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. 

 

Classic SLN Cartoon

 

 

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

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

Looking Back: The Saftey Pin Post-Election Support Group

 

A few weeks after the Presidential Election, things are starting to calm down somewhat. But with both sides screaming that victory for the opposition would bring ruin to the country, there are still some people nervous about what lies ahead. It was much the same eight years ago. In response to Trump's victory in 2016, the head of one Clinton HQ, Evangeline Ling, founded the "Safety Pin" post-election support group, "to provide a safe space for people negatively impacted by the election to process it and to support each other," inviting people over, "if you would like to take some time to process your fears, hopes, and experiences about this election." The Newser would interview her about the group then.

I would message Evangeline a few days ago, asking if the group was back or she knew of another. She would say no, "While 'Safety Pin' as a group no longer exists in reality it certainly exists as a concept." She would say she still thinks Trump is "disastrous," but would rather express her disappointment more privately than in 2016.

If anyone knows of such an existing support group, feel free to contact the Newser.

 

And, It's Trump

 

 

Yesterday was Election Day, and following a long campaign with some historic twists and turns, it was now up to the voters to decide the outcome of the Presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. While it was expected that the outcome would take at least a few days to resolve, to the surprise of many (myself included), late into the night it was becoming increasingly clear Trump was going to be the winner. He gave a speech thanking those who voted for him. As of now, there has been no comment from Harris yet. 

Looking around, Learning Virtualē had a small exhibit on it's ground floor (above). There was also a Harris Campaign HQ in Star Valley. The place was full of American flags and campaign posters, and a globe that had been turned upside down. 

On Discord and Facebook, there were a number of cheers from Trump fans, "tears of joy!" And a number of less than happy comments from Harris supporters, "I'm going to hide in my room until it's over." From both, there were people praying to God, asking that all be well with the country.

Obviously for those interested in politics, there will be a lot of chatter over the next few days, and weeks. But for others, they're just glad it's over and looking forward to when talk will turn to other subjects.

Bixyl Shuftan

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 Saturday July 6

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

    Resolving Polarization

    Chantal Jager

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/resolving-polarization/

   

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 Saturday January 27

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

    Is It Still Allowed To Stand Up For Your Own Culture?

    Organizer: Chantal Jager

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/cultures/

 

    The Science Circle (72,129,30)

      

    ~*~

 

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

The 2024 Election US Presidency Exhibit

 

 

I recently came across an exhibit for next year's election in America, the 2024 Election US Presidency Exhibit. It's a place where one can learn a little more about the country's Presidential Election.

Visit this evolving exhibit about the 2024 Presidential Election. Review information about voting and voter registration, key dates for the 2024 election, Democratic and Republican Parties and candidates, and more! Collect party supplies! Enjoy refreshments from the Campaign Cafe! Start your own fireworks show!

The U.S. Presidency has been an exhibit topic at Learning Virtualē from September 2012 through March 2014 (for the 2012 presidential election and more) and April 2015 to present (for the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections and more). 

 

Looking around, there was a place to pick up bottled water and a hamburger or hot dog, or other goodies. There was also a sign "Exercise your Constitutional right to vote!" 

 

Among the displays was one of voter trends in recent years. There was also a billboard giving out notecards of recent Presidential and Presidential election scandals and controversies "and every Presidency seems to have an alleged scandal or a few." There was one place where one could read charts on voting statistics, such as what percentage of what age group went out and voted. The chart displayed was stating older people are more likely to vote, though in recent elections more younger people were coming to the polls. 

There were also a couple places where one could get a little information on the candidates, one for the Democrats and another for the Republicans. With this upcoming election having a Democrat as the incumbent, there were only a couple other candidates listed besides President Biden running for the nomination by the party. In contrast, there was a long list of candidates running for the Republican nomination for the Presidential race, such as former President Donald Trump who has been having a consistent lead in the polls. While fortunes in politics can, and have, change wildly in a short time, there is the likelyhood of the next US Presidential election having the same two candidates by the two major parties as in the previous one. This would be only one other time in more than a century this has happened, in 1956  when the Republican Dwight Eisenhower faced the Democrat Adlai Stevenson. Neither of the major parties have ever before nominated a former President to run in a Presidential Election in American history since Grover Cleveland in1892.  .

Learning Virtualē was founded by Addison Loxely and describes itself as "a group and site for educators, students, and others interested in the advancement of e-learning in (higher) education, particularly the integration of SL into learning experiences."

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Balmoral/218/58/1651

Bixyl Shuftan

Trump Twitter Ban Raises Questions About Roles and Responsibilities of Social Media

 

It's been about a week since US President Donald Trump was banned from Twitter. Trump has been a controversial figure in American politics, and his takedown from the social media platform was greeted with applause by his opponents and criticism by his supporters. But some, including people whom have been critical of Trump in the past, expressed concerns about him being removed. The head of Twitter himself felt while they did the right thing, the move could have repercussions in the future for free speech online.

Read more in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.

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.

US Election Results: To Be Continued

 

 

It was Election night last evening in Second Life. And at the Election Simulator (above) and other places last night many people gathered to see the results of the polls as they closed. Over time, the results slowly trickled in, and as the hours went on, the crowds thinned as people realized it would not be over soon and logged off to head to bed. As of 2AM SL time, the Electoral College score of declared states is 225 to 213 in favor of Democrat Biden. Several states have yet to be decided, and there are millions of mail-in ballots to read. President Trump has already declared victory. But the general consensus is figuring out the winner will take time.

To be continued.

Bixyl Shuftan

 

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

 

 

The 2020 Election Simulator

 

America's Presidential Elections are less than a month away.  While the polls can tell us who's ahead among a cross-section of people across the country, in the end it's not just one big contest but fifty-one smaller contests in which their results are counted as electoral votes. At least if things go according to plan. One resident decided to build a "2020 Election Simulator" in the Eyharts sim, to help give people ideas on how it could turn out. The Newser went over to take a look.

Read the story in Design.

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

Top Stories of the 2010s, Part Three

The 2010s are over. But as we say goodbye to the decade, there's some looking back at what happened. The Newser has covered much in the past ten years, and we're looking at some of the top stories that made the news and got more attention than most.


Read the third part of the series in Extra.

"A Dark Day For Internet Freedom" : EU Passes Vauge Copyright Bill

On Tuesday March 27, the European Parliament voted in favor of the "Copyright Directive," a controversial bill that advocates of Internet freedom charge is vague and threatens public rights of expression online. The vote was 348 to 274.

While not an immediate blow to those wishing to express themselves online, there are still a number of steps before the bill becomes law in Europe, the bill is still a threat. Particularly worrisome are Article 11, the "link tax," which could make it impossible for websites such as Wikipedia to function in countries affected, and Article 13 (which has been changed to Article 17) which would require websites and platforms that allow for content to be loaded to install "upload filters" as a preventive measure to stop copyrighted content.

The law is vague and subject to interpretation, but the potential consequences to Second Life are very bad. Linden Lab could be given a stark choice: the instillation of expensive and clumsy upload filters that would certainly anger it's users due to content creation becoming far more difficult if it involves bringing textures and other things into the virtual world and the fees jacked up greatly to make up for Linden Lab's expenses, or block the IP addresses of the affected countries.

The next step for the bill is when it goes to the European Council. While it previously looked like it would pass there easily, "one of two countries responsible for the final wording of Article 13 (/ 17) ... Germany is having something of a change of heart, with their Minister of Justice publicly opposing the idea of upload filters. ... five other member states – the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Italy, and Finland – have voiced public opposition to the Directive the vote. So should Germany, a key nation behind the legislation and of the EU, change its mind between now and April 9th, it would prevent a Council majority being reached." This would mean the bill would need to be renegotiated, and activists would have a chance to vote a number of legislators supporting it out of office.

As Inara Pey of Modem World put it, "while a significant battle against the EU Copyright Directive has been lost," the war's not over yet, but "it is going to be significantly harder to win."

Sources: The Verge, Modem World, BBC, CNet,

Image credit: Nydia Tungsten 

Bixyl Shuftan

Looking Back: John McCain's Campaign in Second Life

Some sad news. John McCain, the Vietnam War veteran turned political leader, passed away yesterday on Saturday August 25. He had been suffering from cancer, and had just announced he was no longer continuing his treatment. He was 81.

Besides serving as US Senator for Arizona for six terms, he ran for President twice. In 2008, he succeeded in winning the nomination of the Republican Party for the Presidential Election that year. And like many other things in real life, the election would be reflected inworld with various offices of a number of candidates inworld during the primaries, such as Hillary Clinton's. Although a few politicians such as Newt Gingrich had made appearances in Second Life earlier, these efforts were not the work of the candidates, but their supporters. For supporters of McCain inworld, they would meet at the "Straight Talk Cafe," named for the "Straight Talk Express," an expression of McCain's meaning he would do his best to be straightforward with the voters. The Cafe also handed out McCain t-shirts, such as the one pictured here.

I would write about the election a few times for Second Life Newspaper, such as the watching the Presidential Debates from the Straight Talk Cafe, as well as Cafe Wellstone and Capitol Hill. And occasionally these locations would be mentioned in real life media, such as my local newspaper. I would also write about Election Night on November 4. But due to the stock market crash a few months earlier and resulting economic worries, McCain's campaign would lose much of it's steam, and Obama would win the election. After Second Life Newspaper closed, most of the election articles would vanish from the Internet. What I have left is the Election Night 2008 article, and the t-shirt.

In his concession speech on Election Night 2008, McCain called on Americans to come together. Maybe it's something we need to do a little more often.

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