'Second Life' takes tough stance on taboos

Second Life has come under fire for some taboo sexual behavior among residents of the online world. Now maker Linden Lab is trying to lay down the law regarding what is and isn't permitted in Second Life, but not all its residents are happy about it.

(Credit: Linden Lab)

In a blog posting the company noted it would not tolerate certain activities within the virtual world, including "real-life images, avatar portrayals, and other depictions" of sexual acts involving children, sexual violence including rape, and other "broadly offensive content."

Violators could face sanctions, including termination of accounts, closure of groups, removal of content and loss of land, the blog said.

The message was not met with universal approval. Some citizens of the realm protested what they consider censorship, and are questioning who decides what is considered offensive.

Blog community response:

"I am afraid that this statement from Linden Lab overall is at best unhelpful, and for the most part fails to answer any questions, and raises many more."
--Second Life Insider

"Yes, banning real-life images of age play involving actual RL minors is understandable, as is the case for sexual and nonsexual RL extreme violence. But avatar portrayals of these types of activities--particularly when they are engaged in by consenting adults? That's thought-policing."
--Pixel Pulse Magazine

"Between this and some other bad news earlier today (Link), it's not looking good for Linden Lab. The dream of Second Life becoming the 'future internet' is fading fast for those who believed. I'm glad I wasn't one of them."
--ReBang

[DraconumPB]

LOLfurries

Does portrayls of two furry avatars having sex constitute bestiality?

Linden knows, that probably constitutes half of SL sex... I would have to imagine anyway, I've used SL very little myself due to horrible performance and ugly graphics...

[Sunflare98]

hahaha

i've only tried it a couple of times - it's so processor intensive that it turns the bottom of my MacBook Pro into fiery lava...

[AMPerez]

Hmmmm... (Fellow furry reply)

As a fellow furry, (I think I know you - I'm 'River'), I would have to say 'no'. Now what SL and LL thinks about it, is a whole different ball of yarn.

Insomuch as seeing what they (LL) is trying to do, to protect it's netizens from those that take it upon themselves to use the platform in a despicable way, that's what's going to make or break its continued popularity for days to come.

Granted there are fandoms of all types and most if not all carry both timid and destructive extremes, how can they (LL) dessimate what's "right" and what's "wrong"?

Two furries having sex could be construed as, just 2 people having sex, or 1 or 2 people pretending to engage in beastialtiy.

There lies the problem.

[cidman2001]

???

I'm with the other posters thus far. The world just doesn't live up to the hype. I've spent many hours in world and have to come to the conclusion, just as the net as a whole has become, that the interesting part is the porn ratio. I think it is probably higher in 2L than it is on the rest of the net. This leads me to the inevitable question. Who's complaining? Are we as a society becoming so segmented that we now have acceptable porn and unacceptable porn? Obviously there is no place in either world for child pornography or pedophelia, but is there really any expectation that this "new world" would be any less offensive than the real world or the already existing alternate world that we call the internet. As the internet has spread the question of censorship has come up time and time again. This debate is no different or is it a new one...People just want to make it seem like it's somehow different. I thing it's time for Second Life and all this web 2.0 crap to go away just like the hype it rode in on...same old crap, new labes. Big suprize....

[rainbirdit]

Need to elect a Parliament

There is definately a need for rules. The question is who decides. I think there needs to be some form of people's representatives. Perhaps its time to elect a House of Representatives (Parliament) to vote on such matters.

Of course, being a digital world, a vote on all issues could work just as well - put out a vote to all members to decide on logon what they think.

[AMPerez]

A suggestion...

Why not have 14 people serve as sort of Cabinet?

Seven from LL and the other 7 as its online users?

My 2c.(USD) LOL