Mature Event Filter

Personally, I'd like to be able to browse the event list without necessarily seeing all the "mature" events. Some days, it honestly looks like SLers are nothing but a bunch of horny, sex-deprived people. Which of course they're not, but you know what I mean

One major reason I'd like to have the mature events filtered out by default is the image that SL throws off to new users. I've got a friend that I gave a gift code to, and am trying to get them interested, but if they log in and see an events list half-full of "EROTIC" this and that then they're probably going to get turned off (no pun intended) to SL. If they want to "discover" the seamier side of SL later on, that's fine...but I think it'd be nice to put on a more friendly face to start with.

There is an 18+ age requirement for this game; 8 year olds are not allowed to play.

Just because you are over 18, or over 40, and are allowed by law to see something, doesn't mean you want to see it.

Thinly veiled slavery auctions masked as "pet auctions"
BDSM mixer events
In world sex classes that are actually advertisements for a paid service

Certainly there are people that are interested in taking part in these activities, but there are many more that would find them offensive.

I belive any event with a mature theme should be under a seperate filter, enabled by default. Have your porn, just keep it in the plain brown wrapper.

Thank you very much Michael, my sentiments exactly.

I agree. But only if the option is unfiltered by default. We still have problems with LL filtering out decent content because of it's location and such... It should be an opt-in type thing.

What I envision is an "Is this a Mature Event?" checkbox on the form you fill out to create a new Event. In tandem with a "Show Mature Events?" checkbox under Preferences (which is *unchecked* by default, a la Google's SafeSearch), this should be a simple and effective solution to the problem.

Something like that would be perfect Morse! SL has gotten very heavy with "adult" events lately which isn't such a terrible thing in that it means people are coming to SL, having fun, getting together, making a more active world. BUT, I would really like to not see descriptions of events like that every 30 minutes, by default. Of course there are people who don't want to hear about Bingo or Show and Tell also so maybe we need more checkboxes to turn on and off.

I think it's a ridiculous idea, This game is for 18 and over ONLY, what you are asking for is no different then asking HBO to take out every curse word on thier station.

Why do people have to find so much to complain about..


"I would like to start a petition to ban the word mature, I am so tired of seeing that word in SL"

GIMME A BREAK!

Not everyone over the age of 18 wants to be overloaded by Adult Entertainment! The situation to this point has been OK, with most events organizers making SOME effort at discretion. Recently though, the blatant alternative sexual themes that are starting to permeate SL are starting to get a little much for kinder folks, and will become a real problem for Linden Labs if they're trying to reach the broadest audience possible. Adding a Mature filter is a logical progression to help keep SL for EVERYONE, not just those who are into kinky sex.

The filter that we're talking about does for the events list what the Mature sim type does...lets you avoid that sort of thing if you want to, but doesn't provide a real roadblock if you want to partake.

It's not as if it would be a real hassle for those that like Mature events anyway, click the box in preferences and forget about it. Unless your mouse-clicking finger is too slippery to handle such a task that is

All we're asking for is a little "decency by default"...

LOL, I don't think you understood the question.

Anyway, yeah, seems like a reasonable plan to me. I'm planning on creating a bit of a sex-dungeon myself, and even I don't think people should necessarily be presented with that on their first visit to the Find menu.

Edit: Oh, and Hail our great and benevolent King Morse I!

This argument just does not make sense to me, for several reasons..

1. If you are tired of seeing so many mature events listed on the calendar, then maybe people who want to host other types of events should start hosting some

2. It is just as offensive to many of our SL community to see guns on avatars as it is to see a bare breast to others.

3. The argument that new players shouldn't see this and think this is what SL is about. Well, maybe, if it happens so much, maybe that is EXACTLY what much of SL is about. Maybe these people have finally found a safe haven in the prudish hypocritical world we live in. And they are happy to finally be able to offer these types of activities to others in an online community.

4. If people did not like these types of events, they would not attend. And the events would fail. Since they only seem to grow in number of events, I would wager that most people quite enjoy these events.

The SL world was created for an 18+ crowd. The day I see no guns allowed except in certain areas and no events where they will be present allowed to be presented, then maybe I would consider a request such as this post asks.

And for the record. I have no problems with guns. I'm also an adult who has no problems with a human body being exposed. As far as I knew, we were all adults here. Right?

1) Children are not allowed in SL. Parental controls are not needed. The single parental control is that as a parent, you should not let your child play in an environment intended for adults. Anything beyond that is your own doing, and your responsbility, not ours.

2) What is so scary about seeing erotic poetry readings or lovemaking position classes alongside of bingo and Star Trek trivia? We are a diverse ADULT group of people and are not children. If this stuff is so offensive to you, which is a part of SL (a beautiful part of it I might add), then why are you here? And if your friend can't handle it, SL probably is not the place for them. Try There, where your entire existence is santized for you and pre-approved (as long as you also have a pre-approved Visa to pay $10 for a shirt).

3) This is exactly what SL is about - complete and utter freedom to live, create, and explore in this world created by its inhabitants. Guess what? This world contains nudity, it contains violence. People keep saying they don't want people to think this is what SL is about. Newsflash - if these are the most popular, most attended events and places in SL, I hate to break it to you - but the people of SL have already decided what SL is about and no amount of smoke and mirrors changes that. You don't sweep it under the rug and act like it doesn't exist.

Enough filtering and censorship already. I sincerely hope LL does not add a filter - the ones they added last time were offensive enough and I am still pissed off about them.

Cristiano

Pendari and Cristiano,

You seem to have missed the point. Nobody is criticizing the fact that these events take place. Nobody is saying that people shouldn't have every right to attend these events. Nobody is even saying they shouldn't be popular.

By your argument, we shouldn't even have such a thing as a "Mature" sim - they should all be Mature. However, the benefits of having designated areas for Mature-themed events and content are clear and well-established. All that we're asking is to extend these benefits to the Events list.

To be honest, I think that people who see this sort of filter as a threat are being really short-sighted. Part of the titillation and thrill that people get from Mature content is the fact that it's a "behind closed doors" sort of thing. From a pure marketing perspective, having such things semi-hidden is a GOOD thing and actually enhances the draw. If the mature content becomes mainstream and commoditized, there will eventually be a sharp drop-off as people become bored with it.

The filter is a WIN-WIN situation for people on BOTH sides of the fence. Those who wish not to be continually exposed won't have to be, and those who really like that sort of thing can keep an aura of mystique about it, ensuring continued popularity.

We're all adults here. If you don't want to see it, choose not to see it. There should be an option to not display M-rated events, but it shouldn't be turned on by default.

I do understand the question just fine, it was a bit of sarcasm... I am sorry I could not express that enough through text.
They already made it so all mature land is in a different section by default, I mean come on, this is getting a bit ridiculous. I have mature land, and not all mature land leads to the sex theme, but yet we are excluded from the default list. Do you ask that TV Guide list all Rated R movies in code so they are not seen by your virgin eyes? NO! Why? Cus it is obsurd!

As for the comment that "the people of SL have already decided what SL is about"...

Newsflash: You may have "decided" that SL is about simulated kinky sex all day long, but there's a lot of us who don't necessarily follow that line of thinking. Why should I or anyone else be deprived of the HUGE number of good experiences to be had here because a group of people think they can impose a certain atmosphere upon the SL society?

It's like pop-up ads for porn. Sure there's a lot of people that might like that sort of thing...but like SL, no single group "owns" the Web's culture, and one ought to be able to opt out of that sort of thing if they want to.

Your rights end where mine begin.

You are not deprived of anything!

This is what makes SL so great, because the possibilities are endless. Rather it be focused on Sex for some people or focused on religion, building, scripting, chatting... whatever the case may be, SL has freedom and that is what I enjoy most about it, and I am tired of seeing people whine about the littlest things to try and minimize the freedom in SL. Maybe you should play TSO!

I can easily agree to this Catherine!

Yes, again by all means I agree that opting out is a fine thing to add. I do not think mature events should be filtered by default though. Not in this environment. I personally think it would be best if we could choose which events we wanted to be notified about and those we did not. Period. That however is a discussion that is going on right now in the events forum.

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I don't belive the issue is that these events exist. The issue is that the content that is being advertised is of a mature nature, in portion of the software that is by its very nature a public area, and therefore a regulated area.

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The difference between guns and pornographic content is that it is not against the TOS to display weapons in any area currently. There is a very specific limitation placed on adult content, and percentage wise very limited area where it is acceptable to display such content, namely in a very few mature rated sims, and even then not in plain sight. I am not fond of guns either, but at this time there is really no limitation on them.

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The freedoms and libertys afforded in Second Life by Linden Lab are wonderful. This enviroment is wonderfully permisive and accepting of everyone, and we are free to purse any activity we wish. We should also be free to not participate in TOS limited activities, and not to be subjected to potentially offensive material even vicariously through the directory listings.

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I belive many people do enjoy these activities, and actively search them out. Additional advertisments of them really only serve to bring them to the attention of everyone, even those who attempt to opt out of the Second Life alternative lifestyle. Those who share your interests will find you, as easy as a selection of a mature content checkbox.

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I would love to see a reduction of guns in Second Life, but currently this is not the situation. It is currently against the rules to display the type of content in question in more than 80 percent of this game.

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Hopefully we are all adults. But as adults we all have our own level of comfort. Some have a lower threshold for offensive material than others. My only request is that the segragation of content currently imposed by the rating of sims be extended to all aspects of the software.

On the issue of whether or not mature events should be visible by default, I'd like to know what good, rational reasons you all have for each side.

I think Michael makes a very good point that the software interface itself is a "public" area and as such needs to follow the same rules as normal, non-mature sims.

And I also have to interject something here...lest you all think I'm some sort of bible-thumping moralist I'm actually a Card-Carrying Member of the ACLU (are you?).

Your analogy of pop up ads for porn is totally wrong. The event advertisements on SL have to follow the PG standards for decency. That is what is so laughable. Are you really that offended by seeing Pet Auction or Erotic Poetry Contest? It is not like there is an image or some pornographic description. The descriptions fall into the community standards.

I am not being short sighted at all in my opposition to this - I was opposed to the Mature sim filter, which is turned on by default and unfairly discriminates against the owner of land in Mature sims. I would only be in favor of it if it was not the default. I hope the determining factor would not be any event in an M sim - that would be ridiculous and short sighted. And I agree, I am sick to death of bingo spam and show and tell and the other wide variety of events we see every day. Can I have a filter for those?

You also keep using the phrase "the SL alternative life style". What exactly is that? The overwhelming popularity of the M sims and M events would mean that you are the alternative, not the norm.

Cristiano

I would agree to that also

Cristiano, you're coming in with one of the oldest fallicies in the book - the "Hasty Generalization" (http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/hasty.htm ). Until I see solid numbers as proof I refuse to believe that an overwhelming majority of SLers are in it for kinky sex.

Avatar A looks at the event calandar, curious to see what's happening. Avatar A sees a 'Pet Auction'.

"Oh my goodness! Look at that! My eyes have seen the words 'Pet Auction'. Egads! I'm so shocked, I'm so offended. I can't believe the gall of these people to blast my corneas with the word 'erotic'. I can't describe how offensive it is to me that I now know that somewhere out there exists a crowd of people having their fun at such a terrible thing as BDSM. Doesn't LL know that by having the printed words 'pet auction' or BDSM or eeewwwwww eeww eewwwieewew 'erotic' they are offending the good and righteous people? I think I'll complain about this immediately! No one should have to be FORCED to see or in any way acknowlege that something goes on is SL that I do not personally approve of."


OK, here's my response.

SO WHAT?? I mean really, SO WHAT? You don't like it, DON'T GO! The word erotic is on the calandar? So what? Big deal. It doesn't hurt you, or 'force' you to participate, so why oh why do you have to butt in other people fun? What IS it that makes you people think you have that right?

Don't like it? Don't go. SO simple, so straightforward, so easy to do. Do you have any idea what you sound like? Jeezus H Popsiclestick .... So what?