Dear Readers,

Reflecting back, my original goal was to figure out why the nature of dance and clothing was so flirtatious and scandalous in Second Life. However, once my research began the direct link to the suggestiveness of Second Life seemed to reside in the presence of sex in the virtual world. My topic took a slight turn by correlating the role of appearances with the presence of sex. I tried to evaluate its place in Second Life and the role it plays in the culture while keeping personal beliefs on the matter aside. The topic of sex in Second Life expands into a realm worthy of a novel rather than a wiki post. However my efforts were aimed at pointing out the areas such conducts exists and the measures Linden Lab is taking to control it. The topic is a current pressing issue on the future of Linden Lab a social networking virtual world. A true examination of whether or user creativity to pornographic means is hindering the image of Second Life or maintaining the existing users residence might reveal what measure if any should be taken on the matter. The sex side of SL is apart of the world economically just as much as it is socially. Often during the research I questioned whether or not a moral standard or code of conduct applied to any extent in Second Life. The users are the creators and ultimately their creations a reflection of some aspect of their personality or beliefs. With that in mind, the creation of a world that has such a strong sexual presence gives a slight insight to the type idealized world such users really want to see. I don’t know if it is possible to pinpoint the true purpose or reason for sex in Second Life or determine if that reason is worth keeping it around to please users while damaging tainting the overall image of the company.

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For humans, sex is the natural reproductive process to breed more humans.  It is like an organic defense in all forms of life to ensure future existence of their species.  By examining the role of sex in its most simplistic and important purpose there is room to question its presence in second life.  Avatars are created in a matter of clicks and creativity on the user’s side of a computer screen.  Avatars do not have to create themselves, or have sexual process to ensure their existence because they exist dependent on humans.  Second Life provides users the option to create themselves and the world as they want it to be.  The inclusion of sexual activity in a virtual world is a choice of the by the users who generate the content.  In a virtual world where sex only serves the purpose of visual pleasure or self expression, the true value of sexual activity must be reevaluated. From personal experience in SL as Fierce Soulstar, I have encountered sex role players and overheard adult conversations in public welcome areas that are not classified as adult regions.  Perhaps sex and sexual undertones in SL exist so openly as a result of the lack of physicality involved. Since such acts only tap into the sense of sight and sound there is no risk factor involved as in first life. There is not the same sense of responsibility or connection so it loses some of the first life value that makes it more sacred in the real world.  The connotations that come along with the casual existence of sex in a virtual world assume the same acceptability by users who participate in them.

Avatars in Second Life tend to be a perfected representation of the user. More often than not, avatars have the ideal body with decreased body fat and increased muscle mass. The options necessary to create a realistic looking avatar with slight love handles, saddle back hips, or not so perky cleavage exists but a walk through Second Life welcome areas provides more than enough proof that users are not inclined to use them. In first life appearance can often be associated as a component of confidence. The need to be a physically fit male or a coke bottled shaped women in first life can linked to society’s measure of beauty. Second Life essentially presented the opportunity to create a society without the pressuring standards that exist in first life to be perfect. Yet users still portray the ideal image of perfection, beauty, and sexiness that exist according to real world standards. The standard in SL is pushed to a farther extreme because of the endless possibilities recreating and redefining what looks “good”. The link between sex in SL and appearance is attraction. Fashion in SL tends to embody scandalous trends that wouldn’t be viewed as respectful or appropriate in first life. The Psychology of Fashion examines the influence of “clothing attributes on the perception of personal characteristics” (Solomon 267) and explains that,

“The way in which perception of an individual is influenced by clothing attributes is learned from the observer’s past experience. Although the prescribed clothing for men and women has changed considerably in recent years, there are still some aspects of dress which we observes often enough in given individuals to cause us to form certain associations” (Solomon 268).

Avatars who dress suggestively make themselves more vulnerable to the attention matching the undertones of their appearance. The suggestiveness of clothing can be observed through the lack of clothing especially on females. The “associations” that clothing gives individuals described by the Psychology of Fashions, relates to avatar appearance as a whole because the manner in which they present themselves effects the type interactions they encounter.

Suggestive undertones in Second Life exist beyond just appearances. The personality presented by avatars is ultimately a reflection of the user who portrays some form of themselves through them. The type of conversation that occurs between avatars is not determined by a matter of options presented by the program but rather a matter of choice by the two users. Newcomers in SL, “newbies”, appear at some type of orientation island or welcome area when first coming into Second Life. The type of first experience they have there becomes the first impression of SL. Some welcome areas, such as Morris Island,  tend to be social hubs especially later into the evening. While there one is susceptible to overhearing adult conversation and automatically receive a slight introduction into the adult world of SL. Joel Stein talks about his experiences a newbie and first impressions of SL in “My So Called Second Life.” He explains how he assumed he would engage in the adult content, categorizing his possible actions as “meaningless, multipartnered, and degrading” . However once in SL, he was drafted into the adult content  before venturing to explore it himself by a helpful avatar named Cristal Beese. He explains that much of their initial conversation was about sex despite the fact that Cristal was a married woman. The dialogue in open venues and new encounters in SL often sways towards a flirty direction as if there Is a common understanding and comfort in sexual topics when dwelling in a virtual world. Even in my own experiences communicating with strangers in SL for educational purposes, there is a mention or flirtatious hint. I’ve always avoided or overlooked moments in conversations like that to set a boundary rather than appear to be open or interested for even more pursuits.  

All sexual suggestiveness and sexual acts in Second Life is not rooted to pornography or fetishes. Some avatars take advantage of the features as a way to virtually express their feelings of cyber romance through the very same venue in which it was developed. All though lacking physical connection, some users find comfort in visually seeing a representation of themselves and another engaging in signs of affection. On the other hand some users find the option for sexual activity doesn’t feel right because the avatar encounter is not a real encounter with the actual person. (The Fate of Washu). In the case of Damien and Washu, a Second Life couple that turned into a real life couple, romance developed in the absence of any adult features. The couple began dating in Second Life, than in real life, and now has a child appropriately named Linden. (Second Life Couple Have Real Life Baby). Their relationship shows hope that a successful romance can be established virtually. However the fact that they did not engage sexually even though the option virtually presented itself shows, but rather valued the real life experience shows that such features are not necessarily a factor of true love with in a virtual world.

Linden Lab has granted a lot of creative freedom in SL in order for people to be whoever or whatever they want to be. The sexual tendencies of users in respect to how they conduct conversation or choose to appear is not closely within Linden Labs power to control without violating the original freedoms of SL. The most extreme cases of adult content and pornographic materials in Second Life are restricted to adult regions which make up an estimated 6% of the total mass of the virtual world (“Second Life Stat of the Day...” ). With a mere 6% of land being restricted under the “adult” label there is an open title for venues that contain “adult” content without any restriction. For example, I went to a gay club called Tristar and immediately upon entering the club I saw a sea of dark and light blue balls which provided an array of sexual activity options. The balls were labeled with options like cuddle, flirt, romantic kiss, slow kiss, and slow dance which were the most innocent sounding options in comparison to what I discovered upstairs in the club. The upper part of the club had sofas neatly arranged with a floating advertisement over them that said, “This couch is just 3 prims and over 100 sex animations. Buy here or test it in the no lag Sexbed Testroom”.  The area was totally unrestricted and not what I expected to see. My original intention for going to the club was to meet another classmate but the visit brought up an important issue on Linden Labs end of controlling Second Life. Prior to the visit to Tristar I had not encountered sexual options; I had only witnessed sexual connotations within SL residents. However the open options of Tristar, private rooms for activity, and free toys highlighted the element of surprise and chance that exists when visiting a new place in SL. For a person whose purpose in SL is strictly educational or business, the right to a pure experience isn’t fully protected.

Linden Lab recently has acknowledged the lack censorship and the effects it has on an individual’s overall experience and perception of SL. As of April 22, 2009 Linden Lab publicized an initiative which “ enables users to filter content by adjusting their search settings” while still preserving  “the founding principles of Second Life while evolving the medium to better serve the needs of its growing and increasingly diverse community. This will provide a more predictable experience for Second Life users, a group that contains a blend of consumers, companies and cultures from around the world” (Linden Lab Press).  The unpredictability of Second Life is most closely associated to the pornographic and sexual aspects of it. By the “definition and implementation of a three-tiered rating system - PG, Mature, or Adult - that will be used to identify content and set individual preferences for Residents” LL hopes to improve the unwarranted exposure people face unexpectedly (Linden Lab Press).

Second Life requires users to be 18 years old in order maintain a mature adult world. Among existing users, this requirement constitutes their right to open adult content without the restrictions presented by Linden Lab’s newest initiative. In an attempt to gain the opinions of current SL residents, Linden Lab posed a message board forum for comments and concerns regarding changes in adult content. The outrages response by users about future changes to adult content exposes who important such content is to second Life as culture. Many users complain that in changing the current settings, rather than protecting future users from mature content Linden Lab is hindering the creative freedom of existing users. Generalizing many of the comments reveals the users believe that the existing age limit in second life ensures that the people who participate are mature enough to handle the adult content. However users who gave feedback fail to acknowledge the possibility that some people might not want any visible of cyber connection to the sex side of Second Life. (Upcoming Changes for Adult Content: Geographical Separation of Adult Content).

Ultimately the role of sex in Second Life culture is a result of the users. Determining whether or not it has a place in Second Life is complex due to the founding principles of freedom and user creativity in that world.  Linden Lab recognizes that the existence of sex affects the overall image and user adaptability in the world. Considering the privacy correlated to such encounters in first life, the bold displays often found in Second Life taint one’s experience. Second Life has redefined the definition of cyber sex by the inclusion of avatars as vessels to display what would ordinarily be left to the imagination. It has a strong presence in Second Life that users have grown comfortable in and therefore cannot be completely removed. The efforts to isolate the existing adult content is admirable in theory but essentially what a user takes offense to, considers inappropriate, or worthy of isolation is a matter of perception. Linden Lab may be able to shelter users from the extreme displays of sex and role playing, but they cannot fully understand each individuals personal values and uphold them. What is blatantly in appropriate in public venues is tamable but what is merely suggestive is of no ones control.

FInal Project SSL Bibliography

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