Romancing Bogart’s – Living History at Frank’s - “Seersha Heart

I made the mistake of writing that Bogart’s had closed in Ballrooms : Where the Romance Lives last week.  My error was in using an old landmark and not following up.  I confess that when I thought Bogart’s had gone, I felt very sad and not on my game.  Imagine my surprise, my embarrassment and my sheer delight at learning Bogart’s was alive and well.  Only shifted a bit on the grid to Franks Place region. It is all too easy to assume that a club is “gone” since many clubs do come and go in SL.  Bogart’s is part of something much bigger, an SL Icon, Frank’s. Caught with my pants down on this one, I sincerely apologize for writing that Bogart’s had closed.  As you may read here, Frank’s is a place that grows, it doesn’t close.

When I first moved to SL a few years ago, I loved to dress up in gowns.  Most of the formal clubs I visited where couples oriented at that time. I wanted to have a place go where I would feel comfortable visiting as a single person.  Of course, I wanted to wear a gown! At this point in my SL life, I would wear a gown everywhere and I mean everywhere! Searching through destinations I found the club Bogart’s and the name instantly caught my eye.  Changing from one gown to another, I set off to see what Bogart’s club looked like and the crowd that hung out there for the dancing. The landing point is a short stroll from the entrance and there are upscale shops along the walk.  I crossed the small park and looked up at the marquee “BOGART’S”. Going inside I was greeted by a hostess very stylishly. She called me by my surname and pointed out the upcoming schedule and the chilled champagne. Walking deeper into the club the room opens, the ceiling several meters above my head.  The stage is large and colorful. I would later learn that the appearance periodically changes. The room is inviting in rich reds and golds throughout.

I have had the pleasure of meeting people at Bogart’s.  Both men and women appear well dressed and ready to dance providing an opportunity to meet new people.  I’ve attended some very enjoyable events over the years. In 2016 the Sl Enquirer featured Bogarts as one of the top five SL date locations sharing…

“This SL long running classic has shopping and a park on your walk to the club.  Dress is cocktail to formal.  You land down the block from the club and walk up to the dramatic facade of the building.  The marquee proudly proclaims, “Romance is in the Air” and it most certainly is in Bogarts.  Walking inside the first set of doors, scheduled activities are listed to your left by the elevator.  Going further inside to the main room it has the feeling of an elegant theatre with high ceilings and a stage with ornate golden trim at one side.

The color scheme is rich reds and golds throughout.  You will be greeted as “Mr.” or “Ms.” by what I feel are the best hosts and hostesses in SL.  They make you feel welcome and have that breezy air about that may be best described as elegant fun.  The DJs are equally top notch.  Requests are played quickly and as a dedication or a request.  Imagine requesting a romantic Norah Jones song and dancing with your date.”

Amazingly Bogart’s has not strayed from this level of style and service.  I remember fondly when chatting Huckleberry Hax about various dating locations in SL.  We spoke of a couple of different stops and then Huck gave me a quote that truly fits; “Good old Bogart’s”

I could not have phrased it better or more succinctly.  Maybe you will sit down at one of the cozy tables off the dance floor and get to know someone new.  I have met many people at Bogart’s and shared a dance or two with some new-found friends. Bogart’s is not a ‘hookup’ joint, though I suspect there are hookups [it IS SL], it is a place you return to many times.  It is the place I fell in love with the melodic sound of Nora Jones as well as older rat pack jazz favorites. Bogart’s is part of the most popular jazz complexes in SL Frank’s.

Frank’s began as a jazz club for with a formal dress code.  These days Frank’s has expanded to five regions and become an entire entertainment complex.  The formal dance and jazz club has bloomed into more clubs and shopping.  Elegant and welcoming Bogart’s is a top place to take a date.

“Fly me to the moon; Let me play among the stars; Let me see what spring is like; On a-Jupiter and Mars…”

-written by Howard Bart; remembered thanks to Frank Sinatra

Additional Information:

Bogart’s

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Place/109/128/24

Frank’s Entertainment Complex

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Place%202/242/130/24

L&B at the Galleria [Landmark and Teleport]:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Franks%20Place/231/152/24

Photos by Karmaghna Ulrik  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/140164441@N08/

A side note, Huckleberry Hax is both my unrequited crush & talented author of the SL Book Series AFK, which you may obtain for free at his web site.  Check it out; you will not be disappointed.

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Surf Camp, Champs and the Surfing Community Keep Catching the Virtual Wave - Shiny Blackheart Reporting...

After years of Virtual Surfing appearing in Second Life, a robust community continues to surprise and inspire in a way that only virtual reality and the limitless creativity of the artists and residents of SL can conjure.

In the spring of 2007, a surf SIM called Chi, owned and created by Sally LaSalle organized the first ever SL surfing competition. The popularity and success led to the culmination of the Second Life Surfing Association formed to facilitate and formalize a growing community of surfers and events.

This past week the 2nd Annual Surf Camp, offered a comprehensive schedule of talks, workshops, and surf lessons that brought veteran wave riders and nervous newcomers alike together to explore surf life in SL.

“This particular event is not affiliated with any organization or team.” says its organizers.  “It is designed to unite the soul surfer, the novice, and the competitor in one mutual love of surfing. It's never too late to get involved! No fee or sign up, just show up to the below beach at the below time.”  The events took place at a few of the over 70 Sims, beaches and breaks SL virtual surfers can choose to explore.

The SL Surf Association’s SIM is a tropical island inspired SIM, with crystal blue waters, beautiful swells, sandy beaches, green palms, and fun shacks and hatched info huts and shops. Along with that casual beach-life-feel is a proud legacy expressed in the exposition and exhibitions at the SL Surfing Hall of Fame where a lineage of SL Surfing greats are honored and remembered as well as a detailed book of history about Second Life and virtual surfing’s co-creation.

 At a Surf Camp talk Mick Lunasea, a long-time RL and SL surfer, and an SL Surfing Hall of Fame inductee began the history talk saying, “In the beginning, God created the earth in 7 days according to the bible. Many god-like earthlings disagree. After attending a burning man festival, godlike Philip Rosendale created Linden Lab’s Second Life. By 2007 surfing arrived big time. It has taken years for all of us to create it.” 

 The surfing community is vibrant, expressive, and savvy. From highly developed tropical surf environments to just a fun wave tacked onto a water holding parcel, the surfing SIMs of SL demonstrate vast collaboration and creativity so every surfer can find different waves and communities to ride with.  The community has general, moderate, and adult locations with varying rules and guidelines. Some very family friendly, non-human/fantasy friendly, and others strictly human, adult, and even—unattired!

Recently spotlighted in SL Enquirer, Surfer's Bay VIP, owned and created by Duncan Blackburn, is an adult exotic beach surfing SIM that its group description says offers “adult fun, DJ’s and parties. Try surfing or explore the tropical island and meet new friends.”  But even with all the other possible activities, Persia Bravin, the SIM’s landscaper seems to have a special fondness for the surfing itself.

Bravin first surfed in Second Life precisely a decade ago in August 2008. Persia has also surfed in RL since childhood and admits she’s somewhat “obsessed with it [surfing]. A surfer and builder by vocation, she naturally sought the virtual surf beaches of SL, and at only four months old as an SL resident Ms Bravin had a full surfing SIM at a surf estate called JJ Lane where some early surf contests were held.

 Bravin can describe many changes from her decade of experience stating, “When I started surfing in SL, the waves and boards were made of prims. This meant extra lag and also less realism than we have now with mesh.”

Despite the tech and programming challenges, the surfing community still thrived, and there were frequent celebrations and events she recalls.  “Like anything in SL, surfing has evolved and many of the great SL surfers from those days are still here – and surfing,” she said.

The foundation created by the generations of surfers, SIMS, and technology swelled the development and continued growth of SL surfing, but it is the activity of surfing itself that is the fascination. Persia describes the attraction stating, “SL surfing offers you freedom and peace; when it is just you, alone, facing a huge wave…it can be very meditative and a great release from real life pressures.”

When asked what is so attractive about surfing Julz and Vally, the creatives and surfers behind the breathtaking, Indonesian inspired surf SIM, Cloudbreak, answer, “Simple. Riding the wave...nothing more...nothing less.”  Julz added,  “I really love the disconnect - you can't IM or email or text when surfing, it's you and the wave, it's the most peaceful part of my SL day.”

The set of waves at Cloudbreak are epic and keep on coming. The expansive pink-kissed sand meeting mirror-like turquoise waters, overshadowed by immersive jungle canopy is a surf location designed with surfers, creative and community in mind, says its creators and a visit fulfils expectations.

The innovation of waves and boards has created a more realistic, dynamic, and emotive surf experience in SL. Waves at SIMS  have much variety both in the type of wave and how they are arranged and randomly appear and oscillate, creating a variety of conditions and lengths of rides. Fluffy waves are small waves about 2-3 ft. high or there are waves like the Maverick, which are big and steep with a ripping, curling, face.

These factors along with a variety of boards with options for speed, manoeuvrability, and tricks give a rider the ability to personalize their ride and be creative with their expression on the wave much like RL surfing. Most SIMS have ‘rez points' where one can choose a board to appear there in the water for them to ride. Grab a C-3 for a good balance between control and dynamics, or select the coveted HP5, long since unavailable for purchase, for a high flying session of airs and dynamic tail sprays and cutbacks, like the LSD or choose the SSI for what surfer resident, Emma says, “is a pretty honest board and an equalizer.”

Most surfers tend to collect boards and many end up with a ‘quiver’, and at Surf Camp Mick set up his array of boards in a beautiful exposition of innovation and history of the board’s development over time. He even showed a board that was given out for free (to the chagrin of many SL surfboard dealers) by Linden during the 2011 Spring Break event. He called it a real ‘turkey’, and after surfing this board, this journalist verified and understood ‘turkey’ to mean ‘a poor performer.’

 The sun has set on this year’s Surf Camp but next years event is already in planning. Despite this, there are many opportunities to take lessons with group or private instructors. Major competitions are upcoming this month, and the many revellers of these SIMS are all practising their ride, partying, dancing and lounging on the miles and miles of sandy beaches.

To explore the world of SL Surfing use the most recent version of the Surf SIM List, available at the TP board at Solace or Bluff Cove or go to the SurfWatch Blog as well as some other places inworld.  A TP board is freely available upon request even!  Copies are automatically sent whenever the main board is updated.  To receive a TP board send an IM with a request to, Kantbe Thursday.

Like a good a set of waves the state of SL Surfing also has its changes, surprises, upsets and disappointments. For this reporter, I’ll be surfing everyday, in my birthday-suit at Surfer’s Cove Playa Parida, or duck-diving under friendly sharks and whales after I hang glide down to the beach at El Diablo, or I’ll be hanging-10 and showing off to the voyeurs at Surfer’s Bay, wherever and whenever, catching waves, in the sea, under the SL sky. Aloha.

URLS:

http://surfslsa.org/main/

http://surfwatch.blogspot.com/

https://secondlife.com/destinations/surfing

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GeekSpeak – does human nature make fairness and equality impossible? Join the discussion Saturday August 18th at 12pm slt

We all know life is not fair.  What can we do about it?  Does human nature mean that any society must be unfair?  If we are true to our nature will we always build an unjust society?  If we try to change that will we lose our humanity and turn into zombies, who are probably completely fair?

We may make rules for a fair society but don’t we all look for loopholes in the rules?  What would the world look like if there were no loopholes?

Are fairness and equality the same?  Is it possible to have a fair society that is not equal?

Could we at least make the world a little bit more fair?  Come and discuss with us the oddities of our existence.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any ideas for future subjects.

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

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New Releases From KiX - Let's Get A Little Dirty!

Introducing the Grunge Pallet Sofa from KiX, a perfect addition to your urban roleplay or dirty basement living.

This sofa comes in 4 versions Male/Female Adult and PG or Lesbian Adult and PG

An original mesh sofa made from pallets and crates with grungy dirty textures stuffed full of KiX original animations and some of the best animations available combined with plenty of props.   It also comes with texture change scatter cushions and a pallet table which rezzes props too to enhance your scene.

The adult versions come with RLV enabled

Sofa 5LI

Texture change scatter cushions 1 LI

Table with rezzable rubbish props 2 LI

The adult versions are at XXX Original Event for August

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Zen%20Soul/174/241/25

The PG versions can be found in the Main Store http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Miso/173/200/25

or marketplace https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/40440

NSFW images here https://www.flickr.com/photos/89597808@N07/albums/72157698485950871

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Feeling Safe: A look at babygirl safety on Adult sims - Pen Dragon reporting...

The relationship between a Daddy Dom and his babygirl is very intimate and close, with a level of trust that can only be gained through a deep knowledge of one another both physically and emotionally. Because of this bond the emotional safety, as well as the physical, are of the utmost importance to the Daddy Dom. Adult Sims can be filled with predators and people, both male and female, that do not comprehend basic courtesy and the meaning of the word no. This can create an environment that doesn’t allow a babygirl to feel safe or welcome. While this can be true of a sim with any rating, it’s especially true for adult sims.

The question then arises, what makes a babygirl’s safety any different than any submissive or anyone in general? The answer to that lies with the babygirl herself. Most, but not all, women that identify as a babygirl do so because they find a release in being free of stress and the worries that are associated with the struggles of everyday life. This release is achieved by allowing themselves to surrender control to their Daddy and creating a mental space in which they feel comfortable and almost childlike. This does not mean they regress into a child, by no means is that true. It simply means they find a headspace in which they are free of those concerns. Sometimes called “little space,” this state of mind often leaves babygirls feeling vulnerable when someone they are unfamiliar with speaks to, or contacts them.

When you combine “little space” with a predator, the results can be disastrous and may, in some instances, leave a babygirl mentally scarred. Because of this potential danger, it’s very important to a Daddy Dom to ensure his girl’s safety. As a Daddy Dom myself I know that it can be impossible to be everywhere that my girl goes, so I investigated several babygirl friendly and themed sims to see what policies and rules they have in place to help keep their members safe.

I was surprised that the vast majority of the sims I visited didn’t seem to take this threat seriously. Many have a simple policy of “mute and block” the individual doing the harassing. This, however, leaves the person free to find someone else on the sim to target. While that policy will resolve the issue for most people, a babygirl needs more. She needs to feel safe and know that someone has taken actions to protect her in these instances. Some of the sims had better measures in place, such as giving the girls a contact reference, usually a member of management who can take further action if needed.

There were a couple of exceptions. One sim, called Daddy’s babygirl Haven, offered more in the way of safety measures. I spoke with MisCandyPink, owner of the sim. I asked what she did to help protect the girls.

“Many things, one of which is that of the community’s support, understanding and positive outlook on things. We have been able to build an amazing support system. My "rules" are simple. Treat others with respect, or you will not last long here,” she said.  She went on to say “This is a babygirl haven. Therefore, the girls here are my priority. We have all gone through something similar here in SL, so there are usually people here who a babygirl can consult after having similar circumstances happen to them.”

The other sim that took care of the babygirls is called Daddy's Secret Garden & Mu Phi Omicron Sorority. I also spoke with the owner of that sim, named Melly Fleming. She explained to me that the safety and wellbeing of the babygirls were of tantamount importance there. Every issue brought up to her, or any other member was taken seriously and investigated. If someone overstepped their boundaries, immediate action was taken, and the consequences all depended on the severity of the infraction. As a Daddy, I was very impressed at the lengths Daddy’s Secret Garden went to provide a safe environment. Melly explained that the more serious issues were discussed with other staff members to ensure that no personal bias was involved with a decision that would involve one of the girls or even someone harassing them. The sim also had a set of rules clearly posted at the landing zone that was very clear and easy to understand. This is a place I would feel my girl would be safe.

Second Life has its dangers. Predators are everywhere and can target anyone, but a babygirl is typically the most vulnerable. Because of this, it is important for places that call themselves a babygirl sim to take extra precautions to keep a safe environment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Daddy's Secret Garden & Mu Phi Omicron Sorority

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FUSSION%20LATINA/151/157/26

Website: https://daddysecretgarden.blogspot.com/

Daddy's BabyGirl Haven

SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Synful%20Island/222/54/21

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Elite SL Music Magazine Press Release

Elite SL Music Venue (Gigli Live (176, 161, 23) has expanded events from Wednesdays and Fridays to encompass the entire week. This week we are looking forward to performances by Garth Lannock, Lexus Melodie, Lluis Indigo, Talon Hawks, and Dandy Pianoman, among others. If you are interested in performing, please contact McMackin to see if you would be a good fit for the venue.

Elite SL reporters comb the Metaverse to bring you up-to-the minute reports on musicians and the venues they play in and stories of performers’ Real and Second Life careers. Constantly growing, changing, and reshaping itself like the music and the venues it describes, Elite SL Music Magazine is the go-to WebZine for all music lovers. Join us on these pages and in Second Life to learn about the must hear performers, the hottest as well as the soon to be discovered venues, and the behind the scenes stories of music in Second Life.

We cover live performances, venues, and SL’s top DJs, and provide a close up view of Second Life’s richly textured music world through candid interviews, reviews, and photography.

You can find us on social media here:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/EliteSLMusic/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/EliteSLMusicMag
Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.fr/byronmcmackin
VK : https://vk.com/id498910114

You can advertise on our web site at the following rates:

180x180 texture for 1 month @ 1000 L$ / 2 months @ 1500 LS
Banner: texture 460x80, minimum 2 months @ 2000 L$

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“Town of Stepford – a Dolcett based, EXTREME adult fantasy - Seersha Heart reporting

******ADULT CONTENT WARNING******

Who can resist clicking where they see the word "cannibalism" on a web page?  I am a mainland resident in SL, and I have a nifty police bot which emails me info of the people who visit my parcel.  I frequently read the profiles of my visitors. One day a woman visited my parcel who used the term “Dolcett Girl” to describe herself.  This was a new term to me. I went down the rabbit hole to satisfy my curiosity.

A French Canadian artist, Dolcett [an anonymous name he uses], draws comic fetish pictures of extreme acts of violence in black and white.  Most often these pictures are of a Dolcett girl being roasted alive on a spit.  Dolcett issued a public statement about his art saying "I must repeat that these are pure fantasy. I am against real violence of any kind."  The Dolcett girl lives in a Dolcett world where women’s feelings about being a meal range from “fatalistic to enthusiastic”. 

The Dolcett girl is the main character of many fanfiction stories on the web.  She is Caucasian, thin, blonde or brunette. She usually has a backstory as a student or a professional.  In almost every story she dies at the end by being a meal, cooked or impaled, sometimes hung. A stand out feature of this RP is that she is a volunteer victim.  There is considerable interest in how she feels about each step of the process of her torture and eventual death.  Sometimes the Dolcett girl is herself a cook and aids in the preparation of cooking and preparing herself for consumption.

As with most SL residents, it is hard to surprise me.  The existence of the practice of Dolcett in SL was not surprising.  My personal interest in the topic would have ended at this point if not for the discovery of a most interesting little hamlet.  This hamlet is a surprising and interesting place to visit.  It is the Town of Stepford. In SL there are at least two towns using the name Stepford, one is very unusual under the surface. I wanted to know more about the residents of a Dolcett SIM.  It is with mixed emotion that I first visited “Dolcett ~ Town of Stepford ~ Some Place Not So Innocent”.  “The Town of Stepford is a Dolcett based, EXTREME adult fantasy roleplay community - where the creative, kinky, nasty, twisted and talented play!”

I changed to my male ALT avi for my first trip. He is a well-behaved observer around the grid and rarely approached with IMs, a perfect reporters tool.  I landed next to a cornfield across the river from the main town. There is an excellent detailed city map and bikes to rez for the traveler who doesn’t want to walk.  My first time to Stepford, I walked across the bridge and into the town. I think I was subconsciously expecting Hannibal Lecter to jump out from behind a bush or a building.  I have visited Stepford on several occasions researching this story as both male and female.  I have never been harassed or bothered in any fashion.  They are cannibals, not thoughtless, rude or surly as often portrayed by the media.  Most in Stepford are perfectly pleasant neighborly and friendly if not a bit shy.

Stepford is not a Hannibal Lecter kind of a town. There are no dark alleys, no aggressive RP….Stepford is a sleepy 1950s era town, both peaceful and lovely.  When entering Stepford, the first buildings are a medical clinic and the police station on the left then the church on the right.  All of the buildings are arranged around a town park, old-fashioned with playground equipment, PG cuddle blankets and barbeque items. One one side of the park is a cabaret theatre. Easy to use 1950s era cars are parked along the road.  I have driven a couple of them, and they are easy to handle. The crown jewel of the town is the Stepford Diner. Family Diner is open 24 hours.  I spend one Sunday morning at the park hanging around listening and talking to other residents.  The park is an informal area of chatting, flirting, and making plans for a possible barbeque later in the day.  To the casual stranger, the group looks very much like any other group standing around an adult SIM in SL.  Various levels of dress, different styles of avis and a lot of chatter.

As a guest to any SIM, you should be polite.  If you tend towards griefing, or trolling or any other negative behavior, you will not be welcome in Stepford.  They are cannibals, not impolite.  If you are interested in the lifestyle or the residents or merely curious, the diner is the place to spend your time.  It is ground zero here for all kinds of hookups.

Stepford is a very peaceful community with friendly residents.  A town allowing participants to pursue their fantasies online via what is called “extreme RP”.  If you fantasize about something, anything, you will find it somewhere in SL.  For the cannibal that that means different types of practices and forms of societal structures.  Yes, the Town of Stepford is only one town of cannibals on the grid.  Stepford adheres to the structures and the inspirations of Dolcett.

Among the buildings are a hotel, a butcher shop and an old-fashioned drive-in theater.  The hotel is a staple of sex communities, and this one is conveniently located next to the diner.  The butcher shop here is a campy old-fashioned shop. Instead of a cow’s body on the wall divided into the various sections of meat; there is a crawling woman. 

Some residents will walk around with these markings tattooed on their skins, their bodies as if ready to be butchered. Men as meals are rarer.  I met two in Stepford, one who considers himself and "extreme" sub residing part-time in Gor.  The other man a nice southern gentleman who may be the chef or the meal.

This Town is full of campy 1950s references and props.  If you visit, try not to miss the drive-in movie theater complete with 1950s cars and a fully detailed area.  You can even drive the cars out of the theater.  The detail that is crafted into the buildings and the surroundings is some of the best you can find in SL.  Poses and animations are equally imaginative though clearly designed with the Dolcett practices in mind.  The church is aptly named "St. Karyn of the Last Supper”.

Inside the church, there is a classroom to learn to become a butcher or a chef of the cannibal culinary.  Various residents are genuinely into their RP characters.  The church has a couple of different RPers that frequently are inside or near the building.  I met one of the pastors, a very charming man.  I've noticed that women who are unowned or curious walk between the church and the diner.  At the church, these women can find a slower paced initiation into the RP.  Churches are helpful places, and Stepford's is no exception.  The Diner is a freer format with various RP occurring often concurrently.  Many of the interactions are performed in local.  It is easy to sit back in the diner and listen to someone’s RP scenario play out.

“No, no, no I'm not satisfied

Can't there be - more to life

I can't see - reasons why”  Fine Young Cannibals "I'm Not Satisfied."

I’ve met people from all over the world in Stepford.  I have met a good amount of people who speak French in Stepford, most likely as Dolcett is also French.  Since I am studying French irl, this is a handy if not unusual place to practice some of my words and phrases.

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup means: "Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly."

I found that many of those visiting Stepford were classic avatars.  I found this puzzling as if one were going to have a meal, and I would think a nice mesh body would be fine dining.  <<chuckles>> Yet very few of the men or the women are all mesh.  This gives an interesting effect to those of us who are all mesh and bento; another worldly exotic floating among the residents.  Those regular residents who have taken the time to craft a seductive mesh body stand out in the small crowd.  Yes, I am biased; I have a deeply seated fear of the "cankle".  I blame this fear on the postings of a good friend who now no longer possesses cankles, Toysolder Thor well known SL artist and an all around good guy.  He used to possess some of the worst cankles…but I digress… [see below for definition of cankle]  I soon found out the allure of the classic avi here in Stepford; many of the RP tattoos are designed for the classic body.

One of my favorite residents to watch is a wonderfully crafted female Neko alien.  Frequently in residence, she seems to float from place to place town with an ephemeral presence.  One evening I saw her set out in the diner on one of the tables dressed and ready to be dinner.  Respecting the residents, I did not engage or impose myself or my questions on others.  During a visit, there were always questions in my head.  Usually, answers presented themselves, or a resident would approach me for a conversation.  As always, the best way to learn about a SIM or the residents is to sit down, be quiet, to watch, to listen and be a good OOC resident.

I learned a great deal in my trips to the town of Stepford.  Stepford made me realize that we all assume the people around us conform to similar social norms.  I may very well have a friend or two that has a cannibal fantasy. This is the kind of deep dark secret that one person would not share with another person easily.  SL is the kind of place where you can find places to share those deep dark secrets with similar people. The town of Stepford is only one of those places on the grid.  The residents of Stepford are people like the ones I encounter at any other area of SL; diverse. The Town of Stepford looks peaceful and innocent, like any town USA in the 1950s.  It is the way people try to behave all over SL.  On the surface, ‘normal’, like all the others; yet beneath “someplace not so innocent”.

I have left Stepford for the next story.  Though not interested in this RP, I leave finding myself sympathetic to the residents.  They are harassed and judged much more harshly than many other extreme RP SIMs.  Yet they are on their SIM practicing what is the essence of SL; their desires, their roleplay.  At the end of the day, a Dolcett girl, a butcher or a chef is enjoying their RP with other consenting adults.  Though you might have a different ‘diet’ for your SL, you probably want the same basic result; a place to explore your fantasy without judgement.  If a SIM offends you; leave.  Today I have pulled up stakes and moved my focus to another SIM now.  No teaser for the reader only this; every place in SL has a story if you sit still and let it come to you.

Photos by Karmaghna Ulrik

My favorite topic related quotes:

”The truth is not for everyone.” ― From A Carnivore’s Inquiry by Sabina Murray

“If abortion is murder then blowjobs are cannibalism.” ― Oliver Markus Malloy, Inside The Mind of an Introvert

“But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals; Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten . . .” ― Nick Cave

>>Cankle; “where the calf meets the foot in an abrupt, non-tapering terminus;” "a swollen ankle that blends into the calf without clear demarcation."

SURL for the Town of Stepford

[Dolcett and cannibal - a 1950's town dedicated to dolcett devices - bdsm... A dolcett community]

secondlife://PORTEN%20HILL/10/223/29

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