Blixa, what on earth is "Second Life?"

[_Dr. Shades]

Blixa:

You mentioned that your avatar is your character (or whatever) from "Second Life."

What on earth is "Second Life?" I assume it's some sort of video game, right? If so, what's it about, what do you do, PC or XBox, etc?

[_Mr. Coffee]

Google ess your fren... Second Life website.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 6,116,561 people from around the globe.

Somewhere around 6.5 million users, they use an in game monetary system exchanable for real world currency, and it's pretty much open for a citizen to do whatever.

They also allow Furries to participate... That alone warrents virtual genocide on the place.

[_Blixa]

Mr. Coffee....for shame. Are you advocating virtual blood atonement?

Shades, Coffee is correct in his general description. Its online, not in-box. And its a "game" only in a loose sense: its a virtual world where the "citizens" can create whatever kind of worlds or societies or places they so desire.

An interesting feature is that there is an in-world currencty that can be traded for real world dollars. There have even been a handful of in world entrepeneurs who apparently generate a living wage from their Second Life businesses.

Some companies have in world verions of themselves---American Apparel for one, and Reuters has established an in world press agency with thier own "embedded" reporter. There are press conferences and interviews done from within Second Life all the time.

Some universities have also established a presence, there have been courses taught entirely in world, as well as college courses that use SL for a component of the work. Other educational projects include libraries (link dumps, basically) and in world research (simulated experiences).

SL encourages people to learn how to create and build thier own environments---to do this you must own land however, so there is a mercantile aspect to pretty much everything there, although you can join with a free account and just play as long as you don't want to build anything permanent.

I joined as a kind of research project: I was initially writing an article on SL fashion (clothing primarily, but also avatar design and architecture). I was interested in how people could use a creative environment with few restrictions to create things that in the real world would require an enormous cash base. I've never finished my peice---I still might----not sure what I will do though.

I continue to find SL an interesting environment to observe, and I encourage my students to participate for writing/research projects of various kinds.

The sex industry is very big there. Even though there are plenty of places for "free sex," there are big escort businesses.

That's the other thing. In order to get your hands on in world currency you have to get a job, or make a product and sell it, or you can just buy Lindens (the currency) with dollars (I think the exchange rate is 1000L to $4.00).

I recently have been making contacts (very limited) among the LDS contingent there. Yes, that's right. Second Life is in many ways just like Real Life....no virtual missionaries yet, but some information centers and a replica LDS chapel.

[_Mr. Coffee]

Mr. Coffee....for shame. Are you advocating virtual blood atonement?

Not attonement. GENOCIDE. All furries must die. Furryism is probably one of the most disturbing fetishes I've ever heard of. Anyone how gets off on dressing like an animal and having sex with another person dressed up like an animal is one short step away from sticking it to the family dog.

So do your part to secure democracy and fight the Furry menace!

[_Blixa]

The sad spectre of bigotry raises its ugly, human-form head...though since you choose an kitchen appliance as your avatar, perhaps you advocate human on toaster love?

I think you are conflating all furries with a small faction within the specie. All furries are not necessarily yiffs, furverts or plushies.

And then there's your fundamentalist anti-zoophilia position...

Perhaps you think all the sexual discovery has been done?

[_Dr. Shades]

Hmm. I daresay this raises more questions than answers.

I guess I'll have to have somebody walk me through it the first time or two.

Now, when creating an avatar, can I just walk around naked?

Also, you mentioned a thriving sex industry. Uh, how much do they show? R-rated, X-rated, etc.?

[_Mr. Coffee]

The sad spectre of bigotry raises its ugly, human-form head...though since you choose an kitchen appliance as your avatar, perhaps you advocate human on toaster love?

If you consider thinking that people who are borderline animal idiots need a severe assbeating or worse as bigotry... Mea culpla.

And then there's your fundamentalist anti-zoophilia position...

Perhaps you think all the sexual discovery has been done?

Couple of questions, B.

Are you trying to say that zoophilia is somehow justifiable?

How does my considering zoophilia to be disturbing beyond the norm mean I am sexually repressed and does that mean that in order to be sexually liberated to you I must “F” a goat?

Are you high, and if so, would you give me the number of your dealer so I can purchase a few pounds of what your smoking?

[_Mr. Coffee]

[_Blixa]

Holy Crap Coffee!! Decaffeinate stat!

I would have thought you could have detected that I was joking! Come on! HAHAHHAHAHAHHA!!!

Ohhh boy. I thought the "sexual discovering has been done" was really witty!

[_Blixa]

You could walk around naked. But there are places that demand you dress (different "areas" or nations or lands or whathaveyou may have different rules. Or no rules). But you will need to buy a penis. Unless you favor a Ken doll smooth front look.

The sex can be private/public, pay for, free, dirty talk or animated avatars having at it.