Can Delta Force defend against the Flying Penis?
We may find out soon. Wired's Danger Room blog reports that the US Army is planning to set up shop in Second Life. Gen. William Wallace (left), who leads the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, said at a recent conference:
Over the next thirty to forty-five days you might, if you’re one of them Second Life avatar dudes, that likes to go populate islands within Second Life, you will find an Army island in Second Life.
GP: While the Army is dealing with a recruitment problem, Second Life doesn't seem like a cost-effective way to solve it. First, SL is so 2006 - the buzz is clearly gone. Second, even in Second Life's heyday its significance was overhyped. Finally, the offbeat SL crowd seems far removed from the Army's typical recruitment pool.
Still, there are virtual items to be had. Gen. Wallace told Wired:
If you perform well in the activities you get points and those points can be used to buy virtual tee-shirts and baseball caps.
Comments
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Sorry guys you arrived too late and the SL party is over.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Soldiers 20 years from now will be asked "Where were you in during the SL Phallic Attack?"
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Yeah. Um, has anyone explained to these guys what the SL community is like? I don't think they're going to get many recuits, or at least any they want to send to a conflict zone...
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
If you perform well in the activities you get points and those points can be used to buy virtual tee-shirts and baseball caps.
Just like the posters you used to send for from the magazines. Until the day I had 2 marines show up on my front door. Scared the living hell out of a 14 year old (at the time. This was a number of years ago.). Never got the poster either.
~The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Yes, I am a liberal. I also believe in a strong military, less government, and the right to bear arms.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Well, at least it shows that certain elements of the government are catching up with the rest of us. Personally I figured they were around ten years behind, and I wouldn't have been surprised if they had decided to invade Ultima Online.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Not really. Second Life was never that popular, and the majority of the people who used it were not the kind of people the miltary would want to pander to.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOM!
Wait, am I thinking of the right guy?
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
They're secretly looking for *gasp!* terrorists in Second Life! They might highjack some kind of hidious virtual dildo plane and collide it into a virtual White House, causing the collapse of virtual America due to an act of virtual virtual terrorism.
But seriously, they are really grasping at straws here, aren't they?
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Wasn't the original dildo plane from real life? Some Russian politician was delivering a speech a couple months ago when a couple of creative activists built a penis-shaped plane-copter to hover around the politician. The funny thing was how the body guards "took care" of the plane by slapping it to the ground. That was a cock block of epic proportions.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
... Uh... no. The dongcopter was in existence LONG before that glorious spectacle, on Second Life, as was the atomic penis-bomb, which would rain members upon Second Life members.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Maybe the General is looking to form the first all-furry brigade? I'm not sure of their combat effectiveness but they sure would confuse the hell out of the enemy.
Re: US Army Invades Second Life
Seriously i think those guys are desperate. They are EVERY DAY at my school at lunch with forms sitting on a table.