A question to everyone who is k with LL's new policy

I think we all agree, both sex with minors and child pornography is a crime and should be punished as a crime. We also agree that certain laws apply not only in RL but also on the internet and in virtual worlds like SL: copyright infringements, defraud and slander come to mind.

Well, so far I thought that the issue was easy: judge a law violation by
a) the nature of the offense; was anyone harmed / is there any monetary loss, and
b) the real person behind the keyboard, the one who commited the crime.

It appears that I was wrong. Some say it isn't that easy. They claim that the nature and the apparent age of an avatar needs to be considered, not only the real person controlling the avatar. This leads to some interesting questions:


1.) If a person controlling an apparently underaged avatar commits a copyright violation, fraud or slander within SL, is this person/avatar judged by juvenile laws? Or not judged at all, if their avatar suggests an age of 4 or 5 years? Are their parents accountable in this case, supposed they're still alive? Can they even count as the legal guardian of a 27 or even 54 year old person with a child avatar?

2.) One of my avatars is a centaur, the other one resembles a demon. Now I'm quite concerned about my legal rights. Mythological creatures aren't covered by any law. Technically, they aren't even human. Does that mean anyone can defraud me or otherwise harm me within SL and is exempt from punishment?

3.) I have an Alt whose avatar resembles a large block of cheese. It's clearly adult cheese though, already getting a bit moldy. Well, I'm totally into cheese sex *blushes*. I know it's quite kinky, but so far I assumed it was a harmless kink. Now I'm not so sure anymore; how am I to determine the age of other cheeses? Take cream cheese, for example. It's clearly a very young and juvenile cheese. Am I allowed to have sex with cream cheese avatars, or do I have to fear any legal consequences?


I didn't intend this thread as a joke; the above questions are really important in my humble opinion. I spend a lot of money in SL, and I need to know if I and others are judged as a legal RL person or as an avatar. An avatar is basically a costume. Treat a person according to their costume, and you're allowed to shoot someone dressed up as a bear. I just want to avoid being shot.

Can I legally shoot someone dressed as Cheese? Are there any laws protecting cheese? I understand I can't shoot swiss cheese... not only is it neutral.. but it's already full of holes, so where's the fun?

in all seriousness though... What about an adult avatar dressed as a child? What about a 60 year old avatar wearing diapers and carrying a rattle? What about a child avatar dressed as an adult? What about a midget avatar? And then there's that inevitable "elves and fairies" question.

Since the "First" ageplay issue came up, all of my avs have sported pointy ears.. just to be on the safe side. Of course.. now I'm worried that someone may think I'm Romulan.

And as we know... sex with Romulans is a bannable offense.

I normally dont like to judge threads by their merits ..

But ..

this one is stupid.

Of course the account holder is the one responsible for whatever his/her Avatar does. The account holder is subject to whatever laws based on where they live if the authorities press charges.

Banning Ageplay doesnt change that.

The rationalle behind them banning ageplay doesnt change who is responsible for the account.

This appears to be a "clever" way to get people to go "of course not - you are so right - ageplay shoudnt be banned"

Even if some on the forums cant see through that.

Its not gonna happen.

Even if you sway some fence sitters - Its not going to sway LL at all.

You should become Vulcans.., it's a well known fact that they have good control on emotion and "sex". Of course if you become Vulcans you should avoid to login during "Pon farr" LOL!

If I had sex with a short romulan eating swiss cheese...what would happen?

wanna find out? (giggles maniacally)

age play is not being banned

sex with minors (sexual underage play) is

let me clear you up on this

midget romulan = elf
midget vulcan = fairie.
60 year old wearing diapers = normal
child dressed as an adult = MTV
sex with a short romulan eating swiss cheese = cream cheese

Bagel?

thats just sick

You could, I imagine, skip the Romulan altogether......

.

Doesn't sound like much fun for the Romulan.

Sure this thread went flying past sensible rhetorical questions into silliness pretty quickly, but that doesn't lessen the seriousness of the questions. Sometimes it take an absurd example to illustrate an underlying absurdity elsewhere.

I find ageplay distasteful in the extreme, but that doesn't change the fact that LL decided to ban and turn over for prosecution in a foreign country, two grown adults who were playing make-believe. Something that reportedly is unlawful in some parts of the world, but is demonstrably not unlawful in the USA, where LL is based.

I think it's a reasonable conclusion that "the rationale" is to swiftly react to press coverage which could tend to cast LL and SL in a negative light, with no regard to either the actual TOS or past LL policy on the matter. It's a PR move, pure and simple. Much like politicians who draft and vote in stupid and harmful laws so that the public in their ignorance can see them "being tough on X" (drugs, crime, dancing, going out after dark, etc).

I'm curious what you see the rationale as being.

Linden Labs is now officially 'Tough on age, tough on the causes of age'.

Nor for the cheese. But I suspect most Romulans would not be interested in such a partner anyways

.

I have a question.

What if you are eating a piece of cheddar in RL... whilst doing some of the above mentioned sinful cheese acts. Is this cannibalism?

*sighs*
I'll just lock this one.