Egghead Studies Second Life Chickens – Clucks To Shocking Conclusion!!!
by Alphaville Herald on 19/11/09 at 8:04 pm
The Web Ecology of Sion chicken society explained
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
Patrick Davison is part of several performance groups including What We Know So Far and MemeFactory and is also involved with the Web Ecology project at Harvard – exactly the sort of scholar that can bring meaning to the Second Life Sion Chicken phenomenon. He has graciously agreed to allow the Herald to publish slidesfrom his talk titled "On Chickens" – a groundbreaking work presented earlier this week illustrating the problems perceptions create inthe online realm – and the awesomesauce role of the Herald plays in the new media metaverse.
Doc Egghead
Nov 19th, 2009
As we move forward into a turbulent century in which American academic, technological, and economic hegemony are likely to wane, what will the planet’s Chinese overlords of 2100 a.d. say as they consider the run-down and battered carcass of the nation that once bestrode the world like a Colossus?
“Blame it on the virtual chikkins.”
“And fake boobies in SL.”
“Pass me a sparerib and another Tsingtao.”
Brilliant work by my Harvard colleague!
All Seeeing Eye
Nov 19th, 2009
Lies! All Lies! Disco Lies!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwyPI-zKqRs
Obvious Schism
Nov 20th, 2009
Its about time that academia took an interest in virtual chickens. The fate of these small patches of electricity needs to be studied far more deeply than has been the case so far. This is evidenced by the emergent behaviour that Patrick outlines in his presentation and the aspects of chicken life that the Herald has so admirably reported on over the past months. Obviously there is much more to Sion chickens than meets the eye.
My dream is to see a PhD thesis written on the subject, or at least an optional university course covering not just the basics of chicken culture but also a more in depth social analysis. Whatever happens, and because I believe that they are the tip of a metaphoric iceberg of knowledge, I hope this is not the last we have heard of the little cluckers.
Darien Caldwell
Nov 20th, 2009
What degree does the perception cause the conflict? About 100%. Especially the clash of perception between All of the Residents, versus the Creators of the Grid, Linden Lab. More conflict arises between these two factions than anywhere else.
Emperor Norton
Nov 20th, 2009
And what came first, the virtual chicken or the virtual egg?
Lili
Nov 20th, 2009
Blessings of the state, blessings of the masses, death to all artificial lifeforms in my artificial world, for thou art my lag.
Alyx Stoklitsky
Nov 20th, 2009
Fuck this, I’m going to go knock on Kalel Venkman’s door so that he can shoot me with his revolver. It will be a sweet and long overdue release from you vacuous cunts.
Obvious Schism
Nov 20th, 2009
No need to wake the dead, Alyx. I’ll do it. Who would have thought that a few lil chickens could have stirred such emotions. Seems that I was right about a serious study of such matters being long overdue.
Chav
Nov 21st, 2009
They’re not *actually* different colours?
red clucker
Nov 21st, 2009
Ok, I’m working on a joke that involves pounding a Sion Chicken where the Sun Don’t Shine in conjunction with The Belarus Chicken Farm Tracker but haven’t gotten it finished all the way yet
Doc Egghead
Nov 22nd, 2009
@Alyx, “Fuck this, I’m going to go knock on Kalel Venkman’s door so that he can shoot me with his revolver. It will be a sweet and long overdue release from you vacuous cunts.”
Great idea! You won’t be missed!
You are one of the snarkiest asshats on this site, at least since Prok got all pouty and left. At least Jump-a-Man Lane does not take himself 100% seriously.
Forward, chicken-lovers!
Alicia Chenaux
Nov 22nd, 2009
Wow, it’s nice to see people can take your photos and not tell you that they’re being used, or give you credit for them.
Shattered Howlett
Nov 22nd, 2009
Forget not asking if you can use someone else’s photos, I’m miffed as hell that you guys think it’s OK to use someone else’s photos and claim them as your own! “All images attributed to the Alphaville Herald unless otherwise noted.” – I see some missing notes there.
Internet Lawyers and Serious Business aside, it’s a big enough screw-up on your part that the real owner(s) of the images can contact your webhost with a copyright complaint, which means your webhost could remove the photo(s) without your knowledge or consent.
Banana Vella
Nov 22nd, 2009
“All images attributed to the Alphaville Herald unless otherwise noted.” …my hooha. Using someone elses pics without their consent is shocking, and takes credibility away from your article. Not cool.
Lizzie Lexington
Nov 23rd, 2009
I would be honored to have my photo featured in a piece of performance art, particularly one affiliated with Harvard University
Patrick Davison
Nov 23rd, 2009
I’m not sure if anyone who has already commented will come back to read this, but I’m Patrick, the guy who gave the above presentation. I wanted to address some of the comments about photo attribution.
There were two methods I used for gathering images. The first was Google Image search. That provided all of the random, outside-of-SL images which are attributed with URLs. The second method was using the images that were part of the chicken articles here on the Herald. Those are the ones without URLs, to which I was applying the “attributed to Alphaville…” disclaimer. So far as I could tell, there are no specific photo credit notes for those on this site. Am I mistaken?
There were a handful of other blogs I either found via search, or had Pixeleen point out to me, but I don’t believe I used images from them…I suppose I should double check.
@Alicia, @Shattered Howlett, @Banana – Specifically, am I using your images? Did I take credit for your photos? Or did the Herald?
Bottom line is, I actually take intellectual property pretty seriously. I sent both the images and the story to Pixeleen for approval before my presentation, and would love to know if there was more I could (should) have done. Thanks.
Marnix Malifozik
Nov 23rd, 2009
Patrick, you used one of my images.
I am not sure quite what the law is regarding intellectual property rights for images on the internet, and even whether it extends to images created within Second Life and whether the taker has the rights or Linden Labs do, but it would have been nice to at least have some mention of the blogs the pictures came from.
I also would have liked my image to have been used in context, rather than suggesting I am a griefer who goes around killing other people’s chickens.
Alicia Chenaux
Nov 23rd, 2009
The first picture is mine, as is the fifth.
If my photos have appeared on the Herald before, this is the first I’ve heard of it, as I am not really a Herald reader. They have appeared in New World Notes, but always with credit, which is basically all I ask for. Although the photos are not priceless pieces of art, they are still mine.
Regarding Fair use
Nov 24th, 2009
Title 17, Copyrights, Chapter 1, ยง107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use
“the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”
This discussion falls into the criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, research and teaching categories, since it was scholarly research based on a news report, presented in a teaching setting, then released with permission for purposes of commentary and criticism. Doesn’t look like there’s room for claims of copyright infringement on any of the materials used. Maybe the presenter could, out of courtesy, provide credit for in future presentations, now that some of the material’s creators have been identified?
Patrick Davison
Nov 24th, 2009
Holy crap!
I just went back to check and the articles and images I saved from other blogs got saved into the same folder I had marked for AlphaVille Herald articles and photos. So, @Marnix, @Alicia – > that’s my bad. Did not mean to mis-credit there. I will certainly alter the attribution in the future, though, I suspect I won’t be asked to present this talk again. But sincerely, apologies.
Also, quick word about context…I’m aware that I’m using a few images (and facts even…) out of context. The image of the bow and arrow wielding avatar, and the idea that chickens are different colors…the format of the talk was very strict: only 20 slides, and each slide advancing every 15 seconds. As such, I felt it helped the presentation to either a) simplify facts as in the case of the chicken colors, or b) use images that conveyed an idea rather than a fact (I am, after all, not a journalist). I suppose in the case of the bow and arrow, it would have been MORE appropriate to use an image of someone wielding a weapon NOT in SL, to make it clear the image was used as metaphor, not documentation.
I mean…the sort of blanket legal protection afforded by the wording of Title 17 for things of an academic nature is pretty nice in this case…but I’m not super interested in good practices because they’re LEGAL but because they contribute to a positive information culture. I think…thanks for responding, letting me know my gaffe.
Silver Milneaux
Nov 25th, 2009
So what if it’s a “metaphor”? Would you enjoy having your photograph stolen from your personal blog and your avatar’s image portrayed as a “griefer who goes around killing other people’s chickens?” WTF.
You’ve been ridiculously rude, disrespectful and have made no effort to remedy your mistake.
This article is still right here, along with all the completely MISUSED, STILL MISCREDITED images.
Why are you explaining your talk? Who the fuck cares? You used other people’s images without permission. Why aren’t you doing anything about it?
You stole other people’s images. Not cool. The right thing would be to remove them, but you’re spineless enough to leave them right there, obviously lacking in respect or consideration towards the owners.
Thanks for giving the public a wonderful impression of your performance group and Harvard’s low-down work ethics.
I’d love to hear your account as to why these images are still here. Probably because you’re way too lazy and selfish to go to the trouble of contacting someone in the Herald and getting them to either remove the article or edit it.
Patrick Davison
Nov 30th, 2009
I am making new versions of the slides which lack appropriate attribution tonight to send to the Herald. Hopefully they will update the site.
@Silver -> It was never my intention to be anything other than polite. I’m sorry you have taken offense.
Lizzie Lexington
Dec 4th, 2009
@Patrick – welcome to the Drama Llama behaviors of second lifers. Everything is a HUGE DEAL, LOL. You’re responses were polite and well thought out.
@Silver – (this comment directed at you is an example of being rude and I think you need to figure out the difference between being professional as Patrick as been and being rude as I am towards you). Rude? Are you kidding me? Harvard – Low Down Work ethics? What planet are you on?
chickenkiller at your service
Dec 6th, 2009
I would not worry about people thinking you are a griefer going around killing chickens, I am pretty sure that anyone who’s shared a sim with these things concider the chicken owners to be griefers, their chickens a griefer weapon. If anything, you’d be seen as a hero.