Second Life News
A bed which allows residents of the virtual world Second Life to have sex is at the centre of the first known case to be brought in virtual copyright.
A Florida-based businessman who sells the bed inside Second Life claims another man has copied his creation, and is now bringing an action against his competitor in the real world, even though the bed is not real.
Kevin Alderman runs a company called Eros LLC, which makes adult entertainment goods.
One of Eros's most popular products is a piece of virtual furniture called the SexGen bed, which allows users of Second Life to have their online characters - known as avatars - interact intimately with one another.
Source: Times Online
IceCubeA couple in the UK have divorced when the unknowing wife caught her husband having virtual sex with a prostitute in Second Life.
To have sex in Second Life, one must buy genitals to 'strap on' to ones self and then user created movements can emulate sex.
Some purchased genitalia can even mimic ejaculation.
Reference: 'How do Avatars have sex?' - BBC
You’re not safe from the Good News it seems, as Jesuit Missionaries make their way onto Second Life to save more souls. Writing in Rome-based journal La Civilta Cattolica, Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit academic, cites the popular MMO as a valuable resource for spreading the word of God.
Religion has become a growing presence on Second Life, with much religious diversity and participation taking off after membership became free in June.
The first virtual synagogue, Synagogue-Temple Beit Israel, already boasts a congregation of 200+ members. Those currently using Second Life to attend religious rites sing praises of its ability to conquer geographical boundaries. Even if you’re the only Muslim in the village, you’ll be able to keep your faith alive along with others in Second Life.
The opportunities for inter-religious discussion can be a great thing to come out of the diversity appearing in Second Life. However, much like in real life, religion in the virtual world is prone to intolerance. Religious harassment has ranged from naked avatars sitting on the Koran to a swastika painted on the synagogue.
But it was only a matter of time before the evangelical outreach-types exploited it as potential mission territory. I’m not sure if they expect to receive something other than the usual door-slammed-in-the-face treatment online; that people are somehow more open and willing to new ideas in a virtual world.
We need to look at what people really want to get out of their Second Life experience, and whether religious Enlightenment is on their list.
The Australian has run a story on the alleged use of Second Life in training real-world terrorists. It cites reports of a recent “terror campaign” involving helicopters being flown into a Nissan building, and armed attacks taking place in an Apparel clothing and Reebok store.
These are not the first cases of organized violence occurring in Second Life. Earlier this year we saw Chinese gamers rioting at the sight of an unwelcomed Japanese flag, and political riots following the French Election. Although these events caused a real ruckus online, it more likely reflects the passion and fears of gamers who are too scared to hurl a brick through a window in real life.
But with terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah being held down by increased surveillance and information-gathering, it’s suspected that they’ve turned towards building online military camps. Such camps could provide the opportunity to rehearse terror operations on realistic targets.
Intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the US and Australia are so concerned they have established their own games in a bid to gain the same experiences as the virtual terrorists.
I suspect the anti-terrorism agencies are more scared about extremists spreading propaganda-laden messages to a large audience. We already know that plenty of Muslims practice their faith in SL, along with other religions. The potential for religious fanaticism is compounded in an online environment, where people’s emotions and ideas can run wild.
Their fears for the real world ramifications may be justified, but I still struggle to see how much of a learning tool Second Life could be for terrorists. You strap a bomb to your chest, you blow it up in a crowded area - planning such an operation at most requires a pen and paper.