The Sandbox

When I served in the Navy, I completely gave over a lot of my rights to be part of the military.  I was on a submarine, and the crew was prepared to carry out whatever orders we received.  I did make one moral choice, I did not volunteer to be on a “boomer.” But other than that, the act of enlisting is a choice to accept that the leaders of the country will wisely use the military assets at their command.

Two presidents, Carter and Reagan, were variously my Commander in Chief.  One I agreed with, one I really did not.  But neither, in my opinion, violated the basic contract that leaders in this country make with the servicemen and women.  The contract says that we will suspend our right to make individual decisions about life and death, right and wrong, as long as those who give the orders respect our choices and respect that we are defending freedoms.

Now comes a stinging indictment of the current leader from the brother of Pat Tillman, one of the most celebrated servicemen to die in the recent wars.  The brother, Kevin Tillman, also served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and says, in very eloquent language, that the contract has been broken.  The servicemen and women are fighting for leaders who don’t honor their decisions, their sacrifices, or anything that they might be willing to fight for.  Those in active service can’t make that statement, of course.  But someone who did his time and then said what he had to say, can.

This article is the latest to cover the whole “digital sweatshop” phenomena.  Basically, lazy American gamers are hiring third world computer laborers to PLAY THE GAME for them.  At least, to play through the long boring process of accumulating enough wealth to buy the cool armor and weapons.  This has been known for awhile, but now, according to the article, the Gold Farmers are stealing from the “real gamers.”

“It’s getting ridiculous. They have started mugging other characters and stripping them of valuables. It’s meant to be a game, but when there’s money involved people will do anything.”

Commentor (Tony) points out that I had the wrong online world:

Maybe you’re thinking of Project Entropia, where a spokesperson for the game’s maker paid $100,000 in real money for a (virtual) habitable space station.

World of Warcraft is facing an internet worm designed to steal member passwords.  Why?  Because the worm authors would take the passwords, loot all the good stuff out of the accounts, and sell it on various gray market websites for real money.

This after a Second Life user paid over $100,000 in real money for a habitable moon.  If existence, in terms of human recognition, is based on value, then these virtual worlds are producing real-life wealth.

This differs, of course, from all the nifty stuff I get when I play Oblivion (or Grand Theft Auto).  Though my character in the game may own the stuff, it only exists when my particular character is playing that particular instance of the game.  Almost everyone who owns the game will eventually get far enough into the main quest to get the Akivari Katana (or whatever).  But in World of Warcraft, these things are rare, some unique, and can be transferred from user to user.  In Second Life, every object in the universe exists uniquely.  If one person owns it, nobody else can. 

When you are hanging around with someone and suddenly, it becomes clear that they are talking to someone else over their ear-piece. This happens more as the physical process of dialing or answering the cell-phone has been reduced to touching a button under your jacket. Then, when your friend says something to you, you wonder if they are still talking to that thing permanently hanging from their ear.

"Are you talking to me?"

"There's nobody else here, is there?"

"Well, actually, anyone on your speed dial might be here now."

Currently located in my brain. Will ship.

This article describes an online game wherein people purchase game properties using real dollars. The kicker, someone bought a resort space station for $100K. I hope the buyer can charge real rent to virtual visitors so he can make back his investment.

I mostly walk. Every few months I run down a pair of sneakers and have to buy a new pair. If I get a good discount, this can be done for about $40. My sister just paid over $80 to fill up her SUV, the cost of two pair of sneakers.