So Long Phillip Linden

by Jessica Holyoke

I was planning to write an article about the dying art of immersion outside of roleplay when this came across the wire.  Reuters http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/03/14/exclusive-rosedale-to-step-down-as-linden-lab-ceo/ has the exclusive report of Phillip Rosedale being replaced as CEO of Linden Lab.  While he plans to stay on as Chairman of the Board, Rosedale will continue to map strategy and develop product.  Mitch Kapor will step down as Chairman and remain on the Board.  No word yet if the board is growing or if someone else will leave the Linden Board.

For me, Phillip represented the immersionists.  Cory and Torley might have been immersionists early on from what I've heard, but now, they just look like people who wore funny hats now and again.  Robin is now seeing if residents would like to link their Second Lives with Facebook, on top of such anti-immersion tactics such as ID verification or voice. 

But Phillip was the dreamer.  The one who said that Second Life meant just that.  An opportunity to leave whatever you had in your first life and experience things with a new set of eyes (and skin and body).  That immersive experience is what makes Second Life a rich experience for others like myself who come in not to replicate what is out there, but to experience anew what is in here.

And that is slowly losing ground.  Beyond the Linden Lab initiatives, more and more people want to know about the person on the other side.  That our identities on Second Life are not as important as our identities in real life, and that any concealment of those identities is just a sign of dishonesty and not a sign of desired escape.

So while the next Linden CEO might be able to bring order out of the chaos, as a more management oriented person is being sought out, hopefully, the Lindens will realize that out of chaos comes the most vibrant of dreams.

Comments

[...]

;_;

[Apollo Case]

Anyone applying for this job needs to realize that if they get it right, they can be in for an exciting ride, if they get it wrong, they are going to find that seat will get very hot. Either way, I think it's going to be very interesting to see who gets short-listed for this position, and who eventually gets it.

[d3adlyc0d3c]

In a strange twist of fate, I am applying as CEO of Linden labs

[The Fire of Delight]

Epic Lulz are still being had, and though the battle is won the war shall continue.

RIP Phill.

lolololololol, Apollo, wtf.

Most don't apply for CEO, they climb the corporate ladder first. Liek srsly. I ain't bullshittin ya.

[anon]

>The one who said that Second Life meant just that. An opportunity to leave whatever you had in your first life and experience things with a new set of eyes (and skin and body). That immersive experience is what makes Second Life a rich experience for others like myself who come in not to replicate what is out there, but to experience anew what is in here.

then good riddance, any immersion taken to the point where it's another "you" is unhealthy and stupid

[Near]

This is but only one step on the path to the total collapse of Second Life. Fuck yeah. Bonus points if the new CEO b&s furfaggotry.

[Winter]

I'm more interested in the ramification this has, and what it indicates is happening financially within LL.

I'm also planning on throwing a farewell party.

[DinkyHockerShootsSmack!]

The Metaverse Messiah saw it coming!

Prokofy says on her blog:

"Oh, right, YOU were the one I told that too. I couldn't recall, as I had somewhat similar conversations about such spiritual matters with a few people, but had only told THAT particular thing to you. So, well, yeah, there it is. I saw it coming, I see stuff like that, but what good is it? It's not like I can call up the person and say, hey! Um, something is going to happen to you! lol Because, they may know already."

Someone call Miss Cleo and tell her she has some competition!

[d3adlyc0d3c]

@Near

Actually it means the opposite. Perhaps you should read more about what happens when a company is going bankrupt or 'collapsing' as you put it. Or at least read that reuters article. Whatever you do, don't come in here sounding like an idiot, because I will call you out on it <3

[Myrrh Massiel]

...word on the street is that he was linked to a virtual prostitution ring...

[Whatever]

@d3adlyc0d3c:

Are you as much of an expert on business as you are on open source software?

[d3adlyc0d3c]

@Whatever

No but I'm definitely an expert on shut the fuck up

[Thomas]

"whatever", you really are a self important asshole aren't you? Do you really think that your opinion is always right? I happen to share your opinions on open source software but he made some good arguments in favor of his point of view too. Personally if I were someone who didn't know enough to make a decision based on my own experiences I would trust his opinion, as someone who is known to be knowledgeable as opposed to being a no-name anonymous troll that just seems to follow him around to cause trouble because you're angry at him for whatever reasons. You know there are a lot of people out there that didn't like him that let go of their hate. Perhaps you should too, you'll live longer.

[Jenny]

>That immersive experience is what makes Second Life a rich experience for others like myself who come in not to replicate what is out there, but to experience anew what is in here.<

My feeling exactly. Second Life was a great idea. Now it's turning into Facebook with sprinkles. Hopefully a new CEO will return SL to its roots, otherwise it's as good as dead and frankly it's not far off dead anyway as things stand.

[Experienced Avatar]

Fired or leaving?

For a year people have been leaving LL - some have been fired. Thus this could be an end of escalating dissatisfaction on the performance on LL what has been resolved by firing people. First the lowest rank employees were fired (Live Help). When CEO leaves, it usually means that he doesn't want to do the dirty job of mass firings, downsizing or selling the company.

The growth fairy tale served simultaneous makes me suspicious: "Phillip is leaving to give space for LL to grow". The truth might be the complete opposite: somebody is very dissatisfied on the growth of Second Life.

When the captain leaves the ship, when the pilot leaves the plane, when the bankmanager says that the bank has money, and Patriotic Nigras start to support Hillary, what do you do?

[Near]

"No but I'm definitely an expert on shut the fuck up"

lol c0d3c can dish it but he can't take it.

Be a man, son.

[Levi Anansi]

Eh, If they demand the truth, fuck em.

You idiots, and your everlasting salute to PN. You tueled, bored out, idiots.

[d3adlyc0d3c]

@Near
Say, thats pretty rich coming from a PNFag. Is dat sum bawwwww?

[Whatever]

@"Thomas"

So you think people who disagreed with d3adlyc0d3c's ridiculous assertions were right, but if you were ignorant about open source you'd believe him because of his rep??? Maybe it's time to reevaluate the basis of that undeserved rep, huh?

And, yes, pretty much everyone considers me a self-important asshole, but at least I'm not an antisocial, antisemitic, racist who threatens to shoot people in the face.

[Tizzers Linden]

Correction. I would like to announce that I will be replacing Philip Rosedale as CEO of Linden Lab effective immediately.

[N3X15FAG]

(14:16:16) —› nick: (N3X15|FINALSLOLOL) is now known as (N3X15Fag)
(14:16:26) —› nick: (Spazm) is now known as (Spazmfag)
(14:16:31) —› nick: (FATNIGRA) is now known as (FATFAG)
(14:16:49) (@FATFAG) EVERYONE IS FAG
(14:16:52) (@FATFAG) FAG FAG FAG FAG
(14:16:54) —› nick: (wildlymild) is now known as (wildfag)
(14:16:56) (@Spazmfag) NONFAGS GET OUT
(14:17:00) —› kick: (sarinzero) was kicked by (Spazmfag) (Spazmfag)

[anon]

N3X15FAG: nobody cares

[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

"Epic Lulz are still being had, and though the battle is won the war shall continue."

Battle? Which battle? Did I miss something here?

Or do you mean the griefing? XD

Battle- Uh-huh. particlespamming for five seconds before getting your ass B&.

LAWL

[tommy]

My ear flakes a lot.

I eat the flakes.