Virtual Communities, Virtual Communities, Virtual Culture, Virtual Virtual Culture, Virtual

GovernanceGovernance

A Walk on the Wild Side of A Walk on the Wild Side of Virtual CultureVirtual Culture

The PlanThe Plan0. Virtual Worlds0. Virtual Worlds

• The example of Second LifeThe example of Second Life

1. Virtual Communities1. Virtual Communities

2. Virtual Cultures2. Virtual Cultures• What is a virtual cultureWhat is a virtual culture• Some examples?Some examples?

3. Virtual Governance3. Virtual Governance• How does governance emerge in a How does governance emerge in a

virtual culture?virtual culture?

0. Virtual Worlds0. Virtual Worlds

Second LifeSecond Life

Second Life Avatar CreationSecond Life Avatar Creation

Second Life Content CreationSecond Life Content Creation

1. Virtual Communities1. Virtual Communities

We can think of a virtual community We can think of a virtual community as a group of individuals that are as a group of individuals that are spatially separated but that spatially separated but that nevertheless engage in a broad nevertheless engage in a broad spectrum of shared social activities spectrum of shared social activities using non-face-to-face forms of using non-face-to-face forms of communication. communication.

The rise of internet based social The rise of internet based social networking platforms has made the networking platforms has made the notion of virtual communities salient, notion of virtual communities salient, but virtual communities predate the but virtual communities predate the internet and even electronically internet and even electronically mediated communication. Academic mediated communication. Academic communities, for example, have long communities, for example, have long communicated through letters and communicated through letters and other forms of written other forms of written communication.communication.

Not every network of individuals Not every network of individuals counts as a community. The same counts as a community. The same individuals may be in contact every individuals may be in contact every day, but if the communication is day, but if the communication is merely to conduct business then merely to conduct business then they are engaged in a narrow they are engaged in a narrow spectrum of shared activities. spectrum of shared activities. Likewise, some social networks may Likewise, some social networks may fall short of being communities if the fall short of being communities if the focus of socializing remains narrow focus of socializing remains narrow (talking about lolcats, for example). (talking about lolcats, for example).

Graphical virtual worlds like Second Graphical virtual worlds like Second Life are not the first virtual Life are not the first virtual communities, but they provide many communities, but they provide many new tools to facilitate the formation new tools to facilitate the formation of communities -- not just chat, but of communities -- not just chat, but ways of expressing attitudes via ways of expressing attitudes via virtual clothing, props, and rituals. virtual clothing, props, and rituals.

2.0 Virtual Cultures2.0 Virtual Cultures

GorGor

18181818

Griefer CultureGriefer Culture

GriefingGriefing

And More GriefingAnd More Griefing

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WTC BuildWTC Build

2626

2727

Attack on Edwards HQ?Attack on Edwards HQ?

2727

3. Virtual Goverance3. Virtual Goverance

There doesn’t appear to be any top-There doesn’t appear to be any top-down mechanism driving these down mechanism driving these norms and structures. Norms and norms and structures. Norms and ideas of governance are imported ideas of governance are imported from different countries around the from different countries around the world, different virtual worlds in world, different virtual worlds in cyberspace, and even fictional cyberspace, and even fictional worlds. worlds.

These imported norms collide in a These imported norms collide in a kind of crucible in places like Second kind of crucible in places like Second Life. Sometimes the result is a Life. Sometimes the result is a cultural fragmentation, while other cultural fragmentation, while other times the result is a kind of fusion. times the result is a kind of fusion.

Virtual Paramilitary OrganizationsVirtual Paramilitary Organizations

The Sims Shadow GovernmentThe Sims Shadow Government

Government OrganizationGovernment Organization

SSG’s Intelligence BranchSSG’s Intelligence Branch

Tagging a GrieferTagging a Griefer

Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution

Dispute Resolution via Dispute Resolution via CyberwarCyberwar

Trouble BrewingTrouble Brewing

One Song and Tank SplitOne Song and Tank Split

WWIIOLers Get WWIIOLers Get RevengeRevenge

Tank on the ReboundTank on the Rebound

Or not.Or not.

Pancake vs. FalconPancake vs. Falcon

Who should mediate?Who should mediate?Chaunsey Crash vs. Lee LindenChaunsey Crash vs. Lee Linden