Well, the issues with the grid are now quite clear. The Patriotic Nigras (or someone claiming to be them - honestly, it's all so childish that it's hard to tell - most griefer groups spend more time wailing on each-other than anything else) have used a form of a privilege escalation exploit on a number of objects around the grid to overload the communications systems.

It's unlikely that the Nigras themselves are actually responsible for the work, as most of them are 'script kiddies' (people who cannot create or modify software) and this sort of thing seems to be well above their usual displayed capacity (usually limited to screaming obscenities, using cage-guns or employing the work of others). Most likely, their eagerness to cause trouble is being exploited by someone else.

This is the sixth in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Tagging new residents for study is no easy task. They're fast and startle easily, especially when you mention questions, interviews or snapshots. This week's crowd was particularly skittish, and we had to put out a more general call. We got three responses. You'll be hearing from the other two on Friday and Monday. Glitchez, however was the first to respond.

"traditional Internet bullies ... work through instant messages and cell phones"

"A new type of cyberbully known as a griefer is overtaking other forms of aggression on the Internet and in the world of online gaming, a health researcher warned." -- Reuters.

"Please, dear god, won't someone teach them to use Google or something?" -- Tateru.

Seems someone has all their background material backwards, or has just ignored years of it. Not sure if it is Reuters or Doctor Black. Black's research about behavioral changes and MMORPG's may be more indicative of children having unsupervised interactions with unknown peer groups - but that may just be an impression.

While we're here, we may as well talk briefly about these sad people called 'griefers'. Maybe Reuters will even notice.

When John Edwards announced his plan to seek Presidential candidacy, some of his supporters took to the virtual world of Second Life to get the word out. They bought a plot on the mainland in the Onnuri sim. They erected a building and some campaign signs, as well as virtual goodies such as buttons and shirts. To find out more about John Edwards, you can visit his site.

Directly diagonal to the Edwards campaign is one for psychic John Edward. The plot in Kkotsam came about when several griefers were approached by an individual that wanted to see something interesting done relating to the plot across the way. The goons mirrored the John Edwards campaign, replacing theirs with those of John Edward, with the slogan, "He can read minds!" They also released buttons and shirts, as well as hats. When the Edwards team stepped up their game, coming out with shoes, the Edward team came out with panties featuring the face of their ideal candidate. To find out more about the psychic, you can visit his site.

It is not known how the Edwards campaign volunteers feel about the plot at this time, although several griefers have been banned from their plot amidst rumors of a "flying penis attack." There is only one question that remains. Who will you vote for?

Throughout 2006 (and through much of 2005), vigilantism has been a small but noticeable part of the Second Life society. An armed response to an armed threat. Of course nobody can really get hurt or really die in Second Life. Not in any way that costs you in anything other than time and blood-pressure, but there it is. It happens.

Some groups scour the grid looking for miscreants and violate the TOS/CS by using weapons and griefer tools against the griefers. Some hire themselves out as security forces for events, clubs and casinos. Some reportedly cause griefing under alternate accounts, providing both the sickness and then being paid for the cure.