Once again, it is perfectly ok to play a child avatar

[Luna Bliss]

3 minutes ago, Zidaya Zenovka said:

Everyone just assumes if you're an adult rp'ing a kid or even just interacting with a kid on their level you must be some kind of creep. It's really unfair-not just to the adults (whether they're rp'ing or not) but to kids as well.

It sounds like things have changed out there.  I don't think there was such judgement early on in SL regarding child avatars.

Are there kid-friendly regions anymore?

[Amina Sopwith]

16 minutes ago, Zidaya Zenovka said:

Care to explain? Because when one writes and publishes a children's book one is-to a large degree-expecting both children and the adults raising them to indulge in fantasy with you. Maybe you're not expecting them to roleplay with you like you're a kid

Well that's the point. It's the interaction of it that makes it different in my mind. The difference between reading about Harry Potter, and meeting someone who expects me to call him the Boy Who Lived and ask him to defeat Voldemort. There's also a randomness of encounters in SL that makes it less of a selective audience than the person who chose to read the story.

I don't mind reading a story that has a child in it, but I dislike meeting an adult who wants me to engage with and indulge them in their wish to infantilise themselves. It's a book I won't be reading, if you will.

 

[Zidaya Zenovka]

2 minutes ago, Amina Sopwith said:

Well that's the point. It's the interaction of it that makes it different in my mind. The difference between reading about Harry Potter, and meeting someone who expects me to call him the Boy Who Lived and ask him to defeat Voldemort. There's also a randomness of encounters in SL that makes it less of a selective audience than the person who chose to read the story.

I don't mind reading a story that has a child in it, but I dislike meeting an adult who wants me to engage with and indulge them in their wish to infantilise themselves. It's a book I won't be reading, if you will.

 

Too bad, then because if I ever met Harry Potter in Second Life, and was asked to help him defeat he who shall not be named I'd be the first to take off my top hat, put on my feathered bards hat, and cast vicious mockery at the nearest Dementor. It's entirely your prerogative of course but it just sounds like you're not a fan of whimsy more than it's any kind of actual issue on the child roleplayer's part. 

[Luna Bliss]

@Zidaya Zenovka

Are you believing that every region is a roleplaying region?

[Amina Sopwith]

Just now, Zidaya Zenovka said:

Too bad, then because if I ever met Harry Potter in Second Life, and was asked to help him defeat he who shall not be named I'd be the first to take off my top hat, put on my feathered bards hat, and cast vicious mockery at the nearest Dementor. 

I was trying to illustrate why I see a difference between reading or watching a story that has a child in it, and being expected to participate in someone's personal fantasy of being treated like a child. 

2 minutes ago, Zidaya Zenovka said:

 it just sounds like you're not a fan of whimsy more than it's any kind of actual issue on the child roleplayer's part. 

Well, you can think what you like. I'm not interested in discussing whether infantilisation is a necessary element of whimsy. 

[Zidaya Zenovka]

5 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

@Zidaya Zenovka

Are you believing that every region is a roleplaying region?

No. Of course not. Most regions I hang out in aren't. If the implication is that every person rp'ing a child avatar is treating every region like an rp region then we're going from discussing actual rp'rs to discussing theoretical ones, which really isn't all that constructive and is entirely unfair to actual child rp'rs, the majority of whom aren't here to defend themselves or discuss their own POV in regards to why and how they go about child rp'ing. 

I think the point should be-like with anything else-just treat people how you'd want to be treated & don't make negative assumptions about entire groups of people just based on negative interactions with a few or on stereotypes. 

Edited October 1, 2021 by Zidaya Zenovka

[Kira Wroth]

19 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

It sounds like things have changed out there.  I don't think there was such judgement early on in SL regarding child avatars.

Are there kid-friendly regions anymore?

There are many child friendly family roleplay communities such as Fox Hollow, Ontario Pointe, and others.

I became a child avatar shortly after joining SL over a decade ago in order to prevent men from constantly hitting on me. Prior to realizing there was the option to be a child avatar, I actually purchsed a Muslim "burqa", covering my head and body even though I'm not a Muslim lol.

[Cinnamon Mistwood]

I don't personally care if someone wants to role play as a child. I regularly interact with "kids" in SecondLife and enjoy the company.  I do, however, have a line that makes me very uncomfortable.  I do not interact with babies and toddlers.  I've never seen anyone able to role-playing one in a way I wanted to interact with, so I just ignore them or as a last resort block the baby talk and gestures.

[Zidaya Zenovka]

5 minutes ago, Amina Sopwith said:

I'm not interested in discussing whether infantilisation is a necessary element of whimsy. 

That's just it. Like in my previous post all I see here is people making assumptions about the behavior of the majority of child rp'rs just based on either a negative interaction with a small few OR some stereotype of what they're like. I've met maybe ten or fifteen child rp'rs in my time in SL, and save for two most of them didn't talk in a childish manner. Most were playful, and a bit silly...but then so are many adults I've met. 

If anything I've met way more problematic adults in SL. Heaps of them. It's why I get a kick out of threads like this. We're discussing child rp'rs like they're some kind of issue when what we really should be discussing are the jerks OP mentioned, and just how prevalent they are in SL, and how not enough people seem willing to speak out against people who grief communities like the child rp community (or the furry community, or brony community, or tinies, etc). 

It just seems like if you're looked at as being some kind of weirdo or part of a niche that appeals to oddly creative types, it's OK for people to hassle you. 

[Amina Sopwith]

3 minutes ago, Zidaya Zenovka said:

It just seems like if you're looked at as being some kind of weirdo or part of a niche that appeals to oddly creative types, it's OK for people to hassle you. 

I've not said it's ok to hassle child avatars. As with your previous posts, you're simply making up various derogatory reasons to try to invalidate people's wishes not to interact with them. We have no whimsy, we lack understanding, we stereotype, we think it's ok to hassle you. Anything other than the fact that we just don't like participating in someone's self-infantilisation, and haven't found you guys to be very good at playing the role.

Do truly whimsical people have to keep on telling you how whimsical they are?

[purrrkitten]

25 minutes ago, Kira Wroth said:

I became a child avatar shortly after joining SL over a decade ago in order to prevent men from constantly hitting on me. Prior to realizing there was the option to be a child avatar, I actually purchsed a Muslim "burqa", covering my head and body even though I'm not a Muslim lol.

Or just don't reply to them.

[MrJokes]

I'm a child avatar. I don't really roleplay as one i just act as myself i guess. I've of course run into people being uncomfortable around me for being a kid avi and thats fine, to each there own. As long as they don't go too far and start messing with me thats fine. I'm friendly, i get it. I also understand that there are concerns of kid avatars being used for the wrong reasons. But lets be honest anything can be used for the wrong reasons, to judge someone based on that is a true shame i think.

I think the best way to go about things is just to do what you like to do as long as its not messing with someone else or breaking rules. Its second life, be what you wanna be.

Edited October 2, 2021 by MrJokes

[HarrisonMcKenzie]

On 10/1/2021 at 3:46 AM, So Whimsy said:

Personally I like child avatars, they're adorable and fun.

What I have an issue with is the baby talk, as a non native english speaker it gives me a headache trying to descipher what they are saying

Oh, I'm an English native and get a headache trying to figure it out.

[Eddy Vortex]

2 hours ago, HarrisonMcKenzie said:

Oh, I'm an English native and get a headache trying to figure it out.

English is my mother tongue and I too get a headache trying to decode the babbling baby talk and lisps. Using monosyllables and simple sentences would be more effective in portraying a child.

Thinking of this song amuses me every time I hear kids old enough to be in primary school talking like they're stuck in infancy:

"Hier die Frage aller Klassen: Darf und kann man Kinder hassen?"

[Sid Nagy]

Starting from the age of six children talk pretty much as adults only with less vocabulary at hand. So they sometimes talk in a more describing way than straight to the point, because they don't have all the right words at hand yet. Most have still sleight problems occasionally with not on daily base used irregular verbs (at least that is the case in the Dutch language).

Most SL kids I've met talk like 4-5 years old or act like total wise guys. Total non childish behavior. That gives me the creeps.
So I prefer to ignore child avatars in SL, although I loved to work with kids in RL (like I did during my professional life). Still miss it.

Edited October 6, 2021 by Sid Nagy
I love the edit button from the bottom of my heart.

[belindacarson]

 each to their own.

Edited October 7, 2021 by belindacarson

[Sid Nagy]

What about people playing animals?
What about people playing slaves and GOR?
What about people playing robots?
What about people playing extraterrestrials?
What about people playing 18th century?
There is a place for all of them. Isn't being somebody else than in RL not a huge part of SL?
So there is a place for child avatars too in my book.

I don't see much of them in my SL, but I like it, that they are part of it. All these and other varieties make SL what it is, namely a Second Life.

Edited October 6, 2021 by Sid Nagy

[Mindy Metaluna]

I have been reading the comments, here, about people's perceptions of child avatars. I do feel that most of your perceptions and feelings would probably change if you really got to know a few. This actually is the case with many people I have known over the years. I speak as someone who personally knows hundreds of child avatars and I do interact with dozens of them , at a time, on a regular basis. 

[Drake1 Nightfire]

I have never understood why any Child RPer would talk with the speech issues most seem to have. As someone who worked in a day care for years, I have never heard a single 3+ child talk like that unless they actually had speech issues. 

They want us to participate in their RP wherever they go and get upset when we dont. I'm sorry, I'm shopping in a mall, I really don't want to listen/read your infantile speech. If you really want me to participate in your RP, please let me know where the SL police and child services are so they can come get this unattended 5 year old from the mall. 

As a merchant, please dont ever talk to us like that when you have issue with a product you bought. You spent RL money on it, act like an adult. 

Aside from that, have fun. Hell on RP sims I freely interact with kids.. Especially when I am a dragon. 

[Orwar]

5 hours ago, Mindy Metaluna said:

I have been reading the comments, here, about people's perceptions of child avatars. I do feel that most of your perceptions and feelings would probably change if you really got to know a few.

   So, you're suggesting we ought to adjust to your feelings, rather than our own empirical evidence of what many child avatars are like to interact with?

   Generalisation might be frowned upon by idealists, but we don't generalise and compartmentalise without reason; if a person writes in their profile that they're a brat, they are likely going to act entitled and be desperate for attention. If a person present themselves as a child, they are likely to be annoying and incoherent. If a person doesn't mind people acting entitled, or acting juvenile, then for that person it isn't an issue. But the people who get annoyed or outright unnerved by people acting out their infantile fantasies in the general public whilst expecting to be accepted, when there's no suspension of disbelief that suggests you're actually interacting with a child, as we all know that the person on the other side of that screen is (or, at least 'should be', according to the TOS) an adult person - it just doesn't matter what the person is like otherwise than what's on the façade until you're actually trying to get to know a person, and for a lot of people, that façade is sufficient reason to stay well clear.

[Kathlen Onyx]

55 minutes ago, Drake1 Nightfire said:

As a merchant, please dont ever talk to us like that when you have issue with a product you bought. You spent RL money on it, act like an adult. 

 

This is the one thing that I think needs to stop.  RPing a child is fine when you are actually RPing but when you are in groups asking for help speak like the adult that you are. 

Edited November 15, 2021 by Sam1 Bellisserian

[McKenzie Evergarden]

On 9/22/2021 at 1:30 AM, Ellie4024 said:

If it's a pg/g Sim, I'll interact with a child Avi, sure. (RP or whatever)... Adult rating, sorry kiddo, just gonna derender and watch the radar, if they don't leave, I contact the owner/manager AFTER I've contacted the child avi's owner and reminded them (politely) that the probably don't belong in the region. 

As for the haters and kiddie-phobes and the racists, block, mute, send an AR and have fun doing what you came there to do. (wouldn't surprise me if the kiddie-phobes were pedos themselves, as its often the case with people who are hardcore homo-phobes.... But don't forget that lesbians are okay with them) 

 

 

(no @coraxcorv, I wasn't calling you out, your response is reasonable) 

I suggest reading the sim rules/bio as well as considering leaving the area yourself before pestering people minding their own business over a predetermined rating of an sim. The letter next to a sim is a guide line of what could be expected not what isn't allowed. If a child is in a non sex-themed adult area it's no one's issue or business why they are there. 

 

Honestly, I have the same issue with my farm being on an adult lot, I curse a lot and I like to play inappropriate music, plus I genuinely don't *want* to play with RL kids/teens. just because there is an adult rating does not mean there is *sex* happening. 

[Ceka Cianci]

1 hour ago, McKenzie Evergarden said:

I suggest reading the sim rules/bio as well as considering leaving the area yourself before pestering people minding their own business over a predetermined rating of an sim. The letter next to a sim is a guide line of what could be expected not what isn't allowed. If a child is in a non sex-themed adult area it's no one's issue or business why they are there. 

 

Honestly, I have the same issue with my farm being on an adult lot, I curse a lot and I like to play inappropriate music, plus I genuinely don't *want* to play with RL kids/teens. just because there is an adult rating does not mean there is *sex* happening. 

A lot of people hear adult and think porn right from the get go,  when in reality it can be someone setting up their sim for the just in case things or to be on the safe side..

A lot of people did that back when they first changed to sim ratings because the maturity standards were so damn confusing..

There were tons of brown bag meetings and forum threads over three different forum sites.. This one, Xstreet and SLU..

If there ever was a time Child avatars were controversial, it was around that time.. The hate got really bad and really thick towards them..

That's when many people started using height as a big gauge to someone being a child avatar.. If you are this tall you are not allowed here!\o/

Some still use that.

The Maturity ratings are still confusing for a lot of people..Because a lot still think adult means porn.. hehehe

 

Myself, I don't have a problem with anyone being whatever they want to be in here.. I remember back then being on the side of child avatars in those forum battles.. It felt like people had their pitchforks out or something.. Real bad mob mentality..

There were some really nice people that were in the forums back then that were child avatars and it just didn't sit well with me that they were being attacked..

I don't really RP myself in SL, but more just kind of bounce around just doing my thing and bumping into different people and chatting..

If someone stays in character, I don't jump into a character, but just be me.. I'm not very good at RP things anymore, so we will either keep chatting or go our separate ways..

I think with meeting people in SL, I see a bit of the persons imagination at first, but always seem to meet the person behind the keyboard.. It's usually talking about their SL and my SL and their life and my life.. Good stuff really..

If I never got past all those book covers in SL, I wouldn't have the library of friends I've had over the years here..

I just woke up and on my first cup of tea, so I tend to type a lot and tap into things as I'm waking up..Plus usually drift from my first intentions of posting in the first place.. So if this has drifted off the table, I apologize.. hehehe

Off to get my second cup.. Everyone have a nice day..

hehehe

Edited November 25, 2021 by Ceka Cianci

[QwiQ]

Basically there's nothing "wrong" per se with role playing as a child or even just adopting the appearance of a child while retaining an adult persona.

However, as with all fiction and now with virtual worlds, there normally is a requirement for what Coleridge called "willing suspension of disbelief"  which in itself depends on a fine dance between our cognitive dissonance and the "Fourth wall".

I won't go into all the detail here, because it would take up pages - but you can google any of it if you fancy it.

The thing is that "willing" suspension of disbelief is exactly as it says - we grant this suspension of disbelief in the context of complex psychological states and baggage.

It's very difficult for us to willingly suspend disbelief when a situation or context involves or contradicts core psychological and evolutionary drives.

So, can I suspend disbelief and accept someone if they want to be a vampire (as an example)? Yes normally that's pretty straight forward - because regardless how immersed the person is in the fantasy, the fact that it's fantasy is clear and I can say "yeah go for it mate, I'll come along for the ride because it looks like fun"

However, procreation and childhood are a very different kettle of fish. The idea of "childhood" for most people kicks of a complex cocktail of evolutionary and psychological emotions. It's very difficult for most people to override those and grant suspension of disbelief to accept this "child" on face value, knowing that there's an adult behind the fiction. It's too big a pill for many people to swallow.

Add into the mix the real concern (unfounded or not) that SL has historically had very public issues with the scenarios in which child avatars have been involved.

It's all very complicated, and the community does itself no favours in pretending it's not.

Edited November 25, 2021 by QwiQ

[Maryanne Solo]

Once in a blue moon I will be a little me. Generally not in the company of others or in public.
No talking just playing with pets and stuff.
Why? Because it makes me laugh and is adorable.
It allows one to imagine being a child again but forget any horrific $hit that happened.
That's a good thing believe me.

 

Edited November 25, 2021 by Maryanne Solo
splained it a bit more.