What is pornography in SL?

Porn seems to be a strong issue at the moment, especially in light of all these age verification shenanigans. Now personally I think that people are forgetting about violence and foul language with regards to age restriction. After all, both factor into film and game classification just as much as sex, I don;t sit down to an 18 rated film expecting a sexfest (everytime ) some are just graphically violent or dripping with profanity, how much sex did you see in Reservoir Dogs?

Anyway, I digress, since "pr0n" is front and centre I just wondered what people actually considered to be pornographic in SL. The sex clubs? The "real" photos and videos that decorate some areas? Two AVs bumping uglies? Cybering? Would you expect all or some to be covered by the new system or are there other things to be included that my innocent mind has skipped?

Yes, good question...

What is adult content?

For me is normal nudity no adult content. But "sexual activity" may become very fast adult content indeed.

Morwen

I would class it as all that in RL comes under a special catagory. While topless pics can appear here in daily newspapers, open legged shots are classed as porn. Naked pics done in an arty way are acceptable in public, but not shots done in a sexual way.

Prostitution, swinging, sex clubs etc would come under the 'adult' tag, though I would think what people do in private in their own bedroom wouldn't, much the same as RL again.

I don't think people selling skins should come under adult, it's a non sexual pic for demo purposes.

I suppose real gray areas will cause problems due to different countries having different ideas of what falls under the xxx category.

So do you equate a naked avatar to a picture of a real naked human being? I'm not judging anyone's opinion we are all entitled to them, just curious as to where the line is drawn for everyone.

As in RL, a drawing of a naked person can be seen as art. But when that drawing shows any form of sexual activity it's classified as porn. The same goes for an avatar...imho.

Mandy C

I think it's down to the context of nakedness. I don't take any notice of a newbie avator changing clothes and as they so often do, get naked. I think we have all had times when our clothes fly off, but if you do it in a sexual way to cause offence/get attention, then it would be porn.

Yes, all AVs are just pixels, but it's the suggestion behind it.

hehe, I forgot about newbies changing clothes. That would be harsh.

I agree that anything done around people who did not ask/accept it is offensive. Nobody should have to put up with something they are uncomfortable with.

I agree, the other day I was at a mall and was harassed by a newb who wanted to do certain things with me...made me feel very uncomfortable. Fortunately the mall owner ejected him. Guess that's a good example....

Mandy C

Ah yes... people here correct "just nudity" doesn't cover it.

Nudity is a none offense way is not a problem. So yes, then it more a way of art.

Exactly, I sell pics of the models in my group. Some are topless, some are nude...but always done in a classy way. So that's art to me.

Mandy C

Just another thought.

The age verification is being introduced in an effort to combat minors on the grid. However, the system is only optional and you don't have to verify unless you want to access "mature content". So really nothing is stopping the minors getting on the grid still. Now whats to stop a minor getting onto the grid and cybering in IM with someone? Is this ok because the AVs aren't animating what is being described? Wouldn't it be better to make age verification compulsory for access to the adult grid?

This is what I meant in my first post a little, I find the AVs bumping uglies amusing but not erotic or offensive, actual chat and description however can be both, the new restrictions may prevent people from seeing things the shouldn't but it won't stop what I think to be one of the more powerful aspects and a half-effort in keeping minors off the grid is certainly a waste of time in my opinion.

I can see your point, however, minors getting on the grid that cyber with someone can't be avoided I think. And I think that compulsary age verification for everyone will be the next step.

Mandy C

And even that will not cover anything more the verification by credit card.... I mean, if a minor can get hold of the credit card of one its parents to verify an account, then he/she will also be able to get access to a driver license or passport..... I know that I let my driver license laying around more often as my credit card.

Morwen.

Now this I agree with you on. Very good points. I think there is alot more going on as far as reasons go that we don't know about... At least not yet. First the F.B.I., then the casino crack down... Now age verification.

I don't have children but I do keep my license and CC card together so obtaining either would be just as easy or difficult. I guess I will still wait on the particulars of how it will be implemented.

To me compulsory age verification seems sufficient for LL to cover themselves, minors will get on its unavoidable, but an opt-in approach to age verification seems to imply that LL will tolerate the minors' presence on the grid which surely isn't the proper message to send. I was quite surprised when I found that my CC details were only needed when I went premium, I would have expected to have had to provide them for access to an online game with potential access to broad mature content, especially when there is a teen alternative for the younger users.

This entire issue seems to me to be unmitigated hysteria. Frankly, the world is not going to end if a few 16-year olds manage to get a glimpse of a 512x512 jpg showing a naked woman.

I'm reminded of a Dilbert cartoon where Dilbert is getting a kid to test his internet filtering software. The last panel shows Dilbert with his back turned and the dialog "I hope that wasn't the sound of eyeballs becoming unfeasibly big".

"Landowners are morally and legally responsible for the content displayed and the behavior taking place on their land." – Daniel Linden

In other words, land owners are even responsible for content placed on their land by others, or worn on the body of a visitor.

Furthermore, the laws vary from country to country. By holding the land owner legally responsible, LL opens the doors for a shitload of lawsuits, private person against private person.
In some Middle East countries a woman wearing a bikini is already against the law. If both the offended visitor and the unsuspecting land owner happen to be a citizen of such a country, one could successfully sue the other. Doesn't even need a minor to be involved.

I guess the next step is an US court deciding on the legality of illegal activities in virtual worlds. The laws against virtual gambling suggest that virtual crime = real crime. Bestiality? Snuff porn? Damn, even "sodomy" is against the law in some federal states of the world's largest theocracy. Lawyers might get rich(er) thanks to LL.

Anything that the Moral Majority doesn't agree with is "Porn" - or "socially unacceptable behaviour"
I am a Neko - So, I am a cat-woman - maybe they will neuter me.

Ohhh.... a dirty word that is. I mean, this may change from region to region. I think the opinion of the "Moral Majority" of the Bible Belt is very different from the part of Amsterdam where I was born (and no, that was not the Red Light district).

Morwen.

And I would be willing to bet anyone who gives out their address and ss# just to play this game will not have their privacy protected no matter what sl says. Bank on it.


Elinah

Lol Morwen! Now why would I think you were born inthe red light district????
But yeah - I am sure you know who I am referring to - I have just come back from SL where I was buying wonderful photographs of nude dancers. I am stocking up on art before it is banned for self-expressionand adult content.
This is too much like 1920s Berlin for comfort.

We will probably have to prove we are females before we can have sex with males and vice versa.
Also where do Satyrs and Unicorns come into this??
my partner is a Satyr and a unicorn. He is confused by all this.

The issue of what is and what is not "adult" content and behaviour is a very grey area. For years I danced topless in clubs I could not drink in. Does that mean we should police virtual drinking in SL and would we need a multi-tiered age verification. Old enough to have virtual sex but not old enough to have a virtual beer?

Anything you dont want your 9 year old daughter checking out. Thats what this thing is trying to prevent. Kids gaining access to the grid and checking out the puppet sex, getting psychologically damaged by the sight of two cartoons doing it up, their parents complaining that the kid got in too easily, then having some government agency tossing together a lawsuit of some sort against LL. Or maybe its just some way to get your personal information so that the list can be sold for big bucks to some underground organisation for nefarious purposes.

I am so bloody tired of people worrying how little johnny will have his brains turned to mush and wind up being a psycho killer b/c he once saw a picture of a woman with her legs spread open - or even of two people having normal hetero sex ( I won't stray into the more grey areas in this post ). And then totally ignore the documented and very real effect that constant exposure to violence has on children.

Grow up and out of your twisted puritanical beliefs people - the Europeans are generally a lot more sane on this matter than we North Americans are.

And, oh yeah - giving away sensitive private information for the purposes of playing in a social networking site (no matter how nifty) doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

just my 2cents