Journal+of+Echo's+Modern+Life

I jumped head first into Second Life exploring the land and meeting people in different areas of the world. After walking around Help Island for a couple days and screaming because I could not figure anything out, I eventually escaped from this evil place. With the help of Kentucky Capalini I found [|University of KY Island], where I looked at the art work and played on the computers. Last night our group met up in one the rooms outside of the library and we made conversation about neat places. I received a new pair of clothes from Capalini. I managed to find Freebie Warehouse on my own and I picked up some items such as lamps etc. I learned to send invites to other friends that I had made. I am starting to realize that the concept of networking is a key element to wanting to be successful. Similar to the capitalist view I believe, networking or trading is not intended to be a nice gesture, rather an act that helps to make work easier when a particular goal is being pursued. I will being looking for businesses and other islands that have a poltical party affiliation in the future. But for now all I have to share is a few fun places that I was able to make it to easily.
 * Week 1**

Next, I found [|Mercedes Benz Island]. I heard several classmates talking about how cool of a place it was, so I decided to stop in. I had no idea that I would be able to test drive a new Mercedes. I walked around and learned some history of Mercedes and spoke with a few people that were there sight seeing as well. I learned how to send a teleport invitation to a friend. Below is a picture of the type of Mercedes that I was able to test drive on the track out in the back. The last place worthy of writing about that I visited was the replica NY Yankees Stadium. I found the stadium simply by doing a search for it. Once, I flew around the stadium and looked at the different aspects, I made a couple new friends. I was able to get on a plane and ride in the Co-pilot seat while I was being flown around in style. The hospitality so far has been incredible to me. Thus far, I have not had any run-ins with any “griefers” or other weird people in SL.
 * Mercedes Benz Island**
 * Replica Yankee Stadium**


 * Week 2**

Lessig's Free Culture explains the the problems that occur because of recent technological advancements. These advancements have caused an outpour of problems related to Creation and Copyright laws. After making a new friend that was responsible for helping to build the Obama headquarters, he explained to me different characteristics of SL.

One of the most intriguing characteristics of Second Life is that the residents create most of the content in the world. Residents create what are known as avatars. This is also known as user-generated content.

My friend demonstrated how to build in SL using the 3D modeling tool in SL. This tool enables any person with skills and comprehension to be able to build "virtual objects." Residents can create machines buildings, vehicles, furniture, and even landscape. Residents that have these skills usually decide to sell their creation in order to make money. Only the builder knows the manner in which he created the object. So in a sense, the builder has the blueprints, or in the music world he has the masters contract. Architecture is a primary source of income in SL to stay afloat economically.

When objects are created in actual life and then transferred over to SL, this is known as to rez an object. Linden Labs makes efforts to help protect the exclusive rights of the content creator. A Resident who creates an object and the Resident that owns an object may retain certain rights. This is just like copyright protection in the real world. In SL an bject can be labeled by the creator or builder as "no copy," "no mod," or "no mod." This is to make users alert that no copies can be made of an object, that it can not be given to anyone, and that no changes can be made to work of the creator of the object. This is all discretionary by the creator or owner.

Linden Labs has a copyright notice with every object, which details who created and or designed it. Unless the digital rights to manipulate or transfer an object is in the copyright notice, then the program will not not allow the object to be used in an unapproved way. However, programs like Copybot duplicate items in Second Life without permission being given. Under the DMCA law it is unclear whether this breaks the law because it is user-generated content that is being copied.

User-Generated Content is what it sounds like. What people create such as blogs, and videos, and podcast all fall under what is known as UGC. However, because of technology there is a perception that UGC is free to the public and it can be used in any way without regard because it is not protected. I was told that this is one of the biggest problems with SL now. People make money by means of architecture and there are some out there that are simply copying someone else's hard work and selling it themselves. This is a heinous crime considering that I have met people on SL that make a living on there. One man and his wife build for a living and that is there actual job. This problem should be handled by Linden Labs. Laws preventing unauthorized use of UGC at this point are unavoidable. This would fall under one the central characteristics for UGC known as creative effort. Creative effort should be protected in-world as well as on-line.


 * U.S. Capitol**


 * Memphis Belle Museum**

[|Obama HQ]
 * Barack Obama Headquarters**


 * Democracy Island**

Naomi Klein guides us through her book and shows us how military juntas used their power to control the thoughts of its citizens. They used tactics to such as breaking up public events and group gatherings in the cities prevent strikes and any other organized meetings that could display a negative public opinion towards the junta.

[| Democracy Island] is a virtual world environment in SL that is attempting to get government entities and interest groups on-line in a forum like setting to consult about key issues. Democracy Island is like a town hall on SL where groups can discuss matters online. Democracy Island is set up to bring people, government agencies, and others together and discuss issues in the comfort of their own home without any fear of prejudice because of personal opinions. This would now have been a thought in Argentina during the reign of its its junta officials. These officials did not care whether some of its citizens were dead. They wanted to remove "cancer" from their society to increase the longevity of their reign. Even today some people are unsure about showing up publically to criticize things in society that they do not like. Democracy Island gives people the convenience of being able to be actively involved with members of businesses and government agencies. It also gives interest groups a chance to consult with residents of SL to establish better civic participation in the real world.

It is quite apparent that consumerism has overtaken the hearts and minds of many people on Second Life. This is apparent through the representation of avatars in the virtual world. Linden Labs is company that can be compared to a ponzi scheme. This is something that we discussed at the beginning of the year. This is when money is brought in from the bottom, also known as the people. People are made to believe that the economy is extremely stable and it will be a great investment. However, we saw how the banks collapsed because of the inability to produce the high interest promised to the investors. However, the money brought into SL seems to benefit those few at the top and not the people at the bottom. Linden Labs has taken advantage of people due to their false wants and desires due to consumer capitalism.
 * 3/18/08**

One of the first islands that I visited was Mercedes Benz Island. There a person can test drive cars as well as make purchases for approximately 10 U.S. dollars. It is ridiculous that people actually spend real money and convert it over into Linden Dollars in order to have a car that society views as a huge status symbol. It is unbelievable to think that in a virtual reality world, people will continue to manifest on things that they want in their actual life. So in order to feel this void, people pay to improve the appearances of their avatars. Breast implants, larger butts, skinnier legs, and penis implants are only a few of the various ways a person can improve the appearance of their avatar to fit their wants. Avatars can be seen with yachts, fancy cars, fancy jewelry, and they even can become great dancers by learning or purchasing new moves.

Here is Bootyliciouz Club and Shopping Mall Here is where some of the most flashy, well dressed, and attractive avatars meet. It is not very cheap to buy clothes or accessories from this mall. However, people pay the price to be noticed.

Here is Sexy Island 2 This is an island that is known for sex orgies. Also, operations can be done to improve the size of sexually related organs.

In Fight Club, we see Tyler Durden create Project Mayhem and request that it members perform various tasks. At first, I originally thought Tyler Durden was insane. However, I began to understand exactly what he was trying to accomplish. Spending time on SL has helped me come to a realization that people are indeed bound by the controls of consumerism. Durden simply wanted to use Friedman-like “shock therapy” to free citizens from consumer controls. SL members have often complained about griefers because they create problems and destroy some things on SL. However, I feel that griefers can be viewed in a positive light.. Some of them actually have objectives. Similar to that of Durden, who had his members perform various tasks to destroy the power of the elites and their infrastructure. Some griefers seem to do things as well to free people from the evils that Durden describes as the wealthy who use the public to make themselves richer, by means of advertisements etc. Griefers have destroyed some islands that were very popular. But in my opinion this is not a bad thing.

The pornography industry has grown. In second life avatars are portrayed as what people want to look like or want to be. It is interesting to see how people would like to perceive themselves physically. It is quite uncommon to witness an unattractive or obese avatar in SL. Most women are portrayed as having big chests, skinny legs, small waists, and curvy butt. Some males on sex related islands are portrayed as having large penises. It is evident that the avatars that engage in sexual activity on second life have been affected by this form of pornographic consumerism.


 * Project Entry**

Virtual Child Porn in Second Life Virtual Child Porn has become a serious topic lately with the advancement of technology and recently with the ability to produce virtual, life-like images of minors engaging in sexual activity. One can argue that there is not an actual child that is victimized in the making of the porn, but in which a child is represented as having sex with an adult. After talking with a few avatars on SL, there once was an abundance of avatars that looked liked children and they offered themselves as escorts and sex slaves. Virtual Child Pornography has been banned in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. It has also been banned in the U.S. Ironically, these countries have large amounts of users that engage in explicit SL activities. Ech0 had a conversation with an avatar known as LaBlanc. I learned that SL has been somewhat of a host for virtual child related services including hentai, a form of Japanese animated porn. It is quite disturbing that adults engage in what is known as “age play” and engage in sexual activities with an avatar that appears to be underage. LaBlanc felt strongly that “Virtual child pornography is still child pornography. Even if you don't think it should be illegal that doesn't mean the people who make it and use it are not pedophiles.” I recently visited a girls clothing store and the owner of the mall was what appeared to be a young girl. But it was actually a woman. This was appropriate because a young girl was selling girls clothing to anyone that was there to purchase it. Title 18 of the United States Code Chapter 110, Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children. 18 U.S.C. § 2256 defines "Child pornography" as: "any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where (A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;  (B) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;  (C) such visual depiction has been create, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or  (D) such visual depiction is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner that conveys the impression that the material is or contains

**Door** Age Play
 * Age Play Sex**
 * Girl for Sale**
 * Advertisement for Slave**
 * Auction Block for Sex Slaves**

Age Play Oral Sex

Age Play Sex for Sale Movie Ad (Young Virgin Girls)

Softcore Porn Ad Beastiality