"Bryan Zelmanov," or, I give.
I gave up. I made a new Second Life character, Bryan Zelmanov. After more than a week of Linden Labs' inability to perform basic customer service, I ponied up for another avatar. I hate, hate, hate rewarding them for a failure to do due diligence. But, like Sara*, I'm researching this topic. And I'm teaching a workshop next week which includes a Second Life unit, so I can't wait for these guys to do their jobs properly.
Yes, I know they're dealing with a security intrusion. Welcome to the internet, guys. This was a surprise? SL didn't prepare contingency plans? I feel even better about entrusting time, money, and creative work to them.
Enough fuming and griping. I am and remain, in SL, Bryan Zelmanov.
*Sara's point, being worried about missing an important development, helps explain the durality of SL, despite everything. It's a curious loop: we hear that SL is important, so we invest time and money in it, which adds to our sense of its importance. Other people see that, so they want to participate, and so the circle continues.
Ugh. I caved in too. My new name, Saratoga Smashcan isn't nearly as awesome as Saratoga Eponym. No help getting my account resolved at all. Let's hope I'll actually get into it this time since I've convinced my boyfriend to join me this time.
Posted by: Sara | October 02, 2006 at 22:36
After six tries and more than an hour on hold, I got my old avatar back.
Posted by: Andy Havens | October 03, 2006 at 15:12
We should form a Second Life group, friends. Like "Repeat Avatars," or "The Grumpy Yet Persistent."
Please feel free to ping me anytime, therein.
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | October 03, 2006 at 15:29