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I very much agree that ignorance is ONE reason for these problems. But I tend to think that after something happens enough then it ceases to be simply ignorance on the part of the enduser, but irresponsibility on the part of the administrator. It has been suggested already that Jack (or some other Linden) would quietly 'twist the buyers arm.' Assuming that is the case, there are two problems:

1. It's coercive. If there's no policy against the action being 'corrected' then this really amounts to tyranny. I accused LukeConnell Vandeverre of being a tyrant for his acquisition of the funds of anyone who so much as disagreed with him("fostered a negative attitude"). Is either actionable? I have no idea. But from a community standpoint, it's questionable form. And yes, I know people use 'leverage' all the time.

2. If a Linden forces an action, they have made a statement on how the behavior justifying that action is perceived. But this action is not followed by any amendment to policy. I take issue with that.

Don't get me wrong. I don't know Jack Linden. And I'm inclined to believe if he does 'twist someone's arm' he's trying to do the right thing. But there's a reason Phil Linden assigned himself the role of Governor. Heck, in his "Mission of Linden Lab" blog, he wrote:

The ability to simulate our world on computers means that we can make it different in ways that empower us, allowing us to do things that in the physical world we can imagine but are incapable of. Largest among the new capabilities we seek to create through this simulation are: Improvements to our ability to communicate quickly and accurately with each other, and the ability to rapidly express our thoughts or intentions as shared artifacts within this new world. This mission is both a great business and a great cause. If we empower people by our efforts, we can expect a fraction of the value of those improvements in return for having built the infrastructure to enable them.

People have opportunities they don't in the real world. Like flying, for example. They're empowered. But where rights, remedies, redress, and a sense of community are concerned? I would consider users to be disempowered. I'm not trying to say that SL should try to model our(my) government. Too limiting. I'd like to see them think bigger.

For all my blah-blahing about this, though, I fully recognize it's easy to say and extremely hard to implement. I do hope it's addressed, just the same. I make plenty of these lengthy arguments. And I'm not trying to assert myself as an authority on anything. Quite the contrary. I write things because they interest me and I like to hear people's thoughts.

/me gets off his soapbox.