin your virtual life.  I’d love to say I’m being paranoid.  But, I’ve had it happen to me, I’ve seen it happen to others, and I’ve even seen the exposure of who’s doing it on a practically organized level. (=_=)

There’s a word for it…

FRAUD

I like Second Life.  I don’t mind Linden Lab.  But, I can’t stand the pins and needles people tend to be on when such a threat to their account status looms overhead. (>_<)

Wanna talk about customer retention?  Stop terminating your customers. (=_=)

It will be work, but, that’s what we’re paying the Labbies for, ain’t it? (o.O)