WNBC Scoop: People Are Having Sex In Second Life!
by Alphaville Herald on 31/08/08 at 3:34 pm
Metaverse also allows children access to torture, human sacrifice, suicide, illicit drugs
by Sigmund Leominster
Earlier this week, the world was rocked by some startling and unimaginable news from NBC’s New York affiliate, WNBC: There’s an online game called Second Life and people are having sex in the game!
Yes, in a devastating 2 minute expose, Michael Garguilo, ace reporter, took a steamy trip to the “dark side” of Second Life and found horrors beyond imagination – horrors that OUR CHILDREN can now take part in! [ZOMG!!! - the Editrix]
caution – painfully bad reporting contained in the clip
The video clip is shocking and not recommended for sensitive viewers, if only because it contains mindlessly inane comments that appear to have been picked from the Moral Majority phrase book. Allegedly “some local law enforcement agencies and educators are asking, ‘how safe is this virtual world for teenagers?’” Apparently the same “agencies and educators” are not asking “How safe is the real world for teenagers?” and consider a night out in New York as good, clean, wholesome fun compared with the depravity and debauchery to be found in Second Life.
In a clip showing some besuited “expert” among a small group of good-looking soccer moms, he points to an off-camera screen and intones gravely, “This is not stuff we want kids to see.” Cut to a concerned and shocked mom who has presumably only ever had sex with one man, one time, and for the sole purpose of procreation.
“It’s hard to fathom there is such stuff out there for children to access so freely,” says concerned mom, Laurie Krivak. I presume she is unaware that typing “cum slut” or “animal sex” into the Google browser will help her “fathom” a whole lot more than some jerky cartoon action in a 3D world! She may also be blissfully aware that estimates suggest some 40% of ALL web-based content is pornographic. Sadly this “news” piece failed to educate her in this.
But it isn’t just the sex. The reporter strode boldly into a drug store where he could buy virtual cocaine, pot, and other narcotics. Oh the humanity! It isn’t clear how the ability to use fake money to buy fake drugs enables you to get a fake high, but before there’s any discussion of this, the report moves of to “…other activities that are even more disturbing…”
“…rooms for virtual torture, human sacrifice, and even suicide!” Dear Lord will the terror and disgust never end? What sick, twisted, and perverted minds could seek to corrupt our children in this way?
Of course, there has to be some attempt to justify the piece, and so they find a psychologist to affirm that doing stuff virtually makes one more inclined to do it for real. Park Ridge School Psychologist says, “If you engage in something, that normalizes behavior in a way that you just couldn’t teach it any better.”
The piece shows a statement from Linden Lab® that explains how they “…actively monitor against minors using the service” but WNBC then fail to make ANY mention of the fact that (a) Second Life is explicitly an adult service and (b) there is a Teen Grid in existence designed purely for the under-18 crowd.
OK, so no-one really believes that everyone in Second Life is over 18. And no-one believes that teens are not fascinated by sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But this broadcast is nothing more than a “what-shall-we-do-to-fill-the-time?” bit once the station gets bored of showing stories about real life murder, rape, perversion, greed, and all the other things that sensitive teens need to be shielded from.
Whether you love the Herald or hate it, and whether you think it is an example of the worst tabloid journalism or a beacon of satirical light in an otherwise obsequious metaverse, you need to keep an eye on the crap that passes for news in REAL LIFE — that’s where the real danger lurks.
Artemis Fate
Aug 31st, 2008
“Whether you love the Herald or hate it, and whether you think it is an example of the worst tabloid journalism or a beacon of satirical light in an otherwise obsequious metaverse, you need to keep an eye on the crap that passes for news in REAL LIFE — that’s where the real danger lurks.”
That is pretty true. At least the herald pretty much openly admits that it’s shitty tabloid reporting.
Just another piece to try to get middle aged white southern baptist moms on edge and scared so they’ll keep watching and further crush their children’s souls.
wtf
Aug 31st, 2008
Why dont they all get its not linden labs who needs to be blamed its the bloody moms and dads who dont watch what there kids are doing WTF!
mootykips
Aug 31st, 2008
Nice attempt to latch yourself onto the OH NO MEDIA bandwagon here but it’s completely justified in SL’s case. When the media does reports on things like Grand Theft Auto or Anonymous they do a shitty job and overexaggerate to the point of comedy. Nothing here was overexaggerated – SL is as much of a depraved hellhole as this report shows and the issues (minors using it, etc) are perfectly valid.
At least they actually made an account and walked around. Looks like they saw exactly how far the rabbithole goes.
Eye Korobase
Aug 31st, 2008
God Forbid They ACTUALLY do some more research and find that SL is WAY weirder then that and also understand that LL is very much against anyone under the age of 18 playing SL and they ban people all the time for it. I wished they would talk more about the SL community instand of alway going to the same stuff, over and over like the sex stores and etc. Talk about the SL military community or about the furry community or even talk about how damn boring it is most times, haha
General Drama
Aug 31st, 2008
lol mooty,
Yes, some folks know you’ve been using SL since age what? 15-16? That you got age banned informed you that you were not welcome on the network, after which LL was no longer responsible for your further attempts to access it. Some parents are cool with that, others are not. One wonders why LL doesn’t call your mom, though as a social worker I suppose she’s far too busy helping save all the other abandoned kids in Spokane.
Corona Anatine
Aug 31st, 2008
oh the horrible dangers of virtual drugs
given the effects are purely imaginary
will the slef righteous moral guardians be banning teenagers from sleeping – lest they dream or even worse dream about sex
next on CNN -
child caught playing with self has hands cut off to prevent them becoming satanic
Forelle Broek
Aug 31st, 2008
The comment by Park Ridge School Psychologist Andy Yeager (“if you engage in something, that normalizes behavior in a way that you just couldn’t teach it any better”) is obviously totally true without reservation or qualification. Why, immediately after playing Pac-Man for the first time, I found myself overwhelmed by an uncontrollable desire to work my way through mazes trying to eat ghosts. It seemed to perfectly normal. And, shortly after logging into Second Life, I began trying to fly and teleport from place to place instead of walking or driving. Thankfully, my friends intervened and sent me to a good rehab.
John
Aug 31st, 2008
Anyone know the SLURL of this place that sells virtual drugs? I’ve never seen anything like that in my experience.
MAGIC JOHNSON
Aug 31st, 2008
Mooty is right.
It seems like any media reporting on the horrors that lurk deep within Second Life is automatically sensational journalism to you guys. You just don’t want people to know how fucked up this game really is. Furries using the game to solicit minors, people having virtual sex with child-like avatars, the list of disturbing shit goes on and on.
Ann Otoole
Aug 31st, 2008
Isn’t it libel to publish information you cannot prove is truth?
Unless the news agency has underage employees then the news agency had no underage reporters in SL.
The Lab should sue the crap out of that garbage media place for intentional libel.
Of course with the Obama platform now including Mr. “Destroy Internet Freedom” Biden I guess the demorats are going over to the camp of the mind control freaks.
mootykips
Aug 31st, 2008
General Drama: KEEP CRYING BABY
Teen SL Adult Grid Me
Aug 31st, 2008
I could possibly be a teen on the adult grid/ So I can say that it is the most god damn easiest thing to do, just hop right into fun furry gay yiff land in under 15 minutes. But yeah its the parents fault. *shrugs* And good job herald, you do understand finaly that your reporting skills are worse then my own and most likely worse then several Vietnemese Mentally Retarded Crack Babies. :3
Amanda
Aug 31st, 2008
“…middle aged white southern baptist moms…”
This was aired in NYC.. not exactly a hotbed of southern baptist.
Anonymous
Aug 31st, 2008
Yes, because everything on the internet is for kids.
magic.brownie
Aug 31st, 2008
The location in SL that FOX NEWS and then NBC keep showing as being the place with THE BEST VIRTUAL DRUGS is Feelgood Trip’s place in the sim: Phoenix Determined. Sunshine Kind buds. They have a virtually functioning Meth lab there too. And coke, and lsd, and hashish, and cool clothes etc etc…
Sigmund Leominster
Sep 1st, 2008
@Teen SL Adult Grid Me
Well, I would take issue with you over the veracity of the accusation regarding the standard of reporting at the Herald, bearing in mind that there are many different writers with noticeably different styles and abilities, BUT, I have to congratulate you on the phrase “…your reporting skills are worse then my own and most likely worse then several Vietnemese Mentally Retarded Crack Babies.” Ethnic insensitivity and grammatical errors aside, this is such a wonderful piece of prose that I just wish I’d said it! ROFL!!
NotAnonymousAtAll
Sep 1st, 2008
We see kids all the time on SL. The majority I have run into are only interested in one thing: Weapons. They wants weapons, and want to shoot them. So we give them weapons to shoot. They get banned after an hour or so, of exposing themselves (Not sexually mind you) to adults via voice chat. Then most likely they give up, move onto something else, or come back again begging for more. Then they probably get hardware banned, and that’s the end of it, until another kid comes along.
That’s what we see sometimes from kids on SL. We don’t generally see them asking for sex, or drugs.
Although I do know a few assholes who are evil enough to send a kid to one of those “Nasty” sims, as a joke.
But I do agree, kids don’t belong on the maingrid. Not because of the dirty shit that goes on. But because of the dirty pedophiles who would seek opportunity to take advantage of them.
fox
Sep 1st, 2008
Excellent article! Yes, I agree – first make sure that the problems in Real Life don’t overwhelm us…!
Nidol Slazar
Sep 1st, 2008
Everyone send creepy shit to the account Reporter Haystack.
Corona Anatine
Sep 1st, 2008
I would also take issue with this concept that
“exposure to something makes you want to do it ”
given the sheer variety of options available in sL it is surely more a case of the mind following it inate tendencies – like attracts like
the sex and violence seen in sL ( and never in RL or on tV of course) would only attract those who are naturally attracted
if they are old enough to be interested and to take the effort to explore and find such material then they are not children anymore anyway
it is a differrnt matter from being deliberaely exposed to such before they are ready
left to themselves children will self censor
what the moralisers mean is that it is not suitable for them – they like to read the bible instead which of course contains no sex or violence – ( at least in those verses lacking such )
besides is it a bad thing for children to witness these things – it could be argued that letting them see how depraved some humans are will warn them to be careful in RL
Discuss
Just Me
Sep 1st, 2008
“overexaggerate to the point of comedy. Nothing here was overexaggerated -”
Exaggerate will do nicely … there’s no such word as “overexaggerate” …. it would mean “exaggerate too much” .. LOL
Sort of like saying “ATM Machine” which means “Automated Teller Machine Machine”
Alyx Stoklitsky
Sep 1st, 2008
Personally I thought they hit the nail right on the head. 99% of SL is nothing but sex, and a good amount of that is far from simple ‘man and woman in a bed’.
Everything they show is readily accessible in secondlife and you know it. Christ, anyone who has spent more than ten minutes teleporting around the grid knows it.
They could have shown far worse things than they did, because SL is absolutely full of depravity. Infact what they showed was pretty fucking tame.
Corona Anatine
Sep 1st, 2008
99% of SL is nothing but sex
thta might be true for you and some others
but you can spend weeks in there and never have sex once
depends how fussy you are i guess
besides i thought 90% of sL was manipulating pixels the rest just talk
the closest to sex in SL is going where there is RL porn imagery
but porn is not sex
anymore than looking at pictures of motorcyles or using a set of prims that look like one is really riding the things
2cents
Sep 1st, 2008
“99% of SL is nothing but sex”
If you look for something, you will find it.
Reminds me of a quote from a song…
“Why you think the net was born? PORN PORN PORN”
No, you dont want to expose your children to the deprived stuff that happens not only on SL, but everywhere on the net.
Solution? Don’t let the PC be your child’s nanny. Simple.
Those whining about ‘The poor children’ are barking up the wrong tree… The only ones responsible for their children’s wellbeing and safety, is their parents. Not the rest of the world.
‘Allegedly “some local law enforcement agencies and educators are asking, ‘how safe is this virtual world for teenagers?’”
It isnt. Duh. SL is an adult game, not suitable for kids. Duh. 18+ should mean something.
and if little Billy does find himself in a sim where his innocent, pure little soul is in danger of being tainted by the depravities one can find on SL… Well, who is to blame but his parents, really?
Of course, that’s too easy for a country where you can sue Camel for getting lung cancer or Mc Donalds for not reminding you coffee is hot. And there, I think, is the real problem.
Heh, if I worked for LL I would sue every parent who’s kids find their way onto the adult grid, report them to the child protection agencies or something, they shouldnt expose their children to the horrors of the net without supervision.
ichabod Antfarm
Sep 1st, 2008
“99% of SL is nothing but sex” No, it isn’t. Get laid, ffs.
mootykips
Sep 1st, 2008
NO IT ISN’T IT’S A CREATIVE INTERNET METAVERSE ONLINE (ON THE INTERNET) OKAY DISREGARD ALL THE TRAFFIC NUMBERS AND JUST FOCUS ON HOW INNOVATIVE AND EXCITING THE ONLINE METAVERSE IS!! ON THE INTERNET!!! ADVERTISE WITH US THERE IS NO SEX HERE!!!!!
Val Kendal
Sep 1st, 2008
OMG! – teenagers can go on the internet and see pictures of pixelated, badly animated sex between two dimensional fake people! This is a slippery slope! I’m sure in the not to distance future your teenagers will be able to see pictures, and god forbid, maybe even video of real people having sex! We must stop these internets now!
Duke of New York
Sep 1st, 2008
I don’t think it’s fair to call this bad reporting since, as far as I know, it’s the first TV report about Second Life that doesn’t toe the Linden PR line.
Prokofy Neva
Sep 2nd, 2008
Yes, that’s typical, the Herald is always for freedom of investigative media — but only its own. There’s nothing wrong with this news clip. It’s the right of the free media in a free society to investigate virtual worlds and raise matters of concern to the public. There’s nothing sensational or biased about this clip — it tells the truth about everything, which we all know from the Herald’s own sleazy reporting on everything form torture to suicide rooms.
And Yeager is absolutely right, acting out these depravities in virtuality *does* desensitize and does “normalize” things that society does not feel should be “normalized,” especially for children, but not even for adults.
The detective urged parents to become involved in what their children do online. The techlibs on the Herald always rant about how the state shouldn’t become childrens’ babysitters. OK, then parents have to be informed by lawenforcers who do investigate the nature of SL and do talk about it with concerned community members *and that’s fine*. It’s the Herald that’s not fine because it’s depraved itself.
The Lindens are going to have to bite the bullet further on this at some point and step up on age verification, despite all the Euro-whining and American hysteria about *gasp* being put on a campaign mailing list and *gasp* getting an Obama flyer in the mail as a remote possibility because they gave their name to Aristotle’s verification system? Which we don’t know if the Lindens will even be using.
Once again, the point of age verification is not to keep out children, although that’s a salutory objective, but to make the adults engaging in violent and explicit sexual activities to take ownership of these sites with their RL name so they are liable to prosecution if they involve minors or break the law in some other manner. And that’s fine. That’s normal. It’s the Herald that’s not normal.
As Pixeleen knows from his own long-term relationships and sexual adventures online in SL, the sex is not about poorly visible pixels but riveting immersion. And that’s why it’s the Big Lie to pretend it’s not compelling and that it isn’t a risk for teenagers.
Random
Sep 2nd, 2008
ZOMG!! that’s almost as bad as all the REAL DRUGS and REAL FUCKING we did between ages 12 and 18 in the REAL WORLD, back in the 80′s, long before the internet was widely available and anyone knew what it was. Since THE INTERNET IS OBVIOUSLY RESPOSIBLE for social situations that existed long before its inception, it should totally be banned.
honestly people, you want your kids having virtual sex, or real sex?
Just WATCH your F***ING kids, people.
Jumpman Lane
Sep 2nd, 2008
er I DIDN’T know people were havin sex in Second Life…and er that it was the Dark Side…
Aya Pelous
Sep 2nd, 2008
watch your kids, stop blaming everyone else
Silly Me
Sep 2nd, 2008
I do not allow my children on the internet unless there is some supervision and monitoring.
I have monitoring software and when a freind of my child came over and I was in my office, I got an email that an inapropriate site was being accessed, so I called home and told them to turn off the computer.
I later reviewed the content and sat down with “my” child not involving the friend, and just talked casually about my concerns. I do not want to superimpose my concerns on another persons child.
For example: I was quite distressed when I discovered in India about a system of class, which I personnally found troubling in a course I had taken. I would not counsel an Indian child visiting my home on my “well intentioned” views of the class system.
The point of the example, I certainly do not want the diverse universe deciding for my child what is appropriate, just provide me the tools monitor.
And the clip I felt was brutally honest, though I do not entirely agree with the psychologist.
Toodles
2c.
Sep 3rd, 2008
“And Yeager is absolutely right, acting out these depravities in virtuality *does* desensitize and does “normalize” things that society does not feel should be “normalized,”
proof?
Mony Markova
Sep 3rd, 2008
All I am saying is that those ppl in the video, look quite alot like regular SL users… mmmh… That pervert Mom “Oh you mean the teens?… phew I tought you had discovered me” she might have said.
Thanks Siggs – whats your recipe for getting so many replies? (jealousy)
I would not put my hands to the fire to defend the Lab do. Many things to solve yet.
InTheKnow
Sep 3rd, 2008
The main problem I had with the piece is that it didn’t up-front state that SL is for adults. This of course added to its shock value. I imagine that was quite intentional on their part. SL is not for kids. Neither are 100′s of thousands of porn sites where no signup , no download and installation of software, etc. is required to view real people doing just about anything you might find in SL in virtual form (where was that parental warning?) 99% of SL is not sexually oriented, I suggest you do a bit more exploring. If your exposure is 99% then perhaps that is because of the old adage: Seek and ye shall find.
Rico Roizman
Sep 3rd, 2008
Wow, The Media has really did Second Life bogus on this one. The 4th branch of the government, Im not happy of the fact. But I have to say Linden Labs got disowned.
But the media is always for the negatives, all this is true in Second Life – But what about the fact, that people can turn this virtual enviornment into their RL Job, Making Thousands or Millions with endless possibilities, and for those newcomers that are 18 getting out of highschool, emersing iN Second Life business culture, they can get somewhat of a taste of having that job in RL, Second Life has both negatives and positives, just as every object on this earth has.
Joseph
Sep 5th, 2008
Wow – this clip really kicked a bees nest! Duke of New York made some great comments. I will tell you what this clip left out. It left out avitars urinating in peoples mouths and defecating on other avitars. Kids are learning about Teen Second Life in School. Do you really think they will go home and NOT go in Adult Second Life. What people fail to realize is that kids can PARTICIPATE in this negative behavior. They will be more likely to try this behavior in RL. This is unhealthy. We know Adult SL is meant for adults but that is not reality. Linden Labs should take proactive measures (real measures) to limit kids access to this dangerous virtual world. Fuzzy sex, virtual suicide, virtual human killings is very very bad. Andy Yeager hit the nail on the head – kids will eventually flock to virtual worlds so lets KEEP THEM OUT using reasonable methods. Virtual worlds should not be banned but better regulated so that the consenting adults can “do their thing” without the chances of harming a child. Virtual worlds are a pedo’s paradise or predator to coerce a child into inappropriate sex or harm. Where else can you simulate having sex with a 4 year-old virtual child. You can’t do that in Grand Theft Auto. If SL was in the store it would be banned. Enjoy your furry sex. The next kid that falls victim just might be a young predator in the making!
Chris Hansen
Sep 5th, 2008
is the reporter Chris Hansen’s dumb cousin or something?
2cents
Sep 6th, 2008
“Where else can you simulate having sex with a 4 year-old virtual child. You can’t do that in Grand Theft Auto.”
Nope. You can simulate Virginia Tech and beat that guys highscore, kill old ladies with baseballbats, go drugrunning and stealing cars. All of them harmless in comparison, amirite?
Oh wait I forgot about the homemade patch to show all the adult sexyness in GTA that caused such a riot.
It’s good that parents get ‘educated’ on the potential dangers for their children in adult games like SL and GTA, only there’s educating, and there’s fearmongering.
Screaming foul on the game creator’s part, is plain wrong, tell the parents what kids could possibly see and do in games, yes, try and get the gamecreators to change things and take responibility instead of the kids parents, come on.
That’s just as stupid as sueing McDonalds for failing to mention coffee might be actually hot.
SL is a game. And as all other games have an age rating, so should SL. Oh wait… it has.
It all boils down to the modern problem of parents using teevo and computers as a nanny for their children, while they “do their thing”. It’s the parents who are to blame if they fail to keep an eye on what their kids do and what games they play untill they are adult enough to know what’s what in this, and the virtual world.
(most adults I know and see posting here still dont, but that’s a whle different matter.)
Archie
Sep 9th, 2008
Hicksville reporting.
American self righteousness
demonstrates its own contradictions
once again.
Arwyn
Sep 10th, 2008
Dude, I don’t need SL to look at porn. I know plenty of regular sites where I can look at blurry images of virtual and badly animated bodies writhing together without risking my ass on Main Grid. These news geeks are getting overexcited and self-righteous, demonizing any new technology that they can’t control every facet of. Do they even mention TSL? Even though it’s a shithole, it is there. We are a fairly clean environment, despite the occasional n00b walking around with 5 meter plywood prim penis sticking out of his pants who gets reported within a minute of appearing. If teens really wanted sex that badly, we have the fucking internet.
I can wait another year until I’m 18 to come over to the Main Grid. I’m not in that much of a rush to wander in on three furries going at it.