by Jennifer Coote
Introduction
Millions of participants are engaged in Second Life, the alternative reality created and run by Linden Labs. San Francisco, whose goal was to create a self-governing community where residents would be empowered to act on the things they feel strongly about and adjudicate such disputes. But the hope is in jeopardy as maverick behaviours, not all malicious, are leading to disputes being taken into real-life justice systems, usually over property and profits. Not all virtual entrepreneurs regard their operations as fantasy. There are serious questions about the sexual interactions of childlike avatars, while gambling, formerly widespread in Second Life, but illegal in US reality, has already been shut down. New Scientist, 1 Sept, 07, pp 28-29.(continue…)