Democracy Defenders

 

In real-life news, political debate in America has gotten more intense over the past decade/ This has particularly been the case over the past year as the President has gone on an ambitious and aggressive agenda that his critics have branded as unconstitutional, authoritarian, even fascist. Netera Landar recently talked to one of the people behind Democracy Defenders, a "grassroots activist group" dedicated to protecting what it sees as America's core values. So how did the conversation go?

 

Read Netera's article in People. 

 

Political Protest

 

On Saturday January 31, there was a political protest event in a skybox high above the Water Haven sim. Organized by a group called Democracy Defenders, it lasted from 2 to 4PM SL time. 

 

I dropped in when Rosedrop Rust was performing for the crowd. Earlier, Justine Johndory was scheduled to play music for the first hour. 

 

The people talked about politics and current events, encouraging one another,  "Awareness and activism are so important." "It's so amazing to know there are like minded people in SL fighting for democracy." "We seem disorganized fighting for democracy because...  it's organic and we all bring who we are...  the village.  Not the corporation." :Call your Reps in Congress." "... sign up to watch elections!  It's fun and important!"

 

Some people were carrying signs, a few with language not suitable for a safe at work article. There were also some political cartoons on the wall critical of the current President.  

 

Eventually, the event came to a close, "Keep up the good fight." "Well done Democracy Defenders! Thanks for being part of the solution." "Go be great!" 

 

Democracy Defenders has weekly meetings, Thursday at 6 SL time. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

The Book Island Newser Office, And It's Neighbor Indivisible

 

 

 For those who don't know, the Newser has a couple auxiliary offices. One is in Bellisseria. The other is at Book Island. We'll soon be sprucing it up some. Yours truly has already set up a sign for his novel "The Corsean Encounter.

 

The office is located at: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Book%20Island/221/118/36

 

 

 But it seems we have a new neighbor, the SL chapter of the political activist group Indivisible.

 

 The group is against the current US President and his plans for government. Inside was information about them.

 

 We may be hearing more about them in the future.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Classic SLN Cartoon

 

 

 From August 2008. Since then, political chatter has gotten much worse. So this cartoon aged pretty well.

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Election Night 2020 in Second Life

 

Last week was the culmination of the efforts of thousands of political volunteers and the two men leading them. On Tuesday November 3, millions of Americans went to the polls to vote in the Presidential Election. As people anxiously waited watching TV and social media, some gathered in certain places here in Second Life. I visited a few of them in an Election Night like no other here.

Read the story in Events.

Election Day

 

 In the United States, it's Election Day, and time for Americans, at least those whom haven't done so earlier, to vote. It's been a unique election, and while there are always those who feel each election is the one the future of the country depends on, this time more than usual consider this one vital. 

People will likely hang out at one of several locations, such as the Election Simulator (above), one of Second Life's political areas, and even Book Island is offering for those anxious about the election to come and hang out. So who will win, Trump or Biden? We may know sometime tonight.

So go out and vote (if you haven't already), and come and hang out in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Some Political Locations In Second Life

The US Presidential election is just nine weeks away. While many Second Life residents would rather have nothing to do with it, there are a few places supporters of Biden or Trump can hang out at, or the curious can visit. The longtime hangout for the politically liberal, Cafe Wellstone, is still around. For Trump supporters, there's the Trump Pub. There's also a newer location for Democratic supporters, the Blue Revolution HQ.

Read more in Places.

News and Commentary: Political Ads Banned Under Ad Farm Rule Change

With America's Presidential Election Day in a little more than two months, it seems Linden Lab is trying to cut down on the size and number of political advertising signs.  In a Concierge and Land User Group meeting last Wednesday August 26, the rules about advertising signs were amended to include a prohibition on political ads in their rules about Ad Farms.

Shortly afterwards, it was brought up in the Second Life forums and subject to some debate. Some supported it. Some were solidly opposed it. Others felt it was well-intentioned, considering how sour political rancor has gotten, but smacked of censorship.

More than once in the forum thread, someone stated no one has to worry about taking down a "Vote for XXXX" sign from their home parcel on the Mainland, provided such signs are within common sense (no huge banners standing over 8 meters in the air, no flashing lights, etc.). Taking a look in one spot, the political signs themselves I saw seemed to be within the eight meter limit, though one guy was doing a subtle jab at the opposition by making what looked like a giant body bag with the other candidate's banner. When I checked the following day though, both the sign and the bag were gone.

The Newser has written very little on the 2020 Presidential Election this year. This is partially because of the lack of headliners like the Trump Manor , the Trump Wall, and the Trump Organization getting banned by the Lab four years ago, partially. The other reason is people yours truly talking to on Second Life and the Internet expressing their revulsion and exhaustion with the state of politics and political debate today. With the home stretch of the campaign season upon us, there will be some political coverage. But don't expect it every week.

Bixyl Shuftan

Accouncement: "We Will Be Heard" Discussion Panel

"Join us for a lively panel discussion. July 6, 2020, 6PM SL time."

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Moonsong/250/195/4002 (Sempiternal Cult Land)

News And Commentary: No Plans For Covering US Election in SL This Spring

Over the past few days, there's been quite a bit of chatter on my social media in Facebook at Discord about certain political issues, notably the unsuccessful impeachment of US President Donald Trump. But there were also comments about President Trump's State of the Union Address and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's reaction to it. While results of the vote itself were more or less as expected, there was still no shortage of angry comments. There were both people expressing their fury at the President and those who voted for him, and the President's opposition and those who voted for them. 

Like Election Night 2016, I ended up reflecting for some time at the Texas State Capitol Building in Antiquity Texas (153/132/22), the closest Second Life has to Capitol Hill. While I had thought of covering the election some this spring, the frequency and depth of the anger I've been hearing has convinced me to wait a little longer. There's plenty else to write about in the meantime.

Perhaps a little time will help calm the angry voices ... hopefully. As a reader of American history, I am all too aware of what can happen when there is no longer an agreement to disagree. 

Bixyl Shuftan

Political Cartoon of North Korea Tension

Adolph Chaplin created this screenshot. "Fried and Flange," in response to the recent trouble with North Korea and it's dictator Kim Jong Un. In recent weeks, the rouge nation noted for keeping people in prison for the supposed crimes of their grandparents and pursuing nuclear weaponry even as it's own people go hungry was the subject of attention and worry as it began testing missiles that in theory could reach Alaska. When the White House stated that all options were being considered, The North Korean regime threatened to send a nuclear-armed missile to the American territory of Guam. In response, President Trump responded that such an action would be met with "Fire and Fury."

That North Korea's leader backed down, and felt compelled to release a Canadian pastor, perhaps he felt a little like he'd been whacked like a golf ball.

Caution: For those wanting to look further on Chaplin's Flickr, not all the pictures are safe for work.

Hat Tip: Hamlet Au

Political Satirist Responds Nine Years Later

In January 2008 I was part of a tour group that dropped by the Caricavatars sim, a place of biting political satire of American, French, and global politics owned and run by Christophe Hugo. At the time, I wasn't sure what to think of him as while he gave our group the codes to his mock-up of the White House, he booted a friend of mine for asking a question about an exhibit that had stirred up a little controversy. When his response to my article was to tell me he had banned the whole tour group. I came to the conclusion this was someone whom couldn't take criticism but had no trouble dishing it out.

Checking my articles, I found a comment made by him, calling himself Chris Zeil, in response to my reprint of my story, "It is interesting to read your article and reflect on my tenure in Second Life as a caricaturist, almost ten years after I ceased my activities..." He told me that he hadn't been thrown out by Linden Lab as I was told, but he had left on his own as "I eventually grew tired with untrained moderators taking down with no notice some of my 3D exhibits, every time there was a risk they may offend a community (most frequently the muslims', or the christians')." Of his booting people out for asking questions, he stated that he had been dealing with large numbers of visitors, many of whom came just to troll and grief, and basically stated it wasn't always easy telling apart the trollers and critics.

Zeil stated he had no regrets about his time in Second Life as "it allowed to develop my approach to 3D caricatures, which was useful in eventually developing a drawing style I am now using to publish comic books" in real life. However, he was expecting some trouble from the begining as he considered Linden Lab's "main priority is first and foremost to attract an increasing number of customers. Hence they want to be mainstream, and will avoid controversy at all costs and aim for political correctness, even if it means curtailing freedom of speech."

"In retrospect, I believe that satire is not a fit for for-profit companies like Linden Labs. ... the space of Second Life always remained what it was from the start, i.e., a for-profit corporate space, not a public place. This very much limited freedom of speech, hence artistic freedom. Let's hope that future virtual worlds will not follow the same path."

One wonders what Zeil/Christophe would think of JP Laszlo of the "Trump Organization" whom in 2016 was the center of even more political-related controversy. But Zeil would probably be the first to point out that JP had a very public throwing out and then coming out as a member of Woodbury.

Bixyl Shuftan

Second Life Republicans Podcast Meeting

It's been a wild election year, in real life as well as Second Life. Of those inworld who declared their support for the the conservatives, the most visible this year were the Trump Organization, which ended up getting in trouble. But there is another group: the Second Life Republicans, which gather to discuss the topics of a regular podcast hosted by Hatton Hunghi. Second Life Newser dropped in to have a listen, then have a few words with Hatton.

Read more in People.

Election Night 2016

On Tuesday November 8, after a long Presidential campaign American voters went to the polls. The big issue, who would be the next President: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? And back home millions were glued to the TV awaiting election returns. In Second Life, a number gathered at one of a few political-themed locations around the Grid. Second Life Newser was there, and dropped in to check in on the conversations.

Read the story in Events.

Cafe Wellstone, The Twin Political Campaign Buildings, And The Trump Pub

With just a short time before the US Presidential Election, Bixyl Shuftan does a look at four political-themed locations not mentioned before this season. One was a location from previous elections that had moved and only now was the Newser made aware of where it is now: Cafe Wellstone. Besides that, there were also two political buildings standing side by side appearing to each represent one of the candidates. And there was also a pub for Trump supporters.

Read more in Extra.

Addition: Originally, the link led to the wrong section, it was later corrected.

Cartoon of the Day: The Great Debate

Taken at the Clinton HQ in Bay City at September 26 during the Presidential debate. It seems the debate didn't quite hold the interest of one lady. But not everyone is finding fault with her.

By Bixyl Shuftan

Hillary Clinton Group Claims Trump Organization Leader Banned

It's not yet confirmed, but it may be the beginning of the end for Second Life's most well known group of supporters of Donald Trump.

On the evening of June 30, a member of the Hillary Clinton 2016 group, who requested to remain anonymous, stated that there was a group notice that JP Laszlo, the leader of the Trump Organization and a few other Trump groups in Second Life had been banned by Linden Lab and their sim, "The Wall," had been confiscated.

J.P. (jp.laszlo), leader of the biggest Trump group in Second Life got banned by the Lab and their main sim was seized.  J.P. and other associates no longer appear in people search or in any affiliated Trump groups.

J.P.'s group has been well known to troll SL residents (including us) with their political propaganda and harassment tactics.  I guess Linden Labs had enough of it. :-D

The notice was given by Priscilla Cox (Prissycox), the head of Hillary Clinton 2016.

A search for JP Laszlo both using inworld Search and on secondlife.com proved fruitless. The sim was still online when I checked. While it was blocked to visitors, it had been closed to them under JP as well.

Of exactly why JP and others of the Trump Organization were banned, the informer doubted it was for anything done with the Clinton group, "they had done some minor griefing to the Hillary HQ nothing major really.  So not sure what precipitated LLs big move last night." She had heard of a griefing incident at Bay City not far from where they had a building. But when I later talked to Marianne McCann, she had strong doubts that the Trump Organization was involved or that even if this were it would get a permanent ban in response as the incident in question was minor. However in the past, JP and his Trump Organization were accused of taking part in the outright griefing of Bernie Sanders supporters, in addition to the pranks they admitted pulling, such as the Trump Wall. Hamlet Au of New World Notes basically called for Linden Lab to ban members of the group for violations of Second Life's community standards. JP denied his group was griefing, "We are not trolls, just political activists with a sense of humor and fun." But others begged to differ,

More information may come in over the next few days, but with JP's account removed, it's doubtful he will be coming back to Second Life. While no doubt there will continue to be trolls harassing people in Trump's name, it seems the largest group of Trump supporters has just been swatted down.

* * * * *

A visit to Lionheart Ahadi revealed that the Clinton HQ was no longer at the block it and the old Trump HQ had been on. It's owner Candace Larganta had earlier hinted it would be up until after the July 4rth weekend. But there was another Clinton building at
Lionheart Pumbaa (205, 210, 28). The Trump building by the old Trump Organization that had been across the street from it was gone to, though one biker bar did put up a Trump sign.

In real life, the primaries are over, and both Clinton and Trump are trying to unify their parties behind them. But a number of Republicans are reluctant to support Trump, and many "Berners" say they will not vote for Clinton reguardless of whether or not she gets Sansers' endorsement. In both Second Life and real life, it's been an interesting election.

*Addition*  Contacting JP Lazslo through his Facebook group "Donald Trump Still Thinks Your Waifu is S***," he confirmed that Linden Lab had indeed banned him and others in his group. He also made a short but to the point post on his Twitter account.

Bixyl Shuftan

Trump Manor, HQ, and Wall Gone, Hillary HQ Up

The US Presidential Election has gone through no shortage of twists and turns in real life, and so it has in Second Life as well. A fan of the Republican candidate Donald Trump set up a "Trump Manor," in Lionheart Ahadi, followed soon by a "Trump HQ." Likewise. fans of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders set up two locations of their own, the "Sanders HQ" in Caspoli and "Feel the Bern" in Young. Some people in the Trump HQ group bought some land next to the Sanders HQ and erected a tall slab of concrete called the "Trump Wall" towering over it, which they called a prank while the Sanders supporters called griefing. Both side claimed to have been harassed by griefers, the Sanders groups accusing the Trump group of being behind some of it.

In the latest twist, the Trump Manor, and Trump HQ in Lionheart and the Trump Wall in Caspoli have disappeared, at least from their former locations. In the place of the former two was a new headquarters for supporters of the leading candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Candace Larganta (candacelarganta) is the owner of the new build in the location.

The location is decorated with red white and blue decorations all around, and has a number of American flags. And there's no shortage of campaign signs for Clinton all around both the building and the fence around it. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a small radiant fairy with the caption "Let's keep fighting!" over her. Going through the front door, one passes through a room with a white wall with pro-Hillary colored drawings. The interior resembles a school gym area, with seating on the sides for crowds and on the floor a huge "I'm Ready for Hillary" sign. There was a small kitchen room to the side (maybe for baking cookies and brewing tea). When I got there, there were only three avatars there, and one left without saying anything soon after. The remaining two, a robot and a small airship flying in the air, were likely bots.

Not everyone in the neighborhood seemed happy to see the new political HQ. One place called "The Love Shack" had a huge "Bernie 2016" sign over the roof, with a "Hillary: For Prison" sign on the side of the building. Hamlet Au had a few words with it's owner, Psyclonis Draconia, who explained that the Sanders sign up had been put up while the Trump HQ was still around, and they had moved out on their own to another location.

Checking out the Caspoli sim, I found the Trump Wall was gone. What was there was a wall of stone around the Sanders area with a huge "Bernie 2016" sign. The Trump Wall had been replaced by the Bennie Wall.

Both Candace and the owner of the Trump HQ JP Laszlo were unavailable for comment. While JP had the location of a new location on her profile, the sim was blocked from my trying to enter. But I did find an old message from Dirk Klees, the owner of the Lionheart Estates from when I asked earlier about the Trump Manor. He had stated, "I have no point of view about this location. We're a land provider, they are customers like everyone else, and happen to own land here. That's about it. We have/had many different political and religious themed landowner's projects on these sims. Neither do we care, discriminate or get involved with people's political or religious views."

As of the writing of this article, the last state Democratic primaries have taken place. With 2383 delegates needed to win, Clinton has 1926 pledged delegates and the support of 571 unpledged or "superdelagates" whom have stated their intentions to support Clinton, for a total of 2497. Sanders has a total of 1615 pledged delegates with the support of just 48 superdelagates for a total of 1663. While some Berners are insisting the race for the nomination isn't over yet, Hillary Clinton has declared victory, and most mainstream news sources have declared her the winner of the Democratic nomination race.

For those wishing to visit the Clinton HQ, it is at Lionheart Ahadi (151/7/28).

Sources: New World Notes, BBC

Bixyl Shuftan

News and Commentary: Political Opposition Against Trump HQ Continues

Last week, the Newser wrote about the problems a group of supporters of the US Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was having with another group supporting the candidate Donald Trump, the latter admitting they were having a little fun at the other's expense, and some outright trolls griefing in the brash candidate's name, at times wondering if the two were one and the same. Since then, the incidents of griefing have continued, and are drawing attention from both Second Life media, and media from outside which has taken a renewed interest in the virtual world because of the political drama. One noted figure in Second Life media has stated things have gone far enough and it's time for Linden Lab to swing the ban hammer on the Trump HQ. But if they wanted to, could the Lab do so without alienating much of it's user base.

Read more in Extra.

News and Commentary: More on The Trump Wall

With supporters of two different US Presidential candidates from two different parties making their presence felt in Second Life, one for Donald Trump and another for Bernie Sanders, eventually there would be some kind of problem between the two. And a large problem it was, in the form of a section of wall erected by supporters of Trump towering over the Sanders HQ. Since it's appearance, I've talked to the leaders of both groups. Besides a difference in opinion on who should get the nomination, the two disagree about the intent on what the "Trump Wall" is about.

Read the article in Extra.