After this week’s theme relating to Second Life, it really got me thinking about this game. Initially, I just thought it was one of those virtual worlds where people would go to create avatars and just roam around and maybe playing games or something to own points. From a different perspective, I also thought it could be a place where friends would all make avatars and communicate with each other in this online world. At least from what I read from the article, “Sex Lives in Second Life,” man was I wrong.
I never really believed that online games that consisted of avatars also had sex lives. I knew it was going on, but not on, what seems like, a fairly popular “game.” It is just so bizarre to me that people would build like lingerie stores and photo places where female avatars can take pictures, mostly nude. Another part that was very bizarre to me was the fact that once you engage in any type of sexual activity; you can’t leave until it was over. A common topic relating to these issues and happenings in Second Life was rape. On the discussion board for class, the majority of people who wrote about Second Life wrote about rape. The main concern was that if rape is illegal in the real world, what makes it legal in the virtual world. I just find it very disturbing that some people want to rape other avatars, and get away with it. For some people it could be very scary for your avatar to be sexually harassed.
This leads to my next concern of identity. I’m pretty sure that you do not have to have an avatar with the same sex as yourself. With this indication how many of the really slutty female avatars do you really think are females? Probably not a lot. In class, some survey revealed that the age range for Second Life players were fairly old when compared to the age range for people who play Facebook games. With this in mind, do you really think Second Life is full of old characters? Probably not because that would make it less fun. So in other words, is Second Life full of perverted old dudes? I guess we would really never know.
Due to my limited exposure to this game, my generalizations may be false. However, from what I've read and heard about in class, this is what I got out of what this game is all about, and it doesn’t really interest me. So I don’t think I will be partaking into this game anytime soon.
I also was shocked when I found out that the option to rape an avatar was available... I found it hard to believe that people even thought about bringing the concept of rape into this virtual world. It really comes to show that there exists perverted minds out there who I guess seem to support rape. Even if it is online and a justification for bringing up rape as an option in the virtual world is trying to make that world based on the real world, I still feel it is wrong. Atleast the avatar who decides to rape another avatar should be punished.
ReplyDeleteI dont know if you watch Law&Order:SVU, but I am an addict. I was watching an episode where they actually had a second life-esque program where some guy kidnapped this woman because he was in love with her avatar, who happened to be an underaged stripper. I think that this episode kind of brings up what you are talking about, with questions of rape or legality, and I find it scary that there can be some people who would take this virtual world a little too seriously and need to venture out into the real world.
ReplyDeleteI also am not sure how the game really works as for the sexuality and rape rules, but I also think it is a questionable what the limits to a virtual world should be
I agree that it is very disturbing that you can rape someone on virtual games. I am also an SVU addict, that episode did make me realize how in reality as well it is very scary how some people take virtual games so seriously. There should be some limitations with these games.
ReplyDeleteReflection and Review
ReplyDeleteI really liked the fact that you looked into Second Life since it was brought up several times in class. I agree with the questions that you asked concerning identity since it’s such a huge issue. I enjoyed your blog about the “Fall of the Library” and the benefits of switching over to electronic forms of print. Back then, the printing press created a revolution in itself, only to be surpassed by the digital media revolution where the Kindle now stands. Both were truly two different forms of innovation that catered to the transition of one to the other. Overall, I think you did a really great job with your blogs. Though you didn’t directly mention or incorporate some of the things we talked about in class, I can definitely see where you’re coming from, and a lot of the things you said were things I could relate to or match with what we’ve learned. Therefore, I think you did a fine job!