There is a new fad in town that may rival CB radios, pet rocks, and parachute pants in terms of participation. I'm talking about having your own Second Life Forum! If you don't have one by now, you run the risk of having few examples of youthful folly for your future kids to make fun of years from now. Quick! Grow a mullet!
As the official Second Life forums close their doors, we see hopeful replacements spring up like dandelions. OK, lets see what we have here...
Metaverse Media Forums
Prokofy Neva's Police Blotter forum
SL-Forum
New World Notes
SecondLifes
Now, of course there has always been special interest forums about Second Life. These forums typically have a singular focus and a relatively small following. Little will change about that. What we are talking about now is, who will own the new de facto standard for Second Life discussions? The Big Kahuna of forums! Many people want in on this action but as they say, there can be only one!
"Only one??!" asked the voices in Aimee's head, "why must there be only one?!"
Well, voices, it's Malthusian growth. People attract people. Even if the race starts out neck-and-neck, in the long run any forum that enjoys a slight edge in active participants will continue to use that edge to attract still more users from competing forums. Eventually one forum will rule them all, leaving the rest to flounder in the long tail.
New arrivals on the scene may find it very challenging to compete with the venerable and respected SL Universe, especially with Snapzilla in tow. Second Citizen has also been around for the better part of a year and currently enjoys a highly active user base plus a bad-boy image. But this early in the game I wouldn't feel comfortable declaring a winner, especially with the potential for some of Second Life's high rollers to introduce their own forum, complete with a high budget marketing campaign and strong-arm tactics.
So, when mathematical fate declares a winner, what will things be like? Well, the word "impartial" doesn't come to mind. One might imagine the moderation policies if the new standard SL Forum finds itself covered in sheep like 3PointD. Well that's not as bad as the possibility of Aimeeland Forums, which would sport a strict "no-pants" policy. But lucky for you guys, this is a fad I will be skipping, TYVM.
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