Second Life Harrassment of Newbs and Others

This is directed towards the people who think internet rape is possible:


Does this mean that if someone kills me on SecondLife, I can charge them with murder?

Can I charge someone with destruction of property when someone ganks my Spaceship on Eve Online?

Could I sue someone for racism if an angry Orc player on WoW went on a Night Elf only killing spree?

Will I be able to sue someone for false advertising if a trader on Lineage 2 has a title of 'WTB Kris 8.5mil' and when you open up the trade and go to sell, it's actually 850,000 instead?


I can go on.



You can't rape someone over the internet. It's just greedy people or people who want to make a name for themselves manipulating the idiotic masses, to get their compensation/fame.

I have to say, I heard about these so called rape cases and was rather confused. Even as a complete noob, I realised it wasn't really possible, how can rape be possible when you can TP out anywhere. Or are there situations where you can't?

If you were directed by some deviant to sit on a poseball and you are bent over exposing all to the world, are you going to stand there and let the deviant have his wicked way with you. Surely you would just click 'stand up'??? Or am I being naive?

It's an insult to people that have had it happen in the RL..
I cringe every time i hear it used with the word case like it was a real rape..
It turns my stomach to think this person actually compared it to that..They have no idea at all ..

Its the fear and control factor.

some are naturally submissive to the point they don't tp or hit the x and panic a bit when things are unexpected or surprising

they panic and don't know what to do.

It may not be physical, but has all the same psychological effects of the act.

It's STILL not rape.


Nothing's forcing them to type, to acknowledge what's being typed, to not close the program, to press the power button et cetera~

Just because a few people are mentally unstable, do the rest have to suffer (lawsuits and possibly MORE restrictions/limitations applied) due to some people unable to operate themselves without holding someone's hand? We're adults (at least should be) holding hands to cross the road went a long time ago.

And no it's not just this case in particular, it's many things because people are unable to distinguish reality from virtual reality.


You have to draw the line somewhere, otherwise you'll pave the way to hell with good intentions.

there is no comparing the two..
i would compare something like that as to someone having you look at their cam saying they are some hot stud and some naked 900 pound gross guy pops on screen kind of shock compared to the effects of the other because the psychological fear gets worse and you don't have nightmares of an sl pose ball so called rape..
the physical part of rl rape is over pretty fast compared to the psychological because it is there from the start and long after it is over..It never goes away and changes a person..
there is no way this person that was tricked on a pose ball feels like that..if they did they would have pushed the power button on their computer to end it that or walked out of the room to get away..

You're right.

Granted, it can be emotionally upsetting for someone to witness a virtual "rape" of their avatar, especially if they freeze in panic or just don't think of the log-off at the time and so end up sitting through the whole scene. But there really can be no comparison between that and going through the RL experience. Some people just like to be emo.

Did I say it was the same thing.

To many it is still a very damaging thing.

The same emotional trama and psychological behaviors that occur during physical molestations or power trips occur in world when someone pushes the limits.

they can't use the tools anymore than some victims can run away in the real world.

the tools and results of the assaults are different, but the victim still suffers mental anguish and trama.

Oh no i wasn't referring to RP of it..I mean i know people do this for RP but i just can't put rape case and sl together and take it serious at all..tricked into something and felt like a fool maybe..But to say it was real rape omg i could not do a thing??it makes fun of it is the only words i can think to say right now..
I didn't understand that there was some real claim of this until i read the thread a little..

you did say it has all the same psychological effects of the act.it doesn't..terror is not there..not knowing if you are going to live or die or worse is not there..
there is only one option in rl in that situation..there are many when in a computer program..like click the x to log off ,shut down the computer, get up from the chair, turn off the monitor..

It may be cold , unfeeling and unsympathetic, and I apologize for it, but I agree for the most part. I understand the power of the mind, but if any adult is that weak willed and malleable, and I guess there are such people, perhaps they should be kept away from the Internet. My mind boggles when I hear stories of people dying playing video games, or worse yet, their children, because they can't log off to take care of them. I just can't wrap my head around it.

Before I get slaughtered, I'll say that I do empathise with those who have been emotionally and psychologically abused while online. I agree that it can and does happen and that some people are very vulnerable in this respect.

They have not been raped however, and I do think that the constant use of the word "Rape" in this context does a disservice to a real problem and rightly alienates those that have actually been raped in real life.

I'd go as far as to say that the use of "Rape" in this context is in fact lazy mindedness on the part of the people that do so.

Also the people who use the phrase "it might not be rape in the legal sense, but....." really need to go away and apply some more thought to the situation.

The person sitting shivering in a hospital, waiting to be examined while the sweat and other fluids of her assailant dry on her bruised body, who has to deal with potential issues of pregnancy and disease, might say so too.

Online abuse, bullying and harrassment (sexual or not) are serious and devastating problems, but let's talk about what they really are and find real solutions.

there are people that when faced with confrontation freeze and do what they are told.

they can't understand hanging up the phone, driving off, running away, etc.

Terror is there for those that don't expect it. It's part of the fear effect.

You see it in real life and online.

It's not the weak willed only, many strong willed folks can suffer the panic freezes.

and what of the ones that panic, can't think to roll up a car window.. or drive off... or hang up a phone?

I'm not talking about RL. I am talking about people who don't have the presence of mind to turn off a Goddamn Computer Game.

If a person can't hang up a phone due to words, how is it different to expect folks not to panic and freeze when it's words on a screen?

words on a screen have as much power as spoken words.

I guess to me they just don't, there in lies the divide. I am even not sold on the telephone idea either, because yes, I can just hang up, or choose not to answer. I just can't equate anything that goes on in SL, whch is essentially still a game, at least to me, to anything in RL. I just can't bring my level of immersion that deep. But I will grant that some do, so I will just agree to disagree, apologize if I have offended anyone and bow out of the discussion.

Well you did raise good points. But think of the emotional impact the words on these forums had with you. They had the power to tug your emotions over the board, yet are just words on a screen... in a program you could have closed or chose to ignore.

Words push people's buttons because they have the power to do so. Some are affected more by words, much like the verbally abused spouses that never just walk out the door and get help.

Yes, but I chose not to do so. I was not paralized by any fear that prevented me from doing so. But I understand your view and respect it, even if I don't necessarily agree with it, as far as SL is concerned anyway. Thank You for expressing them thoughtfully and rationally.

There are eight million stories in the naked city, but you won't hear any of them if you stay in the suburbs.

You and me both.

I recall an incident when I played EQ and there were pre-school age children in the home who pulled a glass-fronted china cabinet down and almost were trapped under it. The mother - engrossed in EQ and didn't realize what was happening until she heard the crash.

Happens during sports games, movies, pretty much anything that can result in tunnel vision for people.

This is a truly fascinating thread, and something to which I can relate quite closely.

There is tendency to immerse oneself in any activity, eg chess, a sport, watching a film or reading a book, and SL is just another example. Psychologists have identified that the internet has a particular ability to accentuate the immersive effect, and I think SL is a very good example of this phenomenon. Thus rational thinking people can become 'captured' by the environment, perhaps an addiction is an analogy, although I admit it may be a poor one.

Most of us have been 'burned' at some time by some virtual event, either flaming, trolling or other emotional incidents. Rationally, we should have stayed well clear, but didnt.
How many of us have succumbed to road rage ...?

In summary, most of the time we are rational, but just occasionally we display human weakness (corollary to Shakespeare) and get caught. Newbies are more prone to this, since they dont spot the warning signs.

Just my view. no criticism of other viewpoints.

LOL! ZOMG!! My cartoonish 3D image was raped!! Oh Woe is me!!
I'm scarred for life!!!

Nah, I dont think so. Anyone that cant differentiate between REAL and NOT REAL has issues.

Somewhat like saying playing a FLight Simulators makes you a pilot in real life.

SO! If I shoot you in SL you are thereby commanded to kill yourself in RL!!! Failure is not an option!! You must die or otherwise be made fun of for not following the rules. I'll be after you shortly!!

Geez! People take this shit too seriously. Loosen up! Have some fun! F*ck 'em if they cant take a joke!

Only if they consent of course.