Taylor Barnes – Post 6 Grrrl
by Pixeleen Mistral on 28/04/07 at 12:22 am
[Editrix’s note: Today, Taylor Barnes takes the time to talk about a cause close to her heart - and Marilyn Murphy’s photography may make our readers' hearts beat a bit faster as well. My friend Marilyn is the virtual visionary, publisher, and photographer for Players - SL’s in-world erotica magazine. This has to be one of the best Post 6 Grrrl features ever - with an important message - if you can take your eyes off Taylor. ]
My Second Life started on Christmas Eve 2006. I was introduced to this world by my cousin as we gathered with family for the holidays. She had been in-world about six months at the time & helped me to navigate Orientation Island. On the most part, I was spared most of the “newbie growing pains”, as she sat next to me and guided me. Everything from shapes to AOs was covered in a matter of a couple of hours, and she spoke to me in the in-world language of prims and lindens.
A few days later as I started to explore on my own, I found the usual places that all newbies find. Although I find SL to be a fantastic place, I sensed I had no real purpose. Sure, I met people from all over the world, and if you spend anytime creating an attractive female avatar, you will have your fair share of males “hitting” on you. I attended a few classes thinking I wanted to become a designer and tried my hand at creating. Needless to say, I would never actually wear any of my creations in public because they are so hideous. As I teleported to one of my favorite stores, I noticed a purple collection barrel sitting in the front. They were soliciting donations for “Relay for Life”. Immediately I paid lindens into the barrel because this is a very personal issue for me.
I picked up the phone and called my cousin, she lives outside the US right now, and has not been able to use SL for a few months. She explained that the lindens are converted in US dollars and donated to the American Cancer Society. In her sleepy voice, she directed me to find the website and get more information there. Sorry Cuz, in my excitement I failed to observe a simple concept like time zones.
I quickly found www.slrfl.org and was absolutely blown away. According to the site’s estimates, $41,000 was donated last year. I wanted to contribute not just money, but time. I searched for vendors that were offering items for sale where the money would go directly to RFL. At that time there was no such list available, and started to compile my own. I contacted every captain of every listed team, and asked them to provide me with landmarks. The response was amazing. Every team captain responded, or someone from their team did.
I am in the process of writing an article of what I found. I enlisted the services of one of my cousin’s SL friends to do the photography. He strongly suggested that I change my skin to get better photos. I had strayed away from my cousin’s suggested list. But I wanted my avatar to resemble the “real” me. He politely asked if I had a problem with nudity, so he could point out the differences in the skin I had and the ones he had in photos. I am fully aware that this is a game, but I was actually shy and uncomfortable with shedding my virtual clothing. After a good laugh together, he made a dare that bought me to these pages. If I entered the Post Sixxx Grrl pageant, won and actually posed for the pictures, he would provide me with L$25,000 to spend on RFL. How could I refuse?
While shopping for a new and suitable skin, my 1st life boyfriend noticed that I would go home before trying the demo skin on. I had hijacked him into sitting at the computer screen, asking him if he liked this skin better than that one. He wanted an escape, and I provided one. If he would match the dare, I would allow him to go back to the NBA, or whatever he found so interesting on television. We have an understanding, he does not bother me about Second Life, and I will not bother him about Madden ’08. He quickly accepted and rushed out of the room. Oh yes! L$50,000 for RFL!
Some people want to know why am I so excited about RFL, and the answer is simple. Cancer robbed me of my Aunt Doris. She was the “cool” aunt, the one you could really talk to. She personally saved me during my teenage years, when talking to your own parents can be so difficult. She was part big sister I never had, part cool best friend that never disappointed and part pastor you can confide in. Believe me, there was plenty of things to confess to. She would share the stories of the boyfriends from hell and the time she got caught smoking in the girl’s locker room in high school. Aunt Doris was a beautiful woman inside and out, who shared her life with family, friends and complete strangers. She took me to a church on Thanksgiving to help serve dinner to many people who were less fortunate than we were. Time and time again she stressed that giving to others was one of the greatest joys any person can experience. 12 years later, I still go to the same church to serve dinner on Thanksgiving. Last year was the 6th year without my partner in charity. When someone you have helped, looks you in the eye and thanks you, you receive a humbling joy unlike anything else I can describe.
I will eventually get my article ready for print, but please do not wait for me. When you see any of the purple kiosks, please stop and contribute and know that you will make a real difference in a special way. To every creator/designer/performer who gives their time, talent and lindens to this cause, to every person who buys or donates in support and to the many volunteers, please know you have my heart-felted thanks.
Wankette
Apr 28th, 2007
So sick of this stupid column, and that avatar needs bigger tits.
Simondo Nebestanka
Apr 28th, 2007
Sick of this column you may be, but that’s a neat story.
Thanks Taylor & Marilyn.
Peace
Rosa
Apr 28th, 2007
Wonderful story and lovely feminine body. I adore her petite frame and obviously open/warm heart! A very refreshing change from the playboy things. A real woman in every way. =)
Anonymous
Apr 28th, 2007
How many times do we have to see this vapid shit posted up here?
Chris Azure
Apr 28th, 2007
As one of the leading Designers for the RFL this year, I thank you on behalf of the Team for your generous words!
Through stories like this and the many donations you (L$50,000 – WOW) and others have made we can continue to spread the message of the RFL and one day find the answer to our quest – The quest for the cure to cancer.
marilyn murphy
Apr 28th, 2007
vapid?? vapid. vapid?? comments from the ignorant children is boring.
if a true human interest story by someone who takes real action to realize altruistic goals is vapid… go back to star wars and power rangers.
Why I don't donate money to RFL
Apr 28th, 2007
Do you really believe that the Lindens you donate to RFL (i.e., to the American Cancer Society) are used to ultimately find a cure for cancer?
Cancer therapy money has become the proverbial ‘pot of gold’ for the armies of research facilities, charities, pharmaceutical companies, and lobbyists. Treating the sick and dying is big business – the average American diagnosed with cancer spend upwards of US $25,000 of their savings attempting to save their lives. Sadly, these people are not getting much for their money, and neither are those of us who donate it willingly to groups like the American Cancer Society. Claims of serious ‘progress’ in the fight against cancer are mostly bogus.
Not only that, but a very significant percentage of the money raised by Relay for Life and the ACS goes towards operating and administrative expenses of this so-called charity. Here is an example of such an administrative expense: their CEO alone makes $760,953 a year. This is what your Lindens are used for.
There are thousands of truly worthy charities out there, but the American Cancer Society, with over $1 billion in assets and a history of fraud and embezzlement among its top executives, is not one of them. It is nothing but a well-disguised extension of big pharma, which is among the largest, most profitable industries in the world.
You don’t have to trust me on any of this. The information is out there for anyone to see. Please, people, do your own research and donate your money wisely.
Here are a couple of links to get you started:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6495.htm
http://charityreports.give.org/Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=186
Wankette
Apr 28th, 2007
Do you think people actually read the articles on these female avatars? I seriously doubt it. The presentation is provocative, catering to the basest SL players. Insipid and pandering.
Wankette
Apr 28th, 2007
I mean really. She’s posed naked with that come-hither look above the paragraph about how Aunt Doris took her to church to feed the needy. Awww. It’s just filler text as far as most are concerned. That’s how porn magazines used to get past the censors. The text was pap, the photos were ‘art’ (supposedly). Same formula here.
Wankette
Apr 28th, 2007
I a word, it’s ‘crap’.
Technical and artistic advances in skin and shape design are one thing; pretending this article is interesting or even newsworthy is, well, crap.
Artemis Fate
Apr 28th, 2007
“Do you really believe that the Lindens you donate to RFL (i.e., to the American Cancer Society) are used to ultimately find a cure for cancer?
Cancer therapy money has become the proverbial ‘pot of gold’ for the armies of research facilities, charities, pharmaceutical companies, and lobbyists. Treating the sick and dying is big business – the average American diagnosed with cancer spend upwards of US $25,000 of their savings attempting to save their lives. Sadly, these people are not getting much for their money, and neither are those of us who donate it willingly to groups like the American Cancer Society. Claims of serious ‘progress’ in the fight against cancer are mostly bogus.”
Well atleast according to this data, 69-77% is used for cancer, But yeah, charities tend to be quick cash for greedy CEOs, and there’s better organizations out there like National Cancer Coalition, which 95.4% is reputably dedicated to cancer research. It is pretty ridiculous, especially to think that these fat rich men are padding their wallets stepping on the backs of people dying with cancer.
Veronique Lalonde
Apr 28th, 2007
Beautiful girl, beautiful body, great story. *Love* the breast size and general proportions, maybe because my own pair are not very large by SL standards. I appreciate actual proportion! Love the skin tone too. (I personally would have done just a bit more front lighting on the first shot, but it’s a nice one anyway.)
Taylor and Marilyn, this has been one of my favourites. Thank you both.
Wankette (moronic handle) — why the heck are you wasting your time looking at things you hate? And yes, I read the article. Too many words for you?
Funny how the “vapid shit” person did not even post a nickname. Such courage!
marilyn murphy
Apr 28th, 2007
hi veronique. i agree about the lighting on the first shot, the problem i run into at times, especially with darker skin tones is the picture comes out different from what i can see on my screen at home, then sent thru email then posted. eh, and they always look different in game.
i thought about replying to the wankette kid, but it really seems pointless. he has some anger issues he needs to work out with his mom or something.
Prokofy Neva
Apr 28th, 2007
I think the pictures came out really well. The second picture has a great sultry look offset by the glimmering cross and the lime-green strand.
I tend to agree with some of the things said about ACS, and I find them among the more pretentious causes of SL, but I accept that this avatar has raised money in good faith for something meaningful to her.
Brent Recreant
Apr 29th, 2007
I’d donate to the NCC instead of the ACS, but at least she is trying to do good. And even though I am Gay, it’s nice to see a woman that doesn’t look like a barbie Doll, if some women in SL had the bodies they do in real life, they wouldn’t be able to support themselves with breasts over the size of DD’s.
Hippie Canning
Apr 29th, 2007
Haha, saddo.
Jaime Wheeler
Apr 29th, 2007
My Goodness what is wrong with some of you people?
Wankette and all; Please go home and tell your mothers how you spend your free time. Here’s a form letter you can use.
Dear Mom,
Today I
1) Made fun of a girl raising money for cancer research.
2) Made fun of the American Cancer Society.
3) Made fun of pictures of a girl raising money for cancer research.
4) Made fun of a newspaper article about a girl who agreed to pose nude to raise money for cancer research.
5) Tried to make myself look really smart by making fun of the American Cancer Society all the while making fun of….
I know you raised me to be better than this but somewhere I’ve gone terribly wrong. Sincerely,
You get the idea. If you need I can add more items should you plan to spend the rest of your day kicking puppies or pinching babies or whatever else you do to make yourself feel better about who you’re becoming. Instead, I might suggest adding more fruit to your diet, or going out and getting some exercise, or reading an exciting book or something to make you feel better about your own accomplishments instead of feeling the need to tear down the works of other people to build yourself up.
Personally, my family and I give a lot of RL money to charities, and I know that I could support charities that have lower administrative costs than the biggies like the ACS and the United Way. Still, I give to them every year, especially the Relay for Life, because they spend a lot on advertising to get their name and their message out there. In that way, they provide hope to the people that need it because their big media footprint tells the people that are suffering that they are not alone in the struggle, there are millions out walking with them…
My kids and I will walk in the RL Relay again this year, circling a track at the local high school all night with people from our neighborhood, our town, and our area all night. We’ll walk with people who are battling cancer and who have survived cancer, as well as with people who have lost friends and relatives to cancer. There are also a lot of people out there who have never been touched by cancer, but who know that supporting a good cause is the right thing to do. If you’ve never participated in the RL event, do so. You’ll be amazed how little you worry about whether your efforts are simply padding the nest egg of a CEO when you’re seeing the smile on the face of an 18 year old whose leukemia is in remission, or holding the hand of your best friend who survived breast cancer.
Normally I avoid the comments here, and the SL forums, because the negative comments and arguments over minutiae make me sad for the people who write them, but I had to say something. I am a friend of Marilyn, who does this column for a pittance, and was one of the judges who helped select Taylor as the winner of this week’s pageant. She is a lovely person, has a beautiful avatar and is doing her part to make the world a little bit better. Those of you who want to make anyone feel bad about this story should feel ashamed of yourselves.
Artemis Fate
Apr 29th, 2007
“Made fun of the American Cancer Society.”
I don’t think it’s necessarily “making fun of” to point out with sources backing it up that the American Cancer Society dedicates a rather exorbitantly large amount of their profits to paying the board (The CEO gets paid 700+K a year after all), and that they have a long history of embezzlement and fraud ( http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=990CEFD7163EF932A25755C0A9669C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fA%2fAmerican%20Cancer%20Society and http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9504E6D9153BF93AA25751C1A963948260 ) with those funds that AREN’T dedicated to making rich guys more rich.
Not to mention that despite that cancer funding (based on how much these “non-profit” organizations are taking in) is at a high, cancer rates have not been declining nor do we seem to be any closer to a cure. Another site, The Cancer Prevention Coalition, called for a boycott on ACS because, as the Chronicle of Philanthropy put it “more interested in accumulating wealth than saving lives”. Which, all this makes their massive spending on advertising even worse, since it seems like that advertising spending is more about getting them rich than preventing cancer. Another site stated that “Only about 16% goes directly into programs for cancer patients, the rest into bureaucratic overhead and expensive drug research.”
So please, don’t marginalize these statements down to “making fun of”, this is a clear problem, and even if SOME of that money is staying out of the mortgage for the CEO’s 2nd mansion, i’d say it’d be much better if most if not ALL of this extremely profitable non-profit organization could go to the purpose that they spend so much of that advertising money claiming they’re doing.
Artemis Fate
Apr 29th, 2007
Here’s a few more of the sources I used for reference:
http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs.htm
http://www.disinfo.com/archive/pages/dossier/id336/pg1/index.html
Jaime Wheeler
Apr 29th, 2007
I realize that most of my venom should have been aimed at Wankette, Artemis, and I’m sorry I hit you with some. As for the ‘who supports the better anti-cancer fighting organization,’ I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this.
I went and read the materials you cited and though generally I agree that the big players in the charity game could spend a little more time with the credo “charity begins at home” and less time on the corporate jet, I stand by my support of Relay for Life, Pink Ribbons and the American Cancer Society.
The two NYT articles you cited are pretty thin evidence that the ACS is corrupt, especially as one of them was over twenty years ago and both cases involved individuals, not a problem with the organization as a whole. The Better Business Bureau approves them, but doesn’t approve preventcancer.com…
I read the preventcancer.com website and was not impressed. It hasn’t been updated in two months and has very little information on it other than a plethora of info about milk, much of which has been in the “cancer news” since I was a student in Europe when Chernobyl happened twenty years ago. Preventcancer.com could be a marvelous organization but they could also be a couple of con artists who also run preventscurvy.com and hot_co-eds.com. With the ACS I’m dealing with a known entity.
My real point about ACS is that if you’re fighting for your life, or helping a friend or relative through their battle, you want to feel like you’re not alone, not powerless. ACS is such a huge presence, and their ubiquitous pink ribbon programs and other efforts like relay for life give people hope and an easy access to something to empower them through a frightening time. I’d much rather give them my thousand dollars, even knowing that only 600 of it might end up as research dollars, as long as the organization is out there giving people hope and power. A well-run organization is expensive. Think about experiences you’ve had with well-run companies versus slap-dash ones. If you want a professional to do a good job you’re going to have to pay for it, don’t be naive.
preventcancer.com might put all of my money directly into the hands of a scientist, but I think that ACS getting 800 high school kids to walk around a track all night is a much more positive contribution in the end, because they will help get the word out, help bring in more money, and learn that it genuinely does feel good to do good.
Seriously Artemis, Relay for Life is coming up.. get involved and join us, bring a friend, bring your family. You’ll be glad you did.
Thanks for reading,
Jaime
Artemis Fate
Apr 29th, 2007
Mostly I just believe that there needs to be research and insight put into this since Biggest is not always Best. ACS raises quite a lot of Cancer awareness, which is nice, but I do wonder if this high advertising budget comes from their burning desire to cure cancer, or for the fact that the more people donate, the more the suits profit off of their non-profit organization.
“Preventcancer.com could be a marvelous organization but they could also be a couple of con artists who also run preventscurvy.com and hot_co-eds.com. With the ACS I’m dealing with a known entity.”
And ACS could be a wonderful society that, even though it skims off a hefty porportion for it’s CEOs, earnestly tries to treat cancer, or it could be a bunch of corporate con artists that, pushed by pharmaceutical, radiological, and chemical multi-million dollar donors, opt for more dangerous but more profitable research in curing cancer that utilize methods that directly profit these heavy donors.
Ultimately, i’m suspicious of all multi-billion dollar corporations that deal in medicines, especially ones that’s ultimate goal is completely eliminating a certain disease. Because, in other words, what that goal would be is to put yourself out of business. Now, take that concept, and stick a bunch of corporate tyrants on the head who have become so psychologically disconnected from what they’re dealing with that they can’t help but see things simply as numbers (as with any hierarchical system that has too many links between the bottom and the top, a CEO could fire 50 people for a 3 cent quarterly profit because they’re no longer people, just numbers.), and then include big-money developmental corporations that say “we want cancer patients to be treated with Chemotherapy, oh and here’s a million dollars for your nice organization *wink wink*”, and honestly that spells trouble for me.
Yes, 600 dollars to cancer (even not saying that their research is more directed to benefit corporations than the best way to save lives) is nice, but 954 out of 1000 dollars (national cancer coalition, for example’s, percentage) would be better for a non-profit organization don’t you think? Especially to think that there is that 40 percent chance that if I donated a hefty individual amount to RFL, that not one CENT of it, would actually benefit cancer research in any way shape or form.
Elissa Bristol
May 1st, 2007
A good cause…but why sell yourself for the wanking pleasure of a few in-world goofs dear?
Tavasha_Martynov
May 1st, 2007
Perhaps being a playboy model or the like was a fantasy of hers that she had an opportunity to live out through SL and Post Sixx, as well as working for her cause, and this let her hit two birds with one stone. Who knows.
Why try to make her feel like crap for doing something she enjoyed? Or better still, why even read an article that you already trivialize as being for nothing more than “wanking pleasure?”
wankette
May 3rd, 2007
FYI, Wankette (a feminine, diminutive name) is a she, whose 80 y o cancer survior Mommie taught her all she knows about not showing her titties for anyone’s cash, especially while telling stories about noble Aunt Doris, who’d roll over in her grave at the very thought of her niece living vicariously through a naked cartoon. I protest the pretense that the subjects of these articles are even interest-worthy. I believe this to be soft-core porn, which I don’t think belongs in a general interest publication. There are plenty of venues for that. As for having an issue with the application of wanking material for charitable fund raising, who could possibly have an issue with that? Wank away. You know you want to.
Taylor Barnes
May 4th, 2007
wankette,
“So sick of this stupid column, and that avatar needs bigger tits”.
Isn’t this the very first comment you made when this piece first hit the Herald?
Now you claim to “believe this to be soft-core porn, which I don’t think belongs in a general interest publication”.
To add insult to injury, you go on the speak for my aunt who you don’t know, as if you actually know what you are speaking about. Since I did have the pure pleasure of knowing her, I think I can reasonably believe this is what she would say.
“Baby, there are people in this world who are so unhappy with themselves, that they are incapable of sharing joy with others, because they have no joy for themselves”.
She would also go on to say, “Sometimes you have to call a bully’s bluff”… so I challenge you this.
Contact me in-world and we can make arrangements to meet in “real life”. I will gladly have dinner with you, and even pickup the check. You can sit across from me, share a meal and tell me the grievances you have with my choices. I have TONS of frequent flyer’s miles so getting to where you are should not be a problem.
Afterwards, I can show you pictures and video on my laptop that perhaps will give you insight into my aunt’s life.
I resisted the urge to comment before because I felt it would only lessen the original point of me becoming a Post 6 Grrrl. However, since you have decided to comment TWICE about my aunt, I feel the strong need to issue this challenge.
I am fully prepared to meet with you, but I can’t help to believe you will ever rise to this challenge. The veil of anonymity makes cowards brave.
I knew from the beginning that opening my personal 1st life on this page was risky, and fully expected some of the comments made. The true purpose of this piece, is to raise awareness of Relay for Life, and the hope that some will be moved to give of their lindens/time/talents for this cause.
To Artemis Fate, I still believe 60% of something, is far better than 100% of nothing. ACS may or may not be the best of charities, but I am inspired by the efforts of the SL residents that have decided to embrace this cause. At a time when SL is portrayed as a den of sex, gambling & violent role-play (see April issue of GQ Magazine), it is refreshing to see that there is SOME effort to do good works. I have become a big fan of SL and want the positive actions that take place in SL to perhaps one day shine brighter than the negative ones.
I am fully prepared to help you in any way I can to raise awareness in the charity drive you create. The same way I support Callie Cline’s efforts to raise money for the victim’s families and the Virginia Tech community.
I would like to share a short story that I have taken close to my heart.
A young boy is walking along the beach in the early morning hours. The beach is filled with starfishes that have washed on shore after a storm from the night before. He notices
a woman tossing starfishes back into the ocean. He asks her what is she doing, and the woman replies “I am tossing these starfishes back into the ocean before the sun become too hot and kills them”. The young boy looks around to see thousands of starfishes and questions “there are too many, you can’t save them, there is not enough time, what does it matter”? The woman stoops down picks up another starfish, shows it to the young boy and replies “it matters to THIS one”.
Cancer research HAS advanced over the recent years. Had my aunt lived 6 years later, she would have enjoyed far better treatment, better quality of life and a far better chance of surviving. In medical schools all over the world, there are aspiring doctors who’s main purpose is to dedicate their talents to providing relief, better treatments and perhaps a cure to cancer patients.
I am looking forward to working with you.
I, in no way want this rebuttal to take away from the ultimate goal, and that is to raise awareness for RFL. Thanks to all that have made comments of support and thanks to Marilyn Murphy, Jaime Wheeler and the others at the Herald that have allowed me to use this platform.
Artemis Fate
May 4th, 2007
60% of something is nice and all, but I’d like to think that when I donate to a non-profit charity, that almost half of that money is actually going to what the charity is advertising for, not to paying airfare and boards for the board or the overinflated salaries of greedy CEOs who’s behavior and their just about LITERAL thievery of money from a cancer patients and people wanting to stop cancer, is excused on the fact that “well SOME of it is getting there” How bad would it have to be before we stop and say “Wow, that’s enough”, 50%? 40%? 20%? Well at least SOME of it is getting there. Only 16% of those profits are ACTUALLY going to patient costs (just under only twice of what they’re using for paying their own salaries, mind you I might add again, in a non-profit organization), pretty much the rest seems to be going to research in the fields of profitable investors who want their chemotherapy and experimental drugs in use to treat (mind you TREAT, not cure, cancer, since curing isn’t profitable, but lifetime long treatments most certainly are) cancer.
Ava Fleming
Sep 5th, 2007
Nice pictures Taylor, I enjoyed meeting you in the game, you are a lovely person and you took some awesome photos! Way to go…just ignore all the negative bull, they only wish they could pose but their not even close enough to taking a decent picture. You dont see the negative ones, putting themselves on here open to criticism. They usually hide behind fake names and just try to make you feel bad, but gf you did great! Glad to know you and call you a friend! A true Post 6 girl!!!