Conservative Republicans’ Second Life Fantasy World
by Alphaville Herald on 13/04/09 at 7:41 am
[Politics in the United States have not been kind to the Republicanparty of late, so it is understandable that some of the party faithfulhave taken refuge in the fictional entertainment world of Second Life. Reporting on this trend, Alessandra Narayan's interview illustrates how virtual conservatives have adopted the immersive workspaces of Second Life to meet and discuss how freedom must beprotected from dangerous threats including liberalism, Muslims, and female Democrat voters. - the Editrix]
by Alessandra Narayan
“Come join us and help us take back America and reset all the foundational ideals that the Liberals have trampled on”, can be read on the presentation of “The OFFICIAL Republican Party of SL”, a sim managed by Tomasi Benelli.
The Republican Party of SL sim’s leadership is conservative first, and republican second, so not all conservative philosophers are treated with equal weight.
While Tomasi Benelli is a fan of conservative commentator Ann Coulter, Benelli doesn’t share all of her views, and states that freedom is God given and no one should take it away.
Alessandra Narayan (AN) – How old is this republican/conservative sim of yours?
Tomasi Benelli (TB) – It is originally older than I am, it became home to the Republican Party of SL in early 2007.
AN – Does it belong to you now?
TB – The sim is owned by the group owner, Vyre Cohen. I am a manager of the SIM along with her.
AN – What are the connections to the Republican Party in RL?
TB – We have several prominent real-life Republicans in our group. The only one I can mention because his name is the same here is Newt Gingrich.
AN – What activities go on in this sim?
TB – In the theater we host live podcast recordings, Conservative Matters and The East Coast Conservative. We have a party in the Gardens every Friday night, we host discussions when we can and will be starting a book club and a You Tube presentation night in the open air arena.
AN – What are the goals and objectives of this sim? Promoting the Republican Party in-world?
TB – That's basically it exactly. We aim to promote the ideals of the Real-world Republican Party here in Second Life.
AN – In that case I guess you don't have problems finding financial support to pay tiers, right?
TB – We gladly take donations from guests but the important thing is we never require payment for anything. I think we give more Second Life money away than we make. The financial support is not an issue, no.
AN – Looking at your profile is it correct to say that this republican sim is more conservative oriented?
TB – Yes, most of the leadership of the group will say “I am a conservative first and a republican second”.
AN – What do you think of SL and its general activities?
TB – It is a fantastic extension of real life. I will often sit in this very theater and be with someone from California, another from Utah, and another from Michigan. It's what I call, “the world's most advanced chat room”.
AN – But most activities inworld are related with sex, shopping, role-playing… if you go to SL search engine those are the most populated places… what do you think of that?
TB – I am an ultra strong advocate of freedom. If those things, the nastier ones in particular can be easily avoided (and they can), I see no problem with it. I haven't been exposed to the less pretty side of Second Life since I was a new resident.
AN – So, since everything is done with mutual consent and people can easily teleport away, you don't see the need to restrain liberty in SL?
TB – No, Liberty is God given and only He should take it away.
AN – Are you a radical conservative or a moderate conservative?
TB – I suppose people would have slightly different opinions on that. The “radical” part doesn't agree with reality. If the choice is between moderate or strong conservative, I'd say very strong.
AN – So, although you defend liberty, you also agree to Ann Coulter when she states women shouldn't vote? I noticed you're a fan of her…
TB – I am a big fan of Ann's and her satire. I personally don't agree that women shouldn't vote. I don't know the details or even if Ann means it the way you might be taking it.
AN – Basically she said before women started voting the Republican Party had always won elections in USA…
TB – Ann says a lot of really off the wall things on subjects she wants to talk about. The off the wall things make reporters and hosts ask her to elaborate. She gets to speak on what SHE wants to speak on because of those off the wall statements.
AN – Anyway, keeps you wondering what could happen if a person that does such statements would reach presidency for example…
TB – From a founding fathers viewpoint, I think most recent Presidents have been severely off the wall about a lot of different things.
AN – Don't you think that statement, among others, consider a threat to freedom?
TB – No, statements from a basically powerless person is no threat. Liberalism is a very serious threat to freedom. We are losing it already. There's another point that we must consider. She is protected by the First Amendment. Any true American should defend anyone's right to it.
AN – What are the things that most upset you in SL?
TB – The worst thing is the griefers. People who for some reason never grew out of diapers and only wish to cause havoc anywhere they can.
AN – In a way SL is a very liberalist world, does that bother you?
TB – Bother, well, because it really is only a kind of chat room, it doesn't mean all that much. We have made a fairly strong success of our own land in SL.
AN – Would you ban liberalist activities if you could in SL?
TB – That would be anti-freedom. No.
AN – When Ann Coulter, talking about Muslims said “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity”… isn't that anti-freedom?
TB – The difference being we would actually be protecting freedom. They are a group who follows a “religion” that says (in the Quran) that they must kill us wherever they find us.
AN – So Muslims are bad people because all of them follow the Quran and all of them want to kill us?
TB – The funny thing is the ones who do not follow the Quran are good people. I have a great real-life Muslim friend. The ones who read it and take as truth are the ones who become really bad for our health.
AN – Not all Muslims need to be converted as Ann Coulter defends?
TB – No, I think she was simply stating a situation that would be ideal.
AN – When you’ve mentioned the first amendment you’ve used the term “a true American”… What is “a true American”?
TB – I think a true American is a person who loves America, one who understands and defends its founding principles and who fights any intrusion of those things.
AN – Liberals and democrats are bad Americans?
TB – Both parties have made a pretty large shift to the left. Today Republican Party is what democrats used to be. Today Democrats have gone past left and entered into socialism/marxism/communism depending on the individual.
AN – Still you didn't directly answered my question. Liberals and Democrats are bad Americans?
TB – Today democrats for the most part are really bad for our country.
Alyx Stoklitsky
Apr 13th, 2009
I can’t wait to throw my radical far left propaganda all over their land.
moses
Apr 13th, 2009
well. what are you expecting ? conservatives and liberals all of them lives in a fantasy land any way. left wing and right wing each side thinks there way is the best. feh. you ever see a bird with one wing if he tries to fly ? only thing he will do is flop about on the ground and beat his self senseless and then a big bear will jump on him and eat him when he is not looking. feh again.
Stephie
Apr 13th, 2009
I found this in someone’s picks a couple of months ago and after trolling them, decided to teleport in and see how incredibly ridiculous it was. I had a lot of good laughs at the horrible, outrageous propaganda they had up.
corona anatine
Apr 13th, 2009
re
Still you didn’t directly answered my question. Liberals and Democrats are bad Americans?
TB – Today democrats for the most part are really bad for our country.
still did not answer the question directly
and would a republican ever announce that democrats are the best thing ever for their country?
corona anatine
Apr 13th, 2009
2
I think a true American is a person who loves America, one who understands and defends its founding principles and who fights any intrusion of those things.
so then those republican americans who are doing their best to overthrow the founding principle of the separation of church and state
are by this definition not true americans?
AP
Apr 13th, 2009
“Help us take back America”? What the F? Sorry but the Republicans do not own America. Nor should they take it back. If anything the GOP is one of the worst problems WITH America.
Tharik
Apr 13th, 2009
Ther reporter’s bias is showing.
Most of the people in the SL Republican party are decent, very nice ppl.
Myself and at least one other member are “out” atheists. I am pro-choice and OK with gay marriage. You will find among the Republican Party a number of “libertarians.”
Tom and Vyre are both great people and I personally have never experienced anything other than respect for my views that go against the grain.
The common threads you will find is support for the war against Muslim extremists (anyway you slice it, Tom is RIGHT, Muslims that follow the Koran LITERALLY, ARE a problem) and fiscal conservatism.
Tharik
Apr 13th, 2009
PS. The reporter (or anyone else) should hold themselves to thier same standard:
Are conservative Republicans BAD Americans?
Miss Petunia Amaryllis Courtney Taliaferro, Second Life League of Decency
Apr 13th, 2009
Only a good King can save the nation from its depravities. We must return to the unvarnished simplicity of the Feudal Era when proper theology and geometry were the order of the day, enforced by the proper methods of pubic humiliation and decapitation.
The Second Life League of Decency will announce our plans in due time. It is the testing ground for a New Order.
corona anatine
Apr 13th, 2009
Tom is RIGHT, Muslims that follow the Koran LITERALLY, ARE a problem
no
members of ANY religion which take their ‘holy’ book ARE LITERALLY, a problem
janeforyou Barbara
Apr 14th, 2009
The scandinavian system are based on Kings and Queens and Parlaments and works ok,we the pepole choose who sit in the parlamet by voting, the Scandinavian system are based on sosial securety, taxes are hight yes, but the state/govermet takes care of you, its a liberal freedom system. not perfeckt but it works.
Any political system can be good if it takes care of them that cant take care of them self.I am not a political expert but as i understand it the Republicans in USA are not for a sosial secure system by the state/goverment?
Q
Apr 14th, 2009
Democrats are worthless. They’d rather be coddled by the government than get off their lazy asses to do a damn thing. Send them to the salt mines so at least they’ll be productive instead of sitting around smoking weed all day long wishing they could have intercourse with the Obamessiah.
Idiots
Apr 14th, 2009
Protip: One that does not follow the Koran… is NOT a muslim.
Just like christian that does not follow the bible, is not a christian….
Proving, once again, that people like this have no friggin idea what the Koran really is about.
I’d just read it for once instead of just swallowing the bullshit like truth. Tip: read the bible after it. Try and find the differences. (arent that many really)
Tharik Oyen
Apr 14th, 2009
corona anatine & Idiots:
“members of ANY religion which take their ‘holy’ book ARE LITERALLY, a problem”
Yes, being an atheist (did you miss that part?) I agree. The fact is though, “radical” Christians have done a much better job of acclimating themselves to the modern world. They still have a long way to go, but they are arguably much better than the radical Muslims of the world.
I have read the Koran, just about every other page talks about killing someone, as does many parts of the Bible (esp the old testament).
I find it curious that many people who are quick to point out the many flaws of “radical” Christians are also quick to say things like “all Muslims aren’t terrorists.” Of course they aren’t, just like all Christians don’t think gay marriage is wrong.
The fact remains, Tom is dead on what he says about Muslims. Personally, if I had to choose with having to spend a day with a “radical” Christian or a “radical” Muslim, it would be a no brainer: with the former I might have to listen to nonsense all day long, with the latter, I had better bring a gun or knife.
Two Worlds
Apr 14th, 2009
Laugh if you’d like Alessandra, but Second Life is for fringe groups to flourish, and in this day and ago the GOP is the most fringe of fringe groups. Conservatives meeting in a virtual world where they must be forced to co-exist with batsh*t wiccans, furries, e-hookers, and pedos is the best freakin’ setup ever. All you need to do is shake up the ant farm.
Tharik Oyen
Apr 14th, 2009
To add again, the reporter was very obviously biased.
She kept looking for a “gotcha” comment from Tom, who did no such thing. Obviously, the reporter has a rather warped view of what a typical conservative or Republican is like.
Tom seems to make it clear that your typical conservative Republican isn’t waving the Bible and calling for hellfire in front of abortion clinics; they aren’t burning crosses on gay people’s lawns; they don’t want to ban SL; and they aren’t advocating women shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
Are there conservative Republicans that do this? OF COURSE! There are also liberal Democrats that commit vandalism and “terrorist” acts (PETA, ELF). Do these organization represent the best the liberal democrats have to offer? OF COURSE NOT.
Finally, ref Ann Coulter. Again, Tom was very clear. Ann does say some rather stupid things (her horrible misunderstanding of evolution in “Godless” comes to mind). She also is a skilled satirist and has been known to make rather good points. Personally, I stopped paying attention to her after her “sand-n|gger” comments, but I am sure she does indeed many times point out when a liberal says something hypocritical or stupid.
Finally, the very partisan nature of American politics should be an embarrassment to every American today. I myself was a very vocal “conservative Republican” at one point. I have drifted away because of my views on gay rights, abortion, and a few other things. However, the other side of the fence IMHO has some pretty warped views when it comes to political correctness and “multiculturalism.” I prefer to call “a spade a spade.”
Emperor Norton Hears a Who?
Apr 14th, 2009
So the modern conservative movement devolved into a No True Scotsmen exercise. I suppose it makes sense now everyone has seen the outrageous contradictions in the conservative movement. Just hilarious.
Eva Ryan
Apr 14th, 2009
OooooKAAYYY….
One question eludes me… How does this affect the price of goat cheese in Montana?
mootykips
Apr 14th, 2009
>However, the other side of the fence IMHO has some pretty warped views when it comes to political correctness and “multiculturalism.” I prefer to call “a spade a spade.”
You mean you prefer to call “a nigger a nigger”. Gotcha. Love how conservatives twist their language and use salient euphemisms instead of just going all out and saying what they really mean.
Eirynne Sieyes
Apr 14th, 2009
I am VERY happy to learn about this group. Thanks for writing about them Alessandra!
Sinead McMillan
Apr 15th, 2009
“(…) is only a kind of chat room, it doesn’t mean all that much.”
so, that’s sl to u? what? then get lost, little mr. gop.
corona anatine
Apr 15th, 2009
The price of goat cheese in Montana is directly tied to the percentage of republican voters
Alyx Stoklitsky
Apr 15th, 2009
The truth hurts, Sinead?
Julio Garcia
Apr 17th, 2009
Terrible interview. You can tell the leanings of the person asking the questions… constantly harping on Coulter and then making this guy defend her statements or condemn her as “anti-freedom.” The guy isn’t Coulter, he shouldn’t be forced to answer for her.
marilyn murphy
Apr 18th, 2009
i want fiscal responsiblility. i dont want the government spending any more than it takes in.
i want fair tax laws. i want the same percentage of income taxed no matter what a person makes.
i want earmarks banned. all tax moneys spent should be subject to review.
i dont give a damn who marries who or what people do in their sex lives.
i dont want government paying for religious items/displays/rhetoric..etc. im for abolishing tax relief to religious organizations.
genetically altered grains have fed over a billion people in the last year. the people protesting against this tech have fed how many?
i am disgusted with the stance of the left and the right. the republicans dropped the ball when they were in power by refusing to even live up to their own principles. now the democrats appear to be swinging the pendulum so far to the left we are going to owe china for the next 50 years to support the social programs they are demanding.
no party seems to be embracing the simple facts of our situation. both parties are at fault for our current circumstance.
i want to vote everybody out of office that voted for a spending bill that no one could possibly have read. so now, we are going whoa, why werent there any oversights or checks and balances in this bill? sigh.
unfortunately, the vast majority of people dont follow the issues at all.
mootykips
Apr 18th, 2009
i don’t know anything about how the government works but let me read you this comprehensive list of talking points
Satan
Apr 19th, 2009
It’s very important to make a distinction from political correctness and racism. While it may be confusing for some because a person that doesn’t advocate political correctness may share views that racists use to justify their universal hate of a given race, there is a very real difference.
Someone who is racist against black people will despise all african americans based on social problems that are actually the result of a lack of education. Those problems actually have nothing to do with skin pigmentation.
The problem is that when the slaves were freed, they had no education whatsoever thus making it difficult to integrate into society. A parent with little or no education is less likely to value the education of their child and thus the cycle self-perpetuates. Crime and poverty are often the result and it’s difficult for some to see that it is illogical to think that the problems have anything to do with skin pigmentation. In reality, it has everything to do with the fact that an entire race was denied the same education that whites had many many years ago and thus progress has been slow for black people in America today.
The black man has already proven that he has the exact same potential that white people have. Just take a look at educated african americans in society today and see for yourself. They are the ones that are successful. The only difference between an educated black person and an educated white person is skin pigmentation and many educated african americans are even more horrified at the state of affairs in their culture than white people are. The redneck meth cook and Aryan Brotherhood member is actually very similar to the people that he hates so much in that he is poverty stricken and prone to the same types of social problems.
Political correctness actually does a huge disservice to society because it prevents important problems from being addressed. I think that political correctness is motivated by misunderstanding.
In some cases it’s because people believe that negative statistics apply to them and they are unwilling to be objective. In others it is a conscious effort to quell differing political views. In others it is caused by genuine confusion by the fact that people who don’t advocate political correctness seem to share SOME views that are similar to a blatant racist’s. Then of course there are others that get pissed when they don’t get their way and so they try to manipulate the system by pointing fingers and hollering racism.
I think a good example is how when statistics show that the average white person is more intelligent than the average black person, PC advocates and some african americans freak out about how the study is racist when in actuality it is factual. PC advocates may believe that they are helping the culture that they are trying to defend but they are actually hindering it’s progress by preventing important social problems from being addressed. Despite this, slowly but surely, there has been progress. Obama is just one example of how successful an educated black man can be.
Some argue that the white people have an unfair advantage because white people are shown favoritism in the workplace for example but there is a problem with that on both sides of the spectrum. African americans have a tendency to do that even more than the average white person because the average african american is seen as ‘needing’ it more. I have seen many an african american in a managerial position show unjustifiable favoritism towards fellow african americans. People doing this actually have good intentions. They’re trying to speed up the progress of their people but in actuality this sort of thing hinders it and it also has a tendency to breed REAL racism.
Some may be surprised to learn that I voted for Obama during this past presidential election. Many african americans voted for him without any understanding of his politics just because he is black. Their desire for progress has become so important to them that they are forgetting that real progress for black america cannot be achieved this way. I think the example is perfectly illustrated by footage that showed african americans who voted for Obama being interviewed. Some of them were asked what they thought about Sarah Palin who was part of the McCain campaign. The interviewer deliberately implied that Palin was with Obama, and in some cases african americans praised Palin because of this even though Palin is part of a completely different and opposing political party! How absurd!! It’s just another example of lack of education. What if Obama believed that a certain group of people should be exterminated and his election caused the eruption of a new world war? In that case, the people that voted for him without any knowledge of his politics would have done something that had an extremely negative impact on the entire world that would have been entirely preventable! Such are the dangers of a desire for progress that overrides reasoning.
PC advocates: You are creating more problems for the people that you are trying to defend than your opponents are. Stop hindering progress and help work toward a resolution. Please.
Tomasi Benelli
Apr 20th, 2009
I was very happy to do this interview and was very satisfied with it when it was complete.
I’m glad there was some great discussion back and forth as comments also.
The e-mail address listed in the profile pic posted herein is a working e-mail if anyone wants to discuss directly anything they have an issue with. I’ll gladly chat that way. You can also just visit us on Keen and we chat virtually in person.
Thanks to all who supported/defended me and my words.
To those who attacked, I’m very sorry you don’t understand what’s going on around you.
Hold on tight, it’s gonna get pretty bumpy from here.
Michael Seraph
Apr 26th, 2009
Religious extremists are dangerous. It doesn’t matter if they are Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish. I’ve never met a Christian who followed the Bible literally as I read it. And there’s the rub. We don’t get to interpret other people’s religious texts for them. If Ahmed says he’s a Muslim, then he’s a Muslim. Even if he isn’t a terrorist. Even if he thinks women are equal to men. Even if he’s nice. And if Joe says he’s a Christian, then he’s a Christian. Even if he is gay. Even if he’s a Republican. Even if he eats pork at the ball park on a Sunday. And the idea that we would be “protecting” freedom by forcibly converting Muslims to Christianity just rubs me the wrong way. Something I read once. Something the Founding Fathers wrote. What was that?
Oh yeah, here it is:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
And the idea that it’s okay for Ann Coulter (or anybody) to tell outrageous lies to get attention is just stupid. Neither the idea that we should forcibly convert people nor the idea that lying is okay to attract attention to oneself is a conservative idea. The first violates the very foundation of this country and the second shows an incredible lack of personal integrity, honesty and basic decency.
republicans suck
May 7th, 2009
“TB – I think a true American is a person who loves America, one who understands and defends its founding principles and who fights any intrusion of those things.”
Ahahahahaha
Fuck off hoser