I really want to know what the Moles think of this. My first reaction is this is clearly another nail in the Second Life mythology that made it so interesting in the beginning.

Restore the names. This is a terrible decision.

I've written another Feature Request specifically for Second Life Viewer to introduce a colour coded nametag/text chat/IM colour/mini-map dot feature that is missing from SL viewer which is already part of third party viewers.

See:

In 2018, 40 - 60% of Second Life users were identifying themselves as disabled: https://www.socsci.uci.edu/newsevents/news/2018/2018-09-18-boellstorff-second-life.php

This is another good one from 2019-2020 where they talk about users using the text based viewer Radegast and why they use it with their disabilities: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/704924

Here are the industry standards on color and accessibility and the web: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/use-of-color.html

Good accessibility design in a virtual product doesn't force everyone to rely on one method of recognizing something; it should provide multiple methods. In this case, that could mean something like a text tag...like the Mole surname. The Lab could use something that doesn't rely exclusively on color, but removing any 'accessible way to verify official status' and/or forcing residents to check some sort of directory adds a lot of weird unneeded steps for a resident to simply verify if someone is, in fact, a Linden Lab employee or contractor.

In addition to the historical context we loose with 'Moles', Second Life has a documented, substantial disability community. Some residents use assistive technology (text-based viewers and screen readers). Because of this, color alone is not good enough for identification and removing a the Mole surname makes identifying official people less accessible.

It wasn't 'broke' - why are we trying to 'fix this now'?

Coming back here now that I've distilled my thoughts on this a little bit.

With this change in mind, the only way to know for sure that someone works for the LDPW/SL Studios as a contractor is their group memberships, if those group memberships are shown.

Firestorm previously would show folks with known-official surnames in blue. With this change, moles are no longer obvious.

This opens up potential opportunities for bad actors to impersonate contractors more easily, and attempt social engineering attacks on residents. Even though no linden nor anyone who works for the lindens would ask for sensitive information, people are gullible. Previously, someone trying to do this wouldn't have the necessary last name, and that would delegitimize them. Y'all just removed that safeguard.

At the same time, I know a lot of folks are sentimental towards the mole last name, whether they've been moles for a long time, or that residents just find it endearing/cute.

Residents also know that moles are safe people to talk to, who will be professional and friendly. People to ask for bears, or to talk to about stuff they're working on (if they're not busy), etc. They instill a sense of community and connection. Moles are the main link a lot of folks have to the lab, afterall.

I don't understand the reasoning for this change. It seems like it hides a lot of SL's history, strips long-working contractors of their identities, and exposes residents to new fun opportunities to get scammed. I'm not seeing any positives out of this. It is a puzzling business decision I believe should be reversed.

As a person who joined SL in 2008 - the same year as the Moles were formed, I've never known SL without Moles or a LDPW.

Being a Mole or part of the LDPW is/was an aspiration for many Residents and Linden Lab are now going to deny this "Mole" name possibility and prestigious honour to thousands of aspiring and talented Residents.

Why are Linden Lab so concerned about mere things like names when there are far more concerning matters in SL that are either being ignored or given the "SoonTM" shelf treatment?

This is so weird. Why not change their names on their personal accounts? This just breeds confusion with allowing official accounts to just be totally random.

To this day I always get excited seeing a Mole or Linden on the mini map and secretly peak at what they are working on! I don’t think I could picture these avatars digging the important SL infrastructure without the Mole last name. I hope this decision gets reversed.

The 'Mole' and 'Linden' last names are literally the only way that normal residents can confirm, without a doubt, that the Lab isn't doing another round of 'these are my favorite special residents with special powers' again.....

This also makes it impossible for colorblind people to be able to determine who is actually a real Linden Lab employee. Contractors and Employees need to be identified, just like normal busiensses, with letters and means other than colors and group tags.

You've also made it significantly more difficult for your visually impaired residents that use screen readers to be able to determine if they are talking to a real employee.

This decision is putting alot of residents at risk for fraud related issues.

I'd upvote this 1000 times if I could.

This ranks right up there next to "Resident" in "I'll have stupid moves for 200L, Alex"