I'm almost hesitant to confront the subject, but I think it could lead somewhere. Exploring SL yesterday, I stumbled upon what I can only describe as a virtual whore house. Around this area were items ranging from animated dildo machines to beds with interactive blue and pink dots that when clicked on, put your avatar in whichever gender role is characterized by the color (blue for male, pink for female). In addition, there were "sex swings" and "good looking" avatars walking around soliciting virtual sex. (they also had a sex shop selling "toys") The avatar that approached me wanted 10 lindens for the experience. This struck me as unusual, that someone would pay an avatar to simply click on a dot and do no work beyond that. This also forced me to pose the question, can SL be used as a sexual outlet for curious husbands...wives...etc. Can virtual simulation of sex suffice in situations in which a marriage is being threatened by the curiosity or dissatisfaction itself? What if SL could keep your partner complacent and prevent adultery? I'm curious to see what you all think
-Ryan Weiss "Dustin Siddeley"
6 comments:
First of all I don't think this qualifies as "unusual". I would say the contrary is true. War and pornography are the biggest business on the planet and this fact is reflected on the virtual world as well. What you probably found I think (correct me if I am wrong) was a "sex shop" rather than a whorehouse, where you can buy movements, poses and different "actions" appropriate to the subject in question..(lots of those in World)
Whorehouses look pretty much like whorehouses do at least in the movies. And they are populated by avatars (in other words "real people" who act and give services as prostitutes and get paid for it. I know of "Madames" that actually make a fair amount of money with their business and they hire prostitutes just like in RL. And of course the prostitutes that get more clients are those who go beyond "click a dot here" and that's that! They will engage in conversation and "fulfill your fantasies" which is a curious metatheme since you are already in a fantasy world.
As to whether virtual sex simulation can save a marriage...I'll leave that to a marriage counselor or a psychologist to address.
Interesting post:-)
One curious note about that is that the majority of the "prostitutes" are in fact men! (Some field of study or research there)
BTW, I know all this because I have actually watched a "Madam" in RL conducting HIS business in SL!
You gotta leave a SLURL when you make a post like that Ryan, (for those who are intellectually curious, of course!) :-)
Seriously though, In one of the books I purchased about second life, the occupation of "escort" was highly recommended by the author as a way to make some big L$ in SL.
As far as the in(fidelity) questions, I could see it go either way. It might make one MORE curious or prone to seek out encounter in RL, or it might have the opposite effect. Where is Kinsey when we need him?!
Now, I have to tell a joke I heard the other day because it is related :
Edited for language and brevity:
A couple gets to the honeymoon suite on their wedding night. As the man approaches to consumate the marriage his wife says, that will be $20. The man, without hesitation, promptly pulled out his wallet and completed the transaction.
This continued for the next 20 years of marriage. Each time the husband paid without question.
One day, the economy went south and the man lost everything. His business, his home, everything. Despondent, he went home and informed his wife.
She smiled and explained. "Its okay sweetheart, You know how I've been charging you for all those years? Well, Ive been investing the money wisely and we have a nest egg worth over a million dollars!
The husband cant believe his luck and her foresight. He exuberantly states, "Wow honey, If I would have known that, I would have given you ALL my business."
He was never heard from again!
It's not surprising that sex is so popular in SL. Do you really think that many people use SL just to sit around and talk about the virtual weather?
Sex and money dominate RL and SL!
Hmm.. I do have L$21 burning a hole in my pocket :)
I thought sex and religion are the two major sellers on any media that gain mass appeal and adoption. And the two also have very huge economic impacts. This has now lead the goverment to eveluate SL so people do not get away with tax free monies...
See, I've got to come at this from the Wife persepctive. There are so many definitions of "cheating" for some it's intercourse, for others it's kissing, for some it's as innocuous as "looking". So the questions, just as with all internet pornography, comes from how each partner defines cheating. I don't consider looking at pornography or even going to a strip club as cheating (lucky hubby of mine, huh?) but if my husband started a relationship or simiulated sex with another Avatar, I would feel hurt and cheated on. Perhaps it's because there is a real person behind the act. I had a cousin once who had started talking (friendship only) with a man in another state that she met in a chat room. They became friends and he would call often, no mentions of sexual things at all. Both were happily married. Her husband told her he considered it cheating and gave her the choice to break off the relationship or face divorce. She ended the friendship. Mental cheating can be just as painful as physically cheating on a significant other. I posed this question to a friend of mine who swings along with her significant other. Her response... "Well, if I wasn't involved, he'd be cheating." If a couple decides it's acceptable then it's not cheating, just like in RL. Of course, that definition can change quickly... My hubby and I used to be in a spades club online. He once slipped and called the leader of the club by the pet name he uses for me. My reaction... Well, let's just say it was a less than stellar moment for me and my hubby, though understanding and appologetic, still doesn't really understand the fuss. Of course, he didn't do it again, either... :)
The Wall Street Journal appears to be regularly interested in SL. Here's their article on SL vs. RL relationships. I know a couple of people "partnered" in SL whose partners live on other continents, and in some cases they've never met in RL. Is their love real or fantasy?
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118670164592393622.html?mod=blog
Doug
Post a Comment