Linden Labs has been talking about in in their blog for a while now, but today they officially announced that identity verification is coming to Secondlife.
The purpose of all this would be the fact that minors need to be protected from accessing adult content, like strip clubs, free sex places etc. And of course, lots of people are majorly upset about this new development. I could list the pro's and cons here but frankly, that's been done already on the multiple SecondLife forums by countless people.
What I don't understand are basically two things. Why is it, that these days people are extremely sensitive to anything involving minors watching sex? And what the heck happened to the parents' responsibility here?
Let me elaborate. Sex is a normal, healthy activity amongst adults. Healthy kids will start being interested in it during their puberty. Before that, they'll generally not even want to see it. I still remember how my friend and me would lend books from the library showing pictures of genitals and explaining everything there was to know about sex. We would secretly watch her big brother's porn tapes if no one was home. We were around 14, at the time. We wanted to know, it was a hot topic amongst us teenagers. And I don't see anything wrong with that. Especially if you take into account the fact that graphic violence apparently is okay for kids to watch. Numerous news sites show images and movies of war, destruction, disasters, accidents.. but no one is screaming about how viewing that type of content is bad for kids.
And the parents? Isn't it their responsibility to make sure kids don't play games that aren't meant for them? And shouldn't they be the ones educating kids about sex so the kids don't feel the need to seek that on SecondLife?
Whatever happened to common sense, and taking responsibility instead of throwing law suits?
Oh well. The sad thing is it doesn't surprise me. So< I made another cartoon style picture. Enjoy.
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3 comments:
Mel, mel, mel, when will you learn honey? Telling the truth, and in such a loud voice? I mean, I applaud you, but I worry for you.
I agree with you wholeheartedly about this whole thing. So far the world has put clamps on many things, what happened? Did the powers-to-be succeeded in stopping any one of them? No. It just drives up the price of the 'prohibited' item.
Even in this case I can think of many ways of bypassing the so-called identity check, (I will be able to think of more once I know how they plan to implement it.) I am sure a curious teenager with a need to get in will be able to think of many more way than I can.
Think of it, we are talking about the age-group that breaks software codes put in place by multi-billion dollar corporations.
I am impressed by the way you have so boldly narrated your teenage crimes in order to illustrate your point. Without going into detail I'll say that that is the normal course that nature takes. Kids don't take interest when they are too young, but once their curiosity is perked, nothing short of an army can stop them. And I doubt if even an army can put a lid on natural curiosity of teens.
You are absolutely right, the responsibility does not lie with the authorities always and the problem cannot be really suppressed, the trick is in free, frank, and open guidance, right at home. But I don't think most parents would like that. We all like to pass the buck and who better to catch it then the catch-all, the government, or the guys who make the most money from it.
Nice post, keep it up! :)
Sunil, Sunil, Sunil :) I know! But as Dr. Suess so rightly put it: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Plus I happen to looooove it when what I write provokes reactions, good or bad. Not because I like to fight, but because waking up sometimes has to start with the unpleasant sound of the alarm. So if people feel the need to whack me because I woke them up: great! I'll be fine, regardless.
Hee hee... I'm with you Mel. Anyone who quotes Dr. Suess in a serious environment rocks double in my world.
While we're on the subject of parents taking responsibility, how about people in general? Video games do not make one violent. Nor does music. The devil never made anyone do anything and McDonalds isn't responsible for a kid getting fat because he goes there everyday!
Lotsa love from a southernly direction!
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