Thursday, May 1, 2008

Crime in Second Life -final research paper-

Abstract

The topic of this paper is a involving virtual problem in Second Life. It argues that Second Life should solve crimes including finances, human rights, and violence. It insists on three solutions and the first is that police and cyber experts need to work together. Second is that society should make appropriate laws for online criminals. Last is that Second Life need to prevent people who use fake information from entering the virtual world.

Have you ever played an online game? Have you even thought that the virtual world was connected with the real world? Second Life is a virtual world and people can be any other person. However it is an online game, and avatars face cyber crime involving finances (Simon, 2008), human rights (Fell, 2007), and violence (Gourlay and Taher, 2007). Some people use fake information; therefore, it makes it a more difficult situation to find out the criminals and it makes the number of criminals and victims increase. We will be able to overcome these problems if police and cyber-experts work together to chase cyber-criminals, society makes rules which allow criminals to receive punishment as they would for real crime, and Second Life make every avatar write down real information.

Second Life is one of the biggest online games, which Linden Lab offered to the public in 2003, and people need to sign up with their name, sex, birth date, and E-mail address before joining Second Life. There are 9.1 million residences in Second Life (Ho, 2007). People can go anywhere they want and make friends and even have a boyfriend or girlfriend. They can learn a foreign language through Second Life, because there are many avatars that are from many counties and speak many kinds of languages. They also can buy and sell goods and do their business, and the money in Second Life can be changed to real money. Therefore, some companies, such as Sony, BMW, and Reebok are interested in the virtual world, so they buy land and made buildings there (Gourlay and Taher, 2007). However, some avatars rape other avatar who pretend to be children and the others break the buildings. Second Life has some problems because there is not enough security and solutions.

First, it is an effective way for police and cyber experts to cooperate. DeBrota, a federal prosecutor in Indiana, insisted that cooperation between cyber experts and police may lead more serious crime (Bergstein, 2007). Crime is getting complicated and criminals are getting smart. One study showed “32% of teenagers who use the Internet have experienced some form of ‘cyber-bullying’”(Devereux, n.d., para. 5). Teenager’s bullying is one of the biggest problems in the real world, so police should regard online bullying as also current big problem. Police cannot ignore the truth anymore. If police are not familiar with computers, they cannot know how cyber criminals work. Actually, avatars who had money stolen or who were hurt by sexual violence want police to help, but they tend to not get enough relief. Police must be superior in computer knowledge to criminal; otherwise, the amount of crime will not decrease. Police need technological skills to solve crimes on the Internet, and should patrol in the virtual world.

Second, it is very important to establish rules for cyber criminals. There happens many kinds of matters in Second Life, but currently avatars don’t have enough property rights in the US. Second Life gives avatars the opportunity to earn real money. According to an article, “the best known virtual world property tycoon is Anshe Chung from Second Life who was hailed as the first millionaire of virtual world earlier this year” (Irvine, n.d). She set up a business in Second Life from her pocket money and her business was very much success. The bill in the currency of Second Life is not real money like the dollar and the euro, but avatars can change money for the virtual world to real money on the Linden Lab home page or in market sites. People call money in Second Life L$, and the value of it is that 1US$ is usually equal to 270L$. This means that property in Second Life should be protected by rules. If an avatar has his property stolen by other avatars, the robber should have a sentence equal to that for a real matter, because money in Second Life has value. Some people transfer money to other countries to do violent attack. Money in Second Life can go through the border; therefore, society needs to set up rules. Society should consider the property right in the virtual world and make laws to protect people who earn money there. Also, it needs to give pressure to cyber-criminals so that they try not to commit a crime.

Last, Second Life should force every avatar to write clearly their information, which is the most important way to decrease the incidents. Some victims in Second Life have no choice but to cry and give up. One of the reasons that people and police cannot solve the matter is that some avatars don’t inform anyone of their real name, or address (Bergstein, 2007). Avatars can use false name, opposite sex, and older or younger age than their real age in Second Life, but society should think about measures that prevent vicious avatars from entering there. Unclear rules may make the number of vicious avatars increase. To decrease the number of these avatars, some countries work against cyber crime. For example, in South Korea, people who want to put comment on a blog or play an online game have to use a National ID number (Devereux, n.d). If people don’t have to show their real information, it may lead people to commit cyber crime because the anonymity sometimes robs the sense of humanity and releases them from social morals. That’s why the number of crimes involving having sex with virtual children, killing people, and attacking buildings increases. Therefore, Second Life shouldn’t allow avatars who try to use untrue information.

Some people express the fact that Second Life is a good place where everyone can join and contact others all over the world. And we can be the opposite sex, or pretend to be older or younger than our real age. However, it is true it is not always a safe place because there are cyber bullying and cyber harassment in the virtual world. Not every avatar wants to get money, and most of the avatars just want to enjoy the dreamful world and personality that is different from their real one. If someone is a victim of sexual activity in Second Life, the person will be hurt very much and decide to quit the online game, even if the avatar is not an actual object. And if someone has his or her money stolen in Second Life, it means that he or she lost real money. It is obvious that it hard to monitor cyberspace all the time because there are a lot of people and Cyberspace is getting difficult to handle well. However, someone should do this for people who wish for a safe online site, because Second Life is a world for everyone. I think everyone may enjoy the world, but we need some effective rules and protection methods.

In conclusion, Second Life will be a safe and enjoyable world if police have enough guidelines to arrest cyber-criminals, society gives them punishment that is more similar to or the same as in the real world, and every avatar informs of their right information. Second Life gives people many opportunities to meet new friends, go on a trip, even if it is a foreign country, and start a business. It is an online game, but there are real values and there exist children, adults, rich, poor, and criminals. People should overcome bad avatars and crimes. If we can do this, the participation will increase and people all over the world will feel close through the Internet.

Reference

Bergstein, B. (2007, November 3). Cops Learning How to Extend Beats Online. Business News, Associated Press Online. Retrieved April 8, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

CNN.com. (n.d.) CNN Enters The Virtual World of Second Life. Retrieved April 16, 2008, from http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/12/second.life.irpt/index.html?iref=newssearch.

Devereux, C. (n.d.) Anarchy on-line. CNN.com. Retrieved April 16, 2007, from http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/08/23/virtual.bullying/index.html?iref=newssearch.

Fell, N. (2007, May 11). Crime in the Virtual World. ABC Transcripts (Australia). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Gourlay, C., and Taher, A. (2007 August, 5). Virtual Jihad Hits Second Life Website. Sunday Times (London). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Ho, A. (2007, August 30). If You Rob Me, Should I not Have Recourse? The Straits Times (Singapore). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Irvine, D. (n.d.) Virtual World, Real Money. CNN.com. Retrieved April 16, 2008 from http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/03/12/fs.virtualmoney/index.html?iref=newssearch.

Newswire. (2007, July 17). Virtual Worlds, Real Cheaters. Techweb. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase.

Simon, S. (2008, February 9). ‘Second Life’ Players Face Real Financial Losses, Interview with National Public Radio (NPR). Weekend Edition. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Wikipedia

In “Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’, ” Martin (2007, para. 12) explained “Wikipedia, the internet’s most popular encyclopedia, has become an online phenomenon since it was launched six years ago”. Wikipedia gives us a lot of information so many students tend to use the site for their study. While it is a famous and popular site, not every word and definition is reliable and people face some problems. Therefore, people should avoid using Wikipedia because everyone can write and edit an article, students need to not rely on Internet sites heavily, and some professors don’t allow students to use Wikipedia.

First, Wikipedia is a site that is made by hundreds of Internet users. According to an article, about 38 million people used the English vision of Wikipedia in December 2006 (Byers, 2007,). It is free for everyone to write and edit an article and that is a problem. For example, someone may edit an accurate article and rewrite wrong information intentionally. Many people believe the information in Wikipedia, so wrong information will spread all over the world. People don’t have any guarantee that the information in Wikipedia is right.

Second, Wikipedia gives students an extremely easy way to study. An author insists, “Students need to learn how to assess the relevance and authority of information sources independent of their media” (Bilodeau, 2008, para. 11). Students tend to depend on Internet sites but they should not forget other ways to get sources. For example, newspapers, books, and magazines will give them good information. If they write papers with information from only Wikipedia, the paper may not inform other people of enough knowledge. Students should search from not only Wikipedia but also other sources.

Last, many professors don’t accept using encyclopedias such as Wikipedia. They refuse to receive papers on which students put Wikipedia as a citation because they know to what degree they can believe it. For instance, a student gets a lot of information form Wikipedia and hands in the paper to his professor. His professor may not grade it and the student may be confronted with a serious problem of whether he will be able to pass a class or not. Students should follow the guideline of their professors and use reliable resources.

In conclusion, Wkipedia has three big problems: that it is not a believable site, it makes students lazy, and it is not regarded as a formal resource from the view of professors. It may mislead people to q wrong direction and make people confused. Also people need to use other formal sources. People tend to choose an easy way, but we should not select Wikipedia if we have a possibility that it will show us incorrect answers. Wikipedia is not an appropriate site for searching for reliable and academic information.

Reference

Bilodeau, E. (2007, January 14). Academic banning of Google and Wikipedia misguided. Weblog. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.coolweblog.com/bilodeau/archives/003743.html.

Byers, M. (2007, March 8). Controversy Over Use of Wikipedia in Academic Papers. Smith, Sophian, Smith College. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2007/03/08/News/Controversy.Over.UseOf.Wikipedia.In Academic.Papers.Arrives.At.Smith-2765409.shtml.

Martin, N. (2007, September 20). Wikipedia Clamps Down on ‘Unreliable’ Editors Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/20/wiki120.xml.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Argument Essay Crime in Second Life

Have you ever played an online game? Have you even thought that the virtual world was connected with real world? Second Life is a virtual world and people can be any other person. They can go anywhere they want and make friends and even a boyfriend or girlfriend. However it is an online game, and avatars face cyber crime involving finances (Simon, 2008), human rights (Fell, 2007), and violence (Gourlay and Taher, 2007). We will be able to overcome these problems if police and cyber-experts work together to chase cyber-criminals, society makes rules which allow criminals to receive punishment as they would for real crime, and Second Life make every avatar write down real information.

First, it is an effective way for police and cyber experts to cooperate. DeBrota, a federal prosecutor in Indiana, insisted no cooperation between cyber experts and police may lead more serious crime (Bergstein, 2007). Crime is getting complicated and criminals are getting smart. If police are not familiar with computers, they cannot know how cyber criminals work. Police must be superior in computer knowledge to criminals; otherwise, the amount of crime will not decrease. Police need technological skills to solve crimes on Internet.

Second, it is very important to establish rules for cyber criminals. There happens many kinds of matters in Second Life, but currently avatars don’t have enough property rights in the US. Second Life gives avatars the opportunity to earn real money. The bill in the currency of Second Life is not real money like the dollar and the euro, but avatars can change money for the virtual world to real money. If an avatar has his property stolen by other avatars, the robber should have a sentence equal to that for a real matter because money in Second Life has value. Society should give pressure to cyber-criminals so that they try not to commit a crime.

Last, Second Life should force every avatar to write clearly their information, which is the most important way to decrease the incidents. People should need to sign up their name, sex, birth date, and E-mail address before joining Second Life. Some victims in Second Life have no choice but to cry and give up. One of the reasons that people and police cannot solve the matter is that some avatars don’t inform anyone if their real name, and address (Bergstein, 2007). It is very hard to chase a robber who shows people fake information. Second Life shouldn’t allow avatars that try to use untrue information.

Some people express the fact that Second Life is a place where everyone can join and contact others all over the world. However, it is true there are cyber bullying and cyber harassment in the virtual world. I think everyone may enjoy the world, but we need some effective rules and protection methods.

In conclusion, Second Life will be a safe and enjoyable world if police have enough guidelines to arrest cyber-criminals, society gives them punishment which is more similar to that in the real world, and every avatar informs their right information. Second Life is an online game, but there are real values and there exist children, adult, rich, poor, and criminal. People should overcome bad avatars and crimes.

Reference

Bergstein, B. (2007, November 3). Cops Learning How to Extend Beats Online. Business News, Associated Press Online. Retrieved April 8, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Fell, N. (2007, May 11). Crime in the Virtual World. ABC Transcripts (Australia). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Gourlay, C., and Taher, A. (2007 August, 5). Virtual Jihad Hits Second Life Website. Sunday Times (London). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Ho, A. (2007, August 30). If You Rob Me, Should I not Have Recourse? The Straits Times (Singapore). Retrieved April 7, 2008, from Lexis Nexis Database.

Newswire. (2007, July 17). Virtual Worlds, Real Cheaters. Techweb. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase.

Simon, S. (2008, February 9). ‘Second Life’ Players Face Real Financial Losses, Interview with National Public Radio (NPR). Weekend Edition. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Second Life Issue

According to Newswire’s “Virtual Worlds, Real Cheaters,” Linden Lab makes Second Life, and all avatars in the virtual world can experience life as if we lived in the real world. The virtual world offers us opportunity to earn real money. For example, people living in the virtual world sell virtual gold or other items and they can change from virtual wages to real money. However, some people abuse the opportunity and the cheaters pretend to be an honest avatar and go into the virtual worlds, such as Final Fantasy VI, Lord of the Ring, and Second Life. The article explained that those people are a threat and disturb avatar’s business.

We will be able to do business safety if it comes true that Linden Lab strengthens its security, people make obvious rule, and people are advised to be honest in Second Life.

First, it is necessary for avatars to be protected from cheaters. They need some security system and safety. Many companies rely on the security providers but the number of cheaters has not decreased. It means the system is not enough against cheaters and the cheaters are becoming cunning. Linden Lab should manage Second Life and try to reduce the risk of troubles. A reliable security system will lead to increasing the number of safe businesses.

Second, people need the rules in the virtual world. It is an online game, but there is real money in the world. Therefore, people will lose property in the real world too, if they fail in business or are cheated by dishonest avatars. Strict rules will give cheaters punishment and pressure. People should protect their money and adopt rules which make cheaters scared.

Finally, it is the most necessary that people be honest in the virtual world. Some people are considered Second Life to be another chance to start business, and others want to just enjoy it. The latter have aims to meet new people, learn a foreign language, or go somewhere they have never been. If cheaters increase and honest avatars feel scared, the virtual world will consist of only businessmen and cheaters. Second Life is for everyone, so people should be honest.

In conclusion, we need a reliable security system, clear rules, and responsibility to be honest in Second Life. It is not fair business that someone earns money in dishonest ways, and we should know that there are also avatars whose purpose is not to do their business. Second Life gives us the possibility to succeed or fail in our business. A reliable virtual world will make our business active.

Newswire. (2007, July 17). Virtual Worlds, Real Cheaters. Techweb, Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Lexis Nexis datebase.

Monday, March 31, 2008

The Banking System in Second Life

According to Simon in his article “’Second Life’ Players Face Real Financial Losses,” Second Life is a virtual world and people can have a job, love someone, and start business there. And real money is put into the Second Life, and the banking system stopped working in some period. People invest real money in the virtual world to borrow land and create something so that they can get money from other people. The author explained that Second Life is a good place to study economy.

Second Life gives us new opportunities such that we can get a chance to earn money, study economics, and show our abilities that they have had.

First, it is the best point that everyone can have a chance to start a business. Second Life accepts everyone who is over eighteen and they can be a seller or a customer. For example, people are able to buy land and sell their items. If someone wants to buy the items, sellers charge money to get it for them. The money is not real money but people can change from money for the virtual world to real money. Everyone has an equal possibility to succeed in their business in the virtual world.

Second, what people can learn about economy is also an important characteristic. Although Second Life is a virtual world, the system of society is very similar. For instance, there are humans, businesses, and money in the world. If a person who has a store in Second Life succeeded, he may be going to be a rich in both of real and virtual worlds. However, he has the risk of failure in his business and losing money in both of two worlds. Second Life is like an online game, but people can learn economic system as if they worked on business in real world.

Finally, it is a good aspect that people can make something in which they are superior in Second Life. Second Life allows people to create buildings which they want to have. As an example, some people have excellent abilities about designing and creating, but not everyone approves of their talent. Such people can express their abilities in the Virtual world. If someone recognizes their abilities, they may have a request to design a building and get money. Also, they may be able to become famous in the real world, too. Second Life allows everyone to publish his or her talents.

In conclusion, people can hold a chance to be a rich equally, learn about economic system, and express their ability freely in the Second Life. Second Life gives us some chance to make our life better and make our dream come true. Do you still think that Second Life is just an online game? It is true but we can be another person and enjoy a different life from the real world. There is another field to start a business in Second Life.

Simon, S. (2008, February 9). ‘Second Life’ Players Face Real Financial Losses, Interview with National Public Radio (NPR). Weekend Edition. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Internet Issue

According to Twist in her article “Controversy Blights UN Net Summit,” the UN net Summit was held in Tunis and more than 170 countries discussed net society. The author insisted that rich countries and poor countries have different revels of technology. For example, poor countries need help from rich countries to get enough information and technology. However there is a problem and that is about who watches the cyberspace. And some people said that people have a right to get information equally and safety from the net.

It is important to accept freedom of speech, to protect people from criminal using net technology, and to share information if we hope for the world that everyone has enough information.

First, having freedom of speech is necessary to achieve a purpose in the net summit. If nobody has a right to speak what they want to say in some countries, people who live in other countries cannot know the truth. It is important for everyone to respect other’s opinion and someone’s idea may change the other’s thinking. Different people have different opinions and people should be able to put their thinking on cyberspace.

Second, keeping safety from criminals is also important. There is a lot of information and some of it might help people who try to commit a crime. For example, YouTube is very interesting and is a fun Internet site, which offers many music videos, TV shows, and individual videos. While it is useful, people have a possibility that their privacy is infringed. People whom they have never seen might share their picture or image. That’s why people need someone or some organization that can protect the safety of Internet society. The way will lead to a decreasing of the number of criminals.

Finally, sharing information is the most important for everyone to get enough information. Information gives people new ideas and makes society developed, and especially poor countries need information about new technologies and methods. If these countries can get information easily, the information will help people and create benefit. Information has the power to change the society, so people need to share it.

In conclusion, saying what they want to express, watching cyberspace to fight criminals who use Internet, and sharing information to improve poor countries will make Internet society equal and safe. People tend to rely on technology and information in net society and it is going to carry out an important section in companies and their daily life; therefore, it must be trustworthy anytime. People should do their best to make more useful cyberspace because Internet is easy to get and share information. Internet may help change the inequality of the world and make society better.

Twist, J. (2005, November, 18). Controversy Blights UN Net Summit.
BBC NEWS. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4450474.stm