I took a look at it. Not something I'd be interested in for many reasons - like for instance theres a real world out there.
OTOH, it seems clear SL, like most early technology, probably makes most of its money from sexually related stuff.
I'm wondering why they don't keep out the virtual child porn? Apparently even the liberal Dutch have a problem with this:
Dutch demand ban of virtual child porn in Second Life
'School for paedophiles'
By Jan Libbenga ? More by this author
Published Wednesday 21st February 2007 16:45 GMT
The Dutch prosecutor's office is considering legal actions to test the law against child porn in the popular virtual game Second Life. With no clear litigation, it is difficult to act against perpetrators.
Kitty Nooij, who is in charge of the sex offences portfolio at the prosecutor's office in the Netherlands, told Dutch news show Netwerk that she will try to bring cases to court so precedents can be set.
Linden Lab's Second Life is an online digital world with almost three million "residents" claimed by the company. Some areas of Second Life allow adult members to have virtual sex with others who pretend to be children.
Experts, such as psychologist Jos Buschman of the Van Mesdag clinic in Groningen, say Second Life is "by definition a school for paedophiles", despite the fact that adult members like to roleplay as children. Second Life requires all players to be adults.
Virtual child pornography has been a criminal offence in the Netherlands since 2002. However, there is no litigation related to virtual sex with virtual children. Today, at least four political parties in the Netherlands demanded a ban on virtual child porn roleplay.
Discussions about virtual child porn in Second Life already started three years ago with the introduction of an avatar called Sasami Wishbringer, who has the body of an eight year-old. Lately, there are more serious reports about adult players with child avatars soliciting (paid) sex.
Last year, Robin Harper, Linden Lab vice president of community development, wrote in a posting on the official Second Life forum, that "if Second Life has evidence of child pornography or abuse that involves children in the real world, it will act to protect the child and notify the authorities". However, virtual roleplay is allowed. ®
www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/21/dutch_demand_ban_on_virtual_chil...
And I see the Edwards site has another problem:
Edwards Faces Edward In SL Presidential Race
Psychic John Edward supporters build HQ next to politico John Edwards HQ
Baku goon swing vote likely to go Edward - Edwards supporters silent
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
Edward and Edwards campaigns running side by side
Potential perils awaiting earnest politicians in the metaverse became real Sunday evening. Given the mainstream media’s breathless excitement about supporters of John Edwards american presidential bid creating a headquarters in Second Life it was bound to happen. Next door to John Edwards’ in-world campaign HQ, supporters of a challenger have launched a campaign for John Edward - a TV psychic.
I stopped by the John Edward supporter’s campaign center in Kkotsam sim and spoke with Mr. Decomposing Monstre about the campaign. Mr. Monstre told me that he “respects Mr Edwards campaign, but really in the end ask yourself, what can the man offer you? I mean he can't even speak to dead people. That's entry level psychic powers!”. Supporters of the opposition were unavailable for comment as of press time.
The John Edward headquarters carefully mimics their neighbor, and from what I could tell during several visits has more supporters actually present at the site - at times Edward supports spilled over onto the Edwards site and I never found any Edwards supporters in world. If grassroots organization is important, Mr. Edwards is likely to have a hard time winning the hearts of the metaverse citizens - and his inability to read or control minds is also a handicap.
Continue reading "Edwards Faces Edward In SL Presidential Race" »
Posted by Pixeleen Mistral on February 27, 2007 at 10:20 AM in Mafias, Gangs and Virtual Governments, News from Second
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