Down with Adult Content!!!

Today, Linden Labs released their plans to address the issue of "adult content" in world. Three major steps make up this plan and include moving adult content to one area on the grid, creating a mechanism in search to filter out adult content, and the idea of toying with age verification for adult content access which may or may not include particularly bloody (or particularly violent) games.

Several bloggers have commented on this topic but two SL heavy hitters stand out to me: Nexeus Fatale and Crap Mariner.

Let me make this clear: I object!

I find it frustrating that people "need" someone to censor their behaviors. I have been in SL for a long while (two years in April) and never once have I voluntarily set foot inside a sex palace or any other place of "adult" content. (I must admit however that I was once sim hopping and accidentally landed in a Gorean sim and I also, at one point, stumbled into a rather risque position while shopping by sitting on a shower pose ball.) Despite these occurrences, for nearly two years I have self censored my travels and avoided all things "sex". I also firmly believe that while I may have an opinion about such things, not everyone agrees. Forcing my standards on another is disrespectful of their soul and right to make decisions and in no way inspires "better" behavior (as I see it). In fact, it instills in people resentment which often leads to more anger and more less desirable behaviors. Again, my personal opinion, one I realize in which a lot of people will disagree. They are entitled to their own and I respect their right to have it. (I just hope it is well thought out!)

Nexeus makes two excellent points about this: what exactly is "adult content" and what about privacy? LL has stated that only 2-4% of content on the mainland is classified as "adult". This is the content which we are discussing, not "mature" and not "PG" rated entities. I applaud efforts to reorganize certain content to one grid. And I am delighted that I might be able to soon filter my searches to keep out what I consider to be smut. I am also broken hearted when I think that theoretically, without verification, I would be unable to visit in the future many art galleries, sculpture gardens and other artistic expressions depending on how LL chooses to apply the new regs.

However.

Censoring anything, which the age verification regulation will do, is a slippery slope. Make one change "for the good of all" (or to "protect" all or to "help" all) and the next change towards stricter rules is accomplished with much more ease and much less resistance. History tells us this is how fascism begins - making changes to "protect" us from ourselves and supposedly, others. It is because of this reason that I have VERY mixed feelings about the new verification standard.

Luckily LL is welcoming your two cents. Visit Upcoming Changes for Adult Content to weigh in.

101 For You

It didn't occur to me that this was my 101st post until, well, blogger.com was nice enough to tell me.

Given my technological limitations, I've never been able to provide those spectacular windlight images that make you drool. So in celebration of the virtual world to which Ribbons Learns to Swim is dedicated, I offer you Koinup:Your Virtual Life. Koinup is a depository of some of the best pics, machinima, and other creations. Gather up your favourites and share!

The Floor and the Wall

A newbie artist friend discovered this little place and in his newbie excitement tp'd me over to check out the spot. This is a gallery in Benvolio. And I think it's a place you need to experience to appreciate. That tree you see is actually embedded into the floor. You walk into the gallery and this artistic display evolves as you walk. It is breathtaking. I can only imagine what it looks like in windlight. *grumbling about video cards that don't like SL*

While wandering around the SIM, my friend also discovered the Wall. The space allows you to choose your Floyd tune and jam out in a surreal area very Floyd inspired. Nothing like getting my classic rock on after so many years of pretending I wasn't a hard rock junkie as a kid.

Gallery Diabolus, Benvolio. Use the pyramid teleporter to move between levels. And remember to watch your radio! ;)

Impeccable Anna

A few days ago, I was bored, wandering in Cetus Gallery District, and ran into an acquaintance named AnnaLise who was rearranging her gallery. A new display of art was going up from an artist who embraces what I would call "mood expression" - a contemporary expression of how she feels about things around her. We all know that I am an expert *cough* in art deconstruction *cough-yeah-cough-right* so that term is an official term in the art world... or something like that...

AnnaLise held her gallery open this weekend: ImPeccable Art; I had no idea it was her first one. With that, I am duly impressed. The gallery is elegant, with a very distinct use of space. From the playing around she did earlier in the week to the finished product left me actually verbalizing "oh wow! Nice work!". We always focus on the artists in SL - on their work - but we rarely give much thought to the person who arranges the display which is an art unto itself. Anna has a certain gift of her own. Enjoy the show and don't forget to pick up a painting of your own. You'll note how they grow on you once you see them.

Insanity, Art, and No Damage Zones

It shouldn't surprise anyone that I love art. My RL step mother is a professional artist. Several of my friends are highly artistic (including painters, sculptors, musicians, and even a graffiti artist). My RL mom and grandmother are (was) so creative that when I brought home can tops with a glittered letter depicting my name, they shook their heads and ordered DNA tests be done to make sure I was of their stock. (They opted to blame my father forgetting he was a talented pianist, another talent that passed over me.)

This means that I haven't a single artistic bone in my little body. But I LOVE art and have so much appreciation for creativity. Perhaps that's a reason I enjoy the Cetus Gallery District as much as I do. 70 plus artists in one spot can keep me pretty occupied in SL.

For a change of scenery, I visited Luctesa to see Virtual Starry Night, home to the permanent exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh's master pieces in high resolution. Having never particularly appreciated Van Gogh (perhaps because he was highly emotional and lacked confidence in life and talent), I was somewhat, well, ok, I was bored out of my mind in order to make this stop.

Fans of his would probably like to chase me around the SIM with an open razor (HA HA I believe it is a no damage zone!). This is a blessing should any of them face his fate. However, those who end up doing so, I hear rumour of a mental hospital in SL... Of course, it all ended quite badly (the blood and gore and all) but at least you'd have a roof over your head. I'd also recommend avoiding all handguns and other weapons that shoot projectiles at high speeds with great force.

Van Gogh's work, impressionist, full of colour utilizing wide brushstrokes, is dramatic. Having seen a few of his works in (RL) person, the embodiment of his talent is never fully appreciated unless in full composition and collection. At Virtual Starry Night, you will see so much more - brilliant, bright, optimistic, sometimes insane art depicting hope, form, style, fear, and beauty.

While wandering through several of the gallery rooms (but not all) hosting about 70 pieces of his work, I found myself captivated with his piece entitled Almond Blossoms. Now way to know for sure, but I suspect this piece, reportedly painted in 1890 (oil on canvas), was likely inspired by Japanese prints which he supposedly acquired a few years prior in 1885. Someone described the work as "ominous, yet strangely beautiful in its nostalgia." I saw nothing of the sort but instead, a beautiful reflection of the ordering of the mind. Van Gogh uses the deep blue against the branches and flowers as a means to define the space he saw, to organize it, to find peace in it, to relish the calm it likely brought him. Or, perhaps not. I have no way of knowing.

Fans can stop by Luctesa and visit the collection whenever they choose. Follow the arrows through the gallery and click the "i" for information on each painting. For a guided tour, I am told to contact Liza Gibbs who "is around most of the time". It's eerie. But worth your trip. :)