I'm rather proud to say that I managed to get banned from "Burning Life", a Second Life event purported to be the SL equivalent of "Burning Man," the annual beanfeast in the desert. Perhaps the organizers haven't heard that Butrning Man is largely a celebration of protected expression.
The completed exhibit, "America's Dream - World's Nightmare", booted before it was even completed, has been put on display at the SmarterEarth sim in the Gallery there as part of a planned exhibition, "Censored Life" dealing with censorship. Visit here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/SmarterEarth/247/27/33 and take the transporter to "Gallery" to see it.
Copy of a Letter Sent To Linden Labs
Request for Determination, Action and Response
I have a stand at the SL Burning Life (Burning Life (Hydro) 102, 3). Burning life is a Linden Lab sponsored event. Artists are invited to express themselves there. The theme is "An American Dream" which seems to me to have turned into a nightmare, and I have worked on the artwork for this exhibition for a fortnight. On my stand I had two posters - and a hurricane - quoting words attributed to Sarah Palin to demonstrate how she is perceived by a significant section of the public. The one was "Our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan. Sarah Palin" and the other "Todd and I talked about Hurricane Katrina as God's way of cleansing New Orleans of the blacks who have sinned, the Bible predicted it" Sarah Palin (2005).
On 2008/09/20 Talia Tokugawa acting for Linden Labs demanded that I remove these items from my exhibit and not replace them (Chat log appended). After I refused to take them down as I regard them as political speech protected under the California Constitution (but unlinked them) Talia Tokugawa returned them. She alleged that they "promoted racism" and were "broadly offensive" and threatened me with "The G Team" which is apparently LL's TOS enforcement service. She asserted that she had reported me for a TOS violation and implied that she was directly in contact with "the GTeam" over this with the clear inference that I could be banned from SL for a breach of the TOS. I requested a contact number fopr the G-Team and was informed that they would be in contact with me. I have waited a more than reasonable period given the pressure of the opening day of the Burning Life exposition and have heard nothing.
I do not believe I violated the TOS in any manner by quoting statements made by or attributed to Vice Presidential candiate Sarah Palin. I regard this action as a clear infringement of my right to engage in protected political speech in a public forum, as censorship of my artistic expression and due to the possibly actualized threat to "report me to the G-team" where the outcome is uncertain but the possibility of being banned appears definitely present - and would lead to serious consequences for a sim owning non-profit, The Smarter Earth Institute, which I represent here in SL (and the sim for which, SmarterEarth, is registered to me) - comprises a massive and effective example of prior restraint.
I request that Linden Labs: * determine that this was protected political speech and communicate same to me. * confirm that I can engage in protected speech without harrassment including replacing the items removed from my exhibit. * instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to harrass me or anyone else for engaging in protected political speech. * instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to threaten people with banning for engaging in protected political speech on private property held open to the public. * instruct Talia Tokugawa, Linden Lab's staff and representatives not to return objects that do not violate the TOS and which constitute relevant political speech. * act speedily on these issues in order that I may complete my exhibit in time for the opening as I have now lost several days while waiting on communication from Linden Labs regarding this matter.
All communication with me will be logged, will be copied to my attorneys and others and may be published.
Yours Sincerely
Name Omitted
Chat log: I have suppressed simultaneous IMs, on-line/off-line notices and announcements from prims from this chat log. In addition, I wear a simultaneous translator (into French) which I have also suppressed. Philos Kidd was an unbelieving bystander who logged this to a notecard at my request in order to have an independent witness.
I assert all rights to this content, and am releasing it under the Creative Commons, for attribution, non-commercial. share-alike.
==================================================== [2008/09/20 17:46] Hermit Barber: Just the person I need to see! Talia? [2008/09/20 17:46] Philos Kidd: hello talia [2008/09/20 17:46] Hermit Barber: I quite literally have the BL group up on my screen to get the spelling of your name :-) [2008/09/20 17:46] Tom32 Anatine: hi everyone [2008/09/20 17:46] Philos Kidd: hello tom [2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: What do I need to do to make my rezzers operate correctly? [2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: Please don't say deed to group. [2008/09/20 17:47] Talia Tokugawa: okay I won't [2008/09/20 17:47] Hermit Barber: *grins* [2008/09/20 17:48] Hermit Barber: They work fine if I am in sim or have recently been in sim and am still in cache. But then they stop working. [2008/09/20 17:50] Talia Tokugawa: sooo [2008/09/20 17:51] Tom32 Anatine: yes talia? [2008/09/20 17:51] Talia Tokugawa: that statemen on teh wall? [2008/09/20 17:51] Hermit Barber: Nods [2008/09/20 17:51] Talia Tokugawa: thats a tos [2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: Quoting peopl;e is a TOS? [2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: She didn't say it inm IM AFAIK? [2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: It is on video. [2008/09/20 17:52] Talia Tokugawa: you wish to remove it and we will let the g-team decide that? [2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: Which one? [2008/09/20 17:52] Talia Tokugawa: it's a promotion of racisim [2008/09/20 17:52] Hermit Barber: What? [2008/09/20 17:53] Talia Tokugawa: you need to remove both [2008/09/20 17:53] Hermit Barber: How can showing that somebody running for an important office is possibly a racist equivalent to promoting racism? [2008/09/20 17:54] Talia Tokugawa: whats you source? [2008/09/20 17:54] Hermit Barber: Would you care to hold on a moment please. [2008/09/20 17:54] Talia Tokugawa: you need to remove both now or I return them [2008/09/20 17:55] Philos Kidd: is stunned [2008/09/20 17:55] Hermit Barber: They are both unlinked from the build. [2008/09/20 17:56] Second Life: Your 2 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Talia Tokugawa near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 102, 3 due to parcel owner return. [2008/09/20 17:57] Philos Kidd: guess I will have to rethink my build now lest it be censored [2008/09/20 17:57] Talia Tokugawa: please don't replace them or anything like them.. [2008/09/20 17:57] Hermit Barber: As this happened in open channel, I will be quoting itas far and wide as I can. [2008/09/20 17:58] Hermit Barber: Oh I will do a new exhibit featuring your censorship of burning life. [2008/09/20 17:58] Hermit Barber: I'm really impressed. [2008/09/20 17:59] Hermit Barber: And BTWE, you have not yet answered my technical question. [2008/09/20 17:59] Talia Tokugawa: you still havn't answered mine on what your source was? [2008/09/20 17:59] Hermit Barber: I am getting my source and missed yours. [2008/09/20 18:01] Second Life: Your object 'bl tornado v4' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Talia Tokugawa from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 73, 11 due to parcel owner return. [2008/09/20 18:01] Hermit Barber: http://edkrebs.com/herb/index.htm [2008/09/20 18:03] Hermit Barber: Rats [2008/09/20 18:05] Hermit Barber: Would you regard this as "promoting racism" [2008/09/20 18:14] Hermit Barber: I have a stand at Burning Life. It had two posters up quoting Sarah Palin. The one was ""Todd and I talked about Hurricane Katrina as God's way of cleansing New Orleans of the blacks who have sinned, the Bible predicted it" Sarah Palin (2005)" and the other ""Todd and I talked about Hurricane Katrina as God's way of cleansing New Orleans of the blacks who have sinned, the Bible predicted it" Sarah Palin (2005). After I refused to take them down (but unlinked them) Talia Tokugawa returned them. She alleged that the latter "promoted racism" and threatned me with "The G Team" I am logging the entire conversation nd will forward it to every free speech site I can think of. [2008/09/20 18:14] Hermit Barber: Repeating myself. Excuse me
[2008/09/20 18:15] Hermit Barber: I'm still waiting for your answer on the rezzer Talia [2008/09/20 18:16] Talia Tokugawa: the answer on the rezzer is that no it won't work [2008/09/20 18:16] Marianne Levasseur: Crashing... BRB. [2008/09/20 18:17] Talia Tokugawa: thought that was kinda implied from the first time you asked me about it... when you told me not to say [2008/09/20 18:17] Hermit Barber: Ah, ok. Deed to group is the only answer. [2008/09/20 18:19] Hermit Barber: But deed to group is not enabled. [2008/09/20 18:19] Talia Tokugawa: right [2008/09/20 18:24] Hermit Barber: So, how do I make my rezzers operate correctly? [2008/09/20 18:25] Tom32 Anatine: Hermit: as for all other artists, you would not be able to use rezzers due to the security settings of the estate. [2008/09/20 18:25] Hermit Barber: I see. [2008/09/20 18:26] Hermit Barber: And is artistic expression and political speech now being supressed throught Burning Life? [2008/09/20 18:27] Hermit Barber: I need to know who the ACLU needs to contact. [2008/09/20 18:27] Hermit Barber: Is there a phone number where they can reach your side of the story? [2008/09/20 18:27] Tom32 Anatine: if the expression carried in the political statement is considered to be of rasistic nature or broadly offensive, such a statement would generally not be allowed in all Second Life [2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: Of course. But quoting a vice presidential nominee cannot be regarded as either. [2008/09/20 18:28] Talia Tokugawa: this is out of our hands now... [2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: There is protection for political speech in the USA. [2008/09/20 18:28] Talia Tokugawa: g-team is now dealing with it [2008/09/20 18:28] Hermit Barber: Amd Linden Labs in undeniably in the USA. [2008/09/20 18:30] Hermit Barber: In that case who at Linden Labs should the ACLU be contacting? [2008/09/20 18:31] Talia Tokugawa: I don't know but I can ask if you want. [2008/09/20 18:31] Hermit Barber: Please do.
[18:28] Hermit Barber: Of course. But quoting a vice presidential nominee cannot be regarded as either. [18:28] Talia Tokugawa: this is out of our hands now... [18:28] Hermit Barber: There is protection for political speech in the USA. [18:28] Talia Tokugawa: g-team is now dealing with it [18:28] Hermit Barber: Amd Linden Labs in undeniably in the USA. [2008/09/20 18:35] Hermit Barber: And this is a Linden Labs sponsored occassion is it not? [2008/09/20 18:35] Talia Tokugawa: supported yeah [2008/09/20 18:40] Talia Tokugawa: okies... I should go... this seemed a like a highly controvertial situation. It's our job to flag such things and g-team to deal with the situation. This has gone to gteam... there is not much more I can do... I have passed your request for contact info "up the line" and someone should be in contact.
[2008/09/20 18:45] Talia Tokugawa: please don't replace them until the results are through from the g-team [2008/09/20 18:47] Hermit Barber: I did not intend to. My involvement in SL goes far beyond my right as a resident of the USA and an artist making a statement about the nightmare it has become. [2008/09/20 18:49] Hermit Barber: And Linden Labs supression of that right is I think a substantial story. I wish to be here to cover it :-) [2008/09/20 18:51] Talia Tokugawa: okay well that decision will be linden labs decision. I have just flagged it as something to look into. [2008/09/20 18:51] Hermit Barber: No Talia. [2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: You issued clear threats, returned items, and then contradicted your earlier statements with your actions. [2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: Shrugs. [2008/09/20 18:52] Hermit Barber: It is out of your hands. [2008/09/20 18:53] Talia Tokugawa: and indeed on that your are right.. it's now out of my hands... [2008/09/20 18:54] Talia Tokugawa: I need to go. Someone should be in contact with you over this. [2008/09/20 18:55] Tom32 Anatine: bye bye talia [2008/09/20 18:55] Hermit Barber: I very much hope so. You were getting me the name and number of the contact person [2008/09/20 18:56] Talia Tokugawa: I said I passed your request up. [2008/09/20 18:56] Cube Republic: hi [2008/09/20 18:56] Philos Kidd: sry brb [2008/09/20 18:56] Philos Kidd: afk [2008/09/20 18:56] Talia Tokugawa: If it is me that is given the details I will pass them to you. I do not have them at the moment [2008/09/20 18:57] Talia Tokugawa: *waves* [2008/09/20 18:57] Tom32 Anatine: *waves back* [2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Thank-you [2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: hermit, another quesiton... does this nice stargate work actually? [2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Yes [2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: Walk into it [2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: woah, where does it take one to? [2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: It will give you the map. [2008/09/20 18:58] Hermit Barber: L:ast place I came from [2008/09/20 18:58] Tom32 Anatine: ah and what is to be found there if I may ask? [2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel. [2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel. [2008/09/20 18:59] Hermit Barber: At the moment SmarterEarth's Museum of Earth Friendly Technology. A work in progress. [2008/09/20 18:59] PORTAL Stargate whispers: If the map doesn't appear, please touch the portal, then click TELEPORT on the map to travel. [2008/09/20 19:00] Tom32 Anatine: ah coo, but do you think that such would work on the Playa out there in the Nevada High Desert? [2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: This one will vaniosh if I move away from it, but I have others that would work anywhere. [2008/09/20 19:01] Tom32 Anatine: ah so once you leave here it is gone, it is not a permanent piece of your installation? [2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: In Nevada it would lead to the person logging into SL one assumes. [2008/09/20 19:01] Hermit Barber: Correct Tom [2008/09/20 19:02] Hermit Barber: If you are looking for other items to complain about, please tell me so directly instead of approaching it laterally like some kind of demented crab. [2008/09/20 19:03] Tom32 Anatine: ah cool then, see Burning Life tries to get as realistic and close to Burning Man as possible, and since you cannot just zap yourself thousands miles far in RL, this would not work here either, but if you remove it once you leave and just use it right now for creative reason that is cool [2008/09/20 19:03] Hermit Barber: Good. [2008/09/20 19:04] Tom32 Anatine: we do that everywhere and not just for you, it is just to keep up the spirit of having crossed the line, of being somewhere out there without any ability to just easily return [2008/09/20 19:05] Tom32 Anatine: thanks for your understanding and have a nice night, I will be leaving for now [2008/09/20 19:05] Cube Republic: lol
The next thing was that on 2008-09-24 items from my exhibit were returned - in pieces - by Tom32 Anatine. This was not preceded by, nor followed by any form of communication from Tom32, Linden Labs or any other member ofthe Burning Life management.
[18:44] Second Life: Your 13 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 97, 8 due to parcel owner return. [18:46] Second Life: Your object 'BL Stage Cover' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 122, 12 due to parcel owner return. [18:46] Second Life: Your object 'Object' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 98, 12 due to parcel owner return. [18:46] Second Life: Your object 'Object' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 110, 12 due to parcel owner return. [18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 115, 16 due to parcel owner return. [18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 117, 12 due to parcel owner return. [18:48] Second Life: Your object 'Block' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 115, 7 due to parcel owner return. [18:49] Second Life: Your object 'Target' has been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by Tom32 Anatine from parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 81, 11 due to parcel owner return. [18:50] Second Life: Your 6 objects have been returned to your inventory lost and found folder by .:Burning Life:. near parcel '109' at Burning Life (Hydro) 118, 12 due to parcel owner return.
I attempted to ask why in the Burning life channel -
[18:51] IM: Hermit Barber: On 2008-09-20 Talia Tokugawa an organizer of Burning Life, and a Second Life Mentor representing Linden Labs at this sponsored event, asserted that quoting things Sarah Palin is reported to have said was racist and broadly offensive. Which perhaps tells us where Sarah Palin is coming from. It seems that Talia got the point as to why I included them! Talia then vandalized my exhibit by returning items from it, in so doing suppressing protected speech, and then allegedly reported me to “The G-Team,” presumably an extra-legal Linden body named to intimidate; and given the possible consequences, surely an example of prior restraint. [18:51] IM: Hermit Barber: As Talia either reported me to the G-Team or lied about having done so, in public and with witnesses, some public communication from them seems to be in order.
<But was blocked from sending this to channel.>
On the same occasion I was effectively warned by Tom32 Anatine that items not possible at the physical Burning Man are not welcome at Burning Life. This seems to potentially impact many exhibitors at the Burning Life exhibition and I don't think it has been sufficiently addressed by the organizers. Stupid strategy or not (after all, a Stargate Portal at the physical Burning Man might well house a Wifi connection and an SLURL to bring a visitor into the Burning Life exhibition), surely such a policy should apply to everyone or no one? My stand held nothing like that. I was also told that due to "security" requirements, rezzers are not permitted at Burning Life. While this certainly all but precludes dynamic displays, e.g. of fireworks or other projectiles, which are, of course, a major feature at the physical Burning Man I am not sure how this improves security. Given how many people this potentially affects, this too appears to be a matter deserving a public response.
At this point I have heard nothing more from “The G-Team” (or had any communication from Linden Labs (or Talia despite her having undertaken to provide contact information)) and I still see many “improbable if not impossible” exhibits at Burning Life. Earlier today I sent a letter to Linden Labs requesting that they issue a directive on this issue. I am now seeing my items being returned with no further discussion. Has it happened to anyone else here? Is there any reason for this action being taken?
I am now in the process of establishing a "Censored Life" exhibition and invite contributions from members of the community. A committee is to be formed to judge this event and a prize of $L10,000 will be awarded to the most meritorious exhibit. Painted works, and works contravening the TOS but in conformance with California law may be forwarded to me for display through the ArtMuse website, www.artmuse.info.
The centerpiece will be my banned build "World's Nightmare". To see the banned exhibit, please visit SmarterEarth and take one of the round teleports to the gallery. The exhibit as you enter the "Censored Life" exhibition is the (now completed) one objected to by Talia Tokugawa and returned by Tom32 Anatine. The cerise buttons navigate the exhibit and match the lipstick rather well.
Perhaps worth noting that as of 2008-09-27, I can confirm that I was banned from visiting the Burning Life Exhibition space as well. Still with no word from Linden Laboratories.
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
Re:Censored Life
« Reply #1 on: 2008-10-01 23:38:24 »
This censorship issue really gets me lately in SecondLife. I've been completely banned from all Hard Rust sims. Where many months earlier I was ravishing MAANY consenting partners with a concoction of sexual mayhem and rape fantasies, I was now complete banned because I refuse to wear clothes.... nudists finally banned in Second Life how lame can we get? I haven't been back since . . . well not exactly Earl and I snuck in once for a drunken party in the yard behind Sat's trailer. That was fun, so my account is still active, but I ain't seriously participating anymore.
Just when I thought I was out-they pull me back in
Re:Censored Life
« Reply #2 on: 2008-10-02 00:09:23 »
Hermit.
Outstanding job there old friend.
An interesting and well told, well documented tale.
Proud and sad all at the same time.
I guess that intersection is at the crux of martyrdom.
Maybe we need a CoV forum especially dedicated to record acts of martyrdom by our members past and present.
I recall one particular act I was personally involved in.....let's see, I believe it was in 2004 and born of the still-heightened 9/11 nuttiness......
<Walter rubs his chin and gazes skyward as he recalls the details.....I believe I sent the following post to the CoV listserv at the time out of frustration...> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: virus@lucifer.com list mail FILTERED BY TULSA.COM--HELP From: Walter Watts <wlwatts@cox.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:36:55 -0600
I called this morning and talked to the wife of the owner of the domain, who, when I told her of my lack of list mail for 36 hours from virus@lucifer.com, replied: "who would want email from such a domain"...."sounds like devil worship to me"
When I tried to explain in an intelligent way that it was purposefully named to repel people of low intelligence and mytho-literal bents, she continued to ask more questions of the type of things discussed in the forum.
I tried to explain, but eventually she asked "don't you people believe in god"
Before the words "basically no" had escaped my lips, I heard the words "I'll pray for you".
I continued to probe the whereabouts of my email, and several scenarios were introduced by her, but all in a "we didn't change anything tone".
1) could be in virus box, maybe because of originating domain name
2) something else triggered a filter
and anyway, her words kept ringing "who would want mail from that domain anyway"?
So now I'm faced with several choices: (after verifying with David McFadzean that I'm still really subscribed)
BTW--this is not my ISP, only my email host.
1) blow 'em off and use either one of my @home email addresses or one of my @walterwatts.com emails.
2) fight 'em--they host one really large website that I originally put up (and with a little effort could probably get moved)
3) any ideas???
Walter --
Walter Watts Tulsa Network Solutions, Inc.
« Last Edit: 2008-10-02 00:10:36 by Walter Watts »
Talia does have a point though imho - quoting with just a website as reference isn't very trustworthy.
As a tribute to your work i did a little search to elaborate those quotes:
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending soldiers out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan." ?Pailn, on the Iraq war, speaking to students at the Wasilla Assembly of God, June 2008.
The other quote, which is the controversial one, wasnt that easy to find any real sources for - only lots of people saying that it is confirmed, noone actually giving a source as far as I could see.
Anyways, nice idea for your art, hope this will healp you in your further dealings with the Lindens.
Author
Logged
