Very thoughtful piece and nicely to the point.

I would also argue though that a great many of the people who responded did in fact realize that Wallace was asking a very general philosophical question (and a pretty darn good one at that). We chose however, to discuss the particular issue of linking SL identity and rl identity and how we handle it–and how we would prefer for it to be handled–because after all, the post was on a Linden blog on the SL site. Logically, most of those reading the peice were going to be people for whom their direct experience with the issue dervies from their experience with SL. Likewise, their concerns about the issue of mixing identities are going to manifest themselves referencing SL and our relationship as partner/customers with the Lab.

In short, I think you can argue that it was a pretty darn good question, posted in what was absolutely the wrong place.

Wallace could have put this on a general Virtual Worlds blog or a personal blog, and it would have made for a really interesting discussion. In the conext of the Lidnen blogs, however, it was inevitable that it would turn in to what it did. Of course, he could have at any time said, “hey guys, I was just asking a general 'big picture' question here.” But he didn't. And to exacerbate the mess, he seemed to respond primarily to comments by people he knows, or those who exhibited the least outright hostility. And even those responses, at best, ranged from shallow and superficial to glib.

So he took a good question, posted it on the wrong venue, and then initiated what was neither a conversation nor managed.

I think you are smack dead-on right that when a Linden posts on the official blogs their posts should be clear as to their intent, as well as clean and concise in form. But they also should be focussed on addressing issues that are directly related to the platform and practical matters of how we can all maximize its potential.

Wallace is a bright, intelligent guy…he's just not being very smart about his approach to this particular job so far.

But then, as I think you are also pointing out, what the Lindens really need to work on isn't developing a series of haphazard “conversations” but instead, ongoing “communications.”

http://blog.iliveisl.com/wallace-linden-or-ener...

omg, i wish i did not love sl so much and could just say screw it, ugh