IBM Expands Sandbox – Leaves Scripts Turned Off
by Alphaville Herald on 05/03/09 at 8:18 am
Why IBM treats software as second-class media
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
IBM's Jessica Qin contacted the Herald last night with news that an IBM-sponsored sandbox had been expanded to more than double its original size. The sandbox is located on the regions IBM 6 and IBM 7 – but when I visited the sandbox I was surprised to find that my treasured magic wand – a gift from Yung Kakapo – would not create biting rats or kittys on demand. Is a corporate sandbox where scripts don't work really a first class sandbox? Is IBM afraid of scripted magic wands?
In Second Life, sandbox areas are traditionally open for anyone to build and test user-created content, providing landless yobs a place to hone their skills in prim building and scripting.
Human nature being what it is, popular sandboxes sometimes act as impromptu battlefields between various factions in SL, so a certain amount of drama may be expected in the virtual commons. This could explain why the IBM sandbox has scripts turned off in it's sandbox, and enforces a policy that requires joining a group before scripted attachments can run wild and free.
When I contacted Ms. Qin about the no-script sandbox, she confirmed my fears, saying “yeah, scripts are off (on the ground anyway) and that's on purpose, from back in the days when we were ultra-paranoid about griefers”, and went on to point out that SL’s script controls fail to stop scripts if you fly up 100 meters – so only salt-of-the-earth ground-level scripters are inconvenienced. Our conversation continued:
Pixeleen Mistral: the only people who know about the 100 meter thing are the people you are scared of
Jessica Qin: let me talk to my moderator team
Pixeleen Mistral: all you are doing here is frustrating the noobies
Jessica Qin: i'll run it up the flagpole — see what everyone sez
Jessica Qin: offhand — it's been a long time since someone's griefed us
Jessica Qin: *knock on wood*
Jessica Qin: so maybe we should just open it up
Pixeleen Mistral: well – good luck
Jessica Qin: fwiw, what tends to happen is people come there, get to know the crowd, end up joining the group
Jessica Qin: we get a reasonable crowd — it looks like 11 people there now, it varies
Jessica Qin: people are always looking for sandbox space, so …. i made it bigger
The IBM sandbox illustrates the fundamental paradox of Second Life and real world brands. Because the sandbox is treated as a marketing expense, the IBM logo must be prominently displayed. At the same time, there are groups within Second Life that derive great pleasure from goofing on the corporate presence, so IBM is pushed to limit expression to protect their brand.
Second Life’s fundamental premise – user created content will fill the world – puts tools in the hands of the players that allow them to hijack the corporate message. Drawing the line between protecting the corporate image and allowing players free expression must be very difficult. While the Herald applauds IBM for donating more land to their sandbox commons, it does seem ironic that IBM finds it necessary to clamp down on scripting as media. Since I’m already at the 25 group limit, it does not seem likely I’ll be able to join IBM’s group and use my magic wand in their sandbox anytime soon.
GreenLantern Excelsior
Mar 5th, 2009
I would guess that while you were there, you saw people building quietly, without being bothered by flying “raep cubes,” self-replicating Nightmare Dench boxes, “BOBBA BOBBA” chat spam, or repeated requests to animate their avatars. Now that this sandbox has been publicized, I would recommend to Ms. Quin that she leave scripts turned off and check out the humorous names on some of the day-old newbies who show up for the next two weeks.
Uccello Poultry
Mar 5th, 2009
Hopefully you were just trying to be helpful. If not, remember the following: IBM’s Sandbox. IBM’s preferences. Let them run their property any way they want.
Col. Kentworth Bastable Longfellow
Mar 5th, 2009
hmmmm….I have visions of nubile IBM wenches and Type-A execs “having at it” in their sandboxes. Small wonder Big Blue disabled the scripts.
Pity, too..imagine the porn-stream as some vice-CIO wearing a schoolboy outfit gets retrained by Luscious Linda in Latex from marketing…
Jumpman Lane
Mar 5th, 2009
So? What’s the big deal? IBM doesn’t allow scripts. It’s their right to do whatever the hell they want. They don’t owe the ‘noobies’ anything. They don’t owe you anything. It’s their land, they can do “whatever the fuck they want”. I don’t allow any old idiot to build on my land. Does that mean I’m flying in the face of what LL made SL for? Are you going to do a piece on me and how “unjust it is to not let noobies build on my land”?
Just because you think all sandboxes should be warzone free-for-alls doesn’t mean that everyone’s sandbox should follow that definition.
Here’s the real story:
“Pix went to sniff around the IBM sandbox after Qin contacted her about it. Pix found out her stupid wand and scripts wouldn’t work and got pissy. How dare they not think like me! Pix wrote a story feigning to care for the ‘poor noobies who can’t script boo hoo hoo’ as a cover for the fact that she got pissed. The End.”
Corsi Mousehold
Mar 5th, 2009
You know what is interesting is I have two sandboxes each about half the size of the sim they are in. We get griefed on occasion yes but we leave everything on and just have a staff of volunteers to clean up after those people. So scripts are on build is on and for those people wanting to think it’s a weapons free for all we handle that too. FurNation Hell is always on the top listing of used Sandboxes in SL even beating out some of the public use sandboxes and is half the size of them. We may be built and maintained by furries but the sandbox is open for any and all to use. And they do quite regularly.
ON the flip side at times a scripless sandbox can make building quite peaceful. You end up with little chance for griefer attacks to work. Vehicles don’t work and the insane amount of scripted crap people use nowadays don’t lag the sim down. So you can have it both ways. Some sandboxes scripted and others not.
Jahar Aabye
Mar 5th, 2009
Holy Shit! I actually agree with Jumpman Lane about something.
/me looks around for the four horsemen
Anyways, yes, if you would like to cover IBM’s tier fees for them, you may then enable scripts on the land. Until then, tough cookies, it’s their land.
There are plenty of sandboxes where scripts are enabled. If you find that IBM’s sandbox area does not meet your building needs, I’d strongly suggest that you simply find another one.
Now, obviously some people need scripts enabled in sandboxes for legitimate reasons. As a scripter myself, I can certainly understand this. I just don’t see the need to go up to a corporate entity who is giving LL large sums of money and demand that they accede to my demands that I be allowed to use a magic wand in their sandbox.
But that’s just me.
Jumpman Lane
Mar 5th, 2009
that aint me u. if ur gonna poist fior meh at least link itup to my site ;p
Jumpman Lane
Mar 5th, 2009
hehehehe I DO ALLOW my staff to build on my land. fuck ibm i dont give a fuck what they do. and if u dont see the word turd or tard inna post it just aint meh! NO ONE CAN IMITATE OUR STYLE. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE NO COMPETITORS. that is what i drill into my staff!
Drinky Crow
Mar 5th, 2009
Was Jumpman Lane molested as a child, or has someone recently sodomized him?
Perhaps the editors can suggest a good SL therapist…
Oh yes. “Turd tard.” Now Jumpman can feel that the post in complete. How lazy of you, Ms. Mistral, not to have included those for his enjoyment!
Stephie Dawes
Mar 5th, 2009
“We may be built and maintained by furries but the sandbox is open for any and all to use. And they do quite regularly.”
Until Selkit bans anyone not a furry on sight. Dohoho.
Alyx Stoklitsky
Mar 5th, 2009
“that aint me u. if ur gonna poist fior meh at least link itup to my site ;p”
No shit it isn’t you – you can’t spell or type a coherent sentence to save your life.
LOL
Mar 5th, 2009
IBM, who gives a shit, let them do what they want with thier land, thier big Bilboard is still on the sims for all to see. So they are getting no BANG (gunshots and flying cocks) for thier advertizing buck. Good for them.
Jumpman Lane
Mar 6th, 2009
@alix the chump. but u unnastan lil bitch or u wouldnt be so raw. and Tizzeh still iS hot. keep scriptin boxes, bitch
@drinky what you got a man crush on meh? quit hangin on meh nut hairs queers. u havin sex thoughts about meh again hehehehehe
Uncle Gabby
Mar 6th, 2009
Get out of the way, Drinky Crow! Jumpman’s MINE.
Gimme that butt…
Stephie Dawes
Mar 6th, 2009
@Jumpman Lane:
Protip: Tizzy’s a man.
Alyx Stoklitsky
Mar 6th, 2009
Well – he’s MALE, anyway.
Archie Lukas
Mar 15th, 2009
Yaaaaaaayyyyy
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