I have blogged before on my intense lack of understanding as to the point of pixel police. I have quite openly called them all power trippers and been somewhat blunt in describing them as ‘deluded’. So today, I was somewhat curious yesterday when I saw a forum post on XStreetSL by Dani Stratten looking to hire in game police officers and claiming that his force;
“…are a UK run & funded team of Officers who are aiming to set the record that NOT all police dept on SL™ are a waste of time…we are not a bunch of teenage kids on power trips and we are a UK based team.. using our experience from UK events and how we as a country do things!”
Now, I could make this another one sided slanging match, as usual, where I slag people off without giving them any hope of ever responding. Of course that’s fun! However, for some reason I came over all pure of heart and decided to catch up with Dani to find out, basically, wtf is the point in Pixel Police? So imagine my surprise when Dani responded to my note card informing me he now had a new avatar, Timothy McAndrew (who definitely was not a Pixel Policeman) and he would IM me from there. Which he did. To sum it up, Timothy told me that having spent the entire day trying to persuade sim owners to let his new force patrol their sims and only managing to persuade 2, he was giving it up. However, this certainly was not Timothy’s first brush with virtual law enforcement….
Timothy McAndrews: When i first came to SL i bumped into about 4 officers on a sim..
Timothy McAndrews: and I saw them as people with “power.” so I wanted to be part of it.. coming to sl.. i wanted to be in charge hehe..
Timothy McAndrews: I applied with the PD and waited a full day to be tld I had to be 30 days old..
Timothy McAndrews: so i lied and said this wore my alt..
Timothy McAndrews: and they interviewed me and I wore in.. paid 50L for a uniform and training begun
From here Timothy goes on to make complaints about the online times (or lack of) colleagues and general complaints on how this ‘Police Department’ is run. It seemed from the way he spoke about it as though he was really speaking of a ‘real’ police department, which brought me on to ask him what he actually did. I was informed simply that he patrolled sims that the PD has been given permission to patrol looking for spamming, arguing, other griefing etc. He did address the issue of powerlessness, given that these ‘police’ have no authority or power that any other residents do not have. He went on to mention that the next department he worked for did have ban and eject rights on some sims, rights that they had negotiated having with the sim owners. Now, as the manager of a 30 sim estate myself, I did feel the need to ask why it is someone would hire pixel police as opposed to just letting their own team get on with it and simply he did not have an answer.
It was rather enlightening, speaking to Timothy. Moreso since I was expecting to speak to someone who would, having been a ‘police officer’ in game since his arrival to game, defend the role mercilessly. But actually by the end of our conversation he simply summed up with:-
Timothy McAndrews: but it came to me.. I am not a police officer.. nor deserve the title of what some have to train and do a really good job
Timothy McAndrews: I can’t solve crimes, prevent, keep people safe
Timothy McAndrews: I believe everyone wants to be in control
I have summed this rather long log up quickly here just to keep the main points in without giving you 15 pages to read lol! It was bizarre to effectively have found someone who just that day had changed his perception on something he had obviously loved for so long. And even more bizarre to go out in an attempt to speak to someone who will defend the things I mock, find someone who seems to fit the bill perfectly, but who then just ends up agreeing with my points.
See what happens when I try to be balanced? In a second attempt, I spoke to Mysha Milland who runs the ‘Police Department’ in game. I took some information ascertaining to her force from her. What did interested me was the charity work they do, having recently raised almost L$ 300000 for Make a Wish. Now, nobody can mock charity to this level and if that is the only thing to come of the setup, then it’s no bad thing at all. I also spoke to her about whether Police officers in game were simply trying to the job of Linden Lab without getting paid, something she quite happily agreed with.
Josue Habana: I understand none are affiliated (with Linden Lab), which makes me wonder why you would do it? Are you not just doing Linden Lab’s job but without getting paid?
Mysha Milland: Yes.
Mysha Milland: The world is full of volunteers. Volunteering can be immensely satisfying.
That is something that nobody can dispute. And the volunteering element I can get on board with, as it happens. However, ‘policing’ the metaverse as a volunteer activity strikes me as something more of a power trip than a volunteer activity, an issue addressed by Mysha.
Mysha Milland: Yes, I will agree. Many officers are self-serving and enjoy the ego boost. Second LIfe assuages ones ego and offers opportunities to be whoever we want to be.
Mysha Milland: Some want the power trip; some want to be the stud or the model. It’s a fantasy life.
After speaking to Mysha and reading the information on her handout, it is clear that she does not see her role purely as roleplay. In fact, in the information, there is an open letter of sorts, to Linden Lab:-
“PROPOSAL FOR LINDEN LAB:
As concerned residents of Second Life, we see the immediate need to drastically improve the governing of our communities.
Linden Lab is the only “authorized government” to execute some form of penalty, ranging from warnings to account suspension to outright banishment from Second Life. This reactive approach to “policing” is mostly generated from the submissions of Abuse Reports by residents. Placing the responsibility to report crime solely on the shoulders of residents, many without the knowledge and experiences, is not reasonable, nor is it successful in reducing crime.
The best approach to policing is taking a proactive position, to effectively anticipate, prevent and react to crime within communities. The presence of police has proven to be a deterrent to crime. Our purpose is to educate residents on the Terms of Service, Community Standards, and accurately filing Abuse Reports. Sharing this knowledge with others builds up a positive understanding of what the rules are within Second Life, while engaging in improving community relationships.
The reputation of “good” police groups has been tainted by the overwhelming allowances of “bad” police groups, whose main thinking seems to be a misguided right to “regrief” on griefers just because they sport a badge and uniform.
An improvement on reducing crime can only be achieved two ways:
1) Educating residents on the rules of Second Life and reporting abuse as it occurs, and
2) Training and sanctioning selected police groups and abolishing all others.
Almost everyone has experienced some sort of violation of the Community Standards, and crime occurring within Second Life has bled out into the real world. Second Life is expanding rapidly and Linden Lab has not effectively taken the cries from residents seriously enough. Positive policing needs to be implemented immediately so everyone can receive quality service, protection, and fairness.
We are asking Linden Lab to devise a program of precise training measures, and to have each member of a police group apply to be “sanctioned”; to be held accountable for their actions, so that we can begin to build up a solid reputation for enforced law in Second Life. ”
For me, this is a step too far. For someone to be self declared a ‘police officer’ in game is one thing, but for these people to be awarded the task of assisting in disciplining the unruly is a little crazy, in my opinion!
However, in terms of Mysha herself, she is certainly very proud of her efforts in maintaining some order in our favourite pixel world. The charity work is something you absolutely cannot argue with as being an amazing thing. Speaking to Mysha opened my mind a little bit. However, I manage a 30 sim estate. If we had griefers, would I call on police? No. I would call on Linden Lab. Would I call on police to watch for griefers? No, that’s what we have staff for. So to this extent I really do see it as pointless. Roleplay is one thing, but for those who genuinely seem to convince themselves that they have some authority, I think they need to get out more.
