Eddi Haskell, an avatar and a Second Life resident, reports that on
October 8,2008, charges were filed against a Second Life
publication, InVogue Daily, that publishes on Google Blogger.
Mr. Haskell is also the founding member of the filing
organization, the Second Life Coalition for Responsible Publishing.
These charges were done in conjunction with an advertising
boycott any advertisers who renews an existing ad schedule in
future InVoque family of publication issues. Compliance with the
boycott is already reported with several advertisers.
The press statement that the organization issued reads as
follows:
On October 8, 2008, a complaint was filed with Google
Blogger, where InVoque Daily is housed, for the publishing of
blatant and derogatory and hateful comments against the following
groups from October 3 - October 8 2008.
Hateful comments were made against:
Older People (age discrimination)
Gay People (sexual orientation/gender identity) We believe
that comments published could potentially endanger the health of
real life gay people, particularly as the Matthew Shepherd 10 year
anniversary approaches on October 12, 2008
And, indirectly, antisemitic comments (ethnic identity).
A positive ruling may result in the closure of InVoque Daily
as a Google Blog.
The organization quotes the following Term of Service
Agreement from Google as their filing prerogative: While Blogger
values and safeguards political and social commentary, material
that promotes hatred toward groups based on race or ethnic origin,
religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual
orientation/gender identity is not allowed on Blogger.
Linden Labs has been made aware of this filing.
What makes this case so unique and of interest to the general
public is that although second life is based on fictional
characters, the general public may not realize this from reading
the blog content involved which contains hateful references to the
above minority groups.
In response to assignment:
Stories from Second Life