Having a baby in SL

When we dress our avatars up and march them around the grid, it's pretty much the same as playing with dolls. The difference with a prim baby is that there's not some other human piloting that particular doll. (Well, other than the scripter, maybe. At one point, I actually scripted prim babies and pregnant tummies. So shoot me. )

I imagine there's a limited supply of folks wanting to RP a foetus, and a baby's behavioral repertoire isn't all that much more interesting. So, we've kinda automated that. Similar automation possibilities present themselves in other roles for which human behavior is easily simulated: escorts, psychotherapists, and gangsta rappers come to mind.

I have no opinion either way expect each there own.
However my last pregnancy irl was so hard, I run when I see pregnant women in RL or SL.

As long as the fetus does not talk and announces it's impending arrival to everyone within 20M every 3 minutes, I do not care about these sick people ...

SL should charge people for having babies, like they do for Marriages.. only double

Wonder what a real Wife of a Married Man would think if she knew her Husband is having not only cyber sex but also cyber babies with some other (probably also married) woman halfway across the world...


Good luck~!

I answered your identical post on the second)lifers Live Journal group. It went someting like dis...

As SL is a fantasy world, the role play focuses on the more positive side of it all -- so missed periods and post-natal depression is not really an issue. More an issue with talking bellys

It is uncommon, but not unheard of, for kid roleplayers to take the part of the "baby." However, usually the prim baby is oohed and awwed over for a wee or two, then stays in inventory.

I imagine it is a big plus for those who want to have kids for whatever reason.

Oh, an trust me, there are far, far more bizarre things in SL.

Mari

I am not sure its going to be possible to really explain the desire to roleplay out virtual Childbirth to someone who expresses a strong aversion to the idea of RL Childbirth.
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(some reasons I have heard from SLParents)


It is used in the online relationship dynamic by some people. They enjoy doing it because of all the feelings that come with it when they are pretending to be parents together.

Others enjoy interacting with SL Avatar Children (some of whom post here on the forums) The Pregnancy/Childbirth is often used as a step towards having a "SL Kid" which is then roleplayed by another player.

Others just enjoy it as "something to do"

Or perhaps all three.

Of course you could flip that question around-

Wouldn't it be weird if there were no prim babies, considering all the pixel sex in SL?


I mean when is the last time your partner(s) used a SLCondom?

Who needs a condom, I just disable particles.

Well, I do know everyone is entitled to express his or her opinion, but as soon as you start referring to people with another view on their SL then you as sick, you loose any form of respect from me. That is my opinion.

No I do not understand the need to be a child avatar. No I don't understand the need to have prim babies. But the least I understand the need to call other people sick.

Marcel

Yep, that's it right there.

I think in general, many people take their RL aversions to this or that with them into SL, it is only natural. I'm sure some people would wonder why women would be interested in RPing as strippers and prostitutes in SL as well, if they are coming at SL from a certain perspective.

Better use 'em quick... them adoption agencies have a life span about as long as clubs.



I find most end up role playing with me jes cuz, without me havin' to break character. There are times when I hafta (when I'm being griefed, when I'm running my store sometimes, when I'm doing professional building, etc.), an I am accomodating to the fact dat not everybuggy is gonna be comfy -- but it's usually not an issue, really. It's a big world, an all dat.



I hope I'm there to witness

An really, it's the augment versus immerse argument, at heart. For some, SL is a place to live fantasies. For others, I s'pose, it's a place to be themselves like anywhere else (I coulda stayed on AIM for dat, so I dun get it). But I'm willing to play long dat this world has anthopomorphic foxes an wolves running around, or that avatar really is a dragon -- or that I'm jes some kid in this world of ours. Easy enough to jes go with the flow, I tink.

Mari

Hmmmm, ok....I can understand the bond thing....I love having SL pets and I'm an animal lover IRL.....and my cat is my little savior while my fiance is away.....and I suppose in some way that transfers to my attitude toward my SL pets.
I have an affinity for cats...so I got a cat...then I got a panther cause it was just too beautiful to pass up. Then I got a dog....cause I miss my Pit/Lab mutt Otis that I used to have IRL years ago.......then I got a sea turtle and he lives just off my beach.....and again, I love sea turtles they remind me of the caribbean where I spent some real time over the past few years with my sweety....... then i found a beluga whale....and I have always loved whales, and he was such a beautiful version of the real thing ....and the sounds were so cool.....

I also have a horse, a snake, a couple baby dragons, some loons, and an owl. So yeah, ok.... IF the day ever came when someone created a very real looking baby I might be tempted to become an aunt at least....cause I love being an aunt IRL. lol

I've had an epiphany this morning...so all you SL parents out there...if you ever need a sitter, look me up, hehe.

I only read a couple of the responses to this so far....

My comment is: Why not?

Making babies is a very human, natural thing.
That some would like to play that out in Second
Life doesn't surprise me at all.

Why not? =)

-i

I enjoy making things in SL and the time I spend in world I spend as myself. (Even though my av looks more like I did 30 years ago than today, in my mind that's still the real me.) I'm not into RP.
But I loved being pregnant in RL so I can easily imagine someone enjoying RP it.
All my kids (including steps) have turned out great but there are lots of little things I would do differently if I were doing it over so I can imagine how someone could enjoy rp being a parent.
In SL when I meet someone who's pregnant or furry or a child I accept them and enjoy them as they seem to be.

Thats a nice remark. Why are you here again? Oh yea, to do things you like to do that make you happy and preferably without negative judgments heaped onto you.

What gets me are the people who come to SL and become flabbergasted that people actually use their imagination, roleplay/pretend or whatever to create a fulfilling fantasy or life here.

There are people in the world who think that those who meet and congregate online in a virtual world are 'sick' or 'socially inept' and worse, and you know what? I am glad they are not in my SL because I have met finer people here - pregnant with a prim baby, than I have ever met in RL and I am happy to know them and call them my friend, and they are not "sick".

I knwo dat one of the reasons my mommy in SL *is* a mommy in SL is because she has and loves her kids in RL. It's one of the things dat brings her joy, and having kids around her feels "natural" to her.

She also enjoys the fact dat her SL kids dun really mess the house (the time my brother accidently returned a big chunk of it notwithstanding) and are generally well-mannered.

Mari

Whenever I see something like this, I'm reminded of Mark Twain: "It is not American. It is not British. It is [shudder] FRENCH!" A quirky prejudice expressed to an obviously intentional extreme can be quite funny. But it's kinda key to the gag that the intent be obvious; otherwise one risks looking quite an idiot.

My SL momma an daddy werk at a 'doption agency so I go der a lot to see them an I see a lot of ladies dat ate whole watermellons but dey come looking for more kids
Im sooo happy seein people enjoy demselves.

I enjoy mysef why shouldnt they? jus some advice tho, twy not to swallow whole watermellons you may gets a Torley!!!!

We are all idiots to one degree or another

Some just have a higher degree in it then others

When we are role playing, aren't we still being 'ourselves'? Even if it's just a small part of us that we may keep buried in RL. I'm talking about the personality part. You may not have fur or scales, or be 4 feet tall, but it's still you typing.

I don't think they are that many who 'force' you to play along. Just as in RL, if you where in a store and a child threw a tantrum, you could always walk away, (or turn on your ipod). Or you could roll your eyes and make comments about your superior knowledge when it comes to child rearing. Or give the mother a sympathetic wink... but you don't _have_ to (RL or SL).

I have a hard time believing they are that many people who do NOT role play. Do you really have 200 pairs of shoes, or a fantastic house on the beach in RL? Or are you actually in your jogging pants in front of a puter screen late at night?

If I'm beside you in a store shopping, I'm not visualizing your RL you sitting there munching on a sandwich, I'm seeing your avatar. And if you speak/IM me, I don't think "Gawd, does she really expect me to believe her breasts are that big in RL?!"

Well you didnt see the closet of my girlfriend yet... And jogging pants are forbidden in my household

Since I am not building any furniture in RL I am roleplaying too I guess. And I think anyone is entitled to their form of roleplay, as long as they do not bother others. Screaming tummies, collars, whips and genitals do bother others, but for the rest: Have fun! Its YOUR second life ater all

Marcel

Is it really up to you to decide what is acceptable? LL gabe us tools, use them.... Mute, Teleport if you find somethin not acceptable. When we start judging others we are discounting others. They may find you unacceptable and perhaps muted you?

He he. On the shoes, yeah I'm probably close to it. I'm still working on the House at the beach though. I figure 5 years or so should do it.

No it is not up to me to decide what IS acceptable. But I can pretty much say what i di FIND acceptable. And I do not find people who spam others with their likings acceptable.
And yes I can mute and TP, but that is not my point. Quite opposite, my point is that I find pretty much every roleplay acceptable, wether its having prim babies, being a Gor warrior, or even ageplay. But hey, that is just my point of view

I agree to an extent Toy.

My observation is that everyone cries personal liberty for almost everything in SL, except the liberty to express an opinion about what anyone else does with it.

Free speech means that if I find your spamming pixel belly distasteful, then I can say so. The same rights protect me as well as you.

I'm being Devil's advocate a wee bit here. I genuinely believe that anyone can do anything in SL, with the key caveat being "as long they don't force their choices on me".

Also, while I respect your right to pursue happiness in SL, however you might want to. In some cases I reserve the right to think that the way you choose to do it is strange and unusual.

Someone earlier in this thread said that it might be thought odd if a child avi suddenly started talking as an adult.

Personally I don't roll play so in a non-RP location, I pretty much expect the other to be OOC when chatting with me. Obviously they can decide not to chat with me at all.. but don't pull the old freedom thing out the bag if I say you sound ridiculous and walk off.

In my view, and obviously I could be way off the mark, your freedom is to act and sound and be who you want without hinderance or fear. My freedom is to quietly think to myself..."WTF"..