Zoning Happens

This entry may sound harsh to some folks. But keep in mind this is my blog and not some forum post. It's my place and this IS where I can get off saying what I'm going to say in response to Linden Lab's recent blog about zoning porn.

Maturity.

What defines it? What does it mean with regard to the world or SL? Who has the most trouble with maturity and discerning it from Adult content? Who tries to use Maturity as an excuse to be immature?

This is the bottom line about maturity. This is the ONLY line about it: Maturity is realizing that there is a time and place for everything.

Yes, one might add the word "legal" to be safe, but you know what I mean.

Or do you?

Did you know that Mature land meant that on your property or on a designated property, you would not be liable for AR action if you cursed? It's true.

Did you know that Mature land meant that if you wanted to have a poseball bed in your house, you wouldn't be liable for AR action if it was discovered or you were spied on with a camhead? It's true.

Did you know PG land means if you were caught using profanity or engaged in explicit sexual discussion you were liable for AR?

Did you know you could be AR liable having a penicycle 400m up on PG land?

Did you know that the use of poseball sexbeds anywhere on PG land, including indoors, was a violation of the terms? It's true.

See, that's why PG land is cheaper. You can't do everything on there. In fact, there's a whole lot more land availble which accommodates Adult activity.

Linden Lab has seen to it that you can pursue your dream. But you have to do your part. Or parts. Indoors or concealed from neighboring parcels and passersby.

Take my new neighbors for instance. Yes, my former friend and neighbor would not give me a counter offer. Instead she shaved off 5L from the price and the whorehouse up the hill bought it for about US$100. They've been around for years from what I hear. They're mature. They have a kind of office structure up the hill, and supposed rendezvous nooks somewhere up there out of sight. They are either using the added land for prim allowance or have added skyboxes; the lawn is pristine.

btw I ARed a penicycle hanging 200m up in Angler several months back. It's visible to the naked eye for most graphics settings. I know third time's the charm, but I don't feel like whipping out another pun.

ANYway...

There are a lot of repressed people in SL:

- Rebelling against religious upbringing of course.

- Rebelling against extreme rightwing community of course.

- Just off the teen grid and college kids have much in common. Just outside their parents' reach legally or geographically, along with either or the previous two reasons to propel them into exploration, they're ready to plunge into their own blissful concept of Sodom and Gomorrah.

There's nothing wrong with that, except they have that rebellious thing going on and a "step aside" attitude which makes them oblivious to two key aspects of Maturity they have yet to embrace: consideration and consent. Regardless of urges, drives, physiology, and philosophy, until people realize that there's a time and place for everything and can indulge and still be responsible and don't see words like "consideration" and "consent" as boring stodgy things to rebel against, then - while they are legally permitted to engage in adult activity in and out of second life - they are by no means mature, nor do they understand the purpose of Mature land.

Kudos to Second Life, who have made dreams come true for most of this decade. They trusted the residents to let EVERYBODY chase their dreams. If that were the case, you know we would not have seen that blog entry and they would not have had to expend resources toward it. The theory that all residents taking up mature land were mature didn't pan out. So zoning happens.