About Subcultures of SL-Becca Drascol Reporting...

There are so many cultures in Second Life. Like so many virtual worlds, the power to create is a strong part of the mix. It includes not only creating your avatar into something fantasy based, but also RP (role play) for most situations.  But why exactly do subcultures exist?  Is it the ability to be something we cannot in RL? Perhaps it’s for the creation of it all.  Or even to relive something via your avatar, which could be the case in becoming a child avatar or parent. 

Being a vampire in SL myself, I can honestly say it’s to be something that I have always loved the lore of. Stories, movies and characters with abilities we do not have in RL...immortality.  Bloodlines is one of the top subcultures in Second life. The Bloodlines web page shows us that approximately 133 thousand players are registered within this role play system. For most involved in Bloodlines it’s about family as well. The freedom to create a Vampire Clan, Lycan Horde, or Human Guild, allows players to recruit friends and have different social events within that group.

Mermaids...what lovely half human and half fish beings they are.  Who wouldn't want to immerse themselves into the fairytale of being such a mystical creature? And moreover a creature with the talent to live in the water or on land and yet be tied to a need for water leaves vulnerability.

Furries come in many a form.  Again another large subculture of SL. Simply put animal characters with human personalities.  Many a club and hangout is devoted to furries of SL. Some exclusive, others welcome any and all avies. 

Fairies beautiful sometimes winged but usually human in appearance have been in many a folktale and mythology. I personally have always loved fairies.  For me the draw to them was how they dress, their wings and just the pure almost innocent look of a fairy.

Tinies...well who can resist cuteness? Am I right? One avatar all rolled up into a very small package. Special made avies with the intent of being the smallest avatars around. One would assume the allure to being a tiny is the size and cuteness.

Finally Child Avies...love em or hate em they too are an intrigal part of our SL world.  Some relive the nostalgia of childhood via their child avie, while some others also choose to be a child vampire forever immortalized as a young soul, unable to die but forever within the innocent naivety that is childhood. Cute clothes and a pint sized you...the allure that is the beauty of all sweet and pure.  While moderate and adult sims have to have different rules per TOS on child avies there are many a child avatar and many places where it is more than acceptable to be a lil one.  Some also with the popularity of SL pregnancy have chosen to be the "child" of others within SL.  Another outlet to gain the bonds and closeness of family through role play.

Existence:

But the question here is why do these subcultures exist?  What draws people to them and why do they have such a following?  Thus far you have read my idea on why they're here within SL. And now I'll ask one person of each subculture why that subculture exists to them.

We'll start with Bloodlines which covers Vampires/Lycan/Human cultures all into one:

Becca Drascol: Why do you think the Bloodlines subculture exists in SL?

Noir8Sagato Resident: First time for rp but now it is for the creator a money maker.

Becca Drascol: Why does bloodlines exist for you personally?

Noir8Sagato Resident: Family and role-play.

Furries:

Becca Drascol: Why does the furry subculture exist in SL (in your opinion?)

ZeBooty Resident: Well Furries have always existed. And SL allows people to play as their

sonas fairly easily.

Becca Drascol: And why does it exist for you personally? Anything that makes it special for you?

ZeBooty Resident: Why it exists... That's hard to say. And I don't really know how to answer that.

For Mermaids, Fairies, and Tinies I got the opinion of an SL resident who has been a lil bit of everything:

Becca Drascol: Why does the mermaid culture exist in SL?

 Aurora Yardley: Mers...are for me truly free. They live in communities or solitary the groups that gather are like everyone else in SL. They have homes ...dance clubs (the dances are in 3 dimensions) and graceful.

Becca Drascol: Why do you feel the Fairy subculture exists?

Aurora Yardley: Ok ...there is a common link to fantasy creatures Mers...Fae. Petites and tinies ...they all are personal expressions of one's inner self and like human groups they like to gather and share ideas avie adaption tips.  An endless list they are open to each other and to the human public.

Aurora Yardley: The sims they all gather in generally are tailored to their needs. Mermaids and mermen go where there is water anywhere and mix with the normal humans over the entire scope of SL... Fairy folk  mix in well with fantasy sims  very well, they can be very cute, or devilishly naughty playing pranks. Again like with  any living thing they are unique and no two are alike.

Becca Drascol: Oh I'm sure there is a lot of creativity to each and for each person.

Aurora Yardley: For each genre it is an endless scope of variation. I collect skins and adapt them to roles I take on.

Finally we come to child avies:

Becca Drascol: Why does the child av subculture exist in SL?

BabyGirlVivi Resident: It is a way of life in which they choose to relive something they didn't get to live in real life, sometimes reliving what they couldn't in real life gives them closure and helps them battle through things easier in life reliving it in SL by being more of what they would've liked to live out more like than they may have RL.

Becca Drascol: Some people choose to adopt the role of being another avatars child in SL. Is this something you would do or have done?

BabyGirlVivi Resident: Yes I would love to do that. I have longed to find a family that would love to take in an avatar like mine. It isn't easy to come by, some may freak about it others really enjoy seeing avatars like myself. Another avatar that enjoys a child avatar understands the reasoning for us the way we are and are a great help to us if they take us in. The connection of being another avatar's child in SL is again reliving what we maybe didn't get to in RL, finally with another avatar's help we can feel at home, loved, cared about, and nourished with open arms and heart of the chosen avatar that wants the role of a child avatar in their SL lives. And at same time we can make fantasy for those that choose to do so, that they struggle to have RL.

To Sum it up:

Rather for fantasy or creativity we create the avatar we feel comfortable in and then we seek a place to belong and we find that place among some form of SL subculture. Be you Vamp, Lycan, Human, Furry, Mermaid, Tiny or Fairy, we all have found our place for our own reasons and our own escape into the world which we call our second lives.

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Total Anarchy Across Second Life-Orchids Zenovka Reporting...

The word "Anarchy" comes from the ancient Greek anarchia, meaning "absence of a leader", "without rulers". There is anarchy now in second life and it comes in the form of  Total Anarchy with its *disclaimer*. 

“Total Anarchy is not your mamma's discount room.  We here @ Total Anarchy can-not wait to create chaos across SL.  Total Anarchy is a discount room you've never seen before.  It is DEFINITELY not for the weak @ heart.  If you tend to get butt hurt this isn't for you.  We are direct, truthful and completely non-politically correct.   You have been WARNED!  We will be bringing you the darker side of SL.  Things for: Goth, Cyberpunk, Tank Girl, Comic, Punk, Werewolf, Vampire, Alternative, Metal, Rockstar, & Biker. Anything chaotic.”

The creations promise to be interesting and are a brainchild of a mix of Julya Lykin, who is the outgoing “tomboy, sexpot with a dash of gothic” and Pixy Snook who is the 'bubble Goth cosmo freak'. It is rare to find a combination like that so varied and yet “twin –like” as Julya says so herself. The website is worth checking out and created with a lot of innovative thought and dark humor. I had a chance to find out more before it opens including the Flickr contest and take a sneak-peek at the discount room with a difference. Take it with a pinch of humour and unleash your rebelliously humourous side because that’s what it takes to fit into “total anarchy”.

Come to the dark side. We have cookies …..

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The Red Light Districts of Second Life-Sex in the Virtual World –Nomad Aries Reporting…

Often in Second Life©  when people enter the virtual world, they meet people, connect with them in a relationship of some sort and want to express their emotions and feelings towards their significant other in some way.  Being a visual media, this would involve avies being able to virtually engage in sexual behavior with each other. For their own personal reasons, some people do not wish to enter into a relationship although they seek to act out their sexual preferences in a relatively safe environment where the risks involved are much lower than in the real world. Sex in Second Life is viewed by most of us as the ultimate standard of safe sex.

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Going Furry in Second Life – Stareyes Galaxy Reporting

Among human avatars in Second Life ©, there roam creatures that have a varying degree of features that refer to other, usually mammalian species. 

These range from some having “neko” ears and tails to those decked to full “furry” animal avatars. Whereas these creatures express a great amount of creativity in their appearance and demeanor, they are quite often shunned in clubs and entertainment venues. What is so offensive and deprecating in furries that makes sim owners ban them? What is it that makes furries tick? Stareyes Galaxy donned her cow fursona and went out to find out more about the furry lifestyle.

Despite having had my cow avatar for several years, I had not really been privy to the lifestyle of furries, and often was wondering why on earth one would want to go traipsing about the meadows of SL as a plump but admittedly very sexy bovine character. I contacted the “Furry Dating” group, with over 700 members, to get the first leads. After having been solicited to “yiff” a few times, I was eventually directed to the USF sim (United Space Force Nation) where I found Kiara and Charlie to set me right. USF is one of the largest furry communities in Second Life, and they host an annual AGRA (Anti-Gravity Racing Association) race as well as other competitions.

Interview with Furries

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Interview with a Vampire – Stareyes Galaxy Reporting from The Castle of Eternal Solstice

The Vampire and Lycan role play platform Bloodlines © has generated a thirst as well as rage among residents since its inception in 2008. The allure to become a vampire clan member and to advance in the ranks of the game system has led to thirst of many vampires to feed on unsuspecting newbies, and consequently, generated rage in well-informed residents against their sometimes unscrupulous hunting practices. Among other deprecating things, Bloodlines has also been called an outright Ponzi scheme, which has added to the resentment toward Bloodlines among avatars at large. What is the reality today in the vampire circles? Stareyes Galaxy had the privilege to visit a castle and interview a Clan Queen.

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It’s Four-Twenty! What’s the Meaning Behind This Term? – Lanai Jarrico reporting…

Let me enlighten you with a little bit of  random history on this term. The Cannabis subculture refers to this time and date as a code number referring to the consumption of Marijuana. It’s earliest reference began by a group of California teenagers that called themselves the Waldos, in the early 1970’s.  These teenagers would meet up outside of the San Rafael High School, near a statue of Louis Pastuer where they made plans to search for an abandoned cannabis crop they had heard about. They never found the crops but the 420 term stuck and continues today for pot smokers as a countercultural holiday in North America.  Many have observed this day throughout the years by meeting up in public places like San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the University of Colorado’s campus and even crossed over into Canada where it has been observed at Vancouver Art Gallery and Parliament Hill. Events have also taken place in New Zealand at the University of Otago. It is an ongoing debate for states where Marijuana is illegal. In recent years legalization of Marijuana across the U.S has been a hot topic. Some are fighting for their right to smoke, while others see bigger reasons to legalize.

So why have people continued to celebrate marijuana if it is illegal in most states?

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Spotlight on Bound to Excite; D/S Lifestyle Themed Sim - Vapor Paragorn Reporting...

Bound to Excite is a D/S lifestyle themed sim  and it's an exciting blend of many ventures.

Unlike many D/s themed sims , focus here is not only on lifestyle but whole sim offers variety of activities for its visitors. Bound to Excite is a home of bound melodies, jungle pleasure, topaz, eyes wide shut and Naturally bound, a beautiful surf beach. In village area here designed with Victorian styled buildings, you can shop for bdsm and D/s related photographic art. Entire sim offers many fun activities to get yourself indulged in. You can Surf at beach , Listen to live music at bound melodies, have an erotic jungle experience at jungle pleasure and can be a part of secret sex society called eyes wide shut.

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Furry Friendly? CeciliaRosalie Reporting...

  It is such a different and rare topic. Isn't it? Let's get into role-playing (RP for short).

Role-play refers to acting out in a particular character, using the words and customs of that character, become a mimic. Interesting eh? Keep in mind that actions which are OOC (Out of character) MUST BE noted in some way, or not used in this mode of communication this the basic rule. 

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Sian Pearl: Extension of The Artist- Definate Balfour Reporting...

With the uniqueness of SL we can find ourselves coming across all sorts of people, personalities, and creatures. I found myself in this type of situation when I met a beautifully minded artist and blogger named Sian Pearl, as I got to know her I learned she had a lot more of herself to share. Her talented skills she’s used to run her own shop and provide others services within world.

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Hodgepodge - The Furry Community’s Hidden Secret- Definate Balfour Reporting...

I wanted to cover a hidden gem in the furry community and someone I know really well, Englienwidow Resident the owner Hodgepodge, once she agreed to the interview I was so excited.

Hodgepodge is formerly known as The Sleepy Meeroo, originally named after Englien’s first Meeroo, but then was renamed when she decided to change the name to fit the theme of the store more¸ it’s a great collection of modifications for the furry community and avatar collector. The following is the interview done with Ms. Englien on her, her company, and her inspirations.

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It’s Time To Blow The Whistle On A Disgraceful Sub-culture in Second Life – Lanai Jarrico Reporting…

Second Life is a virtual world where anything is possible. Thousands of people from around the world flock to Second Life every day to engage in role play, business, education, global communication, self promotion, creativity and leisure exploration. Others unfortunately are misguided by dark pleasures and hidden agendas. They are the ones holding Second Life back from being taken seriously. Many real world organizations have pulled out of Second Life due to the shenanigans and distasteful activity that can be easily accessed. So easily, even young children can be potentially exposed to it.

 Where do we draw the line?  Do we turn the other way and keep it movin’ or do we speak up to make SL a better place?

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Interview With a Vampire - Evelyn Rieko Reporting...

I was dancing in a ballroom with my friend Windwalker discussing the upcoming Halloween Holiday. I mentioned to him that I wanted to interview a vampire for the Second Life Enquirer. He told me he was a friend to a vampire clan and they were having a dance party that night. Of course we went...

The party was in the main hall of the clan's castle. Windwalker introduced me to the clan members and to the handsome King Of the Bella Morte Clan, King Jisper. I watched him, with his thick flowing dark hair and piercing blue eyes filled with intelligence and charm, being the perfect host.

I asked him for an interview and King Jisper agreed.

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RP Culture: Fantasy Avatars- Pandora Drezelan Reporting..

Avatar

Fantasy takes on many forms, it is a genre of fiction that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena, many mythical creatures can be found in the world of fantasy, with all it’s folklore and mystery.

Almost, if not all fantasies in real life can be relived in Second Life, some residents explore the aspects of fantasy occasionally, while others form communities and live the lifestyle to it’s fullest potential, through cos-play and role-play.

COS-PLAY

Cos-play (short for costume play) is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Favorite sources include manga and anime, comic books, video games and films.

ROLE-PLAY

Role-playing refers to the changing of one's behavior to assume a role either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role, role-playing is defined as "the changing of one's behavior to fulfill a social role.

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Mermaids In Second Life -- Pandora Drezelan Reporting

One of the beauties of Second Life is that you can be whoever or whatever you choose to be, the styles of avatars are almost unimaginable and the list is endless from human, vampire, demon, etc.--the choice is yours.

And then there are mermaids, an amazing aquatic and mythological species with a human form and the tail of a fish, truly graceful and amazing. "Mermaid" is a mixture of two words, mer the French word for "sea", and maid, being a young woman.





Me as Mermaid

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