I was one of 27 business communicators who took part in the monthly “Second Thurdsday in Second Life” meeting yesterday afternoon. We gathered at the Hipcast Expo Center, which is owned by Eric Rice, for a wide-ranging discussion.

Topics included Second Life media coverage — both inside Second Life and out — the recent rush of big-name companies into this virtual world and whether those investments are prudent, and how I was a “dumb-ass” for bringing my Second Life Nissan Car to Toyota’s Second Life launch earlier in the week (more on that in a coming post).

I was able to follow some of the discussion, though trying to stay focused for too long with just text chat and no accompanying audio isn’t easy.

My take? This kind of meetup is a perfect example of both Second Life’s potential for fostering valuable discussions and its usability limitations.

You can also check out event organizer Kami Watson Huyse’s thoughts on the event. Full credit to Kami for ensuring this kind of dialogue happens.

The full transcript is below, courtesy of Second Life avatar Doug Hayashi (or, in the non-Second Life world that I live in most of the time, Doug Haslam from Topaz Partners). I’m Zeke Barber. Don’t cringe too much at my contributions.

The few snapshots I took are stuck on the work computer, so I’m displaying and linking to one from C.C. Chapman.

Transcript 

[8:56] Zeke Barber is Online

[8:56] Bubba Scaggs: Hi -

[8:57] You: ok i see both of you now

[8:57] Bubba Scaggs: Kewl

[8:57] Zeke Barber: where do we go?

[8:58] Zeke Barber: no, hey bubba.

[8:58] Zeke Barber: sorry for bumping into you.

[8:58] Zeke Barber: Ahh, hey there, Adam.

[8:58] Bubba Scaggs: so does an event exist if it’s just us talking

[8:58] Zeke Barber: Doug, careful. You’re not supposed to reveal someone else’s name.

[8:58] Zeke Barber: There are others here. But where?

[8:58] You: did that in IM

[8:58] You: though I was wondering about the protocol there

[8:59] Bubba Scaggs: Ew I just told a freelancer from Munich I was Adam in First Life – oh well

[8:59] Zeke Barber: Ahh, OK.

[8:59] Zeke Barber: I actually saw that that was a ruule.

[8:59] Burma Ping: hello

[8:59] You: not surprised–

[8:59] Bubba Scaggs: Hi

[8:59] You: Hello Burma

[8:59] Burma Ping: so this is the place…

[8:59] You: Think so..

[8:59] Zeke Barber: there’s a big amphitheatre, I think.

[9:00] Bubba Scaggs: Makes me feel like I usually do a big empty conference centers

[9:00] Zeke Barber: I’m sure that’s where people are.

[9:00] You: which way– or do we guess?

[9:00] Bubba Scaggs: Any directions at overtonecomm.blogspot.com?

[9:00] Zeke Barber: I don’t see any.

[9:00] Zeke Barber: Damnit. SLurl should go RIGHT to the location

[9:01] You: we c an explore…

[9:01] You: ..or wait for others to show up and follow them

[9:01] Zeke Barber: I’m asking cleon.

[9:01] Zeke Barber: he’s there

[9:01] You: but I suspect everyone will be in the same boat unless they have been here

[9:01] You: maybe cleon can offer a teleport

[9:02] Spin Martin: tp them direct

[9:02] Spin Martin: i’ll go grab some of them

[9:02] Zeke Barber: I was one of those lost people.

[9:02] You: thanks zeke

[9:02] Zero Grace: Can’t they see across the pond?

[9:02] GreeterDan Godel: i had some trouble moving around here

[9:02] You: hey CLeon

[9:02] GreeterDan Godel: got stuck under water.

[9:02] Burma Ping: ah!

[9:02] You: Hi Burma– now I see you better

[9:02] Cleon Goff: hey

[9:02] Burma Ping: better

[9:02] Bubba Scaggs: I see said the blind Avatar

[9:02] Kamichat Watson: Hi Bubba

[9:03] Zeke Barber: Now I see your pants, Doug

[9:03] Burma Ping: hahaha

[9:03] Burma Ping: pants are good

[9:03] VNewk Luna: I am here and do not know what I am doing…aka lauren Vargas

[9:03] You: don’t stare too long it has been known to send people into insanity

[9:03] No room to sit here, try another spot.

[9:03] Zeke Barber: is there any audio for this?

[9:03] GreeterDan Godel: spin, why do you have one of teh scions?

[9:04] No room to sit here, try another spot.

[9:04] GreeterDan Godel: or rather, why you parking it here?

[9:04] Multi Gadget v1.49.3 by Timeless Prototype

[9:04] Spin Martin: scion city is open

[9:04] There is no suitable surface to sit on, try another spot.

[9:04] Cleon Goff: the scions are cool

[9:04] Cleon Goff: you can modify them which is fun

[9:04] Spin Martin: i had one of the early ones but i parked it there because i like what they are doing conceptually

[9:04] No room to sit here, try another spot.

[9:04] BushidoBrown Hightower: Cleon…

[9:04] GreeterDan Godel: nice…you blogging about it?

[9:04] Zeke Barber: yeah, just don’t be a dumb-ass like me and drive a Nissan onto the sim.

[9:04] Spin Martin: with the modification

[9:04] Cleon Goff: Hey man welcome back. Hope your healing well

[9:04] You: Hello Rob Holden

[9:04] Zero Grace: Why, Zeke, are outside brands banned?

[9:04] You: Bubba and I saw you at Podcast Ready

[9:05] BushidoBrown Hightower: C: recovery is going good

[9:05] Spin Martin: i dont think outside brands are banned

[9:05] Zeke Barber: I don’t know. It was their launch.

[9:05] Zeke Barber: I got ejected.

[9:05] Spin Martin: i know gm isn’t taking that approach

[9:05] Zero Grace: Interesting.

[9:05] Spin Martin: oh well launch might be bad

[9:05] Zeke Barber: I didn’t really realize what I was doing.

[9:05] Cleon Goff: you rezzed a nissan in front of the stage during th elaunch event

[9:05] Spin Martin: yeah that might be bad

[9:05] Spin Martin: ok brb relogging

[9:05] Ute Hicks: LOL!

[9:05] Zeke Barber: Yeah, I learned my lesson.

[9:05] Zeke Barber: Oh, was it up on stage with me?

[9:05] Zeke Barber: Yikes.

[9:06] Ceara Moore: I attended the DC Futurists meeting last night , led by Electric Sheep. Interesting time, will post summary later (and SecondCast recorded)

[9:06] Znetlady Isbell: Should we get started?

[9:06] Miller Copeland: Sure, I’m ready.

[9:06] GreeterDan Godel: indeed

[9:06] Znetlady Isbell: Great. Thanks everyone for coming!

[9:06] Ute Hicks: Ready

[9:06] Spin Martin: Hello everyone, just look at your Mini Map to see where the green dots are. We’re on the Hipcast Expo Stage to the East of the sim.

[9:07] Znetlady Isbell: Kami asked me to moderate today – and I’d like you each

[9:07] Multi Gadget v1.49.3 by Timeless Prototype

[9:07] Znetlady Isbell: to introduce yourself and your pub if you will, Ute?

[9:07] BushidoBrown Hightower: Yo Grim.

[9:07] Grim Misfit: Howdy

[9:07] Espresso machine gave you Espresso Demi Tasse.

[9:07] Espresso machine : gives a cup to Doug Hayashi

[9:08] Znetlady Isbell: Ute, would you like to start by introduciing yourself?

[9:08] Ute Hicks: Hello, my name is Ute Hicks, and I am editor of SL Business Magazine at www.slbusinessmag.com

[9:08] Ute Hicks: We are a monthly .pdf that takes a look at branding and marketing within Second Life

[9:09] Znetlady Isbell: Officer GreeterDan

[9:09] GreeterDan Godel: well, hello

[9:09] GreeterDan Godel: I’m Daniel Terdiman, senior writer for CNET News.com

[9:09] Znetlady Isbell: And, Miller..

[9:11] Miller Copeland: Hi, everyone. I’m editor in chief of “In The Grid” – jasonpettus.com/inthegrid/ . I’m mostly a one-person operation; ITG covers underground culture in SL.

[9:11] Znetlady Isbell: Thanks, Miller Sorry Dan, I think I interrupted you…

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel:

[9:11] Znetlady Isbell: You were going to say something else?

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel: oh…well, was just going to say a little about news.com

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel: but…that’s okay

[9:11] Znetlady Isbell: Please

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel: okay…well, we are a mainstream tech news publication

[9:11] Treocast Carson is Offline

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel: covering everything from apple to chips to tech culture, which is my beat

[9:11] GreeterDan Godel: that’s all

[9:11] Znetlady Isbell: Great, thanks.

[9:12] Znetlady Isbell: Let me start by asking you each why you are covering SL and then we’ll open it up to q&A

[9:12] Znetlady Isbell: Ute

[9:13] wolkam Winger: /ao off

[9:13] BushidoBrown Hightower: who is sitting on my shoulder?

[9:13] Spin Martin: ha

[9:13] Ute Hicks: SL Busiess Mag found that many entrepreneurs have arrived in SL to create businesses and services. Not just stay-at-home moms, but also real life entrepreneurs.

[9:13] wolkam Winger: / sorry

[9:14] Cup of Hot Coffee whispers: Ah!Hot, strong, and STEAMY!

[9:14] Ute Hicks: So we wanted to examine their business models

[9:14] Znetlady Isbell: And who is your primary audience?

[9:14] Ute Hicks: And offer stories about applications and tools that can help them, and report on trends

[9:14] Ute Hicks: We have quite a mix of readers

[9:15] Znetlady Isbell: Dan, how about you, why SL for CNET?

[9:15] Ute Hicks: From gamers to RL executives

[9:15] GreeterDan Godel: well, I’ve been covering SL since 2003. first for Wired News, then for CNET when I started working here last year

[9:16] GreeterDan Godel: I cover culture of technology, and this is definitely one of the hottest spots for culture in technology

[9:16] GreeterDan Godel: but…

[9:16] GreeterDan Godel: as the companies have started arriving, and as the economy has gotten more sophisticated and real estate, and, and….

[9:16] GreeterDan Godel: well, there is no end of stories to write about

[9:16] GreeterDan Godel: more recently, I have opened CNET’s own bureau here

[9:17] GreeterDan Godel: and am using it for regular discussions with “newsmakers”

[9:17] GreeterDan Godel: *end*

[9:17] Znetlady Isbell: And Miller?

[9:17] Spin Martin: If you are looking for the PR Meetup, head to the where all the green dots are located on your Mini Map or IM Spin Martin or Kamichat Watson for a teleport directly.

[9:18] Miller Copeland: I started ITG, frankly, because I’m unemployed in RL Chicago right now. I thought it’d be a fun way to fill some extra hours in my day, and maybe sell some ads and bring in a little revenue.

[9:18] Miller Copeland: I’m from an arts and publishing background, so that’s what interests me the most here. I found there to be a real lack of publications covering those subjects, which is why I concentrate onit.

[9:19] Miller Copeland: But much like Daniel, I now find myself also covering more and more mainstream events as well, simply becuase of what’s going on in SL these days.

[9:20] Znetlady Isbell: Thanks, Miller. I’m sure you all have questions – please ask

[9:20] Znetlady Isbell: If we get too lively well switch to asking via IM

[9:20] Espresso machine : gives a cup to Burma Ping

[9:20] Miller Copeland: Oh, and one more thing — my day job is as a marketer, not a journalist.

[9:21] GreeterDan Godel: eeek…a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

[9:21] Znetlady Isbell: lol

[9:21] Kamichat Watson: I have a question, how do each of you find your stories?

[9:21] Miller Copeland: Right, that’s what makes ITG interesting to me, is that it’s much more an opinionated blog than a mainstream journalism outlet.

[9:21] Zero Grace: zing!

[9:21] Zero Grace: I think you have that the wrong way around, Dan.

[9:21] Spin Martin: /have a seat folks there are plenty in teh second row

[9:21] Kamichat Watson: And, the ultimate folll0ow up, are you open to pitches *gasp*

[9:21] Spin Martin: haha

[9:21] Miller Copeland: I read something like 75 SL blogs now, and find some stories that way. Also the events calendar, mailing lists, and tips from readers.

[9:22] Espresso Demi Tasse whispers: Now THAT will open your eyes!

[9:22] GreeterDan Godel: well, it’s a combination of things for me. I know a lot of people connected to SL and Linden Lab, so I hear tidbits all the time

[9:22] Miller Copeland: As far as pitches, I’m a little more wary now; at first I went to everything people invited me to, but I ended up getting kinda burnt out on that.

[9:22] GreeterDan Godel: i don’t read as many blogs as I should, but I am covering less of what’s going on “on the ground” and more big picture stuff

[9:22] Ute Hicks: Thankfully, we have a staff of people who have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in SL. I like to trollll around the forums, and visit builds, meet people, and ask lots of questions

[9:22] Spin Martin: heh

[9:23] GreeterDan Godel: however, when there’s news like pricing changes, things like that, I do cover it

[9:23] Znetlady Isbell: What is “news” to each of you?

[9:23] GreeterDan Godel: and, yes, I am open to pitches, though I reserve the right to say no much more often than yes

[9:23] GreeterDan Godel: what’s news is what’s neww

[9:23] GreeterDan Godel: news

[9:23] Miller Copeland: When someone is doing something I haven’t heard of before. That’s a pretty good litmus test for me.

[9:23] GreeterDan Godel: argh…”new”

[9:24] GreeterDan Godel: yes, i agree with miller

[9:24] Znetlady Isbell: So it is pretty subjective?

[9:24] Znetlady Isbell: Even for CNET?

[9:24] AFK Sign whispers: Type ‘help’ for assistance

[9:24] Treocast Carson is Online

[9:24] GreeterDan Godel: the simple fact that Fortune 500 company X is opening up shop in SL is not news anymore

[9:24] Miller Copeland: For me, yes, but I don’t claim to be an objective journalist either. I’m not sure how other pubs handle it.

[9:24] Ute Hicks: I like to find people who are thinking out-of-the-box in selling their product

[9:24] Ute Hicks: It doesn’t always happen

[9:25] Znetlady Isbell: Do we have any questions from our audience?

[9:25] Miller Copeland: Right, Daniel, and even from the artistic side. A famous musician doing a concert here isn’t news anymore either.

[9:25] You: best way to get in touch?

[9:25] GreeterDan Godel: but, the great thing is that there are no end of amazing things going on here

[9:25] GreeterDan Godel: so…no end of stories

[9:25] GreeterDan Godel: i actually have to restrain myself because I cover many things besides SL

[9:25] Miller Copeland: For me, email – inthegrid@gmail.com. Is that what you meant, Doug?

[9:26] You: yes, some like Adam Reusters keep SL office hours…

[9:26] Kamichat Watson: I am also interested in how people communicate with each other in SL

[9:26] Kamichat Watson: FOr instance, you mentioned blogs, and groups, how do you see word spreading?

[9:26] GreeterDan Godel: i am reachable at daniel.terdiman@cnet.com

[9:27] Ute Hicks: editor@slbusinessmag.com

[9:27] Miller Copeland: I -try- to be in the grid from 8:30pm to 10pm or so PST each night, and try to let others know, but don’t always succed.

[9:27] You: so you all prefer RL email– got it

[9:27] GreeterDan Godel: yeah…my SL hour are somewhat irregular

[9:27] Miller Copeland: Kami, do you mean the way residents talk to each other, or the ways readers find our publications?

[9:27] Espresso Demi Tasse whispers: Now THAT will open your eyes!

[9:29] Kamichat Watson: Well, it was a general question, but I do wonder both, how they find you

[9:29] Ute Hicks: Our staff uses the Google conferencing system, or skype, for editorial meetings, or we all meet in SL, at the conference table

[9:29] Kamichat Watson: and nhow word spreads about events

[9:29] Kamichat Watson: It seems that it is done mostly out of world

[9:29] GreeterDan Godel: i have been putting my events on teh officlal SL events calendar

[9:30] Miller Copeland: My main concentration has been outside the grid so far, because of my reader base; maybe 30 percent of my reades are people who don’t yet play SL, but are on the cusp of signing up.

[9:30] GreeterDan Godel: and now have a group, CNET Networks, that will get notices of my events

[9:30] Kamichat Watson: Does that seem to work?

[9:30] GreeterDan Godel: please join!

[9:31] Miller Copeland: Plus, in-grid publishing is still in a pretty immature state, inmy opinion; the tech behind publishing a mag in-grid is more frustratng than rewarding right now.

[9:31] G24khamr Goodfellow: Do you focus on SL only, or the 3D Web as a whole? Do you see the web morphing over time into more of these 3D environments?

[9:31] Miller Copeland: I cover SL only right now, but will be adding Multiverse just as soon as they invent a Mac client.

[9:31] Ute Hicks: SL Business Magazine launches in-world events to increase awareness of the publication

[9:32] Miller Copeland: As far as the overall web moving more into a SL framework – yes, I think you’re going to see more MMO elements added to the overall web with each year.

[9:32] GreeterDan Godel: i cover all kinds of virtual worlds, though SL definitely gets the lions share

[9:32] Zero Grace: Miller, how could you cover the culture of the Metaverse when it is split into a myriad of splinter projects/worlds?

[9:32] GreeterDan Godel: i also have covered multiverse a bit

[9:32] Zero Grace: Err Multiverse sorry

[9:32] You: what about virtual worlds aimed at kids?

[9:32] Miller Copeland: Well, that’s an interesting question, since I don’t know anything about it yet. I’d need to actually get in, play around some, before I could start coming up with a plan for covering it all.

[9:32] Ute Hicks: Miller and I have the same Mac issues. We both work on Macs

[9:33] GreeterDan Godel: i do too

[9:33] G24khamr Goodfellow: Macs Rule

[9:33] Burma Ping: they do

[9:33] Ute Hicks smiles

[9:33] Znetlady Isbell: How do you handle verification in a world where many people are anonoymous?

[9:33] GreeterDan Godel: yes…though the last version of the SL client was crashing many macs

[9:33] Miller Copeland: For those who don’t know, Multiverse is simply a game engine; multiple companies and groups are creating multiple universes there, all fueled by the same backend.

[9:33] GreeterDan Godel: it’s less important than you’d think

[9:33] GreeterDan Godel: I’m allowed to refer to sources by their avatar names

[9:33] Zeke Barber is Offline

[9:34] GreeterDan Godel: since it is an identity

[9:34] GreeterDan Godel: however, whenever possible, I use reral names

[9:34] Znetlady Isbell: Interesting – many pubs won’t unless you have a RL

[9:34] Zeke Barber is Online

[9:34] Znetlady Isbell: name

[9:34] GreeterDan Godel: true…but those publications are going to realy be missing some of the po0int, I think

[9:34] GreeterDan Godel: still…i understand it

[9:34] Miller Copeland: Znet – again, I don’t worry about authenticating people, because I’m not a traditional journalism outlet. If someone wants to go by their av name at my site, I’m happy to let them.

[9:34] Bubba Scaggs: What’s the etiquette of PR folks self identifying who they work for?

[9:35] GreeterDan Godel: i used to write for the New York Times, and I really don’t think they would go for avvy names

[9:36] You: ((bites tongue re: NYT and social media))

[9:36] Ute Hicks: I’m sorry Bubba?

[9:36] Spin Martin: hehe

[9:36] Miller Copeland: Bubba, do you mean when approaching people like us? I’d say just the same common sense that one would use in RL — be transparent, be sincere.

[9:36] Zeke Barber: hey there, Shel.

[9:36] Bubba Scaggs: Miller answered me

[9:36] Ute Hicks: ok

[9:36] Znetlady Isbell: Do you cover the Teen Grid?

[9:36] Shel Witte: Hey, Zeke.

[9:36] Miller Copeland: NOt me.

[9:36] GreeterDan Godel: nope

[9:37] G24khamr Goodfellow: Shel Holtz is here, thank god I wore a suit

[9:37] Cleon Goff: *laugh*

[9:37] Ute Hicks: We don’t cover the Teen Grid

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: first, it’s a practical problem

[9:37] Spin Martin: she’ls here that’s why i’m unarmed

[9:37] Shel Witte: Why? I didn’t.

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: we can’t get in

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: but…

[9:37] Miller Copeland: Yeah, I’m not sure who I’d even ask, to get access to the teen grid.

[9:37] Spin Martin: hire from the teen grid

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: from the kids I’ve talked to in the teen grid, it’s just not that interesting (yet)

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: but…maybe they were lying to me

[9:37] Zero Grace: Dan, they let you in the Teen Grid?

[9:37] Miller Copeland: Damn kids!

[9:37] GreeterDan Godel: no

[9:38] GreeterDan Godel: kids i met…gasp…in RL

[9:38] Cleon Goff: There has got to be someone in the Teen Grid who would love to write for you and cover it

[9:38] Spin Martin: teen grid people lose out on a lot when they come here

[9:38] GreeterDan Godel:

[9:38] Spin Martin: like their friends

[9:38] Zero Grace: lol spin

[9:38] You: they need PR people

[9:38] Burma Ping: not a good idea.. leave the teen grid alone

[9:38] Spin Martin: i’m hiring a teen gridder to build for me

[9:38] Ute Hicks: There may be lots of enterprising kids there.

[9:38] Spin Martin: semantic nightmare

[9:38] You: Not the teens but the people making th grid

[9:39] Spin Martin: glad warcraft don’t have a teen warcraft heeh

[9:39] You: keep the kids out of iy I should think as much as poss

[9:39] Miller Copeland: The TG seems like this semi-mystical world to me; the only time I hear about it is those tiny updates in the Second Life newsletter. I’d love to either cover things there or have a teen resident be a guest writer for ITG.

[9:39] G24khamr Goodfellow: Get a congressman to cover the teen grid…

[9:39] Zeke Barber: haha.

[9:39] GreeterDan Godel: but…

[9:39] Spin Martin: there’s shouldn’t BE a teen grid

[9:39] GreeterDan Godel: There is an all-ages grid

[9:39] GreeterDan Godel: that is…There.com

[9:39] Spin Martin: it should be one world, we have pg/mature zones ehre, but i’ll pipe down now

[9:39] GreeterDan Godel: and I think there’s a lot of things going on there aimed at both

[9:39] Cleon Goff: tell us how you really feel Spin

[9:39] Angel Fluffy: Spin: a well supported idea

[9:39] GreeterDan Godel: and the woman they hired to handle that is very smart

[9:39] Spin Martin: i echo joi ito’s ideas

[9:39] Zeke Barber: is there a way to remove the names from above people’s heads?

[9:40] GreeterDan Godel: so…

[9:40] Spin Martin: zeke: in your preferences

[9:40] Miller Copeland: Zeke, not that I know of.

[9:40] GreeterDan Godel: yeah…joi will be visiting CNET’s bureau soon for an inteview

[9:40] Miller Copeland: Oh, can you remove your entire name? I thought it was just the title.

[9:40] GreeterDan Godel: i hope you’ll all come

[9:40] Bubba Scaggs: I’m pitching PR services for a teen community – we’re bringing teens to the pitch

[9:40] Cannot complete attachment. An attachment is pending for that spot.

[9:41] Zeke Barber: Yup. Thanks! that worked.

[9:41] Znetlady Isbell: Ute and Miller with so many marketers trying to reach teens, isn’t there an audience for news there?

[9:41] Spin Martin: Edit > Prefs > General > Show Names, choose never or show temporarily or always

[9:41] Ute Hicks: Bubba, that sounds great

[9:41] Zeke Barber: Much easier to see the stage now.

[9:41] Bubba Scaggs: Ute I’m a bit worried what we’ll find -

[9:41] Miller Copeland: Oh, definitely. And like I said, I think just personal interest as well; I know I’d like to know more about what’s going on there that’s different from the main grid.

[9:42] GreeterDan Godel: you can get a guided tour of the teen grid, miler

[9:42] Ute Hicks: Znet, yes, possibly. I have been slow to act upon it though

[9:42] GreeterDan Godel: miller

[9:42] Miller Copeland: Hmm, maybe I will. But I’ve got enough on my plate these days just covering -this- grid.

[9:42] Znetlady Isbell: Information flow in world is challenging – what do you think of Reuters’ HUD?

[9:42] GreeterDan Godel: of course…

[9:42] GreeterDan Godel: but i think if you talk to catherine linden, she could probably help you arrange it

[9:43] Ute Hicks: I suppose I’ll have to pretend I’m 17, and go take a look.

[9:43] GreeterDan Godel: ha ha

[9:43] Spin Martin: or claudia linden

[9:43] Miller Copeland: Znet – hmm. I think it works well. I also wonder if we’re at a place where people necessarily want to stream a lot of extra info like that in. I think first the grid’s going to have to work as smoothly as a web browsesr, before that stuff really catches

[9:43] Miller Copeland: on.

[9:44] Znetlady Isbell: Does CNET have a plan for inworld publishing?

[9:44] GreeterDan Godel: well…

[9:44] Pete Lowell: Char linden is pretty good linden..seems to get stuff done

[9:44] GreeterDan Godel: to tell you the truth, CNET in SL righ tnow is just me

[9:44] GreeterDan Godel: but…

[9:44] GreeterDan Godel: we’re having meetings this week to start getting others involved

[9:45] Ute Hicks: As a monthly, we don’t offer spot news, because it would get stale, but I do like Reuters’ HUD

[9:45] GreeterDan Godel: and I think over time, yes, we will be doing in-world distribution of our text and our audio, video content

[9:45] GreeterDan Godel: but not sure how long that will take

[9:45] Zero Grace: In what capacity will others be involved, Dan?

[9:45] Bubba Scaggs: Dan would CNET host authors from First Life in your auditorium?

[9:45] GreeterDan Godel: i’m a full time reporter, so I don’t have much time to devote to innovations with the space

[9:45] GreeterDan Godel: so it will be slow to develop

[9:46] Miller Copeland: By the way, Bubba, I want to do such things too, over at the ITG headquarters.

[9:46] GreeterDan Godel: how do you mean, bubba?

[9:46] Miller Copeland: Host RL artists and speakers, that is, through SKypecast and the like.

[9:46] Bubba Scaggs: An author on a topic that might not even be SL related comes in – Q&A download chapets free etc

[9:47] Bubba Scaggs: Book chapters

[9:47] GreeterDan Godel: i think anything’s possible

[9:47] GreeterDan Godel: if it seemed like a good idea

[9:47] GreeterDan Godel: we definitely want to do discussions that are non-SL related

[9:48] GreeterDan Godel: we look at the space as a way to present discussions on just about any topic to an interested audience

[9:48] Miller Copeland: My big interest with this stuff right now is what I call “mesh” events — where a group gathers both here and in RL at the same time.

[9:48] GreeterDan Godel: and the SL audience is big enough now that there is interest for many things, I would think

[9:48] Cleon Goff: “mesh” I like that term….

[9:48] GreeterDan Godel: yes, that stuff is cool, miller

[9:48] Zero Grace: The SL audience might be big, but you can still only cram a few dozen avatars into a single sim.

[9:48] GreeterDan Godel: true

[9:48] GreeterDan Godel: but…

[9:49] Miller Copeland: One of the things I want to do soon, for example, is a SL poetry slam; but not only poets in the grid, but a group of 10 to 15 audience members in my Chicago apartment too.

[9:49] Bubba Scaggs: That would be cool – what’s the state of audio?

[9:49] GreeterDan Godel: in our case, at least…i can do a discussion in SL, with that smallish number of visitors

[9:49] Zero Grace: Mixed reality events like Miller describes seem to be a good way to increase the audience.

[9:49] Ute Hicks: I’m looking at the advertising sector, examining how many people listen to SL radio stations, to determine if advertising on thos stations gets heard.

[9:49] GreeterDan Godel: and then run an edited version of the interview on news.com, which reaches millions

[9:49] Miller Copeland: It’s real easy to stream in live audio, as long as you get the right equipment; Skype, Nicecast/Winamp, and a good steaming server.

[9:50] Zero Grace: *nods* to Dan

[9:50] Miller Copeland: Spin could tell you a LOT more about that, though.

[9:50] Pete Lowell: well.define SL radio station

[9:50] Pete Lowell: it all really happens and is available form outside SL..they are jsut internet radio stations

[9:51] Miller Copeland: Right. It’s the same technology as “internet radio,” just that you stream a signal into a piece of land.

[9:51] Ute Hicks: I have found radio stations catering to the SL audience, with SL businesses advertising on them.

[9:51] GreeterDan Godel: now there’s a story i want to cover, ute

[9:51] GreeterDan Godel: we need to talk

[9:51] GreeterDan Godel:

[9:52] Ute Hicks: Dreamland radio, Phreak Radio,

[9:52] Spin Martin: heh

[9:52] Zero Grace: The thing is that those stations are limited to a single sim at a time, unless multiple sims are running the same stream.

[9:52] Miller Copeland: Anyway, I’d like to see more events like that. I love the live events here, but it sounds so lonely sometimes to hear that musician in their apartment by themselves. I’d love to hear a RL audience reacting as well.

[9:52] Pete Lowell: yes, the ones that cater to sl is cool. liek the clubs bringing in live RL music through shoutcast

[9:52] Znetlady Isbell: Can you comment on RiversRunRed’s virtuallife.tv – broadband tv in sl?

[9:52] Ute Hicks: Yes, it’s a very involved issue

[9:52] Zero Grace: This isn’t like real-world radio where the signal travels across the land (just clarifying for people who might not know)

[9:53] Miller Copeland: I cannot; I’m not familiar with it. Er, yet.

[9:53] Pete Lowell: there is a roadhouse in Colorado Springs working to stream their live acts from the pub to SL..

[9:53] Ute Hicks: Miller, Menorac is doing that on the 11th, as well as Doubledown Tandino, who will broadcast an SLisc jockeys show in a n RL restaurant on a large screen TV.

[9:53] Kamichat Watson: That would be cool since you would hear the audience in the background

[9:53] GreeterDan Godel: that’s a good story, too, Pete

[9:53] Ute Hicks: Menorca*

[9:53] Miller Copeland: Yeah, Pete, that’s what I’m talking about. Or even simpler; inviting a group of friends to your house or apartment one night for a live event.

[9:54] GreeterDan Godel: this is great…anyone got other story ideas for me?

[9:54] Spin Martin: i’ll give you some dan

[9:54] Spin Martin: we’ll take that offline

[9:54] Ute Hicks: GreeterDan, wait, that’s our story!

[9:54] GreeterDan Godel: absolutely

[9:54] GreeterDan Godel: ha ha

[9:54] Ute Hicks: Darn, I can’t beleive I just spilled the beans

[9:54] Pete Lowell: right…the issue is the RL roadhouse is a hogan..two octogn buildings tofgether..been hard to recreate it here so far for their builders

[9:54] Spin Martin: i can power all news sources

[9:55] Znetlady Isbell: Since SL is such a visual medium, have you consider publishing in other forms?

[9:55] Miller Copeland: What do you mean, Znet?

[9:55] Znetlady Isbell: Video, audio?

[9:56] Miller Copeland: Oh, not me. Like I said, I’m unemployed in RL right now; I can barely afford the tech I’m current using, much less add audio and video.

[9:56] Znetlady Isbell: Are there any other questions from the audience?

[9:57] Znetlady Isbell: Dan’s got to run to a meeting…

[9:57] Ute Hicks: Znet, readers can read text from SL Business Magazine using Yahoo Widgets

[9:57] Znetlady Isbell: Okay, no more questions – then would our panel like to ask these PR pros anything?

[9:57] GreeterDan Godel: heh

[9:57] GreeterDan Godel: i was wondering what YOUR interest in SL is

[9:58] GreeterDan Godel: what do you hope to achieve?

[9:58] You: Communications– with reporters, with clients

[9:58] Miller Copeland: I’d just encourage anyone who wants to contact me about their upcoming projects – inthegrid@gmail.com. As is hopefully clear, I’m always into checking out new things.

[9:58] You: that sounds too simple but that’s the start

[9:58] Kamichat Watson: For me it’s all about learning where people are gathering, what teh culture is and how my clients could partipate in it

[9:59] You: absolutely– events, too

[9:59] Kamichat Watson: Also, as a communicator, I like to understand the channels that are available, even if I don’t use them right away

[9:59] GreeterDan Godel: right…do you think that there is truly something to be gained here for you and your clients, or is it a This is Hot Now kind of thing, and you’ll find out whether there’s real value or not?

[9:59] Spin Martin: hehe

[9:59] Spin Martin coughs.

[9:59] Zero Grace: …

[9:59] Cleon Goff is Offline

[10:00] Pete Lowell: i think the best point made was in an article a few weeks ago…basically moving meetigns to Sl , is not too exciting..but we will LEARN how to take advantage of the 3d abilites..liek the fire fighters moving their sandtable exercises to 3d for remote in

[10:00] Miller Copeland: Daniel, as far as my capacity in my day job — I think there’s as much for a client to gain here as there is in doing a viral marketing ampaign. And there’s a lot of people doing viral marketing campaigns these days.

[10:00] Kamichat Watson: Why not, companies have teh $$ to add value to SL, if they take the time to understand the culture

[10:00] GreeterDan Godel: for sure

[10:00] Kamichat Watson: And the media won’t be so hot on this stuff in RL too much longer I think

[10:00] GreeterDan Godel: heh

[10:00] GreeterDan Godel: that’d be fine with me…leave the beat to me and a small number of others again

[10:01] GreeterDan Godel:

[10:01] Miller Copeland: In fact, that’s how I encourage RL copnaies to see SL; as the most amazing environement for viral campaigns ever invented.

[10:01] GreeterDan Godel: right now…there’s suddenly every reporter and their dog showing up in SL

[10:01] You have offered friendship to Shel Witte

[10:01] Spin Martin: will be interesting to see who gets bored

[10:01] Kamichat Watson: I am concerned that we have no idea who we are really reaching with campaigns

[10:01] Kamichat Watson: or builds

[10:01] Spin Martin: and move to the next shiny

[10:01] Zero Grace: Miller, how is SL more effective than social tools using the Web as a viral tool?

[10:01] You: more interesting to see who stays

[10:01] GreeterDan Godel: i think that’s a concern too, Kamichat

[10:01] Bubba Scaggs: Great point Kamichat – our office is buzzing now but for how long?

[10:02] Spin Martin: i would like to know how a pr company in SL is different from a pr company setting up a myspace page

[10:02] Spin Martin: ignoring the obvious channel marketing angle

[10:02] Miller Copeland: WEll, because you get to combine all the best elements of online (ease, cost, speed) with the best elements of brick-and-mortar (special place, special experience, proximity, etc).

[10:02] Kamichat Watson: anyone from Crayon want to take that?

[10:02] Ute Hicks: We need a measuring stick, like Nielsens ratings

[10:02] You: tools change, but communication is the same– in general

[10:02] You: would love to hear from Crayon here too

[10:02] GreeterDan Godel: i’m concerned that all these companies pouring tens of thousands into projects and hiring Electric Sheep and Millions of Us may soon find that the innovation factor isn’t there any more and that there isn’t actually a ROI

[10:02] Zeke Barber: I know that Shel is in the audience.

[10:02] Shel Witte: crayon is a RL company that has its hq in SL because the players are scattered all over the world.

[10:03] GreeterDan Godel: i hope i’m wrong

[10:03] GreeterDan Godel: but…it’s a concern

[10:03] Smiddy Smails: spin, do you mean setting up a myspace page for a client vs. setting up an SL location for a client?

[10:03] Shel Witte: Based on developing a deep understanding of SL — which we don’t yet have, btw — we’ll be able to figure out how to integrate it.

[10:03] Spin Martin: i’m concerned that the focus is too much on SL as an end to a means vs just another tool

[10:03] Spin Martin: if i can’t reach a company here, i’ll call, or skype or go to the web

[10:03] You: Shel you have answered well the question of “isn’t it just fancy videoconferencing?”

[10:03] Spin Martin: we already are distributed aroudn the world

[10:04] Pete Lowell: spin : i agree..very much, jsut one tool of many for Rl biz

[10:04] Kamichat Watson: I agree, and I think that we need to make sure we don’t get too SL centric

[10:04] Shel Witte: In the meantime, I can see plenty of potential. For instance, what about letting people test out a product that’s still in the development phase? Something you could only do in an environment like this.

[10:04] Smiddy Smails: SL is the technology platform. It’s the social interaction and the communities that are important

[10:04] Spin Martin: i think the sl centrism is coming from the fact it’s the new shiny

[10:04] GreeterDan Godel: yes, i think that’s a good use of SL, Shel

[10:04] Spin Martin: depends on the product

[10:04] Smiddy Smails: yes, it’s SL now, but it may not be next year

[10:04] Shel Witte: Of course, Spin.

[10:04] Smiddy Smails: virtual worlds aren’t going away, though

[10:04] GreeterDan Godel: right….i agree with spin

[10:04] Spin Martin: you jump from tech to retail REAL quick there

[10:04] Kamichat Watson: This technology, IMHO, will break teh silo of SL and the other services and become another tool for a web experience of a company

[10:04] Spin Martin: dont forget

[10:04] Zeke Barber: Companies can use it for internal training purposes as well.

[10:04] Spin Martin: this is also the gaming space

[10:05] Spin Martin: which has more money than god

[10:05] Kamichat Watson: I like that Crayon is using SL for its own needs, office space

[10:05] Znetlady Isbell: Dan need to get to a meeting – so perhaps we can wrap up the formal setting and continue the conversation…

[10:05] You: anything to the old-timers in SL objecting to the intrusion of marketers? that came up in wake of Crayon launch (and other events) as well

[10:05] Zeke Barber: Particularly when emploeyes are scattered … just like crayon is doing.

[10:05] Zero Grace: I;ve got another meeting, folks. Thanks for the interesting discussion.

[10:05] Znetlady Isbell: here informally

[10:05] Miller Copeland: Right. Which again is why I think it’s good to look at SL in terms of viral and experiential; I think a company’s going to be nothing but frustrated if they try to objectivetly “quantify” their presence here.

[10:05] Smiddy Smails: bye everyone

[10:05] Pete Lowell: wildland fire fighters use what they call “sand box exercises” to teach methods and decisoin maing…

[10:05] Spin Martin: take care those that are leaving

[10:05] You have offered friendship to Smiddy Smails

[10:06] Smiddy Smails is Online

[10:06] Pete Lowell: now , you trade in match box cars and toy soliers for SL..

[10:06] GreeterDan Godel: thanks for hosting spin!

[10:06] Pete Lowell: you bring in multi agencies that work together form all over..

[10:06] Spin Martin:

[10:06] Pete Lowell: it is huge advanavctage

[10:06] Znetlady Isbell: Can I take a moment to thank everyone – especially our panel..

[10:06] Miller Copeland: I’m happy to stick around as long as people want to talk.

[10:06] GreeterDan Godel: thanks for moderating znet!

[10:06] GreeterDan Godel: and thanks to everyone for coming

[10:06] Miller Copeland: Thanks for having me; as well as a thank-you to Kami and Spin.

[10:06] You: thank you Dan– this was a good forum

[10:06] Ute Hicks: Spin has a good point. SL has a gaming space, meeting space, social interaction space, and a place to advertise. It can be everything to everybody

[10:06] Znetlady Isbell: You should have their contact information in the history of the chat

[10:06] Pete Lowell: /aplause

[10:06] You: and Ute, Miller et al

[10:06] Bubba Scaggs: Hope to see you again next month. – this was fun

[10:07] Ute Hicks: Thank you Znet

[10:07] Kamichat Watson: Yes, thanks to you all

[10:07] GreeterDan Godel: reminder: if you’d like to join the CNET Networks group and get notices of when we’re doing events, please do

[10:07] Spin Martin: dan just as a note

[10:07] Znetlady Isbell: Thank you Ute, Miller, and Dan!!!

[10:07] wolkam Winger: is this discussion will be publish on a public website or blog ?

[10:07] Zeke Barber: how do we do that, GreeterDan

[10:07] Spin Martin: everyone is making a notice group

[10:07] Pete Lowell: too many live pub events…i guess..i was looking for the tip jar haha

[10:07] Kamichat Watson: I also want to let everyone know that we will have our next meetup ion December 14 at Crayon

[10:07] Miller Copeland: Same with ITG; our group’s called “In The Grid.”

[10:07] Spin Martin: haha no tips needed here

[10:07] GreeterDan Godel: right

[10:08] St Porno Girl whispers: Cheers from Studio 3D!

[10:08] Kamichat Watson: Yes, I publicsh them at http://overtonecomm.blogspot.com

[10:08] Object whispers: Cheers from Kitchen Kreations!!

[10:08] Spin Martin: Thanks all for coming you are more than welcome to hang out, continue the conversation, as well as exploring our entire multi-island region here

[10:08] GreeterDan Godel: if you go to Edit/Groups, you can search for CNET Networks

[10:08] Znetlady Isbell: Thanks for coming everyone!

[10:08] GreeterDan Godel: and then join from there

[10:08] wolkam Winger: thanks Kamichat

[10:08] Kamichat Watson: and I should shortly have a group up called Second Thursday in Second Life

[10:09] GreeterDan Godel: nice to meet you miller

[10:09] Zeke Barber: “In the Grid” is CNET’s?

[10:09] Ute Hicks: Thanks, folks!

[10:09] Shel Witte is Online

[10:09] GreeterDan Godel: no

[10:09] Spin Martin: RSS, please

[10:09] GreeterDan Godel: in the grid is miller’s

[10:09] Spin Martin: i’ll say it every day Ute <3

[10:09] Miller Copeland: It was great to meet you as well, Daniel.

[10:10] Spin Martin: Thanks Kamichat for coordinating these.

[10:10] Ute Hicks: A blog is coming from SL Busness Magazine, watch for it in December

[10:10] Autopilot canceled

[10:10] Miller Copeland: It’s about time, Ute! I’m looking forwarsd to you all getting a blog set up.

[10:10] Zeke Barber: Can I take that car for a spin?

[10:10] GreeterDan Godel: nice space, btw, spin…i havent’ been here before

[10:11] Spin Martin: this is the convention center that was built a while ago

[10:11] wolkam Winger: Felicitation for your magazine Ute, really nice and interresting

[10:11] Ute Hicks: Thank you Kami, and Znet, and everybody

[10:11] Spin Martin: by the Rezzust design team

[10:11] BushidoBrown Hightower: Spin, i’ll holla in a bit, bruh.

[10:11] Spin Martin: aight man

[10:11] Spin Martin: skype

[10:11] Ute Hicks: Thank you wolkam

[10:11] Spin Martin: hehe

[10:11] BushidoBrown Hightower: solid.

[10:11] Spin Martin: or go to my hosue to the west hehe

[10:11] Spin Martin: i have pics on snapzilla

[10:12] Spin Martin: and i think there are some picks on flickr as well

[10:12] BushidoBrown Hightower: tru, tru.

[10:12] Spin Martin: hi angel

[10:12] Miller Copeland: Kami, thanks again for inviting me. I had a lot of fun today.

[10:12] Shel Witte is Offline

[10:13] Spin Martin: zeke i think you asked about the car

[10:13] Spin Martin: scion city is a sim where you can test drive them and buy them

[10:13] You have offered friendship to Kamichat Watson

[10:13] GreeterDan Godel: spin…have you blogged about scion city?

[10:13] Kamichat Watson is Online

[10:13] Spin Martin: we also have various vehicle vendors here to the north

[10:13] Ute Hicks: And customize them too

[10:13] Spin Martin: not yet, i’m on a lite SL blogging week

[10:13] Spin Martin: i’m kinda dealing with growing issues

[10:14] Spin Martin: since performance is declining and prices are going up

[10:14] GreeterDan Godel: right

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