Hi everyone . I'm also a member of SL and have been for a couple of years now. I've yet to encounter as Melody and as Aussie99 have while visiting SL.

I joined not long after JL announced its founding at OBT - and shortly after I was dx'd with Asperger's (as an adult). I'm a member of Brigadoon, which is a private island and it is totally "G" rated.

Admittedly, it deeply saddens me to see how SL (and Brigadoon) have been characterized - here.

So that people do know: JL didn't create SL or "virtual" sex havens within SL. He works for Linden Labs, which created SL. And, JL has never behaved inappropriately (in a sexually suggestive manner) - that I've ever seen.

The sexual content, etc., in SL is restricted to "Mature" regions in SL; it's not system-wide. People choose to visit those regions, and the same applies to the regions that offer gambling and so on.

This article was written earlier this year; it offers a glimpse into Brigadoon:

Autism community forges virtual haven

The only inaccuracy I see (in the above article) is my age; I declined to provide that, since SL also has its TOS and members are not required to disclose data about ourselves - that could ID us in RL; the reporter took a "guess." (My member name - "Rain" - is derived from a nickname that my RL friends gave me.)

SL doesn't create addictions. I've currently $L 24,000 in my account - and that's the balance after having raised and re-directed donations for Brigadoon, ShockProof and BT.

What do I do in SL? Some is described in the article.

I've also participated in Educational Faires - by helping set up and "man" the areas respective of Asperger's and Brigadoon.

Because Brigadoon is a private island, and none of my RL friends are also Aspies, I bumped my basic account to a premium - to buy land. A few of my RL friends joined SL - being supportive of me and of others with Asperger's. We "meet" on that land and it bridges a gap; we live far apart so, in a sense, it's a way to get to "see" each other and interact through synchronous chat.

Periodically, Brigadoon has an "open house," and its members are invited to ask others to attend . It's not a secret society, but the island does provide a safe haven... free from prejudice and ridicule.

I'm not a lone individual in SL; I know a number of people who don't use SL for its "sexual" content/activity. One, for instance, is a cardiopulmonary specialist - a doctor. His use of SL is for relaxation and creating.

To me, SL is not only a viable tool for socialization, it also facilitates creativity - much as do the modules used in design school, which I'm attending (thinking that design can provide a relief from working in computer forensics and encountering a barrage of criminals.)

SL is member-driven/dependent. The content (objects and text) exist, in large part, based on what members do in SL. And, in turn, SL is what each member makes it; the experience is also member dependent.

some things are getting very mixed up here.

First, JL did not design SL. He bought and designed a space within second life. I haven't seen it, yet.

Second, many of the parts of SL are rated PG, and you can be banned from them for even talking dirty.

Third, a bunch of reputable universities have SL campuses, where real online learning takes place. Harvard even has one, somewhere.

It's a big wide world, just like the real one. I have some beefs with JL, but I don't want to see him slandered through simple misunderstanding.

Of course the thought does come to mind: Maybe a bunch of us should hunt down his avatar on SL sometime and gang up on him!

--comes from the feeling many of us have of being "jilted" by Braintalk's founder, and curiosity at what possibly could be more interesting or compelling to him than the Braintalk boards.

That being said, yes, SL, as a virtual world is just like the real world--good points, bad points, wonder, mischief, fantasy, absurdity, kinkiness, truthful and not-so-truthful self-presentations--though one can change the latter much more quickly, and with much better graphics.

Thank you Steve and Glenntaj . I totally understand what you've relayed and also relate to the feelings of disappointment, etc., that evolved when OBT crashed .

What hurts is the innuendo - wild guesses - about Brigadoon and its members, suggesting (oh, I mean, asking if) we might be participating in some type of virtual orgies because we "can't get any" in Real Life. The hint of that is unfounded and, in no way, reality-based.

Just as there is more to existence than sex in RL, so, too, is there more to our involvement within SL and Brigadoon .

Hi, Aussie99,

It was only recently (within the past few months, I think) that SL opened a "Teen Grid," and it is specifically for teens, not adults and not adult "sexual" content/context.

Aside from Linden Lab employees whom oversee the activities (in the teen grid) and assure that adults are not infiltrating the grid or preying on teens, adults are not permitted. Linden Lab has very strict TOS respective of the grid and its uses, which are enforced if a problem presents itself.

Conversely, teens are not permitted in the adult grid (whether the regions are rate GP or Mature).

This isn't correct:

"But JL has created a virtual pornographic orgy world for kids with autism??"

Please see my other post(s). The only way that teens are permitted in Brigadoon is with the direct authorization, participation and supervision of a parent, guardian or care-provider. Teens aren't allowed to Teleport to any adult Region, yet they can also join the Teen Grid.


Bob,

Just as there are admins. here and at other forums on the Net, Brigadoon also has admins. . It's not a free-for-all or "anything goes" environment.



Please... don't associate the "sexual" stuff with Brigadoon, ShockProof (for stroke survivors and supportive people) or Live2Give (for people with Cerebral Palsy) - or with JL. It's not right.

Hi Bobbi:

I've posted about my experiences in Second Life and many people have enjoyed my travelogues (as they put it).

I joined because my son who has Aspergers, lives on Second Life, day and night. He has no interest in Brigadoon. I told him about it. I wish he would go there. Maybe he has but when I mentioned it to him, he couldn't care less.All he does is gamble there.

You are right when you said that Second Life is good for socialization. If it helps people, then it's a good thing.

The Sex part of it, well, I didn't know about that and when I found it out, I laughed so hard and just shared my adventures in this forum.

I never bashed Second Life so please do not think I did.

I am glad that you are content in Second Life's Brigadoon.

All the best
melody

Bobbi,
Thankyou once again for helping to correct the misinformation and misrepresentations that have been voiced on this thread since it was started.

It is appreciated.
Lara

((( Melody )))

I'd heard from others about the sex happenings in SL; maybe it's because I deal with so much disgusting work-related stuff that I've not ventured to encounter as you have firsthand. I can see how unsuspecting people, such as yourself, could stumble into it. Too me that's stuff, it's just ... well ... I don't know what to make of it, to be honest.

I've got better ways I wanna spend my money .

Maybe when SL has another open house, your son might consider visiting B. It's better seen - and experienced - that any description I could provide; I'm sure I've not done it justice, since words really can't adequately convey all that it encompasses.

If you want to see a different side of SL when you're logged in, feel free to drop me a message. My SL user name, in full, is: Rainmaiden Fairplay.

As I mentioned, long before I knew I had AS, my friends were calling me "Rain." One of my professors had said that I reminded him of the Dustin Hoffman character from ... what movie . I hadn't seen the movie and he suggested I do so. (When working in publishing, without looking, I knew the names, addresses and telephone numbers of subscribers off the top-of-my-head. I thought it was nice to have that address book lodged in my brain .) And, still, with work, my colleagues comment about how I retain info. Guess we know now how so that happens.

My favorite aspect of SL, Melody, is Mountain Surfing... standing on the edge of a mountain top - at B. - and surfing down in my bunny slippers. Maybe I can take you mountain surfing some time.


Lara, I think that Melody and others who've joined and visited SL are giving accurate descriptions about what they've experienced. Where the misunderstandings come into the picture is what others are mistakenly reading into it.

I just wanted to explain a bit about B., and the other Isles I'm familiar with so that people aren't mistakenly thinking that B. members or JL are directly involved with the "sex dens" and stuff of that nature .

When I first joined, I was still feeling shy about people I don't know very well knowing about the AS, and JL did offer the safety-net of not exposing ourselves to anything that could inadvertently hurt anyone (there is still a stigma attached to the AS dx, which is why so many adults are undiagnosed - by choice). He encouraged the use of nyms - if we chose so that our RL existence couldn't be harmed in any way.

Since I've self-outted (here and other places), the following links to more about my time in SL:

http://braintalk.blogs.com/brigadoon...sts/index.html

Yeah, thanks Bobbi. I was aware of that too

I am most certain that Second Life is fantastic for many people. But I have to back-up Mel's discoveries because I also experienced them for myself. There is XXX sex there,bondage,torture,origies,and alot of very dirty talk. I saw it, I heard it,and I may have some problems but my eyes and ears work fine.

I cannot say it didn't happen when it did. I am sure there is plenty of G rated areas there too,as I saw those first. And probably more good bits that I have yet to discover.There are also plenty of XXX rated areas and eventually you may end up there if you follow someone or teleport

I joined for free,never provididng my credit card details. All I had to do was type in by date of birth showing I am over 18,and the the rest is carte blanche. Realistically a 14 year old,can join with a false date of birth.

But I am sure if you type in that you were 14, there would probably be limited access to some area.

But because a person can register many times as different characters too,I think it would be naive to think that teeagers are not findind there way to the XXX rooms. There's many parts of the sight that are "Highly Pornographic", no different than any other sort of porn.

If you enjoy Second Life (for whatever reason),more power to you, & that's your business and perogative. It's not my place to offer moral judgments on what adult people should and should not do. I am positive I haven't even experienced the other 95% of what the sight offers.I am certain that SL offers all you say it offers. But the fact remains it's also has plenty hardcore sex,slaves,bondage and the like. My ONLY concern was that children (teenagers) would end up in those rooms.

Bobbi, I also do not beleive I said nor implied that all SL members have orgies & sex on SL because they can't get any in real life. If someone else said that, than I can understand how it would be upsetting. But there was nothing in my post about that.

I've merely expressed what my concern was, you don't have to agree with me, but you should allow me the opprotunity to also have an opinion.

Some people like coffee, I prefer tea.. Neither is wrong but!