Simulated intimacy in SL vs the world ..

[Theresa Tennyson]

3 hours ago, Coffee Pancake said:

We routinely get people on the second life sub amazed we still exist and wow, aren't we all sad sacks with no actual life.

So, pushing the "masturbation aid" segment of Second Life is going to fix that?

[Love Zhaoying]

47 minutes ago, Theresa Tennyson said:

So, pushing the "masturbation aid" segment of Second Life is going to fix that?

People will either be too busy 'bating to care, or their endorphins will be high enough not to care. 

[Cinnamon Mistwood]

6 hours ago, Love Zhaoying said:

I used to see ads on websites. It's been awhile, I think. Perhaps the ads weren't working, or LL figured out I already have it so stopped targeting the ad to me.

I followed an ad to SL 13 years ago.  I think it was on an online TV guide or something.  The ad said something about meeting people from all over the world.

[Bagnu]

5 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

I am unconvinced, honestly, by this "LL wants 'better people' here" narrative.

I think there was a period, ca. 2008-2010, when LL was trying to sell "Enterprise" versions of SL to corporations, pushing the platform at educators, and promoting the idea of the place as the "3D Web," when this actually was more truly an aim of the company. That died a pretty quick death, though.

I've seen little indication that they want to "replace" us with "better people" in quite some time.

What they do want, as any online business or platform wants, is people with more disposable income to spend on leisure, as well as creators, merchants, and businesses willing to invest in the platform.

But that's not quite the same thing as suggesting that LL itself sees us all as "weirdos" who are a liability to the platform, and in dire need of "replacement."

I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to bring people who drive the SL economy, so that LL can make a profit.  They are in the entertainment industry.  "Replacing" people wouldn't be a wise business model, in my opinion.  Not everyone can put money in, due to privacy or financial concerns. But they CAN and DO form relationships and friendships with those who CAN, and are willing to spend on them, or because of them.  AND they keep the spender in SL (and spending) because of the friendship or relationship.  I'm sure LL realizes this. Adding to the userbase makes more sense. To me anyways.

On thinking about it more, it DOES seem like LL is beginning to realize that sex, well, sells. I can't see any other reason for them to allow nudity in the adult section here in the forums, and to add an adult area to the SL20B. Doing a quick search on porn spending, I've seen figures ranging from $9 to $97 BILLION per year. Nothing to sneeze at.  I think LL is just being cautious, and not wanting to frighten off established residents who don't want to be in a purely sexualized environment, and moving slowly. Perhaps a little TOO slowly though to maximize profit potential.   

[Luna Bliss]

6 minutes ago, Bagnu said:

On thinking about it more, it DOES seem like LL is beginning to realize that sex, well, sells. I can't see any other reason for them to allow nudity in the adult section here in the forums, and to add an adult area to the SL20B.

My take on it is that they've always known sex sells, and that they are changing as society changes to be more accepting of sexuality in general and in virtual environments.

[Bagnu]

5 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

My take on it is that they've always known sex sells, and that they are changing as society changes to be more accepting of sexuality in general and in virtual environments.

I haven't been in SL long enough to be able to see how LL has handled it over the years. What you're saying makes total sense to me.

[Ayashe Ninetails]

5 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

... as society changes to be more accepting of sexuality in general and in virtual environments.

Where is this happening? 😂

[Luna Bliss]

Just now, Ayashe Ninetails said:

8 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

... as society changes to be more accepting of sexuality in general and in virtual environments.

Where is this happening? 😂

I see this in venues that reflect the culture we live in, like movies and TV, as well as general discussion by the talking heads of our society.

[Ayashe Ninetails]

1 minute ago, Luna Bliss said:

I see this in venues that reflect the culture we live in, like movies and TV, as well as general discussion by the talking heads of our society.

I'm only poking fun at ya, but only because I'm seeing the opposite on a regular basis. Movies and TV maybe, yeah, but woo, try sitting in a chat with a streamer ranting about the "hot tub meta" on Twitch or god forbid some girl wear something too revealing during her stream/video and it's a whoooole different scenario. I won't even get into the freak outs over The Last Of Us (the HBO version and the game's sequel).

I do think the attitude within SL is a whole lot different than that, though. Thankfully.

[Ceka Cianci]

4 hours ago, Love Zhaoying said:

People will either be too busy 'bating to care, or their endorphins will be high enough not to care. 

hehehe, This reminded me of this..

 

[Luna Bliss]

2 minutes ago, Ayashe Ninetails said:

14 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

I see this in venues that reflect the culture we live in, like movies and TV, as well as general discussion by the talking heads of our society.

I'm only poking fun at ya, but only because I'm seeing the opposite on a regular basis. Movies and TV maybe, yeah, but woo, try sitting in a chat with a streamer ranting about the "hot tub meta" on Twitch or god forbid some girl wear something too revealing during her stream/video and it's a whoooole different scenario. I won't even get into the freak outs over The Last Of Us (the HBO version and the game's sequel).

I do think the attitude within SL is a whole lot different than that, though. Thankfully.

Ahhh, yeah, it really depends on what part of society you frequent doesn't it?

[Ayashe Ninetails]

Just now, Luna Bliss said:

Ahhh, yeah, it really depends on what part of society you frequent doesn't it?

And which state you're in, in some cases.

[Coffee Pancake]

9 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

Well, ok. So what's the cause of that? Many might argue that this perception is an adjunct of the reputation SL has garnered as the refuge of oversexed fetishistic weirdos. I'm not saying that's true, but it may be part of the problem

... and were drifting back to better people who don't ***** or think about sex. 

A big part is the name.

Second Life - I HAVE A FIRST LIFE !!

9 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

Surely, in any case, that perception does not derive from an under-promotion of sex here.

Being coy about it when everyone knows is the problem.

9 hours ago, Scylla Rhiadra said:

No one, surely, is saying, "What sad sacks! These losers don't have nearly enough sex in-world!" Promoting sexuality in SL is not going to make outsiders think we're "winners," with healthy and active RLs.

Everyone else is doing just fine. The better "people fallacy" is thinking everyone else aren't just like us.

6 hours ago, Theresa Tennyson said:

So, pushing the "masturbation aid" segment of Second Life is going to fix that?

If it gets a bump in population .. YES.

What's wrong with masturbation anyway .. isn't it healthy to have a positive forward looking view on enjoying sexual expression and self love?

Go on, google feminism and masturbation, I can wait ... 

[Quistess Alpha]

3 hours ago, Coffee Pancake said:

google feminism and masturbation

Surprisingly, DuckDuckGo and google give different but equally interesting results!

[Love Zhaoying]

4 hours ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Go on, google feminism and masturbation, I can wait ...

Sorry, too busy masturb..you know.

[Luna Bliss]

Just checking in...has anyone convincingly made a case for HornDog Haven?

[Love Zhaoying]

6 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

Just checking in...has anyone convincingly made a case for HornDog Haven?

Apparently it's at mall food courts.

ETA: I hear it's a sausage party. @Luna Bliss

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Love Zhaoying

[Coffee Pancake]

5 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

Just checking in...has anyone convincingly made a case for HornDog Haven?

Depends if the hypocrites in the thread can let go of their pearls for a few minutes .. 

[Love Zhaoying]

Just now, Coffee Pancake said:

Depends if the hypocrites in the thread can let go of their pearls for a few minutes .. 

I can't decide whether to make a "Pearl necklace joke", or point out that Pearl necklaces are indeed a fashion trend among some gay men. I myself have matching Pearl necklace and bracelet.

[Love Zhaoying]

4 hours ago, Coffee Pancake said:

What's wrong with masturbation anyway .. isn't it healthy to have a positive forward looking view on enjoying sexual expression and self love?

On a serious note: absolutely nothing Is wrong with it. Never, ever, stop if you're caught.

[Luna Bliss]

19 minutes ago, Coffee Pancake said:

26 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

Just checking in...has anyone convincingly made a case for HornDog Haven?

Depends if the hypocrites in the thread can let go of their pearls for a few minutes .. 

Coffee, there is a difference between being a hypocrite and realizing we need to appeal to the greater society that surrounds us if we want SL to grow. Most people prefer that sexuality be more of a private matter, and so it should not be out front in advertising.

[Rowan Amore]

Do my Hot Girl Pearls count?  

[Coffee Pancake]

3 minutes ago, Luna Bliss said:

Coffee, there is a difference between being a hypocrite and realizing we need to appeal to the greater society that surrounds us if we want SL to grow. Most people prefer that sexuality be more of a private matter, and so it should not be out front in advertising.

Sure, lets keep doing the nothing and hope the "better people" who hide away from sex suddenly show up in sufficient quantities to reverse a decade's slow decline. 

I think I saw 7 of them on Sansar .. 

 

[Love Zhaoying]

18 minutes ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Sure, lets keep doing the nothing and hope the "better people" who hide away from sex suddenly show up in sufficient quantities to reverse a decade's slow decline. 

I think I saw 7 of them on Sansar .. 

 

Those better people sound sad and lonely. 

[Cinnamon Mistwood]

1 hour ago, Coffee Pancake said:

Depends if the hypocrites in the thread can let go of their pearls for a few minutes .. 

Geez, Coffee.  Just because some people said no new resident wants to login for the first time to a giant peen in their face doesn't mean people are clutching their pearls.  I have not seen one person saying no adult stuff should be in SL or that it should be hidden away in a closet and never spoken of.  Where did you get that?