Calling all cultures? Not any more
Filed under: Culture, News items, Second Life
Remember "Calling all cultures to the Second Life 5th Birthday Celebration"? Remember "Celebrating the cultural diversity of Second Life"? How about "This is a Resident-created, Linden Lab-sponsored event, which means that Linden Lab has donated the land and various basic resources, but the rest comes from you, the community. And there is room for many people to get involved"?
Well, not any more. Linden Lab feels their hand (and presumably the attached eye) has been forced. Linden Lab is taking "a more active role in the event."
This means at least one of the groups of communities that has been the mainstay of the previous four anniversary events is being refused participation this year.
The SL Children communities in Second Life (adults who role-play children in a family-friendly, G-rated, wholesome, decent and fun way) had once again prepared one of their grand and enjoyable showcases -- indeed, at the third anniversary, the SL Children's displays and events were among the most popular -- but are being refused the right to participate for the first time in five years, apparently due to Linden Lab's fear of Mark Kirk and his ill-informed and unfounded assertions.
Far from being at risk, it's apparently even harder to find real children using Second Life than it is to find Jihadists -- who are apparently very thin on the ground indeed.
At this point it is not even clear as to whether juvenile avatars of adult users will even be permitted entry to the anniversary site, making this the first year that Linden Lab has not sponsored this community (actively or tacitly). Word is that the resident organizer of the anniversary celebration, SignpostMarv Martin has stood down from participation as a result.
Linden Lab (according to staff) is apparently afraid of the whole of Second Life being shut down at a legal level if it should show any implicit support of -- well, an activity that mental health professionals tell us we should be trying to find ways to do more of. Childlike play, and reliving our respective youths in positive and nourishing ways.
So, it looks like Linden Lab's support is going to have to go to the BDSM and sex communities instead this year. Because, heaven knows, those seem to meet with everyone's approval.
Update: Gor and BDSM communities are apparently not welcome anymore either. Any more that you might have expected to be a part that you now expect to be excluded?
Update: Organizer Ariel Otafuku has also stepped aside.
Update: We take a look at the reason that Linden Lab gave for their decision.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
KirbyMeister said on 8:56PM 5-30-2008
I can understand the Gor/BDSM people being kicked out, but SL Children? AFAIK they're just people that RP kids for some reason, don't see why they can't be at SL5B.
Anyone wanna see if we could push through a "Pools Closed" build? Like make it PG, and see how long until the Lindens remove it for some stupid reason.
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CodeBastard Redgrave said on 9:46PM 5-30-2008
This just in. After Marv, Ariel drops the flag.
Recieved as a group notice:
"I have spent 2 lives in SL starting in '04. During those times I spent as a volunteer on many levels. Through this, I valued the true nature of a world owned by its people. SL5B is a turning point where many SL citizens are going to be discriminated against. Therefore, I am bowing out of my management roles for SL5B but will stay within the group to advise only. I am deeply ashamed to be promoting SL5B while others in the community are pushed aside. We are all RL behind the avie.-- Ariel Otafuku."
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KaraSpengler said on 10:54PM 5-30-2008
@20: TG is banned from the event? when? (and how is it "by definition"?) I know of at least two transgender organizations that have applied to be part of things. The registration form even lists GLBT.
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Tateru Nino said on 1:17AM 5-31-2008
TG in this case refers to the Teen Grid.
Erbo Evans said on 11:48PM 5-30-2008
I *was* saying that I'd like to do one or more DJ sets at SL5B...but this is causing me to seriously rethink that. Would LL want to keep me from playing "Bilingual," or "Crazy Bitch," or virtually anything by Children of Bodom, because someone might get offended? Don't laugh too loudly...as far as I'm concerned, they've just thrown the whole concept of the birthday celebrations up in the air, and who knows WHAT they'll do next?
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Everett Linden said on 2:31AM 5-31-2008
Hey everyone...there's a lot of misunderstanding here, so let me try to articulate our policy here.
Child avatars are welcome at the celebration. However, we do respectfully decline the submissions we received to create exhibits for the event.
Goreans, role-players, and members of the multitude of international communities are all welcome, and I hope you come.
@3: Gwyneth: what you heard is untrue.
@5: I agree, it sucks to put work into something and have things change. I wish you and others weren't put in that position, so apologies not being clearer earlier.
@8: no one is "revoking the title of community". Your communities are thriving in SL...Linden Lab couldn't revoke it if we tried!
@9 Tateru: The SL Birthday on Linden land is PG.
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Tateru Nino said on 2:35AM 5-31-2008
As at the time the information was given to us, Linden Lab was unwilling to state whether juvenile avatars would be permitted to attend or not.
PG sims this time? That's rather a departure from last year.
Tateru Nino said on 3:08AM 5-31-2008
We've been informed that the PG-only event sims are a change of policy from what was planned by resident organizers, where all of the anniversary sims were planned to be mature rated sims with areas having specific signage.
If you would like to contact us with official comments about the change in the organizing committee's planned policy and the reasoning behind that change, we'd welcome the opportunity.
Patchouli Woollahra said on 8:23AM 5-31-2008
I cannot in good conscience accept a SL Birthday Celebration that actually excludes people who are not engaged in activities that are illegal either in their jusridiction or in California.
While some people believe that last year's celebrations were a bit of a fubar, they at least did not exclude anyone who wanted to participate with no intention of direct profit, and they did not get censored like they are this year.
The Community Standards are for everyone, not just the residents. let's keep it that way.
eggstasy said on 8:32AM 5-31-2008
SL = Sanitized Life :)
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KaraSpengler said on 9:18AM 5-31-2008
@26 "not being clearer earlier"? How is a blog post entitled "calling all cultures" then at the list minute saying "except for x, y, and z" even qualify as a misunderstanding of what was meant?
Could LL please say *exactly* why these cultures are being excluded? Just so there is no confusion: kids, goreans, bsdm types, and any others not welcome.
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Silver said on 10:11AM 5-31-2008
I participated in SL4B and met a wonderful community of artists there, child roleplayers among them. I was excited about SL5B, because the arts community has blossomed in the past year. But after being told that we could not create our own space, my friends and I reconsidered our participation. I am sadly not surprised that the "embarrassing" communities have been excluded from SL5B. It's so much better to drive cultures underground than to explore and understand them.
As a parent, I don't understand all the screaming about child avatars. People create child characters all the time in art, literature and film, and I am grateful that some adults have the imagination to create these worlds for me and my children to enjoy.
I'm becoming seriously disgusted with the corporatization of LL, the fear of lawsuits, and the pandering to right wing groups who don't even participate in the community.
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Dusan Writer said on 11:05AM 5-31-2008
Astonishing. Hubris.
I'm so shocked that Robin Linden who has proven so adept at policy announcements, community relations, and communication has been so brilliant in how this has been handled.
Less sarcasm, more outrage, here..
http://dusanwriter.com/?p=536
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Tharkis Olafson said on 11:16AM 5-31-2008
I am a Gorean, I find it interesting that they pick and choose what "cultures" to include in this event. Goreans, BDSM and Child avatars are not ok.. But furries, well let's let those guys in cause they are just cute little guys in costumes right? I mean sheesh.. It's a fetish, it's roleplay, just like BDSM (to some), Gor (to some), and child avatars.. Furries have trans-gender, multi-gender, gay, interspecies kinks.. There are sims where people openly yiff each other in the public. But this is some how ok compared to these other groups?
I have nothing against furries, nor all the other groups. I am not a part of these cultures, but I make damn sure I look into them myself before predjudging them.
If they want to show the diversity of the cultures, they should not be leaving out some of the biggest groups in SL.. Gor is huge, as are the others. No one should be discounted because of the culture they associate themselves with.
I applied for a spot, I wasn't going to set up a gorean tavern or a slave auction.. I wanted to set up a functioning arena. I felt it tasteful, and it's a very big part of the SL Gorean culture. After hearing this, I know that I will not receive an invite because the culture I choose to associate myself with, is obviously not "clean" enough to display. Shame on Linden Labs for not embracing true diversity and choosing instead to display that which they can use for profit. I for one, am disappointed.
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Taff Nouvelle said on 12:46PM 5-31-2008
SL children ARE being abused.
What is the definition of abuse.
Being hurt by the actions of a more powerful person or group.
Being left powerless.
Being denied any form of useful protest.
Being denied access to the things that a child would have normal access to.
Being locked away out of sight.
YES . SL children are being abused BY LL.
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Taff Nouvelle said on 12:58PM 5-31-2008
What is thing that childern want most??? To grow up and not be powerless, so the first thing a child does when gaining access to SL is make the biggest most powerful avatar they can, then equip that avatar with all the weapons they can find.
99.9% of children who actually get access to SL are using adult avatars.
99.9% of all SL children are adults who do NOT w3ant to be involved in sexual activity, and just want the innocence of childhood that they remember. Or on the other hand, to live an innocent life that they were denied as children in the real world.
I wish that politicians would actually check facts before jumping on a bandwagon for votes.
The Gorean community, now that is completely different, they are nasty people who love to fight and kill each other, Ummm isnt that role play like most computer games??? I believe Gor is a planet from a Sci Fi book. So these people are actually partaking in a literary world, there are things to study so that the role play is as close as possible to the original ideas, I am not involved in Gor so I do not know the complete rules, but surely, role play is what SL is about?? isnt it??
BDSM, this has somehow been linked with Gor, dont really see how, this is human nature, nothing to do with literature.
However, I thought that anything between consenting adults was allowed in private. isnt that ststed somewhere in the american constitution, sorry I am British so I dont know the law fully.
So , next, which religions are allowed to display in the birthday celebrations, and what pictures are not allowed in the art galleries now. It seems that censorship is now to become the norm in SL.
Its a real shame, I have loved my time here with my american wife and 4 SL children from around the world. I will be sad to see it all go.
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Shoshana Epsilon said on 2:02PM 5-31-2008
Ok, so we've banned the Goreans and BDSM for sex, and the children because they can't have any.
Next ... Transgendered. Furries. Vampires. Star Trek (Remember, Kirk made love to an alien.)
/me shakes her head.
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shin said on 2:13PM 5-31-2008
Everett, let me try to articulate our feelings here.
Lindens are welcome to attend, but we respectfully decline to participate. (Note I use 'respectfully" with the same love in my heart that you did..^_^).
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vint falken said on 6:16PM 5-31-2008
Everett Linden: '@9 Tateru: The SL Birthday on Linden land is PG. '
We're downgrading now, are we?!!! I was in a mature area last year. I won't be present this year.
Please people, vote 'fix' on Jira Issue Misc 1231 'Missing Cultures & Communities from SL5B'
https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/MISC-1231
PS. It makes no sense not allowing their builds but welcoming their avatars. IF I attend, it will be in child avatar (although I prefer my Neko-me).
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Ordinal Malaprop said on 7:20PM 5-31-2008
It certainly was not PG-only when planning began, if the slbirthday.info site is anything to go by - http://slbirthday.info/signup/
---
All sims will be Mature
* Mature exhibits will be marked appropriately in the About Land dialog.
* Signs will be posted at entrances to cultural areas if they contain mature exhibits. This is preferable over having signs on each parcel, since if you're close enough to see the sign, you're close enough to be offended, rendering the sign pointless.
* Mature content is defined as
- Profanity
- Sexual provocativeness/innuendo
- Depiction of nipples/genitalia
* Although all sims will be Mature, visitors must:
- Remain Civil
- Not display genitalia
- Not display nipples (If people find it offensive for topless female avatars, then topless male avatars should be prohibited as well)
---
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