The Daily Grind: Were older MMOs better by virtue of experimentation? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This week, in The Virtual Whirl, we're looking at people, worldviews, stereotypes, public perception, technology angst, and ... most importantly, we're looking at that guy. Trust me, you'll know the one.

Continue reading The Virtual Whirl: You know that guy

The Virtual Whirl: You know that guy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Daily Mail is carrying the story of the murder of Catania woman Maria Pia Scuto, 41, whose husband (Giuseppe Castro, 35) confessed to her 30 March murder, "after," says the Daily Mail, "after discovering her on the computer with her avatar lover on Second Life."

Well, that's apparently not the case. Having gone through the local news reports, Second Life is not even mentioned. Text messages, Facebook and Instant Messaging are. The couple reportedly quarreled frequently, and apparently Castro committed the murder due to the discovery of an email -- though available testimony is still a little fuzzy.

However, no virtual worlds. No Second Life. Just IM and email. And this isn't the first time Second Life has been stuck with the rap for a crime committed by people who never used it.

Continue reading Italian woman murdered by husband. Second Life blamed. [updated]

Italian woman murdered by husband. Second Life blamed. [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The torrent of new users coming into Second Life is slowing, with today's signup rates now merely double the typical rates, and expected to close in the vicinity of 22,000 new signups for the day. This is all in the wake of the widespread run of a reprinted and regurgitated piece about the divorce of a UK couple.

The original piece has run in hundreds of print and online outlets since the story broke last week. Even tiny local tabloids in small rural towns with little or no Internet access have pushed the story, and by and large readers responded with enthusiasm.

In Scotland On Sunday, Teresa Hunter writes, "Last week's story about the divorce of a couple who met on Second Life must have been the kiss of death for the online virtual world."

Continue reading The divorce heard round the world

The divorce heard round the world originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

An old saying goes "There's no such thing as bad press, so long as they spell your name right" which is normally attributed to P.T.Barnum, but there are a few quotes attributed to Barnum that weren't his, so we'll take that with a grain of salt. Right now, it seems more proper to say "There's no such thing as bad press, so long as there's a whiff of salaciousness about it."

The mainstream media's spent the last few days spreading around a story about a UK couple who are getting a divorce because the husband apparently won't stop fooling around online. Maybe she was taking it too seriously. Maybe he wasn't taking it seriously enough. Either way, it is serious enough now.

Now, much of the actual reporting about the couple, their situation, and Second Life (their most recent haunt) is pretty much utter tripe. Badly researched, poorly informed twaddle, really. But that doesn't matter, because it is causing a bit of a veritable torrent of new signups to Linden Lab's virtual world.

Continue reading Divorce news brings surge of Second Life signups

Divorce news brings surge of Second Life signups originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While the story of Kimberly Jernigan really has nothing much to do with the virtual environment of Second Life, you're probably going to read and hear a lot over the next week or two from people who would desperately like you to think that it does.

Jernigan from North Carolina and an unidentified older man from Claymont, Delaware met online, but their relationship didn't last out in the physical world. Jernigan reportedly became increasingly unstable when things didn't work out and then allegedly stalked and attempted to kidnap her ex-boyfriend at his home. Jernigan posed as a postal worker in order to obtain information about his home address. Charges include attempted kidnapping, burglary and aggravated menacing.

Just what is the lesson here? People from North Carolina can't be trusted? Watch out for people who seem to be postal workers? That you should always remember that everyone behind an online avatar or toon is an ordinary person? Actually, probably the lesson is that many ostensibly 'respectable' media agencies would walk through fire to demonize your online pastimes, interests and hobbies unnecessarily. Pay attention to whom.

Probably, at the end of the day Jernigan's ability to get the man's address by posting as a postal worker is the really scary part here. If you've ever had a stalker, that alone will give you the chills. Privacy and anonymity are only the thinnest of shells, and can be pierced by those who are determined.

	Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Not so much to do with us originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What makes games addictive? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

FOX cautions meetings between "cyber gaming" friends originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Second Life "Wonderland" scandal hits mainstream media originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.