Can "rape" occur in SL?

Excerpt from the official blog:

The diversity of things to see and do within Second Life is almost unimaginable, but our community has made it clear to us that certain types of content and activity are simply not acceptable in any form. ... and other depictions of sexual violence including rape,...

Are they prohibiting something that can't happen?

You can't rape me if I turn off my computer. You can't rape me if I TP out.

You can only actually rape me if I let you. If I let you, it's not rape.

The only "rape" actually occurring is voluntary roleplay of simulated rape.

As a Gorean, and as an escort, I participate in voluntary roleplay of simulated rape all the time. I even have one customer who likes to murder me after he rapes me. It's just fantasy roleplay.

In fact, there is a substantial body of evidence which suggests that the widespread availablility of porn (particularly internet porn) may well be a factor contributing to the decline in actual real rapes. There is no doubt that the number of rapes is declining, although there is debate about why - but a substantial contingent of academics and proffessionals in the field believe that venting through porn is a factor.

What if my customer decides, if he can't get his jollies in second life, he is going to go out and rape/murder somebody in RT?

In that case, by trying to stop something they shouldn't have tried to stop, SL would have caused inintended consequences.

Outlawing virtual rape, which isn't rape anyway, could lead to actual real world rapes.

Personally, I am not going to change my behavior or business because of this post. No matter what we roleplay, nobody is being raped. There is only consensual roleplay of simulated rape.

Then your client needs to be locked up with the key thrown away. If you're suggesting that your clients are potential rapists then you're giving credence to the notion of virtual rape being banned because you're normalising the heinous act.

Whereas I see virtual rape between two consenting adults who are only interested in it because both parties consent as a fantasy, you seem to be suggesting that in some way it's an alternative to actual rape. If that's the case, then the quicker it's banned the better.

the only real way to get raped in SL is to go into a kasino and expect to walk out with more then you entered with

o_O he murders you after he kills you ?..... does he revive you first ?


Fogive me ... but what is your question ?

ROFL )

Can "rape" occur in SL?

No.

I sure hope he pays well. But I agree with you . As far as I am concerned, all Avatar to Avatar contact is consensual. And Fictional. Some i may consider , odd, amusing, tatseles and even offensive. But it is not real. No one can pesuade me differently. If it isn't clearly forbidden by LL, I don't care who does what to whose pixels.

100% Agree.
Can’t force someone to pick the poseball!
But……….*THINKING…….what if someone mislabeled or changed the label on a poseball?
Then the effected party might be able to claim they were tricked into being put into some compromising position.
Look I still agree with your point, and short of a pole I don’t see how too many out there would disagree.
Just playing devils advocate. Or err…well some ones advocate.
DK

That's a stretch. I guess it could happen theoretically, but you still can log off or TP away.

Please examine your logic above. By definition, the word alternative creates an either/or situation. With regards to the hypothetical question of my customer, you are saying you prefer he rape somebody in realtime than in SL. You're saying you prefer someone actually be raped, than to allow me to simulate rape with the customer.

Somebody should rape you in RT and see if that changes your opinion. Hypothetically, of course.

I agree with basically with the other posters that "real rape" cannot occur in SL. The main reason it can't occur is that there isn't away to physically violate the person against their will, which is the definition of rape.

I do think it is possible to make someone feel violated sexually on SL. Get involved in an intense and emotional scene and it can be easy to forget that you are able to just logout. You can also be tricked into 'giving consent' to something that you didn't really mean to. If someone wants to mentally prey on others who are emotionally vulnerable they can do it. I wouldn't equate the damage someone would suffer from this as the same as RL rape, but it could still cause real emotional damage to someone.

However, the things that go on in the various BDSM, capture roleplay and edge play areas on SL are not anything like 'real rape'. Both parties consented to the activities and anyone who goes to these areas and identifies themselves or carries themselves as a potential victim does so with the full intent of wanting to play out that fantasy.

These areas are not a problem. They are well marked, anyone who goes to them knows what is going on and what they are getting themselves into. They shouldn't be banned. In fact I'd argue by prominently letting people know what to expect if they go there, they are doing exactly what is best for SL.

Now if a place isn't identified as an area where you will encounter this type of activity then that is a problem. It isn't something that should be acted out in an open area where others who do not want to see that type of activity or be subjected to it can encounter it.

heavy BDSM scenes and fantasy rape shouldn't be banned from SL. However, it should take place in areas where either the participants can expect to have a reasonable amount of privacy (own island or home on SL) or in places in SL where the owners of that area have explicitly said this is the type of activity that area is designed for.

"The diversity of things to see and do within Second Life is almost unimaginable, but our community has made it clear to us that certain types of content and activity are simply not acceptable in any form. ... and other depictions of sexual violence including rape"

My problem with this statement is, by the word "depiction" do they mean 2 adults playing characters on the screen hopping on poseballs? Or do they mean a photograph displayed on a prim in an area?

I eagerly await clarification from the powers that be on that, and the other vague statements in the blog post.

I will not hold my breath, however.

I completely agree with your post. But the above argument sounds as if there could be the need to escape from dangerous situations. Not even that is the case. No one can force you onto a poseball. All someone could possibly do is to bump into you, or stand next to you and type emotes describing molestation. Or to play a leg-humping animation. That's clearly griefing, but no rape and in no way dangerous.

Actually the answer is clearly spelled out in the very verbage edited out of the quote. (The quote was edited by the Original Poster - corrected with appologies to Dana)



It very clearly states that Avatar Portrayals are considered Depictions

My problem is the word "community"... did I miss some big vote? A rally? Whose community?

We had heard you were busy the night of the rally, Or else wed have invited you. Cone to think of it Dan L said a whole lot of the COmmunity was "Busy"

Come to think of it, I thought the room seemed really really empty.

Ohh well, its not important all 4 of us voted.

When they say "community" perhaps they mean all their lawyers?

The Problem is not what they (the LL) mean, but what the legal authorities of your country say to this. And at last in most country in europe any publication or even the possession of depiction of rape acts are forbidden. There is nothing to discuss here and nothing to blame the Lindens for except that they didn't act on time.

Dude, I've seen some German porn that's DEFINITELY depicting rape.

I'm saying he shouldn't be raping anyone and should be getting medical help. Saying it's ok as long as he has you, what happens if you can't login, or he's short on funds? He can go out and rape because he didn't get his fix from you? People who can't define fantasy from reality shouldn't be encouraged to think that rape is ok.

In fact, there is a substantial body of evidence which suggests that the widespread availablility of porn (particularly internet porn) may well be a factor contributing to the decline in actual real rapes. There is no doubt that the number of rapes is declining, although there is debate about why - but a substantial contingent of academics and proffessionals in the field believe that venting through porn is a factor.





Id be very interested to see a link to some of this evidence.

Actually I was there, but fell asleep in the corner, the two guys were depicting something or other of their own at the back, so it was only you that voted Colette. So I guess it's all down to you. Well done

If you don't have a legal sticker of all involved parties to accompany that porn and if you don't display that sticker in an easy accessible way, yes, then it is illegal. Thats the point.

Then I claim ballot tampering - becuase I voted against letting the community decide other people's morality.

Did Dan L live in Florida before moving to San Fran?

What sort of sticker - you are sayign if people in SL act out an Avatar rape scene its okay as long as they have stickers?


Also -

Someone pointed out the other day, Germany doesnt actual ban Cartoon depictions But the actual ban is on Realisitic Virtual Portrayals.

Is this true?