Discrimination in SL - have you experienced it?
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Cristiano Midnight
Evil Snapshot Baron
Join date: 17 May 2003
Posts: 8,616
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06-21-2006 14:27
From: Crissaegrim Clutterbuck What is this thing in a virtual world that you're reacting to? And does it - and how does it - translate across two worlds? Excellent question. I think it depends at how closely you associate yourself with your avatar. For me, my avatar is simply a representation of me in world - I didn't strive to make an avatar different from my RL self. As such, the weird runins I have had with racist idiots have felt very personal - where had there been more separation between me and my avatar, I might not have reacted the same way. It is one of the fascinating things about virtual worlds and all the personas people create online - it redefines the rules to a large degree, and yet people still seem to fall into the same ugly patterns as the offline world.
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Cristiano ANOmations - huge selection of high quality, low priced animations all $100L or less. ~SLUniverse.com~ SL's oldest and largest community site, featuring Snapzilla image sharing, forums, and much more. 
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Lorelei Patel
was here
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,940
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06-21-2006 14:32
From: Purrdence Takakura Since then I've had several Furry SL tell me 'I'm not Furry enough' and that I'm a 'freak'. You'll find that in every community. Furries who say you're not furry enough. Goreans who say you're not a real slave/master. Gay people who say you're not "real" enough if you're bi. Transgendered people who say you're not really TG if you don't go fulltime. Religious people who say you're not saved because you're not religious enough. And on and on and on. This kind of crap usually comes from people who somehow doubt their own sincerity. It says a lot more about them than it does of you. And like dad always said, fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
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Broadly offensive.
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Hayden Hedges
Registered User
Join date: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 138
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06-21-2006 14:49
Sorry to derail, but someone in this thread mentioned a furry dolphin. Am I the only one who got a chuckle out of that?
Anyway, why should you care about discrimination in SL? We're all just a bunch of nerds anyhow.
Personally I hate discrimination, bullying, and vinyl roof coverings on cars.
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Jonas Pierterson
Dark Harlequin
Join date: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 3,660
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06-21-2006 15:03
From: Purrdence Takakura I'll be upfront - I'm a Furry. I've been Furry in RL for over 5 years now - even met my RL hubby through the fandom. I never got a fursuit for Purrdence, my Furry alterego, if I dressed up - it is all fuzzy ears and tails and facepaint. In my corner of Aussieland, fursuit makers are far and few between and they're also very very expensive. I'm also not the only one I know that goes the ears/tail/facepaint route rather than a fursuit.
So one day I was introduced to SL and once I found out about being able to customise one's AV, I chose to recreate Purrdence as similar to how I wear her in RL... so her face is somewhat more humaniod than say, a cyberfursuit.
Since then I've had several Furry SL tell me 'I'm not Furry enough' and that I'm a 'freak'.
Now, I really shouldn't be *that* surprised. SL seems to replicated near on every aspect of RL, so in turn there should be all the 'nasty' things like discrimination. What I do find somewhat dryly amusing that the fandom I've gotten the most crap from on SL is one of the most discriminated groups in the science-fiction/fantasy fandom...
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But getting back to the title question... What kind of discrimination have you encountered in SL? How do you think it compares to your area of the RL world? My first instance of discrimination was a furry telling me 'get out human' my first day when I tped to a furry sim. Nevermind that I was pulling on a freebie furryav to blend in.
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Good freebies here and here I must protest. I am not a merry man! - Warf, ST: TNG, episode: Qpid You killed my father. Prepare to die. - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride You killed My father. Your a-- is mine! - Hellboy
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Karsten Rutledge
Linux User
Join date: 8 Feb 2005
Posts: 841
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06-21-2006 15:05
From: Mickey McLuhan I generally ignore people that behave like this towards me. They're rather laughable.
However, one instance happened last night that bothered me.
I was just hanging, chatting with friends and helping new people in the Lost Creatures Store in Sables d'Alliez and someone came along bitching about how "Furrydom is slowly going to hell." Of course, they couldn't elaborate or elucidate, so I just let her rant and rave. Suddenly, someone shows up in a human AV. "Ewwww... a human! That's disgusting!"
The guy then said, "Doh! Sorry, just came from a party. Haven't had a chance to put on my lion, but she just kept on about it.
I couldn't believe it. All the bullshit that we, as furries, put up with, all the "You freaks and faggots and perverts" that we have to listen to from the uninformed, and after all the "Oh, furrydom is going to hell", she behaves like this?
I apologized to the guy, assuring him that the people that usually hang in the Lost Furest aren't like that and that everyone is welcome, but it really got me.
What pisses me off the most is she's the type of person that will flip out at the slightest anti-furry inference. She's the type that, when people say something like, "I don't really get it and it doesn't appeal to me" will get on her high horse and be all "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND US! DON'T OPPRESS US, YOU BIGOT!"
Dudes, we're furries. WE'RE the ones that are shat on. It is OUR duty to take the higher road and be as open and accepting as possible. It's the ONLY way that we can expect to be accepted.
Be the person that people talk about when they say, "Most furries I've met are really cool".
And to the OP, come hang with me! *grin* I don't care if you got fur, skin, scales, feathers or whatever. You're furry enough for me!
(And, as a promotional plug, if you REALLY want to piss them off, buy one of my dolphins or orcas! No fur at ALL, but LET them tell you you're not a furry!
AND! They swim in the ground, do backflips and everything!
end of plug.) Haha, I'm not a furry, but I was just thinking about 'fish' avs the other day, I can't remember why, but that I'd never seen any. I may have to come check them out just to satiate my curiosity. |
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Karsten Rutledge
Linux User
Join date: 8 Feb 2005
Posts: 841
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06-21-2006 15:08
From: Hayden Hedges Sorry to derail, but someone in this thread mentioned a furry dolphin. Am I the only one who got a chuckle out of that?
Anyway, why should you care about discrimination in SL? We're all just a bunch of nerds anyhow.
Personally I hate discrimination, bullying, and vinyl roof coverings on cars. Hey, hey, whoa, that's going a little too far. My first car was a '86 Chrysler Fifth Avenue with a vinyl half top. (and a big freaking engine, right out of the factory) There's nothing like embarassing jackasses in little Nissans and Hondas who think they're hot by smoking them off the line in a 4000lb boat.  |
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Cristiano Midnight
Evil Snapshot Baron
Join date: 17 May 2003
Posts: 8,616
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06-21-2006 15:21
From: Jonas Pierterson My first instance of discrimination was a furry telling me 'get out human' my first day when I tped to a furry sim. Nevermind that I was pulling on a freebie furryav to blend in. I would have just reminded them that regardless of avatar or costume, they happen to be human too, so to kindly get the fuck over themselves.
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Cristiano ANOmations - huge selection of high quality, low priced animations all $100L or less. ~SLUniverse.com~ SL's oldest and largest community site, featuring Snapzilla image sharing, forums, and much more.
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Cristiano Midnight
Evil Snapshot Baron
Join date: 17 May 2003
Posts: 8,616
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06-21-2006 15:22
From: Hayden Hedges vinyl roof coverings on cars. Damnit, this thread is only a few posts long, and already someone has evoked the Le Baron Law. Once you have mentioned vinyl roofs, the thread is dead for all intents and purposes. Good job!
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Cristiano ANOmations - huge selection of high quality, low priced animations all $100L or less. ~SLUniverse.com~ SL's oldest and largest community site, featuring Snapzilla image sharing, forums, and much more.
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Purrdence Takakura
Registered User
Join date: 10 May 2006
Posts: 60
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06-21-2006 15:35
From: Cristiano Midnight Damnit, this thread is only a few posts long, and already someone has evoked the Le Baron Law. Once you have mentioned vinyl roofs, the thread is dead for all intents and purposes. Good job! I thought it was mention Nazi's to kill a thread... *oops!* |
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Venus Vaughan
Registered User
Join date: 3 Dec 2005
Posts: 66
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06-21-2006 15:37
I'm Half Kitty And Half Fairy ... I have'nt come across this so far but ..i have seen a liitle of this going on ....
I thinks its a shame to cuz harm on any one or any thing it be like this ...
There are things in SL that Disburbs me ,but i dont go around Griefing or making a mockery of it in any way... I just chosse to stay away from the Behavoirs /Lifestyles that i feel this way about ....
to each there own but i dont have to be invovled in some of it , and ... i dont feel ppl should be pressured as sad about being who they want to be .... but on the other hand i feel .That ppl shouldnt be pressured here to like every thing that gose on .
Just stay away from what bothers you or there is awlays the trusty *Mute* button that works too ....
Down With Griefers i say if you dont like it then stay away from it and dont make ppl sad or mad ... Sl is big enough for every body
if you check some one profile and it distrubs you then just let them be can alway tp away from that person and not mock them in anyway
Venus
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Kamilah Hauptmann
Um, what?
Join date: 10 Nov 2005
Posts: 122
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06-21-2006 16:07
From: Venus Vaughan I'm Half Kitty And Half Fairy I bet that's a really cute combination.  But to sum you up: (I agree) -You're in their house, respect their house or excuse yourself. -You're in public, keep the mute button in mind, AR-TP out only if someone's in your face. -You're in your house, you may expect your house and sensibilities to be respected. You the boss there. Sound about right? ~Kami |
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Vares Solvang
It's all Relative
Join date: 26 Jan 2005
Posts: 2,235
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06-21-2006 16:18
From: Purrdence Takakura
Since then I've had several Furry SL tell me 'I'm not Furry enough' and that I'm a 'freak'...
I wouldn't call that discrimination. I would call that an opinion. Now if they excluded you from furry gatherings or groups because of it, that would be discrimination. Otherwise it's just a difference in opinion. Personally, I enjoy being though of as a goth freak. |
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Jonas Pierterson
Dark Harlequin
Join date: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 3,660
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06-21-2006 16:30
From: Cristiano Midnight I would have just reminded them that regardless of avatar or costume, they happen to be human too, so to kindly get the fuck over themselves. I did..and believe it or not, I was polite about it. I then shoves my little freebie angry squirrel past him. On a side note, I have a decent grey squirrel now..and usually go between it, my lion, or my ravenmech. Raven mechs a bit prim heavy though (about 900 prims I think).
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Good freebies here and here I must protest. I am not a merry man! - Warf, ST: TNG, episode: Qpid You killed my father. Prepare to die. - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride You killed My father. Your a-- is mine! - Hellboy
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Devlin Gallant
Thought Police
Join date: 18 Jun 2003
Posts: 5,948
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06-21-2006 18:23
From: Purrdence Takakura my RL husband - who *is* a dolphin furry - is going to soooo be going green that his computer can't take SL now.... Uhm, dolphins have fur?
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Jonas Pierterson
Dark Harlequin
Join date: 27 Dec 2005
Posts: 3,660
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06-21-2006 18:48
From: Devlin Gallant Uhm, dolphins have fur? Lets talk about the crocodile avatar next. (thinking of buying it too)
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Good freebies here and here I must protest. I am not a merry man! - Warf, ST: TNG, episode: Qpid You killed my father. Prepare to die. - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride You killed My father. Your a-- is mine! - Hellboy
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Angelique LaFollette
Registered User
Join date: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1,595
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06-21-2006 19:01
Descrimination in SL?
Let me See, Both here and in RL,,
I'm Black,
I'm a Woman,
I'm a Catholic,
I'm a Lesbian,
I'm a Domme,
Politicaly, i lean to the Left.
Yes, I have experienced some discrimination in SL (Just as i have in RL).
But, In SL as in RL, i don't let the tiny minds of a few Throwbacks Ruin my day. Their attitudes Don't reflect the Population at Large. They are just trying to make up for their own Inadequacies by trying to bring other people down.
Let them ruin your life, and they win. Laugh at them, Pity them.
In the cases of the seriously abusive, AR them. But don't treat them as more than they are.
Angel.
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Hayden Hedges
Registered User
Join date: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 138
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06-21-2006 19:05
From: Karsten Rutledge Hey, hey, whoa, that's going a little too far. My first car was a '86 Chrysler Fifth Avenue with a vinyl half top. (and a big freaking engine, right out of the factory) There's nothing like embarassing jackasses in little Nissans and Hondas who think they're hot by smoking them off the line in a 4000lb boat. Mine was a P.O.S Austin Ambassador with a peeling browm vinyl roof. I feel you pain. |
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Allana Dion
Registered User
Join date: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 1,230
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06-21-2006 19:10
From: Jolie Grant I've even been hired for human av magazines to model with my furry av! ^_^ I would hire you to model in a heartbeat. From: Cristiano Midnight * falls over laughing * The image of you on rollerskates in some hoochierific outfit running from the big bad Gorean slave masters made my day, thank you. LMAO mine too, that was a great image! |
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Karsten Rutledge
Linux User
Join date: 8 Feb 2005
Posts: 841
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06-21-2006 19:29
From: Hayden Hedges Mine was a P.O.S Austin Ambassador with a peeling browm vinyl roof. I feel you pain. Hey, my roof wasn't peeling, and I liked that car. I ended up totalling it though, some guy in a fullsize truck failed to yield turning across my lane from the opposing lane and I broadsided him. So I got an '88 Chrysler Fifth Avenue purely by chance after that. That car bugged me though, it was two years newer and wasn't fuel injected, whereas it's 2 year older counterpart was fuel injected. I missed my '86, but ah well. I turned the '88 in and bought a van later. But, uh, more on topic. There was a New World Notes article on discrimination a while back. I think it was Chip Midnight who made a very nice black skin and hired someone to wear it for a month or something to show it off. The person he hired had a white avatar formerly and said that when she put on the black skin a bunch of her 'friends' stopped hanging around and she got some pretty nasty remarks from random bigots as she went about her life. Pretty sad. |
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Catherine Omega
Geometry Ninja
Join date: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 2,053
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06-21-2006 20:03
I was surprised to actually experience discrimination in SL on a few occasions. Some guys just don't feel comfortable with the idea of a technically adept woman. Oddly, professing to be gay has not led to anything negative that I can think of offhand; it's knowing LSL that's been the biggest problem for me.
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Jolie Grant
Itty Bitty Cute Thing
Join date: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 39
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06-22-2006 12:06
From: Allana Dion I would hire you to model in a heartbeat. Hehe thank you! ^_^ If you do need a model, let me know, I'm available and looking for work again. 
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- my friend Conway
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Mickey McLuhan
She of the SwissArmy Tail
Join date: 22 Aug 2005
Posts: 1,032
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06-22-2006 12:41
Jolie, I just noticed you're modelling one of my shirts in your avatar pic!
Thanks! What do I owe you? *grin*
As an aside, some friends recently got me into Star Wars stuff on SL (Those lightsabers and all the jumping and slashing and excitement is just... EEEE!). The group they are a part of has a "No Furry" policy, which is cool, their choice, I got no problem with that.
I decided to get around it by making an alien!
Of course, being as obsessive as I can be... no I'm not... Yes, I am... I AM!... I've decided to make a "Sebulba" type AV, with a whole "Walking on hands, hold things with your feet" AO etc. etc.
I'm gonna wear it in Furry areas and Non Furry Areas to see if I get any crap.
Then I'll sick the Star Wars crew on them! *lol*
I wanna make one of the little blue keyboard player from the first one, in the cantina.
The thought of him as a Jedi cracks me up.
Oh, about the dolphins and orcas, for those that want to check 'em out (Sorry.. another blatant plug), there are vendors in Furnation, on the 3rd floor, over by the blue teleporter, in Hoodoo, right down in the Southeast corner at Platform 11 and in both the old and new Forest.
(End of plug. I really, really am ashamed of myself.)
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Banking Laws
Realty Serious
Join date: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 602
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06-22-2006 13:41
From: Mickey McLuhan Jolie, I just noticed you're modelling one of my shirts in your avatar pic!
Thanks! What do I owe you? *grin*
As an aside, some friends recently got me into Star Wars stuff on SL (Those lightsabers and all the jumping and slashing and excitement is just... EEEE!). The group they are a part of has a "No Furry" policy, which is cool, their choice, I got no problem with that.
I decided to get around it by making an alien!
Of course, being as obsessive as I can be... no I'm not... Yes, I am... I AM!... I've decided to make a "Sebulba" type AV, with a whole "Walking on hands, hold things with your feet" AO etc. etc.
I'm gonna wear it in Furry areas and Non Furry Areas to see if I get any crap.
Then I'll sick the Star Wars crew on them! *lol*
I wanna make one of the little blue keyboard player from the first one, in the cantina.
The thought of him as a Jedi cracks me up.
Oh, about the dolphins and orcas, for those that want to check 'em out (Sorry.. another blatant plug), there are vendors in Furnation, on the 3rd floor, over by the blue teleporter, in Hoodoo, right down in the Southeast corner at Platform 11 and in both the old and new Forest.
(End of plug. I really, really am ashamed of myself.) I think the reason for a furry ban with some jedi groups is what happened to an ewok in a tabletop star wars game I played: the small of burnt fur and the sight of a bald ewok will never leave my mind.
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- Thomas Jefferson, 3rd U.S. President
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Cr Appin
Registered User
Join date: 22 Jun 2006
Posts: 13
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06-22-2006 13:45
From: Banking Laws I think the reason for a furry ban with some jedi groups is what happened to an ewok in a tabletop star wars game I played: the small of burnt fur and the sight of a bald ewok will never leave my mind. You have a table top game that is able to produce the smell of burnt ewok hair? |
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Corvus Drake
Bedroom Spelunker
Join date: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 1,456
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06-22-2006 13:48
From: Cr Appin You have a table top game that is able to produce the smell of burnt ewok hair? Actually, I'm betting they had really good pot and someone dropped the roach on their exposed "ewok", the result making it bald. Ahh....high school.
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I started getting banned from Gorean sims, so now I hang out in a tent called "Fort Awesome".
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