Suicide Girls Redux

In closing the previous thread, Jeska encouraged us to start a new thread if we wanted to continue to the topic. I think the topic was quite valid and interesting and not sure exactly why the thread was closed, as heated topics go it was pretty tame. Nonetheless, what do you think of the Suicide Girls being in SL and the promotion by LL?

Well, just to list a few of the special last names LL has already given out:

Thereian
Therian
Karuna
Lanier
Werbach
Pitt
TheBarbarian
TheGreat

I could cull my database, but I'm feeling too lazy to find any more.

I think the intentions are probably all good, bringing web communities into SL, however the last name should have been chosen more carefully.

I think it's great from a marketing and branding standpoint for both parties. I also echo Jonquille's remarks about SG's quality and value. The fit is a good one and I applaud Linden Lab for offering such a warm welcome.

Sansayra,
No, I had one brother, five years older. And I'm the parent of two, who never believed in giving each child the exact same things.

And this is such a far cry from that sort of thing, I hardly know where to begin. This isn't about - and is never about - sibling jealousy. The Lindens aren't our parents, doing what is best for each of us, and passing out perks according to our needs and desires and differences, through love.

Though they may think that is what they are doing.

LL is a company, and we are the customers. As such, there is the expectation that all customers will receive fair and equal treatment.

And before you say it, ithat concept has nothing to do with rock stars getting to shop in boutiques after hours, or volume buyers getting a discount or a free coupon, or the Mattel company going to extra effort to find a discontinued Barbie in a wheelchair doll to send as a gift to a little girl in a wheelchair.

When the Lindens offer bonuses to everyone who spends a certain amount, or when they offer a special place for a group with mental disabilities, that is entirely different from offering special perks to people who are essentially just like everyone else, who don't spend more or don't have special needs.

Having said all that, the fact that they have done this before, as Cristiano pointed out - with the There people and others - makes the whole thing more of a tempest in a teapot as far as I'm concerned.

UNLESS they also got a special land deal. I would like to hear Wilder answer whether they got anything like that as well.

In any case, it's really not necessary to speculate about my motivations, or to suggest that I personally came from a childhood where I jostled for position with the other kids, or that my motivation and/or logic here comes from personal and childish reasons.

coco

Regarding the name "Suicide". It was obviously selected to be edgy and shocking. In about 10 years it will be bland and cliched LOL.

I'm reminded of that OLD black and white video clip of a stodgy old DJ at KWK radio smashing records against a table and announcing "Rock and Roll has got to GO!" HEHEH Sorry pops, you lost that battle. I try not to get worked up about what the kids are doing to shock people these days.

Personally I would be comfortable with few limits on last name selection (I'm holding out for "Vulva" for an alt) But people complain, so I guess a line has to be drawn in the sand somewhere. While the real life, implications of "suicide" are just horrific, Suicide Girls are not promoting or adovcating that anybody take their own life.

I mean, if you think that's bad, wait until you hear about a rock band named MEGADEATH! Not just one death...but MEGA ... DEATH! EEP! Bodies everywhere! The carnage!! Oh wait..just a dorky hair band

OK OK fine, you are a Megadeath fan. Sorry! You can make fun of one of MY favorite bands ... My Bloody Valentine. EEP! That's next week! And there will be BLOOD!!!

Yes, I agree with you. It is a fairly controversial name because of the associations it evokes. To anyone who has had to deal in their own lives with the suicide of a loved one, it is a pretty crass name and a pathetic thing to glamorize and sexualize.

I think it's a smart niche for LL to target. I have no problem with them getting their own last name, or that last name being Suicide.

Its a play on words. They're not saying, "These girls want to kill themselves!" Its that "they've dyed by their own hands" (in reference to their wild hair colors).

-Flip

I think it's fine and that the SG "employees" are participating of their own volition, and as has been demonstrated, they may leave their employment at any time.

Therefore I see no exploitation.

Others may have different definitions for exploitation however, and that's fine too.

As far as LL's "deal" with them, I see no problem with it, for the reason given above.

Go in-world. Search for the "Suicide Girls" group. Look at the list of officers and tier contributions.

/108/15/87150/2.html#post885525

On the Suicide last name: Torley said somewhere in the other thread it had to do with having "dyed by their own hand" (hair I assume), which you gotta admit is kinda clever.

Good point that Thereians, et al got their own special last names when they moved to SL.

I'm listening to them right now ("Isn't Anything", and I *DARE* anyone to badmouth MBV. There would be consequences!

BTW, its spelled "MEGADETH", because, as everyone who was a headbanger during their teenage years knows, mis-spelling things copying Led Zeppelin rules.

-Flip

So write a stern letter to the Suicide Girls themselves, not LLab. The Lindens didn't name their organization.

What shoudl they be named instead? SexObjects? GlamPorn? SoftCore?

None of which really convey where they're FROM, which is a community called "Suicide Girls".

I have no issues. They seem to fit and they want to be here. Great. They got a last name....I could care less. I did raise an eyebrow at the name when I first saw it, but in context with the SG website, I am unconcerned with it. They are loosely tied to the porn industry....don't care.

Companies are under no obligation whatsoever to give all of their customers the exact same terms, or to make them privvy to what concessions have been made with a particular customer. Striking deals is part of business. No matter what the terms are, it is none of our business, and LL cannot be expected to never, ever give a certain customer or group of customers special terms. That is completely unrealistic, and not the way business works in the slightest.

Anyone remember "Suicide Blonde" by INXS?

It's been running through my head all morning.

Was that song title disrespectful to the loved ones of people who have committed suicide? IMHO, no. No more than the many many songs which speak of murder, etc. Let's not go back to the 80's with Tipper Gore and all that - I don't want to have to sic Elton and Dee Snider on you guys!

i like sex. but i hate the porn industry and the fact that ll has used a porn site to promote their product. ergo my problem with this.

i think i'll duck out of this thread now as maybe too many nay sayers will get this thread shut down too.

So had they been the Bukkake Girls, should they have added the last name Bukkake? Linden Labs didn't name their organization, it doesn't mean they have to allow the name.

Nay sayers on which side of the issue?

Suicide Inner Core?

And to answer your question, I think it's tasteless, and the name is particularly tasteless AND thoughtless of other customers, regardless of the reasons the Suicide Girls chose it. The girls might know that, and they might explain it on their website, but the regular SL population doesn't know that or have any reason to know it, do they?

I read the description of the group and I don't particularly like those kinds of accolades being bestowed on a particular SL group by a Linden.

It's obvious the Lindens think girls who strip for money are a notch above the rest of us.

coco

I like to show kids how cool I am by prefixing rock band names with "THE" as in "Why don't you go to your room and listen to The Marilyn Manson"

Oh and, Kevin Shields is STILL hot, even after he gained all the weight <3

Sorry, the stridency of your questioning of the fairness of LL and an unconfirmed possible Suicide Girls business deal in the other thread just caused the mom in me to explode all over the forums. Not pretty or nice. I apologize.

They are not a notch above us, nor are they below us either. I don't think LL is sending a message that they think this group is above anyone - simply they are trying to reach out to different communities in a new way. I'm not crazy about the name, but I don't have a problem with it overall.