As a fairly new resident of Second Life, I have observed and became curious about the underlying tone of sexuality in many aspects of Second Life culture. From the revealing clothing options to the frisky styles of dancing, Second Life avatars exude a certain something beyond a "PG" rating. The ever present sexual tone in Second Life can be sensed by a mature eye in times when such a tone does not seem appropriate or necessary. The sex side of Second Life is worth examining because it exists in minute ways in areas not designated as adult regions. Many avatars wear extremely skimpy clothing that in first life would be associated with strip clubs or hookers, but in Second Life are looked upon as normal. Beyond the external appearance of avatars, their actions at times automatically evoke a sense of "sass". This sassy mannerism revealed itself to me during many of my experiences at the Burning Life festival. The dance balls at the festivities offered a wide variety of dance styles. However, a majority of the dance options including the one labeled as "random" enabled the avatar to move in a slinky way, usually from the waist down. Second Life seems so inclusive of adult content that a sexual essence invades normal activity. Why do users feel the need to generate innuendos of the physical realm that are not compatible to the virtual world? Since the actual act of sex in Second Life is a mere imaginative simulation of the physical act in real life and is designated to restricted areas virtually, the presence of suggestive fetishes that carry some form of sexual connotation do not need to exist as an option or standard by avatars functioning in public places. Essentially the role of censorship is Second Life will have to intervene for the sake of maintaining innocence for users whose purpose in the world is stirctly for education, business, or networking.

Possible Sources:

Krangel, Eric. "Linden Lab Finally Cracks Down on Second Life Porn." The Business Insider. Silicon Alley Insider, 12 March 2009. Web. 16 November 2009.

     <http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/hosted/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199701944>.

• This article outlines Linden Lab's potential plan to censor the overt sexiness of Second Life. In particular, it focuses on the availability of nude "skins" in open shopping      venues and how such items will no longer appear there.  Krangel's work shows evidence of Lindel Lab's recognition of overt sexual conent as an issue in Second Life.

Dibbell, Julian. My Tiny Life: Crime and Passion in a VIrtual World. Newy York, NY: Henry Holt in Company, 1998. Print.

•  Julian Dibbell accounts for the virtual rape of "Mr. Bungle"in a virtual world called Lambdaboo. In investigating the sexual side of second life, her work can help provide evidence regarding how a users real life sexual ambitions can translate virtually to unethical actions. The case itself in interesting because it was considered "rape" even though it was impossible to have the same implications of a rape case in the real world because

Wagner, Mitch. "Sex in Second Lfe." Information Week. 2007 May 26. Web. 19 November 2009. <http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/hosted/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199701944>

• This article focus on Second Life users who fulfill sexual fantasies in SL. The article provides further insight to the connection between virtual sex and peoples real life sexuality. It can be used to support claims in respect to virtual sex being mentally and emotionally fulfilling rather than physicaly pleasurable.

Boellstorff, Tom. Coming of Age in Second Life. Princeton University Press, 2008.

•  This source is valuable because it studies SL from an anthropological presepctive. It covers a wide variety of issues including the role of sex and gender in SL. It will aid in providing a general understanding of different asppects relating to sex in SL>

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