Even if you think you don’t role play because you don’t narrate your actions or your thinking, Second Life is just that: a big RP world. First, think of this: you’re probably portraying yourself as your real self is not. How many of you have avatars that mirror your true selves? How many of you are vampires in real life? How many of you sport a cat tail right above your rump? Or how many of you have already experienced a complete transmutation into a hopping bunny, a flying dragon, or a fuchsia guppy fish (have you ever seen a guppy fish driving a motorcycle, by the way)? How many of your never aging avatars are 20-30 years your junior?
The more “dramatic” example may be the popular notion that a high percent of those sexy looking female avatars out there may have more hair in their chests than Tarzan’s ape mate. Yet, the opposite phenomenon is also valid. Gosh no! I don’t mean a real life chipmunk might be playing a second life (they surely have more transcendental doings to worry about), but the fact that the tall, tanned and muscular bearded man next to you may be a little skinny emo girl (hell, or boy).
And I’m just talking about physical mismatching. How many of you behave exactly as you do in real life?
Some people think all those fake gender-benders have only one thing in mind: sex. But that may not be true, as it isn’t true that most people in Second Life are pornomaniacs. According to Linden Labs own research, only 5% (or less) of Mainland have adult content. I don’t know if they are including escort services and the like, but 5% is indeed a pretty low statistic. When you think of it –and of course, I’m tripping in ketchup here– only 5% of real life people in their “sexual years” may have never had sex in their lives. That figure only includes Jacko Wako, Kermit the Frog ( I have my doubts about him, I may have to corroborate that information with Miss Piggy), Ricky Martin, a couple of retired priests and a few other nuns.
But anyway, and back on track, the myriad of reasons for such transformations and gender role play probably knows no limit, but sex and money do drive the world, and the new Linden Labs’ adult content policy underway has made it more clear to all those incredulous minds, judging by the numerous articles written to discuss some RP aspects that the new measures may adversely affect.
- Second Life, Upcoming Changes for Adult Content
- A Crimson World, Upcoming changes for Adult Content (the Linden press conference)
- Alphaville Hearld, Is Your Second Life Woman a Real Life Man?
- SL Revolution, Mutatio Vox Populi
- Metaversally Speaking, A Content Adult?
But be no fool. No doubt those writings bring up many interesting subjects about human behavior, but Linden Research’s only interest is to cover up their backs and portrait Second Life as a clean moral environment in which bored politicians can feel comfortable enough, especially if the talk about Teen Grid merge comes to fruition in the near future as many predict, but nobody confirms. Second Life is just like the Internet: sex seems to be everywhere only because it gets more hype and is frequently searched up. You find it because you know where it is.
On a side note… I’m not that good at female fashion (no wonder there), so excuse my questionable taste. I just needed a picture to color the post. Yet I feel I ought to add the corresponding fashion notes in case you think I look cute:
Hair: BP – Summer Chignon
Set: Rebel Xtravaganza – Fleur the Vie – Orange
Boots: The Abyss – NAU Combat Boots
I saw this dress in Achariya’s blog, by the way; it looks best on her, I tell you. Too bad it isn’t transferable since I don’t see me using it that often, you know…