Spotlight on Coral Estates - Katrina Karsin Reporting

Coral Estates Private Islands is a land rental company that has been nominated twice for the Avi Choice Awards for being one of the best land companies in Second Life.   Serving the SL community since 2007  Kristaki Hudson CEO and the owner believe in taking care of his customers wanting everyone to enjoy island living and strives to make your land rental experience easy and affordable. Staff is always online 24/7 ready to help and answer any questions a renter may have.  You can take a personal tour of the lands in Second life or look at them online.  The ways to choose what you want and how to shop for your dream home are endless!

If you want seaside living Coral Estates is the place for you, as a quiet seaside neighborhood with options on prim count and maturity rating.  To renting an island with tons of prims that can be mixed residential, commercial, or both. Owner Kristaki Hudson wants to offer you a variety of regions to choose from and competitive prices to match he believes in letting potential customer take their time in choosing the right coral region for them.  After all who wouldn’t want to be treated like family when it comes to your home life.  A perfect example of how you will be treated look no further than his staff like Leah Chardin Sales Manager for Coral Estates for seven-plus years. So, sit back and listen to the quiet sound of the sea lapping against your land or tickling your toes as you walk along the shoreline and enjoy your home at Coral Estates!

Katrina: Hi Kristaki, thank you for sitting down with me for this interview.  Before we get into Coral Estates, can you tell us a little about you? How did you discover Second Life?

Kristaki: I discovered Second Life one day looking at the tv talking about virtual worlds doing land rental and creating amazing things:) I first started to buy a full region we had a let's say huge mall and in middle a casino lol then the casino were not allowed so I then bought fps to rent and learned all by myself how to divide the land and all technical issues I can say that I had a lot of problems, but I had known a person which helped me a bit when I had issues or doubts. Renting houses lol from ace Albion was famous in the past... and then I start doing auctions with an old famous landlord called Carlbotd Truss the founder of the famous group FSOB ( for sale by owner ) group used by all landlord in SL to sell and buy sims full transfer. Carlbotd has been a great friend in SL and On the phone, I never had the pleasure to meet him in real life. He was far and me too. We did nice continent full region auctions then I stopped. I can remember the moment creating Coral Estates and as I recollect it was a great moment and still is each time I connect in date of today each moment in SL for me is great I love my job in SL not only for cash in or cash out it is like managing houses in real life or building houses, it is a passion!

Katrina:  What inspired you to create Coral Estates?

Kristaki: Well I do myself. I am a Real Estate agent and property manager in real life and I have a special love for The corals and the diving beauty in real life. The sub-water is wonderful in its life. And I named my estate in Second Life Coral Estates, it's dedicated to the Sea and I always loved this idea. My staff and I created nice friendly sailing island residents. I bought estates in past from 50 to 120 sims from other landlords who were no longer interested in land rentals.  Our mission always applied to do the land transitions, tickets transfer, money transfer and then, of course, paying high fees to keep all the islands in Second life this is a very responsibility from a landlord and I love my Second life fully dedicated to my great trio of managers:) It's not easy to have talented managers like the ones I have in Second Life. Working in a real estate company in Second Life is human resources, knowing how to talk to the customers, fix technical issues and to manage the counts, etc. It's a pure action on a daily basis that we face on the front battle line and we love it!

Katrina: You were voted best rental and land company serving the community
since 2007 by Avie Choice Awards, that is a great award to receive!  Why do you think Coral Estates has gotten so much attention? What separates CE from other estates out there?

Kristaki: Oh yes, my managers told me we have to subscribe to Coral Estates and try to reach an award and we made it! How we got there I think with a lot of let’s say... Hard work, dedicated full 100% customer service having always usually the same day an issue fixed or to find the right land for whom wish to find a land in Second life we will always do our best for whom want to join us.

Katrina: What can renters expect from Coral Estates? What type of land
packages and amenities do you offer on the estates?

Kristaki: Future residents looking for land in our wonderful Second life can find with us Full Regions from 20000 to 30000 prims or Full homesteads of 5000 prims or a huge amount of different land sqm size with bonus prims or without bonus prims. Decorated land parcels or even full 65536 sqm decorated we call it developed land. Also, to the residential paradise lovers with waterways, we have some great sailing islands with bonus prims decorated like I said before, tropical style palms great water views with oceanfront reserved. I have there 2 open spaces to sail its tough to find open spaces now the Linden lab stopped providing open spaces but 2 is okay. I think customers here love the setup, same as in the past we strive to give everyone great customer service and technical fixes and covenant. I am for a non speculation island pricings I think the setup and prices we have are very fair and usually, customers stay or if they go somewhere else they usually return remembering a great and fast technical support and land sale information.

Katrina: Do you have a website where potential renters can go to see your
selection of available land?

Kristaki: Oh yeah! In 2020 during the pandemic, Linden Labs migrated all their servers and to Amazon AWS. But Coral Estates also migrated. I have a VPS server dedicated to the hosting of the http://www.coralestates.net where we have built an all-new database admin interface and also great new prims in the world to manage our 450 private sims regions in Second Life. Actually, it's been 2 months of work to migrate and maybe 5 months of making our website new. I am also on other page’s but you will see it below. I invite interested people to visit our website to see our amazing scenery and send us a message.

Katrina: Customer service and support are very important. Can you tell us about the services you provide your tenants and the team available to assist?

Kristaki: Oh the staff!   We have Leah Chardin, my shadow in Second Life. Sugarpie Froobert another manager who has been with us for ages as well and does great work on technical fixes when clients ask for help and also selling lands and fixes! Also, Jewel Raynier which has just come back I think she was missing her second life, and let's take the opportunity here to welcome her back she was in past with Coral Estates. All of them are talented and very appreciated managers. All IMs are replied to on the same day, so customers are happy! Instead of having their second life not be a pain, we want our customers to have a pleasurable time!  Even when they pay a rental which is normal like in real life they are served by great and talented women who are very knowledgeable of Second life technical and human resource issues.

Katrina: To keep people engaged in the Coral Estates community, do you
offer special events to your estate residents?

Kristaki: I do sponsorship with Lhomme Magazine and participate and I am also in some places announcements. We used to have a disco to promote but I think it is better to let this to whom know how to manage a disco. We rarely do events but the few ones we do usually are nice!

Katrina: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Kristaki: Sure to whom reading this Interview and thank you for having given me the great opportunity to appear in this newspaper, I invite every reader to visit our inworld office or our websites below and if you are looking for a great land and real estate in second life visit us. Our statement in Coral Estates is Second life must be a pleasure, not a pain so give it a try and visit us like thousands of other residents which are with us some of them since 2007... Thank You SLEnquirer and anyone feels free to IM me I will gladly reply to you.  I love my second life and the whole world of Second Life, and to manage lands like in real life, it's a passion and hobby!

Why wouldn’t you want to create your home at Coral Estates now that you know Kristaki Hudson CEO and owner along with his staff are truly passionate about serving their customers! All you have to do is unpack, unwind and enjoy your paradise!

Additional Information:

Group: Real Estates Rentals KH

Website: http://www.coralestates.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristaki.hudson/

Twitter: @KristakiH

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/187569102@N07/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristakih/?hl=fr

Preferred Contact: Whatever way is best for our potential client!

SLURL:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coral%20Estates%20Islands/138/144/23

Online: Coral Estates https://coralestates.net/welcome

Coral Estates sailing islands: https://kristakihudson.wixsite.com/coralestatesislands

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Synergy Island: Maribol Inshan & The Cool Cats Concert In The Park- April 28th 6:30-8:00pm SLT

 Synergy Island Presents

Maribol Inshan & The Cool Cats

Concert In The Park  

Love & Light

Wednesday April 28th 6:30 – 8:00 PM At Synergy Island 

Step into an immersive Concert In The Park Featuring Maribol Inshan & The Cool Cats focusing on  songs of love and light, new beginnings,  romance,  and everything that Spring brings. This is a fully staged and choreographed "Live" Music & Dance experience From Maribol Inshan and The Cool Cats Featuring Special Guest LoneWolf55 Genesis. 

Come ready to dance, relax, and listen!

Attire: Spring  

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Synergy%20Island/84/30/200128

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LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR

ONLY 5 DAYS BEFORE THE SELECTION OF THE 1ST GROUP OF SEMI-FINALISTS!

The suspense begins. It is this weekend that the jury of the LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR competition will select the first group of six semi-finalists. You can still send your photo until Friday, April 30 at midnight.

Remember that the LUXE Paris fashion house is looking for its LOOK of the YEAR, an elegant and stylish woman who will represent the brand and win L $ 50,000 in cash!

Initially, the jury will choose 30 semi-finalists on the basis of the photos submitted by the candidates. The first selection of six semi-finalists this weekend will therefore be followed by four other selections in the following weeks.

DID YOU SEND YOUR PICTURE? L$50,000 CASH TO WIN!

You can submit as many photos as you want as long as each of the photos features a different LUXE Paris outfit. So if you are not chosen the first week, you can try your luck again with a different style the following week and so on.

ALL WOMEN OF STYLE ARE ELIGIBLE. No need to be a professional model as intensive training will be offered to inexperienced finalists by ONE On ONE agency, the main sponsor of the competition, as well as the IN-NOVA Academy. We will accompany you step by step while the runway professionals will also have the opportunity to polish their art thanks to private consultations with the legendary top model Ponchituti Boucher, the one we call  "the mother of all models''.

EASY TO PARTICIPATE! EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Easy to participate: Put on a LUXE Paris outfit, style it, capture a photo, put your official name in the title and send FULL PERM to avatar LUXEParisLOOKoftheYEAR in world. Gift for all participants!

In addition to the 50,000 LINDENS, the big winner will also receive a whole range of gifts offered by the sponsors of the competition. The two runners-up will each receive L $ 10,000 in cash and many gifts as well.

The winner LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR, as well as the runners up, will also be the stars of reports in several media including here in the SL Enquirer.

So what are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose and maybe a lot to gain! While several recognized models have worn the LOOK of the YEAR crown created by Zuri, the 2019 winner Quinte had never walked a runway before being chosen a finalist in the competition! This is to tell you that EVERYTHING is possible!

Discover all the details of this thrilling competition on our website at Contest | LUXE Paris LOOK of the YEAR

Or in the LUXE Paris magazine, available at the main store at Bao

Bao

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An Evening of Broadway The Muses’ Cristall Ballroom May 4, 7:30-10 PM SLT

 

“Give My Regards to Broadway”. The Muses pays tribute to the musical heritage of Broadway with a celebration of acclaimed musicals and scores. The music will be a grand selection of Tony-nominated or awarded songs, and other acclaimed Broadway hits.

This night is full of “My Favorite Things”, and yours!  You claim you don’t know Broadway?  You do! You will be singing along at every turn.  Broadway is part of popular culture, and a part of all of us.  Songs and sayings so familiar, you will be surprised.  Just count how many times you say to yourself, “I didn’t know that was Broadway”.

“The Music of the Night” is provided by our very own DJ Rob Skytower.  A classic rocker at heart, he is also a wonderful “project” DJ.  Give Rob an idea, a song list, an event possibility, and it becomes his project.  The result is always a perfectly arranged set and an amazing evening.

“Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, what are Broadway sounds without the matching sights?  Complementing the music, a slideshow will add a visual perspective to the evening.  Scenes from lavish productions of these acclaimed shows will accompany this magical set.

“Some Enchanted Evening” it will be.  The setting is our champagne-glass ballroom, Cristall, an enchanting place.  It shines and sparkles like the lights of Broadway herself.  This event is black tie formal.  The curtain goes up on May 4 at 7:30PM.

The Muses is a small club that is “Defying Gravity”.  Just over three months old, The Muses is thriving on its little piece of Mainland.  Our venues, Cristall, Azure, The Edge, and Studio III, have a regular schedule of fabulous music, parties, and special events, like on May 4 when The Muses is doing a little “Lullaby of Broadway”.

"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a cabaret, old chum. Come to the cabaret."  Or in this case, The Muses. It will be an evening to remember. An Evening of Broadway.

An Evening of Broadway.  May 4, 7:30-10 PM at The Muses’ Cristall Ballroom.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kildinas%20Tor/161/177/21
 

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April 25th - Holly Giles and Erika Ordinary LIVE at Terry's Sunday Showcase

Join us on Sunday, April 25th beginning at 3pm SLT for Terry's Sunday Showcase, sponsored by the SL Enquirer! This week's featured artist is Holly Giles! Hailing from Australia, Holly brings a fresh voice to the live music scene of Second Life. She finds joy in music that is not only felt by the listener but fuels each and every one of her performances.

Holly has a wide range in genres from Rock, pop, country from Lady Gaga , Adele , Brooks and Dunn, CCR, LeAnn Womak , Shania Twain  Stevie Nick and a whole lot more! A long time promoter of the musical arts, she further enriches our world with her uniquely moving vocal range and passion.  

Following Holly this week at 4pm SLT is the lovely Erika Ordinary, an Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter who performs her own original music, as well as a genre-spanning collection of cover songs. She accompanies herself on guitar, ukulele, and a live looping pedal.

Erika has a wonderfully expressive voice that can be powerful but also is pleasantly delicate and understated. She brings life to the songs she selects and a window to her soul in songs of her own.

Come support live music with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________

Welcome to Terry's Place, your friendly neighborhood pub where everyone knows your name! Home to some of the hottest DJ's and live singers on the grid, there's a little something for everyone here at Terry's when you just need to get away from it all. Dance as we spin tunes for all walks of life, show off your talents at Open Mic every Friday, or enjoy a live concert out in the park at our Terry's Sunday Showcase!  With events happening five nights a week, be yourself and escape the chains of real life with friends, laughter, and a whole lot of fun...ONLY at Terry's Place!

PUBLIC LANDMARK:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystic%20River%20Cove/214/82/2501

CONTACT:
Ninja (ninjaantwoord resident)


Performer Websites:

Holly Giles - https://www.facebook.com/holly.giles.37017

Erika Ordinary - https://www.facebook.com/erika.ordinary.sings

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GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 24th April at noon SLT: Will a moon base change life on Earth?

Last week SpaceX was chosen to land humans on the moon in 2024.  The ship will carry a lot of cargo so we will soon see a permanent moon base.  And there are a lot of other moon projects waiting.  Moon spiders anyone?

Let’s imagine how all of this will change our lives.  When we look up at the moon will it look different?  Will it be a favorite place for honeymoons?  Will there be moon delicacies in restaurants?  Or a new religion based on the moon?  When will the first Pizza Hut arrive?

Will the best and brightest of young people dream of jobs on the moon?  Will there be television reality series set on the moon?

Will our future as a species look more hopeful when there are people on the moon?  Will there ever be a proper colony there?  Or just tourists and temporary workers?

Come and discuss our very near future.  Bring your fellow space geeks!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class at 1pm every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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Earth Day Celebration April 22 at 10am SLT

Join us at Center Ground for a special celebration with Earth Day Speaker, Activist, & Cultural Preservationist Indea Vaher. Topic: Saving Gaia

Special Dance Performance by Dancerina Starlight

MC & Music by India Bellair Smoke

Casual Dress or come as you are.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Han%20Loso/208/234/64

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"HUMPDAY ROCKS” 7PM SLT SETH REGAN/MANKIND TRACER @ SLE Media Center

SETH REGAN/MANKIND TRACER BRINGS HIS LIVE WEEKLY VIDEO SHOW TO SECOND LIFE AT THE SL ENQUIRER MEDIA CENTER!

ARRIVE EARLY… For the first time ever, Wednesday night at 7PM SLT Seth will be streaming this live video show into SL at The SL Enquirer's Media Center! Seth continues to break new ground with his X-Stream™ live video cross-stream events.

LANDMARK http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akamai/197/32/22

Join Seth tonight and every Wednesday Night as he helps us kick off the weekend early with his new "Humpday Rocks" live unplugged acoustic show!

Invite friends, share the live stream and maybe even have Seth play your request live on the air during his show.

PLUS someone is gonna win Seth's awesome “Covers - Part I” 25 songs double album!

Grab the song list and let's see what kind of trouble we can get into when Humpday Rocks!

Click here to check out Seth's song list:

http://www.sethregan.com/Seth-Regan-Song-List.pdf

If your friends & family aren't on Facebook or Second Life, send them to http://www.sethreganmusic.com

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AVIE POLL-Should Marijuana be legalized? What are the pros and cons?

 

It’s 420 somewhere! This date is synonymous with pot smokin' ever since 1971 when a group of high school students began meeting near a statue on campus to spark up with friends and discuss where they might find an abandoned pot crop based on a treasure map made by the grower. They called themselves the Waldos. Today April 20th has become an international counterculture for smoking weed.

As more states around the country are easing restrictions on marijuana use for medicinal purposes as well as recreational. There are still those who see it as a gateway drug and a bad idea to allow it to be freely used. What do you think? Should Marijuana be legalized across the board and treated just like over the counter medication or even alcohol and cigarettes which actually cause more harm. Taxing it may actually help the economy and put us in a better place. What are the pros and cons of legalizing Marijuana?

Destiny: “I don't smoke regularly but I certainly have in the past.  Frankly, when I did smoke, I can't say that I realized any real benefits.  To be fair, I was young, so I had no medicinal need.  I may feel quite differently if I smoked presently.  Speaking as an American,  I don't think it hurts anything for it to be legalized.   I think that if it were government regulated and taxed like cigarettes and alcohol, we could, perhaps, help to pay off some of the multi-trillion dollar deficit our nation has accumulated.   If some experience medicinal benefit from it, that's FANTASTIC!  So, I think legalization has some real advantages but I don't think it should just be legalized for the hell of it.  And, I think that if it is legalized, it should be monitored closely to ensure that we aren't supporting the drug Cartel.  Rather, we are supporting American farmers who choose to grow Marijuana as an expansion crop.” 

Jenna: “It should definitely be legalized for medicinal purposes.  I used to work with cancer patients and Marinol was so helpful with their nausea and lack of appetite.  One of my concerns though is the people who get it for "medicinal" purposes but just really get it to get it.  But overall I think they should legalize.  What bothers me are the number of people imprisoned or with a felony record for use or possession of marijuana. Will they be exonerated, expunged?I used to smoke in my younger days. But now even if it is legalized,my employer has let it be known that it is still unacceptable and they do random drug testing (rarely).”

Dev: I would say yes to the first question. In some places it already is legalized. For me the biggest con is that it costs too much to start up the process of going to a doctor, Purchasing the card, then the prices at the dispensary.  I feel very strongly that the pros of medicinal/recreational marijuana is an aid for cancer patients regarding the pain and nausea they feel, it helps the nausea go away and decreases some of the pain...another pro is it even helps children who get seizures many studies are still being done on the long-term effects. My personal experience of medicinal and recreational usage of Marijuana has been both an aid in my anxiety, PTSD, and the joints in my hips and legs it relieves a bit of the pain. It also helps me to sleep a bit deeper than I would from not using it. I think it also would help my severe depression. I've heard that the indica type of marijuana relaxes and can put you to sleep...and the sativa helps to uplift you, make you feel like doing something creative, or...productive, which is a big + when you have severe depression. I do smoke it  but mostly at night along with my night medicines. However, I would really prefer being able to get edibles, more potent that way and it doesn't mess with your lungs. like a cigarette. I started smoking  when I was a teenager, I had severe cycle pains, I mean the pain and nausea, blackouts, white outs made me wish I didn't have a uterus. I had tried everything... From ibuprofen to painkillers/muscle relaxers... nothing eased up...Someone turned me on to smoking it, another woman but in her 20's specifically to help ease my pains. And it worked!!!! Since then most of the time, when accessible, I will smoke it, when in pain and as I said previously, to aid in sleep. 

I think if the person is a child...adult supervision is a must. It is not something you give to them to 'knock them out'. And I believe that the medicinal form for them would be drops or a pill that melts under the tongue. I believe the usage of Marijuana and Hemp is becoming more and more of an ingredient in balms and lotions to be able to physically put on your pain areas. I would recommend it to anyone.

Lucius: “Hell yeah legalize it everywhere! Pros: It feels good and if taxable it could help the economy and local communities. Cons: I’m too broke to buy it all the time and I think everyone who got busted for selling pot gets their police record erased.”

Kat: “I used Marijuana to lower my blood pressure especially the second value and it works very well cos as soon as I relax the second value goes down too ... usually it raises blood pressure but not in cases were stress is the factor than it lowers the value

It also works for me when I am in a depressive mood ... it can work uplifting and in any case relaxing so I would recommend it for a medical use beside recreation ... of course not for ppl below a certain age, maybe 21 or older.”

 

 

Becka: “When I was in my late teens early 20’s I suffered from severe depression and anxiety. Aside from being hospitalized I was put on multiple medications that didn’t seem to work. After about a year and a half of different medications. I decided to stop and smoke weed instead. I don’t recommend it because you can get severe headaches from stopping your medication cold turkey but for me, Marijuana helped wean me off of  the harmful medication and help keep me calm enough to function daily. I was able to stop the medication all together.  Marijuana improved my well being in a safer way. It also helped me eat, sleep and manage my menstrual cramps. I definitely think it should be legalized for its many benefits. I am in my 40’s now and have never had to use antidepressant or anxiety medication again. I still use it to this day and in the process of getting my Cannabis card!”

 

Dave: Well yes it should be legalized. I mean it comes from mother nature doesn’t it? If it does it can’t be bad for you. Mother nature wouldn’t do that to us.

Should Marijuana be legalized? What are the pros and cons? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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Seth Regan Does It Again with Live Streamed RL Video in SL!

 

Veteran SL rocker Mankind Tracer (Seth Regan in real life) is known for his pioneering efforts in live music since his start in SL in 2006. Sunday night promised another amazing success for us all! If you missed it, Seth introduced his new live streaming platform into SL under the banner of his recently introduced X-Stream™ (cross-stream) brand. Seth performed live on video in real life and managed to provide the live video stream to fans inside Second Life. There was definitely no shortage of attendees at his awesome premiere event!

Back in 2009 Seth first introduced SL to live video, utilizing what was then a very clumsy way around the limitations of SL’s back end. With this new X-Stream™ version, the video was very smooth, and the audio that the stream carried was just as clean. Many people flocked to this first-of-its-kind event at Seth’s new venue, The Sweet Sp*t. The video stream was also shown to Seth’s real-life fans and was carried by nearly 100 Facebook groups and pages, SL and non SL related

Seth plans on continuing to provide audiences with these new “Live Video in SL” shows. He will be offering these shows to select venues as well as more well-known SL brands as a means of furthering their marketing strategies, and of course because they’re very fun! Seth is himself a successful business owner in design and marketing with many high-profile global brands as clients. He has used his real-life skills to propel and keep him at the top of the live music game in SL for nearly 15 years.

Advertisers will also be able to take advantage of these X-Stream™ shows by having their logos on the actual video screens, which will also be shown to RL fans, many SL-related Facebook groups, and of course the many real-life groups and pages that carry Seth’s regular live video shows. 

Venues and businesses interested in advertising on this new platform or booking a live show are encouraged to email [ info at seth regan dot com ] with your serious inquiries.

Find Seth Online 

Website: http://www.sethregan.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sethreganmusic

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mankindtracer

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/sethreganmusic

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AVIE POLL: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE RAPED IN A VIRTUAL WORLD?

April is Rape Awareness Month. According to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti sexual violence organization shows that every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. Statistics show 1 out of 6 American women have been victims of attempted rape or raped and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. These are staggering statistics. How can we help?

The Me Too Movement has been a resource since 2006 and really became mainstream in 2017 when many well known celebrities began to use their voice and support the movement on social media and speak out against sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Many women and men who have been victimized feel shame or embarrassment so they suffer in silence while others report their abusers with hope for justice and to help spare other victims. 

This is a serious topic that affects millions around the world. While Second Life is a virtual platform where people come and feel a sense of security from physical abuse,  some would say rape cannot happen in a virtual world because we have the ability to log off, teleport to safety, report harassment to Linden Labs, mute, boot and ban the sexual offender. 

With all these safety tools to combat an attempted rape in a virtual world, there are residents that still have been sexually exploited or victimized unwillingly. Some residents were on the fence about the topic because there are a couple of roleplay communities that engage in sexual assault and abuse as a kink. It is sad to say those fetishes may be stem from rl rape and abuse. I am not referring to those types of fetish venues. They use RLV Huds that give permission for avie control. 

In other instances in Second Life, attempted and virtual rapes have occurred in various communities by offenders who often get away with that behavior. For example, leaving your avie unattended while you go AFK. If you are seated in a chair that allows for couples and sex. Someone can easily sit on a poseball and begin manipulating the menu to do sex acts on the unsuspecting party only for the to return to being violated without permission. Another instance is during a sexual encounter the offender begins to roleplay an assault without consent. Is this a grey area because no real physical harm was done but what about the emotional effects it leaves behind? 

I asked avatars across the grid if they considered it virtual sexual assault even if it is done by emoting, poseballs or voicing actions of rape if consent was not given. Here are their opinions and stories. * names have been changed to protect their identities.

Justyn: "Yes, of course rape is possible! I mean, how else would I get laid in sl? But seriously, yes I believe it is possible and most likely happening to newbies and perhaps younger people due to their lack of understanding SL. Consent isn’t exactly needed for AFK fuckers, but I don’t think some know enough and are taken advantage of due to their naivety and therefore are truly not giving consent which equates to rape to me."

Jane: “YES! Rape and Assualt is possible in virtual worlds, although not as likely to happen as often as in RL. Statistics show that violence against women comes mostly at the hands of someone we know. So Assault is often as much a result or circumstance of emotional manipulation, as it could be a result or circumstance of physical strength overpowering another. In second life no one is really physically stronger, so this element is virtually removed.  However emotionally we possibly might not be that different than our RL selves.  So if we allow ourselves to succumb emotionally, against our will, then it's possible. I mean... lots of people are interested to know what the other is doing on the other end; e.g. "are you touching yourself?"  It's possible that we would feel obligated to do such things if the emotional attachment gets strong enough.  And it's possible we would do it even against our better judgement or free will; especially if we feel there is risk of losing what we are attached to, or if we are otherwise conditioned to think we are inadequate for some reason unless we complied.``

Taran: “So, my hubby and I first came into online gaming for the fantasies.. We wanted to play some out without actually bringing someone into our bedroom... We then came over to SL to live a more "Normal" Avi Life :) But even here we have tried a few things... 

In Second Life there is a Hud, Called SIN,,, It is a virtual Reality about that very thing. Being abducted and Raped.. But where you can turn it on and off and control when and HOW you are to be abducted..  . Lol, i didn't last long, because i WAS attacked on what was supposed to be my SAFE ZONE,, At my house with my daughters there. HE then attached something to me that made it very hard to move about. I was VERY lucky to have been brought on by a 14 year vet of the game and he knew how to get me fixed,, the next day i was taken made to get preg and was forced to accept a hud that would make me sick if i didn't receive the abductors cum every 12 hrs,, AGAIN my WONDERFUL friend to the rescue...  That was the end of that... 

See with this hud we have choices and even still we weren't REALLY safe... Unconsented  sex is RAPE. Under any form, and even on here, i have talked to women who have been made to feel like trash and told to go kill themselves because they are escorts, and to some of the men they are just trash,, ABUSE and Rape in SL can be and is very real.. I consented for two days  and had horrible experiences,  now consider how i would feel if i hadn't…”

Sarah: Yes, I would consider it virtual sexual assault in those instances if both parties were not in agreement before the scene begins. I have been in a situation where the conversation was not supposed to get physical but the other person forced themselves on me and I did not feel I could just leave because it happened at the club I worked at (adult) and as a member of staff sometimes it felt like there was implied consent even if we didn't consent. Following this particular incident, I was left feeling very violated.

Paul: “I would definitely consider it assault. It is called Consent. Men get really tricky. I've been harassed, and a known person tried to lure me. You should be able to trust somebody, but people have taken advantage. It's happened with me, and people I know. It is an assault if I did not want it or give consent. It's happened where people kissed me and I did not want it. You should be able to trust your friend on a pose, or sofa.

 

Emotes can be too much sometimes. It can make me or my SL partner feel uncomfortable. It also affects people RL too, RL partners wouldn't like it. It can be considered assault if they've been told to stop and not listened. And further action might need to be taken. Always take care in how you treat people in SL.”

Kelly: “While in a virtual world you have the ability to say no and log out at any time. I do believe there are predators out in this world that do and can manipulate a persons mind and heart to a point they feel trapped, confused and afterwards they feel violated much like a real life rape would be.  So YES, I feel it can happen in a virtual world. Those AFK and someone that does that too them as well can feel used and abused.  Has it ever happened to me in SL? Yes I was afk on some furniture at my home and someone came in and was having fun with my Avie.  I was angry at first and of course ejected and banned them etc.  But after I calmed down I did feel a sense of violation.”  

Johnny: “Well that is a slippery slope. While the moral side is, no matter virtual or not not getting consent is rape. But is it really happening to you or just your avie? While me personally believe nothing like this virtual or especially in real life should ever happen. There are some arguments against it happening in Virtual world. The person being raped male or female has the ability to shut down their computer thus ending it, or teleporting away. They are not held down or restrained. So in that essence it is not rape but still a violation against them. So to answer your question is it possible? Yes if you allow it and don’t use the means to get away.”

Stephen: “Actually. No.  I do not believe you can be “raped” in SL. This is a world of pixels.  That is it.  Yeah..we all read profiles that say  “Remember:  Behind every Avi is a REAL Person:...well….not always.  Check out any of the “F__K Me, I’m AFK!” sims.  Uhhmm..errrr….so I have heard anyway.  I have never really BEEN to those places...but I wander.  I know there are sims with RLVs and such things where you can initiate a fairly fanciful scene of forced sex, for those who are into that sort of thing…. Yeah..Online bullying can be a problem, especially on social media Web sites...but….come on, man...Rape? 

I have to say, I am kinda offended that someone would even try to apply a word like “RAPE” to what can happen to cartoon avis.  Rape is a tremendously horrible crime, that tears human flesh, crushes spirits, and scars people for life in the real. Just ask someone who has experienced that for real. It is one of the WORST crimes possible, and people who perpetrate such horrors in the RL on others should be castrated so they can NEVER again do that to another person.  Rape is one of the most terrifying things a person can experience  with lifelong consequences.  To even suggest that what happens to these cartoon avis is rape?  You’re kidding, right??  Well..that strikes me as  the highest form of disrespect you can show to someone and trivializes those who have been raped and sodomized in real life.  Ask anyone who has been raped for real.   Saying cartoons are raped?  Are you kidding me? 

The consensus for this Avie Poll is yes, rape is possible in a virtual world because victims felt a sense of violation. The argument could be that we as second life residents have the ability to log out if we feel threatened or unsafe. However, from the perspective of both males or females who are mentally abused and are scared, it might be hard for them to leave the situation or log out for fear of further threats or abuse by the perpetrator.  Maybe some should reevaluate the reason for logging into SL or avoid venues were there is adult content and sex. Even by taking those precautions, abusive situations can occur.

Some of the experiences shared by participants in SL  happened when they were AFK by a stranger while others were caught off guard by an encounter that did not end well.  Either way, we are taught No means No whether it is in real life or a virtual world.

 

Stephen’s comment was very strong and shared a point that needs to be seriously addressed.  A virtual sexual assault is NOT the same as a real sexual assault physically, but can cause emotional abuse and that is still considered trauma. 

If you feel threatened or in a situation in SL that is not comfortable for you, teleport away or just log off for a while and let the situation defuse. If you are unable to then msg someone and let them know what is going on. This is a situation that should not be taken lightly. 

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, you are not alone, help is available. Please, do not hesitate to use the resources below. 

Resources:

https://www.rainn.org/

https://metoomvmt.org/

https://victimconnect.org/learn/types-of-crime/sexual-assault/ 

See More Avie Polls here: http://www.slenquirer.com/search/label/Avie%20Poll

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