RobertThorp

Alec, In RL I work at the same law firm as Mary Beth. In fact, I was the one who persuaded her to join Second Life. I can assure you that she has been admitted to every bar she has ever entered.That includes bars in most of the airports in the US. But she, like the rest of us in the firm, is licensed to practice law in certain states, but not in all states. Speaking of "bars" and "the bar", many of us have left the offices, stopped at a place where one can get a drink, then gone home and told the spouse "sorry I'm late, I had a bar meeting to attend". Bob

Dresden Ceriano wrote: I'm sure there's a number of men who are as well. Dress, what kind of bra do you wear: Marybeth Cooperstone wrote: Try asking them. That is how i got slapped one time! Bob

I am frequently trying to picture what's under pants - in Real Life :matte-motes-evil-invert:

Perrie, I deal with civil cases more like to one you were involved in, so I will jump in. There are cases that do need a court ruling, perhaps an appellate court where the ruling will set a precedent. Perhaps yours was one of those. However, there are very many cases (most of what I handle) where new law is not needed; just looking at the facts in evidence is all that is required. In those cases, the two parties are expected to settle their difference out of court, perhaps without a law suit. The courts are available to decide the case if the parties cannot agree, but that takes up time in court and costs big money. Not only does it cost each party, but it cost the taxpayer money to operate the court system. The courts are over loaded now, even though only a small number of potential cases goes to trial. Some cases, particularly those involving interpretation of a law, should go to court and should be heard at the appellate level in order to "make law". Other cases, the vast majority, should be settled by the parties. Bob this is not a solicitation for business.

Perrie, I agree. SL needs its own TOS. For LL to rely on Sec. 2.2 does not correct their problem. That section is something we lawyers often insert into contracts to cover our mistakes - mistakes that we should not make in the first place. I would still say that LL did some poor TOS drafting, and should not have written Sec. 6.3 as they did. Terms of Service are part of contracts. These often are so complex that those who write them can easily make mistakes. Having a separate "stand alone" TOS for SL would make it easier for those reading them and for those writing them, and would reduce the chance for errors. I agree with my collegue Mary Beth - when sex or adult rated topics are delt with, people tend to skip proof reading or do it poorly. I am still laughing about the "crimes against nature" incident! She works with states drafting proposed laws; I work with businesses drafting contracts, including the TOS. I see the same thing - poor drafting and poor proof reading (the most important part of writing) in parts dealing with sex or adult rated topics. Bob The above should not be considered legal advice and, by posting it, I am not soliciting business.

Dillon, I agree. Just as an example, this picture (the one in white, of course) looks very sexy! :matte-motes-big-grin-evil: Bob

AnnAdams wrote: It may be harder in RL to fake one's gender, but it can be done. It is pretty easy in RL to lie about one's profession and to give advice without knowing what you are talking about. So take everything, in SL or in RL, with a grain of salt. Very true. It is harder to fake gender in RL, but I have known of it being done. I know of one guy (NOT ME!) who met a good looking girl in a bar. One thing let to another, and eventually he found out that she was really a he. So take everything, particularly SL but also RL with a grain of salt.

What a good looking butt!! I don't know what that thing below it is, but to get rid of it you should cut down on fatty and high carb food and get more exercise.

Perrie Juran: "But they are forever forgetting to put in electrical outlets for us to plug our appliances into." Electrical outlets in bras? I could really get my fingers shocked!:matte-motes-evil-invert:

We don't know if he reported her, but shortly after his accusation her post was incorrectly pulled.

Drake, Obviously you either didn't check to see if the links violated the guidelines, or you don't have the ability to understand the guidelines. My work as an attorney (same firm as Marybeth, but a different speciality) is to write and review contracts. Often terms and guidelines are vague. In this case, they are not vague. It is clear that they were not violated. Bob

Lillyanna, We are in extreme agreement. Yes, this is a virtual world, but it is too easy for some people to forget that behind an avatar is a real human being. As for me, what ever my avatar is doing with another avatar, I am doing with another person. That is why I believe in honesty if asked about RL. I don't engage in any activity in SL where gender (or looks, or age) matters. I only know one female in RL who is on SL. But I work with her and know her husband, so any romantic activity is out of the question. I do enjoy listening to music and discussing politics, law (my profession), and life in general with others. But gender, looks, and age don't matter in these activities. Bob

Syo and Dresden, While she would not be my choice, I would rather have RL or SL sex with an ugly old woman than with a man. And I know some people (both men and women) who would rather have RL or SL sex with a physically unattractive man than with a good looking woman. I don't have a good enough imagination. The difference between SL and games not connected with the internet (Sims, etc.) is that there is a real life person behind the avatar, and I am doing whatever with that person. That is a big reason why I don't have sex in SL. The gender, like the looks, cannot be verified. There are methods of verifying things about other people, but not on SL. (They work only on very specilized smaller forums, where the owner or operator of the forum cooperates) Some people like to watch pixels on a screen having sex, not thinking of the person behind the pixels. I have no problem with that; but it is not me. Bob

Perrie and Madelaine, Thanks for the replies to Bobbie Faulds. I have read the TOS and I am sure that if there was any prohibition against asking, I would have remembered. And I don't remember any. I will read the TOS tonight, but I think that the disclosing prohibition is against disclosure of other peoples RL information. I believe that anyone is allowed to disclose their own gender or other information, but not someone else's. I will check the TOS tonight. Syo, There is nothing homophobic about wanting to have pixel sex, or real sex, with people of the opposite gender, just as there is nothing wrong with wanting the same with people the same gender as oneself. Yes, how a person looks may be part of a choice of sex partner, but, for many of us, that is only a small part when compared with gender. That is true for most straight and gay men and women. I have no desire to have "pixel sex". But obviously some people do. Some don't care what gender is behind the avatar, or even if it is a human or bot. But others do care. That is why I still say: if you care, ask. If you are asked, either refuse to answer or be truthful. And if you really, strongly care, don't have sex on SL unless you really know (e.g.. know the other person in RL). Bob

I know that for many people it would not matter if they had pixel sex with someone of the gender that was not the avatar's gender. I, as a straight male, would not have pixel sex with a female avatar operated by a male person. A gay friend, who is familar with SL, told me that he would not have sex with a male avatar operated by a female person. I think that a good rule would be: if you are asked what your RL gender is, either refuse to answer or answer correctly. If you are a male operating a female avatar, fine. But if you are asked, don't lie. Either refuse to answer or be correct. I know this can't be enforced, and some people are not always honest in matters of sex. After all, in RL how many married men have told female dates that they are single? That is one reason I do not have sex in SL.