As discussed here:
http://www.aspiesforfreedom.com/showthre...342&page=1
Action i've been taking so far has been along the lines of contacting current supporters and possible future supporters of this campaign in order to educate them on the truth. There is now an "autism speaks doesn't speak for me" group in SL as well as the pre-existing groups (AFF and ALF - let me know if there's more i've missed).
Current known supporters include:
Daphne Molinari, founder of the "Autism speaks in Second Life" group, used to be involved with the relay for life campaign which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. She claims to be interested in raising funds for other autism-related charities too and has asked me to discuss this with her.
Various people in "millons of us" - various people in this company are members of the autism speaks in second life group. I am currently trying to contact who I can in the company to discuss the matter and ask for others to do so when they can. One disturbing aspect to this is that millions of us is a very similar kind of organisation to the more well known "electric sheep company" in the type of work they do (virtual worlds consultancy etc) and so I will keep a close eye on ESC too. I do not have too much concern about ESC though as I know a few former ESC guys who are still in touch with their former colleagues.
Various misc random SL users - not much to say on this group other than basically "spread awareness". If you see someone in the group then educate them as to why it's a bad idea to be in it. Another possibility is to all setup groups with the words "autism speaks" in the name so as to ensure they turn up in search results. Names such as "say no to autism speaks", "down with autism speaks" or whatever else we can think of. Feel free to advertise these groups in group IM in the AFF group, IM me inworld (Gareth Ellison) if you'd like group notices and other promotion.
If people are wanting to take more action then I feel it is appropriate we all meet up in-world and discuss strategies. Once autism speaks "migrates" into SL heavily it's doubtful whether we'll be successful in combatting them. Hopefully we can prevent a traditional safe haven from curebies being taken away if we all act now.
I'll ask the group in-world now, but feel there should be some time for new people to register an account and briefly get used to operating the SL viewer.
This is all on the main grid, to my knowledge autism speaks are not present on the teen grid.
I will say that anyone who signs up underage does so without any support. Read the post in this board on illegal activity - violating the TOS of a privately owned service (such as SL) is illegal....
The SL herald I know some of the staff at. I will also ask anyone in the in-world group to take the notice I just sent out.
Anyone who'd like to write an article suitable for the SL herald please drop it to me in an email to gareth@garethnelson.com.
I've had a quick look at the main donations box where they're attempting to fundraise from - at the moment they've only raised about 600 linden, which is the real world equivalent of around two dollars.
If we are going to protest this, we'll have to make sure we aren't just making a non-event more popular - i.e. use PM's to Autism Speaks group members, etc, rather than just the usual sort of noticeable protests.
Perhaps a garnering of support for Aspies for Freedom would be more appropriate than a denouncement of Autism Speaks?
I definately would not think that a protest is appropriate for such small-scale things of course. However, if they hold any larger fundraisers then I fully intend to be there early and bring enough people to reach the sim's limit.
Having thought more about this, that means of course that contacting the SL press is a bad idea at present, but let's keep the option open for in the future.
Everyone who is in the AFF group should have received the notecard I sent out. Please pass on a copy to everyone you see who supports autism speaks.
I have been contacted by Daphne and one of the kiosk owners in private asking me not to spam donors with the notecard I sent out. I have politely noted that I in no way condone spamming or harrassment of people and that should anyone do more than send a single notecard out then I will take action against them myself. DO NOT act in an abusive manner towards any of the autism speaks supporters or organisers inside SL. This includes the attacks against Daphne on this thread. She has thus far remained very polite and helpful the whole time and it is more productive to return the favour.
If you hand out the notecard to someone, first ensure they have not already received it. A quick IM to ask followed by a polite apology if they have is appropriate. Once someone has received the notecard, inform others that they are not to be contacted again. If someone asks not to be contacted again then we must respect their wishes. Anyone who does not follow these instructions will be banned from the in-world group and have an abuse report filed with linden lab.
On a more positive note, Daphne has asked me to join her in coming up with the direction of a new group which she says will be aimed more at the community than autism speaks. I am awaiting further details and will talk to her. I will also ask people to add their SL name to their profile here (using the new custom profile field I am about to add).
Bella - I will ask you if Daphne has mentioned any names to you of people who have sent her nasty messages to forward the names to me in private (via a PM here). Thinking more on this I would like to make clear to people who may already have not shown the most polite attitude that it is vitally important not to portray us all as hostile.
Well, meeting with daphne has resulted in her deciding to setup a new non-profit to raise funds for educational assistance and similar schemes with autistics themselves being represented on the board.
Great news.
Sounds cool. I may come by to hang out, if I get around to playing SL in a while.
Don't use the P word
It annoys me somewhat when people call SL a game, it's too generic to be called a game. Just a massive 3D environment - not a game with goals, prizes or points. It's no more a game than IRC and in fact it's often used the same way as you'd use IRC. Meeting with Daphne for example was not a game but a discussion of some quite serious issues.
If I ever go to Second Life I will try not to have fun nor be amused. I certainly with do my utmost not to play and to respect that it is not an imaginary construct and treat it with the respect it deserves.
rossco - you are free to be that boring if you wish. Personally I don't see why a platform can't be used for both games and serious work. If you feel the need to treat a platform as either "only for games" or "only for serious work" then I feel sorry for you. There are aspects of SL which are purely for entertainment and other aspects which are very serious, as it is just a big 3D physics simulation with some user scripts and chat, the uses to which individuals can put it are endless.
rossco - you are free to be that boring if you wish. Personally I don't see why a platform can't be used for both games and serious work. If you feel the need to treat a platform as either "only for games" or "only for serious work" then I feel sorry for you. There are aspects of SL which are purely for entertainment and other aspects which are very serious, as it is just a big 3D physics simulation with some user scripts and chat, the uses to which individuals can put it are endless.
If I ever go to Second Life I will try not to have fun nor be amused. I certainly with do my utmost not to play and to respect that it is not an imaginary construct and treat it with the respect it deserves.
rossco - you are free to be that boring if you wish. Personally I don't see why a platform can't be used for both games and serious work. If you feel the need to treat a platform as either "only for games" or "only for serious work" then I feel sorry for you. There are aspects of SL which are purely for entertainment and other aspects which are very serious, as it is just a big 3D physics simulation with some user scripts and chat, the uses to which individuals can put it are endless.
I really hope that this is all a joke.
It hurts to see two of my favourite people apparently go head-to-head over something so silly.
Well it was on my part. Sort of....
I found it discerning that Gareth should seem to be think of Second Life as something other than esapism, but then again I do see things generally online as different to IRL.
As you know that is no slight. I do wind down after a grueling day of dealing with people in real life by getting online and letting my true personality come out. In as much as you would confirm me in real life as being.
Except I guess you will get the secret out that I am not nearly as grumpy in real life
I do not have any major gripe over second life.
In that case I may have to pull some reverse ageism on you to understand my perspective on it.
I am a technophobe by nature and "do not get" new techno advances.
Therefore I went on to Second Life made a character that I had difficulties in operating and ultimately lest the game confused as to what to do.
Mind you I consider BASIC "tricky" and Space Invaders "pretty innovative" so.............