SecondLife celebrates its 11th Birthday this year. It is being called SL11B.

Second Life (SL) evolved as an idea by founder and former Linden Lab CEO, Philip Rosedale (aka Philip Linden). He envisioned a vast green, continuous landscape, distributed across multiple servers — and went on to build it. While he dreamed of virtual worlds since his childhood, in 1994, Rosedale first thought of connecting computers via the Internet and creating a virtual world. In 1999, he founded Linden Lab (LL).

 

SecondLife Birthday History at a Glance:

 

SL1B - Second Life First Year Anniversary Gala
SL2B - Giant museum displaying various large builds, pictures of SL over time
SL3B - Hooray for diversity and Looking towards the future
SL4B - “era” of SL
SL5B - SL Culture
SL6B - The Future of Virtual Worlds
SL7B - Unexpected Collaborations
SL8B - Magic of Second Life

 

SL9B saw residents take over the birthday since Linden Lab dropped the birthday ball. Some advertising blurbs that I have seen on the net make the claim "Run by residents for the residents". This is a false claim. The current resident run birthdays are certainly run by dedicated residents, yet adult exhibits are not allowed because of the rating of the event.

 

 

 

Previously there were only two ratings for map regions on the SL Main Grid: PG and Mature, and they were open to anyone to visit.

 

After 15 Sep 2009, publicly promoted Adult Content is supposed to be stored either on Regions on the newly built Zindra mainland "continent" or on private Regions having the Adult Region rating.

 

The SecondLife Birthday is rated as a Mature Event, this excludes Adult content. So in essence, the SL Birthday is not for ALL residents of SecondLife. ALL residents can attend if they so choose, but Adult rated exhibitions are not allowed. So much for fairness.

 

It is long overdue for adult rated content to be added to the SecondLife Birthdays. It is achievable, simply by  making the Sims that have adult content, rated as Adult Sims.

 

The Adult rated Sims in SecondLife contribute to the economy that keeps SecondLife alive, that is a fact.

 

Adults participate in SecondLife - that is also a fact. So to deny adult content in any SecondLife birthday event is blatant discrimination and you have to ask yourself "Is that fair?"

SL10B - Decending

As one sits on the fence at the corral at SL10B, one cannot help but notice that the Sims seem quieter. New residents are being re-directed here and this reminds me of my early days in SecondLife, sitting on a restricted Help Island assisting new residents as they find their feet in the first few hours of their SecondLife.

The Corral at SL10B

In a couple of days, what was will soon be no more, the Sims will be cleared and this great event will descend into the fog of time and memories.

Half Way Through SL10B

Months of planning, weeks of recruiting to get the best staff available, days of training to make sure all the staff are on the ball, a week of music and parties at the main stages of SL10B and suddenly the first phase of this awesome community run project is over.

 

Like the dawn of time, the 22 sims settle into a more sedate routine as visitors to the sims go into Expo mode and wander around the builds that the participants have built  for the enjoyment of the entire grid.

 

 

 

A first week of intense activity for the staff that volunteered their precious time, to work in the background, almost unseen, yet always there whilst the musicians, DJ's and live performers brought their special talents to life for the benefit of all that attended.

 

The first week is always hectic. There never seems to be enough hours in the day, yet mountains are moved to ensure that the visitors get the best experience that is humanly possible with minimal disruption.

 

As the sun sets on the sims, week two of this seemingly impossible event kicks in. The performers have left and the sims settle into a routine of exploration and delight as our visitors find the free gifts that the exhibitors have left out for them.

 

Staff are still around on the sims, volunteering their time right till the end. Are we crazy? Possibly. But we do this for the entire SecondLife Grid.

 

As the senior staff look at what has happened so far, where the successes were, where improvements can be made, the sims settle into a seemingly peaceful phase of serenity.

 

Who put all this together? Who made it happen? It wasn't one person, it was a team of people. A team that puts it's hands up every year to dive into the madness called SecondLife Birthdays.

 

There is not enough space to list all of the volunteers or performers here, and I certainly wont list who the senior movers and shakers are. They know who they are, they dont need to be glorified in print, one would hope that they realise they don't need their name in lights to realise that an appreciative SL grid thanks them from the bottom of their hearts.

 

On the 1st of July 2013, the sims get returned to Linden Lab to be recycled. The memories of this special event remain as pictures in inventories, or you can see them on flickr and countless blogs.

 

There will be folks that didn't like what was achieved, there will be doubters, there will be countless blogs that pull SL10B to pieces to try and destroy what was achieved. That is the curse of humanity.

 

For all of you that participated and gave your time freely and without conditions, a hearty round of applause and thanks.

 

For all the performers that entertained us, a hearty round of applause and thanks.

 

For all the visitors that came and enjoyed this wonderful milestone in the history of SecondLife, stick around. Enjoy what SecondLife has to offer, actively participate in it.

 

In closing, a huge round of applause for Linden Lab, for their support. For bringing the cornfield to the show. Next time you see a Linden, talk to them and thank them for bringing this virtual world to life.

Tick Tock

Applications for participation the Event of the year, the SecondLife Birthday (SL10B) close on the 20th May 2013.

 

This year SecondLife is ten years old, we have 21 sims of creativity.

 

 http://slcommunitycelebration.com/volunteer-application/.

 

This is not a scam website, time is running out for YOU to get in your application in to participate in this awesome event, you can participate as a exhibitor and show SL what you have or can do, or participate as a volunteer. ALL the information is on the website - tick tock - the clock is counting down -

 

http://slcommunitycelebration.com/volunteer-application/

SL10B Applications are Open

This is what you have been waiting for, the SecondLife 10th Birthday has opened its website for applications to participate in the event.

SecondLife 10th Birthday Applications

 

So hit the URL above and get in on the act

So, You Want to be a Moderator in Second-Life

Let us look at that in detail.

 

You have applied to be a moderator, either for a group chat, or a major event. What does it entail?

 

A moderator has to be above reproach.

 

A moderator leads by example.

 

A moderator has to be able to remain calm under pressure.

 

A moderator has to be able to make sound judgment calls.

 

A moderator has to back up his/her organisational structure, whether you agree with the decisions or not, a moderator is hired for his/her skills, not his/her opinions.

 

A moderator does not take sides, they remain neutral.

 

A moderator is always between a rock and a hard place.

 

SL10B Information

~~How can I stay informed?~~

Read the SL10B blog – there will be regular updates and information posted there!

 

http://slcommunitycelebration.com/

 

You can also follow us through various social media:

 

Our Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/SL10B/

 

Our Twitter stream – https://twitter.com/SLBCommunity

 

Our Flickr Group - http://www.flickr.com/groups/2187760@N21/

 

Crap Mariner Strikes

Last year, Crap Mariner did a great job with the Grim Reaper ads for the SL Birthday. This year it's a new character, check him out:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGTqHInn1d8