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By Brac Collins A Submission to SLReports.net
 The vast majority of avatars stem from some form of a democratic based RL society. Josh Fairfiled, Professor of Law at Indiana University, as well as recent court cases, have brought attention to the lack of individual rights, beyond the Linden Labs Terms of Service Agreement(TOS).That contract, being bi-lateral, only applies to the end user and the Linden Labs. There is no legally binding contract between users. You legally have no rights other than what is expressed within the TOS agreement. Second Life is divided by interest, culture, sub-culture, and the virtual world is as diverse and varying in opinion as the avatars that created it. The left wing "Immersionists" believe that SL is a free world of anonymity and fantasy- to be whoever or whatever you may choose. While a more conservative right wing group the "Augmentationists" believe that is has far more practical potential as an extension of real life. As Economist Adam Smith theorized, the "Invisible Hand" emerges to motivate and guide society, through self interest, to serve the interest of that society as a whole.
A basic principle of economics is that we each engage in transactions, for some utility - enjoyment, relaxation, value, satisfaction, ownership, or profit. We give up one thing, in order to have another that we consider of equal or more important value. Its the basis of any market system. As second life emerges as a market based society, social issues are arising from the lack of government, policing, and the fact that Linden Labs controls everything and individual avatar rights, are essentially non-existent. Yet, with the emergence of a governed system, the "Immersionnists" fear that this will decrease the enjoyment of what they view as a world for enjoyment. Many believe we can continue to be a self-governed society, but the Metanomics philosophy is that the lack of government, controls, true individual and property rights, is hindering economic growth and creating complex issues that cannot be resolved by that society without some form of societal law in place. The Metanomics philosophy has created something of a sub-culture in itself. The founders of Metaverse Republic, http://www.metaverserepublic.org , have written a consitution that they propose as the model for governing each SIM society. Though membership is voluntary, joining allows members to vote on issues that have an impact on their society. Through its non-profit structure, Metaverse Republic can provide mostly free tools, to help police issues and maintain order. While other tools still in development, might require a maintenance fee, their goal is to empower the SIM owner to be able to police their properties, and provide a democratic method of resolving disputes and social issues- as though RL history has been indicative of such successes. There are complex legal, moral and social issues within a virtual world that is dominated and controlled by Linden Labs. However, in union with all, we each seek individualism, expression, and the freedom that we do not presently have through the Linden Labs TOS agreement. A happy medium balancing indvidual rights and freedoms with governmental controls is an ever increasing complex issue that shadows an even more complex RL issue- mere shadows of freedom.
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