That Million Dollar Thing

I didn't run over to the million dollar give away at SL23B.  First off I don't need those lindens and more importantly I don't believe in the legitimacy of most "contests" -- especially in Second Life.  It is way too easy to cheat.  

The last time I paid attention to the event giveaway the winners were never announced.  I am not sure they were this year either.  But this post on the forums caught my eye.

https://community.secondlife.com/forums/topic/533685-%F0%9F%8C%BF-a-plea-for-better-event-design-transparency-and-respect-for-resident-time/

Note that sale dates are different for every store so some have expired and not been deleted.  

I usually take a screenshot of forum posts but this was was so long that wasn't practical so -- just in case -- it disappears over time I have pasted in the text  as it was on the morning of July 18.    Use the link of course first  :D

And many thanks to the poster for the clear comments and bringing some history to light for those of us that did NOT participate.  

There are more comments about the legality of the process in the comments to the forum thread posted above.   

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Thursday at 03:09 PM

Over the past few weeks, many of us participated in the Golden Ticket promotion with genuine excitement. We searched for kiosks, touched them daily, and invested our time and energy because we believed we were entering a straightforward drawing for L$1,000,000.

But as the event unfolded, it became clear that the structure, communication, and execution did not match what was publicly advertised — and this has left many residents feeling confused, disappointed, and unheard.
This post is not an attack. It is a plea for better practices, more transparency, and respect for the time residents dedicate to in world events.

1. Hidden and Relocated Kiosks Created Unequal Access
The promotion required residents to find five kiosks scattered across SLB regions. However:
• The kiosks were hidden, not marked.
• Some kiosks were moved mid event without public notice.
• Residents who found kiosks early had an advantage over those who joined later.
• Many only located kiosks through private groups or insider knowledge.

A fair drawing requires equal access to entries, and this structure unintentionally undermined that.

2. Notification Rules Were Never Shared Publicly
The finalists were contacted by email, but this was never stated in the official promotion details.
Residents were not told:
• What email address would be used
• Whether IMs or notecards would be sent
• Whether offline messages counted
• Whether spam filters could block the notification

This information was not revealed in original announcement — meaning the general public had no way to know how winners would be contacted or what to look for.
Transparency is essential for trust.

3. The Drawing Format Changed Without Public Explanation
The promotion was advertised as:
“Touch kiosks to enter the drawing for L$1,000,000.”
But the actual structure was:
• A selection of 23 finalists
• A game show style box pull
• 22 boxes with L$10,000
• 1 box with L$1,000,000

This format was never communicated in advance.
Residents believed their number of entries increased their chance of winning the million. In reality, entries only increased the chance of becoming a finalist — and once on stage, everyone had equal odds.
This is a major shift in mechanics that should have been disclosed publicly.

4. The Final Event Is Being Held on a Private Region at an Inconvenient Time
The box pull is scheduled for 9am SLT on a Friday, a time when:
• Many U.S. residents are at work
• Many creators and DJs are not yet online
• Concurrency is significantly lower than peak hours
• Community participation is naturally limited

Holding the event privately and releasing a video later removes the communal spirit that SLB events are meant to celebrate.

5. Residents Deserve Better
Second Life thrives because of its residents — our creativity, our time, our participation, our passion. Large scale promotions should honor that.
We are asking Linden Lab to:
• Provide clear, complete rules for future events
• Ensure equal access to participation
• Communicate notification methods publicly
• Avoid changing event formats mid stream
• Schedule major moments during peak community hours
• Treat resident time and effort with respect and transparency

We as a community loves Second Life. We show up. We participate. We build. We create. We celebrate.

All we ask is that Linden Lab meets us halfway with thoughtful, transparent, resident centered event design.

Thank you for listening. Thank you Linden Labs for doing better next time.

 Edited Thursday at 03:11 PM by Lixena Lamourfou