Second Life Daily: Second Life News in one glance

Second Life is evolving quickly. And the daily amount of news is increasing day by day. To keep up with all the news I created my own Second Life Daily News Report. Check it out and add it to your favourites: secondlifedaily.blogspot.com

If you have any additions, please let me know.

Second Life: virtual world or real heaven? Maslow up-side-down

Maslow's pyramid is a well known model for understanding human needs. Maslow stated that humans have a number of needs that are inborn and therefore for each human equal. He also posed a hierarchy in these needs. Each man has both basic needs to have a life and higher needs to a have a good life. The more basic a need, the more powerful it is. Higher needs can be seen as luxury needs and come insight when the more basic needs have been realized – or at least percepted to be realized. Maslow's pyramid consists of five layers, as you can see in the picture shown above. The model has been generally accepted for real life (with some critics or comments), but does it also apply for Second Life? In Second Life there is for example no real need for air, food, water or sleep, is there? On contrary all residents seem to be focussing on higher needs like status and self actualisation... Has good-old-Maslow been turned up side down in Second Life? And: what could we conclude from that?

Maslow's pyramid is a thankful subject to have – just – a good discussion on in a pub, but it also has a great practical value. For example it is quite helpful for managers to understand and motivate their employees. If you want people to do something for you, you would better think about what they would like best in return. The model is also a good starting point for marketing issues. If you want to sell a product to a customer, you don't start with selling, but with investigating the needs of your potential customer. What does he or she want? And what not? What is this person proclaiming to you? And what does this person actually need? And does he or she need more than he or she is telling you, or what? These questions are exactly what arouses my interest for the use of Mazlow's pyramid in Second Life. What are the general and specific needs of Second Life residents? How can you please them? And how can you use that?

The Maslow pyramid consists of five layers:

1. Physical needs – stuff a man needs to stay alive like breathing, food, water and sleep. Make sure you won 't run out of it!
   
2. Safety – to make sure that you have and remain access to these physical needs. Having a family, friends and a job makes access to primary needs more easy.
   
3. Love and belonging – not just friends or just family, but good friends and intimacy. Don't we all need someone close for a good old cuddle or a fine party of sexual intercourse?
   
4. Esteem – knowing that you are alive not only because you know it yourself, but also because you know it from others. Self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others.
   
5. Self actualisation – toward eternal life. Morality, creativity, spontanity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts.
   

What are First Lifers out for in Second Life?

1. Physical needs: irrelevant since virtual food doesn't fill an empty stomach.
   
2. Safety: seems relevant for some residents. What could be say about friends and family? When you want to enlarge your social network separate from your real life network, Second Life is great. When you are having problems with making friends in First Life, give it a try in Second Life. But don't expect too much... And what about resources and property? An increasing number of people is earning money in Second Life. It has become (one of) their resource for money to pay for primary needs. Owning an in-world company or real-estrate is not only valuable in the game, but you can also turn in into real cash. But the number of people who are actually earning good money is still little.
3. Love and belonging: seems relevant. As I stated in my post on the value of friendship quite many people seem to be 'in desperate need for in-world friendship'. Just try to add one as a friend and you have a new friend. And meanwhile I discovered that they are also willing to share First Life intimate details. About love. I don't know yet, but who does not know any stories of social poor First Lifers who are succesfull in finding their real life love-companion in chat rooms? Why could not this happen in Second Life? And the first dating companies have been spotted yet...
4. Esteem: currently probably one of the main reasons to lead an in-world life. Or at least – apart from experimenting and just try to have some fun – it is one of my main reasons. As a First Life marketeer, trendwatcher, or entrepeneur you cannot allow yourself not to be in-world. Second Life is hot. Not-Second Life is not. And an increasing number of serious First Life companies is taking part (IBM, Philips, ABN AMRO, Sony BMG, among many, many more). Not for serious business, but primarly for things like achievement, respect, just being there, to be there... And ofcourse there are quite many people who try to achieve in-world what they would have liked to achieve in First Life. Second Life is full of fortune seekers. “Look at me, I can be successfull.” And this is the main cause of success of fashion, virtual architecture and other in-world creative industries.
   
5. Self actualisation – toward eternal life. Morality, creativity, spontanity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts. Right now Second Life is primarly populated by 'settlers', residents who are out to create a new world. They are out in-world to build something. To be the first. To create. To define. To drop their name. And it is quite a praisworthy challenge, isn't it?
   

I would like to conclude that the main importance of Second Life for most First Lifers seems to be in the higher needs of the pyramid. Building, settling, self actualisation, esteem, achievement and respect by others. Currently love and belonging still seems of minor importance. Safety is even of more of less importance and physical needs are technically irrelevant...

So if you want to make fullfill your needs of money in Second Life: start a business which fullfills the higher needs.

According to recent statistics (increasing number of residents, daily visits, amounts of hours spent online) I might also conclude that most of the residents is fullfilling their needs in a satisfying way.

So if you want to add some easy fullfillment of higher needs, just start living a Second Life and go for it! But – for now – please remember to secure your primary needs in First Life...

Hello Real World, Goodbye Charityland

Last weekend I came up with the idea to start an in-world Charity Foundation: Charityland. What is more satisfying than contributing to a good world with charity? Create a shareable click-and-donate 'Charity Box' with which people can make a donation just by simple click, share it with land owners and wait for donations. I thought it over, posted it on my weblog, drank a few drinks, waited, surfed the internet, waited, I did another post, did some investigation and now already I realized it to become far more serious than I planned my life in Second Life. I would have had to spend serious real money - among more - to start up a real foundation. And that is a bridge too far for my living in Second Life. Since it ís still a game, though. And so I decided today to skip the whole plan. No in-world charity for me this time...

Initially I defined a set of challenges of three kinds:

1. Programming of the boxes: the technical stuff,
   
2. The legal / official stuff and
3. Challenges involved with promotional activities.

The promotional stuff could not be so difficult. Just make a good story, tell it too the right people and let it roll. Just like in real life. The programming problem was likely to be solved already a few minutes after I did my first post, when a programmer offered to do the coding of the boxes. So let's say: two down (or at least covered for 80%), and one to go...

But with the legal and financial stuff the party started. Let me explain. If you want to donate virtual money to a real (life) good course, you will have to have a real 'actor' who donates the money. And just using your own (private) bank account won't work. Other people may not trust you: how are going to guarantee that the money is donated to the good courses? And moreover the tax collectors office might not trust you: where did you get all the money from? From a computer game - yeah sure... So you will need a real foundation. And a real foundation needs real money and real people and brings a lot of real hassle with it and that takes a lot of real time...

And people will be donating money. And it does not matter how little (or big) the amount of money is, officially you are obliged (by the tax collectors office) to register your expenses. And moreover in most countries it is financially interesting for rich people to make donations, so they are not only obliged to register but they also are pleased with registering the donations.

So for all those people who are still claiming Second Life to be just a game: try to play it and face the reality. Because as long as Second Life is not seperate from First Life, the rules of the real game will rule...

Charityland: the next step towards in-world charity

Saturday I posted my initial idea for Charityland - the first Second Life Charity foundation. Since then I have received three comments and I still think I should give it a try. In the next few days I will do some further investigation to find out about the feasibility of the plans... and then I will decide to go or not go for it.

Hiro thanks for your acknowledgement about not being the first. Benny thanks for your offer to do the coding of the charity boxes - I will get back to you. But first I will do some serious research.

My main questions for this moment:

1. If we bring in money with donations, we will need a foundation in real life (or similar form) to donate the money to the good causes.

   1. Can I establish this real life foundation in every country? What is the best country to set up this sort of foundation?

   2. When should I establish the foundation? Can I wait until we raised money or do I have to start with it?

2. How can we make certified 'donation receipts'? Generating just a piece of paper might not be the biggest challenge, but how can we a arrange a proper in-world certification which is also usable for tax-reasons? (I will ask this question at the SL-forum)

3. How do I establish a foundation in-world? Can I just start an ordinary business or shall I regard any restrictions? Are there also already different legal persons in Second Life? Where can I find the in-world Chamber of Commerce for advise? ;-)

4. How can I make it look - and be - reliable? How can I show the people that Charityland is more than just a scammer?

   1. Where can I find a decent in-world notary?

   2. Where can I find a reliable in-world controller?

   3. In real life I would perhaps invite a group of trusted people. Which Second Life residents can are trustworhty and who shall I invite?

5. How are we going to spread the charity boxes? Benny already suggested to reward residents who are willing to place a charity box. What would promotional activity would you undetake? I believe the press could help to gain some attention. So, dear readers, visitors, colleagues, please spread the word.

6. Did I miss out anything? Please send me an e-mail or add a comment to this post.
   

Let's do some real virtual charity... And yes, indeed, I would appreciate your help...

Charityland: the first Second Life Charity Foundation

Tonight I decided to cancel my attempt to organize the largest online gathering ever (read my post). After a few hours of surfing, thinking and some wodka I found a new project to dedicate my Second Life to: Charityland - the first Second Life Charity Foundation. I will explain below. Please share your thoughts with me.

Motivation: Where's the need for Charityland?

Second Life is becoming more and more mature. Second Life has already more than 2.5 million residents. Companies are having meetings. And people are being successful in business or in other matter. And: the first rich people have been spotted.

From First Life we have learned that rich people are willing to donate money to ‘good causes’. Charityland.net is the first Second Life Online Foundation which enables rich as well as ordinairy people to donate money to selected good causes.

Charityland in short: donation boxes everywhere in Second Life

Charityland will be the first Second Life charity Foundation. Charityland donates money to a selected set of five ‘good causes’. The set of five will be refreshed every half year. 10% of raised funds will be invested in the foundation.

Charityland will share ‘donation boxes’ with residents all over Second Life World. Residents can place them on their land and use them to make their donations, just by a simple anonymous mouse click. Land owners can place donations boxes where they and other residents can make their donations 24-7, everyday a year. Just click on the box, add your amount of Linden’s and enjoy the good feeling.

Wanted by now

1. Your thoughts: do you think the plan is feasible? And: would you be prepared to donate some Linden's?
   
2. Programmers who can build a the charity boxes
3. Legal specialists: what should be arranged legally?
   

No party at Second Life for now...

This week I came up with the idea to organize the largest online party ever and apply with this for the Guiness Book of Records. Check my post. Thanks to Second Life, Malachi, Aaron, Nimil, and Kelly Linden I decided to cancel my attempt. Simply because it is technically not possible at this moment...

According to Kelly Linden at the official Second Life forum the maximum number of residents is about 400 - if I would use 4 private Islands... So: "it is not possible to get 10,000 people into a single region, or even 4 or 9. Sorry."

So or we should wait for Second Life developments. Or we should move to another platform.

For now I have nothing concrete to dedicate my Second Life to. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Meanwhile I will be surfing the web and walking lounge about in-world...

Dear visitor, I love you

Dear visitor,

I love you.

I love you ofcourse because of your visit, your attention and your reading.
But moreover I love you because of your immense and ongoing feed of comments.

I am not used to this. And it makes me happy. Thank you. It feels like sort of new friendship to me...

--

In real life I have been writing weblogs for two years. On a personal blog, on a corporate blog, or on specialist blogs. But never I have experienced such a huge amount of interaction with my readers.

For example on my personal blog I had: 300 posts in two years, 5000 unique visits and only 15 comments. Compare this to my Second Life weblog an be amazed. 11 posts in one month, 650 unique visits and already 10 comments. Amazing...

And now I am curious: what's the main difference between Second Lifers and Real Lifers? Is it
perhaps just because they are more familiair wit new interaction forms, weblogs, fora and so. Or is it just because they are more interested, willing to help and friendly?

Please share your thoughts with me... and: what are you experiencing yourself?