Ben's Diary

A Rape in Cyberspace
The idea of the mind being raped (5) was very interesting to me, as well as the existential ideas that came along with it. It's hard for me to say that a rape "of the mind" deserves the same amount of punishment as one of the body, but then again, why shouldn't it?
Another interesting idea was that punishing someone for committing a crime online is no more or less symbolic that the crime itself (13). Even banning an account from the system does not stop people, so is there a point to arguing over just punishments?
I really liked the ending because it showed how complex certain the internet is, and how systems/programs like MUDs are not at all what we think they are (16).

Multi-User Dungeons and Alternate IDs
The part where the new dimensions of communication that take place in MUDs was most fascinating to me, how there are different types of speech (public and private), and how reactions are textual and can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways (3). Also, because there is no "risk" for people, they are more open with others. I think MUDs could be a good means of socialization, if used correctly.
If we were to use MUDs as a way of educating people (9), it would open up all kinds of opportunities for people, especially those in less-than-fortunate walks of life. For instance, if there were universities where people could go to learn, there could be some serious benefits. Interesting to think about.

Reuters Articles:

"Legal Analysis of Gambling in Second Life"
In this article, law professor Anita Ramasastry analyzed and summarized the legal risks involved for Linden Lab casinos. I could not believe that a real-life law professor took the time to do so. Also, at the end, the Second Life Bar Association was mentioned. It really surprised me; I had never thought of there being such things in SL. I would like to know what other similar associations exist.

"Dutch Bank ABN sets up branch in Second Life"
ABN AMRO NV, a Dutch bank, set up a virtual branch in Second Life. Apparently people can't do business there, but it still serves as a great way to advertise. It made me think about the possibilities for advertisers, and if at some point it will have to be regulated. Millions of people across the world use SL, so really it is only a matter of time before it becomes the focus of advertisers. I wonder what advertising strategies the bigger companies will come up with.

"In legal limbo, Second Life poker rakes in profits"
When I read this article, I was very surprised at how much money came into SL through casinos. It says SL takes in 10% of the buy-in for tournaments, and 2-4% of the pot for cash games, and some people are betting thousands of dollars. It also surprised me that the creator of the VGA tables originally wanted them to be used for family/friend games only, and that the business has taken off despite his wishes. It seems to me that some serious issues could arise in an online environment when money is involved, and I feel like stuff like casinos will take SL in the wrong direction.

"FBI Probes SL Gambling"
The FBI has been tracking the profits of Linden Lab for months, and has found that profits are very high, and growing at a rate of 30% per month. I never thought about the implications online gambling through a game would have, but I suppose that real money is being used, and so it really doesn't matter what it's going through. I wonder what other kinds of problems could arise in an SL environment.

"Offshore casino turns away US-based avatars" AND "Linden Lab Cracks Down on Second Life Casino Ads"
Both of these articles deal with casinos' role in SL, and how US-based users are no longer allowed into Sl casinos because they violate online gambling laws. Because the FBI is involved, casinos are quickly doing whatever is necessary to remain out of trouble, and many are even taking down advertisements. I can't help but wonder if there will be an underground gambling ring that forms in response, and/or the lengths the FBI will go to to prosecute/catch violators. Issues with internet privacy and privacy rights will probably emerge from this, too.