SL closing down??

Wrong on BOTH counts...

It was Spock, who said "Were I to invoke logic, however, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

Edit: Stephen's right about STIII.

I think Dakota is pretty much right about that.

The protecting children is a rationalization. The reason that these exposes exist and things like this are banned is the repugnance factor.

With ACTUAL child porn, child protection is a huge factor.

The indistinguishable clause on virtual child porn it is also a huge factor - because they need to be able to protect children without the images getting lost in a sea of imitation photos.

But the cartoon / SL type stuff it is the repugnance factor.

Actually, I think a study once showed that paedophiles (as in, people who feel sexual attraction to children, regardless of whether they have acted on it or not) who were able to socialise with other paedophiles were more likely to actually go ahead and commit child abuse than those who were forced to keep their desires under wraps, so that's probably what they're interested in.

Actually, I think a study once showed that paedophiles (as in, people who feel sexual attraction to children, regardless of whether they have acted on it or not) who were able to socialise with other paedophiles were more likely to actually go ahead and commit child abuse than those who were forced to keep their desires under wraps, so that's probably what they're interested in.

Guys, come on. The reason sexual ageplay is banned isn't because people are concerned about real kids being hurt, or the actors being encouraged or emboldened to take their virtual activities to RL. Some people may say that as an attempt at a logical rationale, but it's not the real truth, I think.

The fact is, the proclivities of those who enjoy the thought of sex with children - i.e., pedophiles - are considered so absolutely repugnant and revolting to everybody else at large, that people simply hate to see them (the pedos) achieve any sort of satisfaction of their desires, even if that satisfaction is gained using a virtual proxy. Pedos are so incredibly ICK, even some people who are otherwise ultimate champions of freedom of expression can't bring themselves to do anything helpful or accomodating to them.

Unfortunately, I can't agree with the notion that banning sexual ageplay in Second Life is "thought policing". Thoughts are inside your head, and nobody can see them. Once you create or do something - in SL or somewhere else - that other people can see or interact with, or that otherwise causes some kind of change in the environment, that's an ACTION. You've acted on those thoughts.

Pedos are allowed to join in SL, they're even perfectly allowed to think pedo thoughts while in SL. They just can't DO pedo things in SL. See how that works? It's actions, not thoughts, that are being "policed".

Ugh, I don't think I've ever used the word "pedo" so many times before.....drat, I just said it again!

/me goes to take a bath.

I tend to view kids in SL as just - kids.

I have no idea what goes through the minds of adult avs, tinies, elves, kitties. In fact, I don't think of it at all. How they act with me is how I interpret them, if that makes sense. Treat me nice and I'll do the same. Kids aren't creepy to me, so they don't creep me out.

Avs with bloody skins, or angry clowns, now that creeps me out.

One study proves nothing.

Well not to be inflammatory, but in an attempt to save a few straw men from the flames anyway..

I suspect that if McDonalds were handing out a computer generated image of a child engaged in a sexual act with an adult along with every Big Mac and Fries..

I think they might have a wee turnaround in their fortunes....

there are not supposed to be kids in sl. there are adults roleplaying kids or there are ageplayers. absolutely no kids are even allowed. i know what your point is but i think its bizarre to view them as kids when its obvious they are not.

Obviously, dragons are not dragons IRL, but I personally don't think of it as bizarre to view dragons as dragons in SL. If you're an SL Elf, then I'll think of you as an elf. What's bizarre about that? I wasn't talking about actual children logging in.

Kind of like watching a movie. For the hour or two I'm watching, I am able to suspend my disbelief long enough to enjoy the characters for who they are in the story, and I don't confuse them with the actors themselves.

Of course I know Mari and others are adults, but it wouldn't stop me from regarding them as children inworld.

i could never do that. i do not have the ability to pretend a resident is a robot. i may or may not go along with their roleplay. but i would never mistake a resident for a robot.

funny thing though LOL

Some residents ARE robots. Think thats just a bad example

I dunno. I know a few TG's in SL. They want to be perceived as a particular sex (although I know they are physically not that sex in RL), I do my best to comply to their wishes. I kinda see the kid thing as similar.

Hey! Easy on the knocking of "The Trek".
Actually, I always felt Roddenberry was too much of a lefty socialist for my tastes as well. His Happy Utopian ideals were a bit much for me.

and this is a very important reason why i responded to your post. i think many people in Second Life are very confused.

I'm glad you answered my post. Other peoples opinions of how they view interactions in SL are very interesting to me. I don't think I'm so much 'confused' as just able to do something you admittedly can't.

Never would I think of another person in SL as just an NPC. How am I diminishing their humanity by treating/viewing them as they wish to be treaded/viewed? I believe we are all here for mutual entertainment. I don't withhold my personal values when it comes to interacting with others in SL. I know there's a human on the other end, but I'm able to play along with other avs, and take how they look at face value.

Of course, if I were to become close to Mari, she would eventually step out of character at times (poor Mari, I keep using her as an example...) and during those moments, as when she posts in these forums, I would treat/view her as an adult. But I can't help it, when someone looks/speaks/acts like a dragon/elf/child, this is how I view them.

If this makes me 'confused', then okay.

right because you agree to go along with their rp. but at the end of the day you know they are not who they are rping. you have a grasp on reality. i would be horrified if someone treated me like my character outside of my rp. i wouldnt be happy about it at all.

Maybe it's not the same. TG's self identify as a different sex than they physically are. They are not RP'ing being the other sex, they *are* the other sex (in the wrong body). I've gone horribly OT, so please ignore!

touche

Of course I know Mari and others are adults, but it wouldn't stop me from regarding them as children inworld.

Of course, if I were to become close to Mari, she would eventually step out of character at times (poor Mari, I keep using her as an example...) and during those moments, as when she posts in these forums, I would treat/view her as an adult. But I can't help it, when someone looks/speaks/acts like a dragon/elf/child, this is how I view them.

Strikes me as a good sign the audience has spoken in this fashion: Gene Rodenderry, successful, famed, admired producer; George Lucas, successful, famed, admired billionaire. Yeah!