A recent addition to the SL London landscape is a bandstand type structure in the northwest corner of the Hyde Park Sim. http://slurl.com/secondlife/London%20England%20UK/226/242/38

In real life this paved area adjacent to the famous Marble Arch is the location of London’s ‘Speakers Corner’. For more than 150 years, on any Sunday morning, people will gather here in small groups to exchange ideas and opinions in open, face-to-face debate. Anyone can turn up unannounced and talk on almost any subject, although they are quite likely to be heckled.

Speakers Corner is a prime London tourist attraction as well as being frequently chosen as the assembly point for major protest marches and rallies. Its very existence demonstrates the peoples democratic right to free speech in the United Kingdom.

In the second life version which is open all hours, right clicking on one of the thoughtfully provided soapboxes and selecting the ‘rant’ option will launch your avatar into a frenzied animation of arm waving, head shaking and finger wagging. A little disconcerting if all you want to do is tell a joke, or read your favourite poem or perhaps sing. This is the only voice-enabled part of the Hyde Park Sim, which is also an orientation area and therefore PG rated – please keep it clean.

So if you fancy yourself as an SL orator or performer looking for an audience, or just want to make a spectacle of yourself, visit Speakers Corner in SL London’s Hyde Park.