Bit nervous about posting this for reasons for which may become clear, but as I'm aware I'm going to be off for a few days, it'll be something to mull over. I think I've decided it shouldn't matter posting it. Or that I don't really care! Take your pick.



I often read reviews or comments in the real world media that suggest Second Life is "just" a red light district or that you'll only find perverts in there, or that none of it is "safe" for children (or adults for that matter). In a workshop a few Fridays back, I pointed out to those in the room that although I've not spent a lot of time in Second Life, that that had not been my experience. Perhaps I'm more wary of clicking on things that 'look' dodgy or have merely led a sheltered life in there. But it was pointed out to me by a former colleague afterwards, when I mentioned the discussion, that actually the same was true of the real world as well. I don't frequent, hang out in, or even encounter very often such 'dodginess'. OK, so I was once was propositioned by a prostitute in Malaysia in the middle of the night but given that she appeared to be about 90 it wasn't exactly tempting. Besides I took my nightwatch duties guarding 350 people too seriously to abandon them even for a moment.

Reflecting on the observation, however, I thought it was probably true and I wasn't so much 'stung' by that, as decided in an oh so rebellious moment that I would rectify it immediately. What if I tried to find something less than wholesome?

I clicked on the Second Life map determined to see what I could find and scrolled around until I saw 'Exotica Erotica'. Now that sounds like it's not going to be a teddy bear's picnic exactly. Here goes...

I teleported in and found what amounted to a pole dancing club. Immediately one of the three female avatars said 'hi' and at the same moment my PC display went all blocky and the machine crashed. First time that's ever happened to me in Second Life. Much amused by either divine protection from such a place, a really nifty university IT security protection system against visiting such a place, or else just random chance, I eventually logged in again.

I realized I'd teleported onto the dance stage and there were clear messages around and about saying that the dance stage was only for performers. I backed off as quick as I could and was, now I was moving again, welcomed once again with a 'hi hapter' from the same dancer as before. I apologized for my crass entry (though quite how you avoid it I don't know) and was told that it wasn't a problem and got an apology myself once the dancer realized they'd missed the first letter of my avatar's name.

Down on the floor proper I saw that I could sit on one of the many stools round the dance area at the feet of the dancers (some marked 'chill', some marked 'entertain me'), I could wander around various 'cells' round the perimeter of the room, or I could look at some of the wall displays which were like large computer screens each of which without exception seemed to have some fairly grainy but graphic pornographic image which changed periodically. Here and there were various pink and blue balls usually labelled with a sexual position and it didn't take much observation or thought to realize that they mostly came in pairs and seemed to relate to whether you wanted to be (or were) male or female.

Dotted around were a handful of avatars - all male except one I noticed. (not counting the three dancers). Two were naked - one very obviously so as he'd clearly paid for and was proud of an anatomical enhancement. (For those who aren't familiar with this aspect of Second Life it might help to know that a standard avatar can be stripped naked like a Cindy Doll or Action Man but is just as sexless underneath the clothing). None of the avatars on the floor were actually doing anything or saying anything except wandering around with a very occasional interchange with the dancers on stage from one of the avatars who seemed to be known to them.

The cells enhanced the feel of a, well, dungeon would perhaps best describe it. There were no windows or skylights. Some cells were equipped with chains and manacles and rack-like devices and some of the pink/blue balls were labelled 'tie me'. There didn't appear to be any obvious entrance/exit. I teleported in, I eventually teleported out.

Meanwhile the three dancers were pole dancing in a fairly reasonable simulation of what I would expect had I ever been to such a venue in real life, the one who welcomed me was dressed in a bikini type outfit, another was dressed a bit more flamboyantly, and the other appeared to be naked but covered in zebra stripes I guess. Clearly they'd all paid for enhancements to movement, body shape, hair, clothing etc to make them more attractive than run of the mill 'free' avatars out-of-the-box as it were.

Now, so much for the description of the place. I'm a reasonably red blooded male, I think, and I tend to respond well to visual input but I have to say that the place did nothing for me whatsoever. After walking around for a bit I sat on a stool - one of the ones marked 'chill' - I wasn't entirely certain the other stools mightn't involve paying Linden dollars - I've only got 24 of the things (about 10 cents). I'm quite able to find avatars 'attractive' in the sense that the pixels are clearly representing attractiveness or cuteness or whatever rather than actually being intrinsically attractive. I'm quite able to use my imagination to bridge the gap between Second Life and reality. I'm quite able to get lost in the virtual world (in all three senses of the expression!). But I really really couldn't see the point. And I don't think it was just because you've no idea if the avatars you interacting with are actually male or female in real life. And I don't think it was because the chains and dungeon like edges were unappealing. Much of Second Life is much more surreal than that. I suppose that had I been there with a friend and chatting and using the pink/blue animations balls it might have been different. I suppose that had I attempted to chat someone up and use the animation balls it might have been different. I suppose that had I just been there chatting suggestively with someone it might have been different. But I don't think so. It comes back to what I say about watching sport on tv. I'd rather be out there playing than just watching. And just watching in Second Life seems even more removed from reality.

Overall it seemed a peculiarly dispiriting and depressing sort of place. But then again, I suspect that I'd find a real life club of that sort exactly the same. Frankly, porn has never done a great deal for me. I don't think it's because I'm not wired that way, I think it's because I've very deliberately not dwelt on it/pursued it/used it.

I gave it quarter of an hour or so (if that) which seemed a fair experiment and then randomly checked out a nearby island just to leave a better image in my mind over the weekend. I stumbled across a beautiful island with a bandstand just behind a beach. There were two balls in the bandstand, one pink and one blue. Perhaps they're right I thought, and it is mostly like "that". But this turned out to be somewhere you could tango with a partner. Now that I would like to try! Two left feet in real life. Down on the beach was a lovely camp fire surrounded by logs, the waves were washing up and down, two boats were moored off a jetty, and there was the occasional cry of a gull. Now that's more like it! I waded in the water for a moment - though as ever this kind of thing just isn't the same as doing it in real life - and sat by the fire. Artificial though the view and the waves and the sounds were, it was very relaxing. I decided to leave myself there for the weekend and log out. I hope the owners of the island didn't mind - but I'll collect some firewood for them if they like.


Of course, all this was in work time and although I've been expected to explore the place and find out what use we can make of it to help students, I did wonder if I could possibly justify visiting a pole dancing club/dungeon. But in fact, I learned something about Second Life and its denizens, etiquette and environment. And I learned quite a powerful lesson that has immediate relevance to any provision of library space that we might offer. I wonder if you spotted it? The power of that immediate and friendly welcome. I'm sure the dancers are being paid, I'm sure that's exactly what they're supposed to do. I have no idea if they're supposed to 'do' anything more and I could have, I'm sure, pursued conversation with them. But all the same, even just that welcome into a strange space was very, well, welcome.