Most residents know what the Birthday Event is in Second Life®. Commonly known as SL#B, it’s been a bit like an SL® version of a World’s Fair for the last couple years.

I only visited SL4B, and really liked it. Despite the lag it was wondefull to see it and really resembled the major aspects, communities and functions of SL®.
Last year, I said to myself “make sure you improve your skills enough to properly fit in here next year”. Things turned out rather diffirently.

I’m sure many of you have read various blogs by now on the “new and questionable developments”, excluding several large communities, limiting certain artistic ways of expression and other stuff, leading to the withdrawal of some “celebrity avatars” who were present in earlier editions and had applied for this years event aswell. If you haven’t there’s a small list a bit more down this post.

Now, I think protection is good, but you can also overprotect something so badly it can sufficate your “thing”. Imho, that’s what’s happening here.
The general crowd (the people not into creating SL®-Art, SL®-Photography, creating objects and clothing, reading blogs or participating in these sort of events…) will most likely experience it as one of the nicest possible ways to (re-)discover what SL® is all about, but for people who know a bit more background info it will be… like watching a wonderfull tree wrapped up in barbwire.

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It’s a flat fact that sad things do happen in (any) life, and I’m one of those people who don’t want to see it with their own eyes. However, this is… too “big” a deal to not go check what did end up at SL5B, what is considered “presentable” by LL™, what actually is left from the initial idea and what sort of athmosphere, vibe or sensation I get now compared to SL4B.
I just gotta watch out and steer clear from the sharp and pointy edges… all those with protective armors willing to “attend as visitor”, but not go alone just need to check if I’m online and poke me for a ride.
Those without protective armors can watch my stream on Flickr, I will do my best to be a good picturewhore erm… picturefreak!

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Here’s some reading material, it was originally collected by Vint Falken, who also created a JIRA I urge you kindly ask you to go vote for, cuz who knows what community might be next?
(I had to ask too how to use it, but it’s easy: log in with your full avatar name on the top right, when you get back on the topic you’ll see the word “vote” on the left)

Daniel Regenbogen’s LL discriminates against the kids – Summary of an email conversation Daniel had with Robin Linden: ‘… kid avatars would be welcome as guests but not allowed to contribute to the showcase – because that wouldn’t be in the best interest of the event and Linden Lab.‘

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Marianne McCann at SecondLife Children – She and Loki got to hear their builds and participation for SL5B is not welcomed

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SignPost Marving at his blog where he states his withdrawal from his position as organiser of SL5B

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Tateru Nino at Massively – Background information

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On Mr Evans Evan’s avenue the title jumps out: ‘And the sign said: ‘ ________ need not apply!’

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Arial Otafuku is also stepping back as organiser for SL5B.
(Reported from group notice by CodeBastard Redgrave)

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CatsAndFishes – Second Life 5th Birthday Celebration

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Crap Mariner – The Fake Children

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Spiffy Serena – Linden Labs

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Adz Childs (artificial boy) – Shape Based Exclusion

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Jacek Lives – [Rant] Intolerance

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Gabby Panacek (Couture Conundrum) – Missing Communities

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Otenth Paderborn – Child avatars . . . and BDSM . . . and Gor . . . and?

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Tali Rasca – Children of the Exhibition

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Ordinal Malaprop – A Restriction of the Youth

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Emilly Orr- I didn’t want to hurt you but you’re pretty when you cry

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Rai Fargis – The SL5B PR Disaster

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Gabby Panacek (Glamourazzi) – Missing Communities

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Dr. Darien J. Mason – all for a children’s crusade

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Ravishal – I did not join SL to be part of the mainstream

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Emilly Orr (2) – Move along move along, like I know you

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Ben Kuchere (on Mark Kirk, not on SL5B) – Second Life a danger to children? Lawmaker trawls for votes