This may be old news. If it is, I don’t really care. I’m going to rant about it anyways. If you don’t like it, click the x now.
There seems to be a growing trend by fairs and stores to use something called the Gemini Client Detection system. And while I personally feel it’s bullshit and only a band-aid to stop a bullet wound…that is fine. The stores and fairs can use whatever they want. My problem however is in how it is disclosed.
First off, much like real life anti theft systems…CDS really only stops the casual copybotter. The real dedicated folks can easily bypass it (The way how is actually simple) and in the end it’s just another ineffective tool in the war on content theft. But more and more content creators are leaning towards being more like real life in their creations, store designs, etc etc. Then why do you not have visible warnings about your anti-theft measures. Every store you go into in the real world…you see cameras, signs, those electronic barriers at the exits, things have dye packs on them, are sealed in special cases, tape is used, the works. You actually SEE what is going on to prevent shoplifting.
You don’t see that in Second Life. When I first complained about CDS being used at Shoe Fair I was told to get over it, that many other stores were using CDS without so much as a peep. You can see some of them on this list. You’re telling me you guys can’t even be bothered to put up a one prim textured sign saying “Hey, we’re tracking your information in case you’re stealing from us”?
Look, you’re going to use it. That’s fine. Honestly, I can’t say that I blame you. But if Big Brother is watching, I’d sure as fuck like to know it. Some of you have been guilty of this shady behind closed doors bullshit before (Magika…I am looking at you). All I am asking for is the tiniest bit of consideration for your customers, they are the ones who pay for your tier and extra money in your wallet.
About Dancien
Yep, thats my issue with it too, informed consent
I had to read up on what this system can read about me personally to see why you are so angry. It doesn’t appear to get any information that would piss me off, but I agree with you to be sneaky about using the system is pretty low. Almost like those people want to catch people because they thrive off the drama.
On a side note, Magika: she is overly cautious at the expense of her customers about content theft. I won’t buy her hair: 1. because how the hell am I supposed to tell if I like the hair with a blob of gray on my head and she is the only hair maker I have run across that has these horrid demos; 2. because if you rez it, it disappears and I like to alter my hair sometimes 3; now you mention her as being a sneaky spy..sorry those add up to I don’t give a s&$t about my customers, only the money in my pocket.
Leave these people in peace. They work their asses off creating amazing things, and several on the list you so inconsideratly made public have been had horrible experiences with copybotters. If they feel the need to use this tool to protect themselves, let them do that. No one that hasn’t used a viewer able to copybot has anything to fear from it, and the rest of the grid is still open to them.
In a word…No.
The data collected by CDS is only stored if the user ran a flagged viewer. SL is not like RL. In RL, signs about cameras and other anti-theft devices ARE the anti-theft devices. In SL, that paints you as a target. A sign in SL is like a bullseye for a target. Sites like the one you linked are in effect a “shopping list” for copybotters.
Any concerns about what’s in a sim or a parcel lies with the owner of that sim or parcel. They can put any script they want in any prim of the building they want. They probably already do, CDS or not.
Please feel free to stay in your skybox and shop form Xstreet. Looking forward to your response.
The reason why RL shops put up signs to inform their customers is: customer protection organisations, and, at least in some countries, also customer protection laws. Which already answers the question why such signs don’t exist in SL, since any kind of customer protection is notoriously absent in SL, as evidenced by those signs that are displayed in stores, and which usually inform the customer that “our stuff may or may not be utter crap, but under no circumstances we will take our crap back and refund you”.
I do not understand being secretive about this, because the main reason RL shops disclose their anti-theft measures is to deter shoplifters. If you know that you are going to get busted then you are less likely to do it. DUH.
If you want privacy, log off.
You know what, no. People on here defending this are just boggling my mind. You get so pissed off when people get your email address or other stuff from you, so how is this any different?