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Fox News on Edwards in SL

March 3rd, 2007 (Visited 3362 times) Tags:

It wasn’t all that long ago that we saw the John Edwards campaign location in Second Life vandalized. As if virtual feces on his campaign poster weren’t bad enough for the candidate, now we see Fox News videobloggers showcasing the seamier side of SL such as rape fantasies and ageplay, and asking whether Edwards’ campaign is going to take a stand within SL against this sort of behavior.

The tone of the piece is interesting in terms of how it references SL itself — as a place, really. It seems to at least get the distinction between being judgmental of Second Life, and judgmental of its users.

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csven said on March 3rd, 2007 at 4:46 pm:
I noticed that as well. And in sensibility it dovetails with something else I noticed. Did you catch the piece on Valleywag about going “sex shopping”? And did you notice the embarrassment the unidentified(!?!) author felt while anonymously hunting for items? It got some laughs.
I was so alarmed by this sudden attention that I panicked and tried to fly away. Instead I hit my head on the ceiling and lingered there a moment before awkwardly aero-stumbling through the top of the doorway. After checking to make sure I wasn’t being pursued, I hid in a tree.
Funny, sure. And who knows how serious the author was here. But similar to what you’re pointing out above in that SL is seemingly being regarded as a “place”, there’s a visceral quality to the experience in that place that’s tough to ignore. Having been to those kinds of shops in SL, I can relate: it’s awkward.
And this all gets to your earlier point (and mine) that the graphics are good enough to do the job. They may not be a nice as people (especially hardcore gamers) want, but then again, the imagination is a powerful thing. If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be a phone sex industry.
Adele said on March 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pm:
There is a very fine line between imagination and reality, and it seems the line is even thinner in second life. I do find the “hiding in a tree” pretty amusing!
Morgan Ramsay said on March 4th, 2007 at 8:43 am:
There is a very fine line between imagination and reality …
Reality is derived from imagination. Or is it the other way around?
Mikyo said on March 4th, 2007 at 11:27 pm:
FOX news? Ohmyfrakingods, someone still reads FOX news!
What a nincompop, what a maroon. Dethpicable!
Allen Sligar said on March 5th, 2007 at 12:27 am:
VW writes a slam piece on SL like 3 times a week. Of course they write a slam piece on a lot of things weekly. For some reason they have a hang up about SL being VC funded.
Anyhow I expect this isnt the last Fox piece on SL. Most people wont be making a distinction between SL and a game and when it comes down to “that SL game has XXX content” it’s not going to be pretty. I really wish they’d have cleaned it up a bit months ago….
The stuff in SL and Politics dont mix well, and I seriously doubt Edwards was aware of it prior to setting up shop, having worked as a staffer I can assure you the first order of business is always positioning and avoiding negative associations.
Trucegore said on March 5th, 2007 at 6:51 am:
Knew this was going to happen, SL “red light” activities will always be a anti-main stream gate.
Evangolis said on March 5th, 2007 at 7:14 am:
I don’t think it was Edward’s campaign that set up the location, rather it was someone external to the campaign. I believe the original interview said something like ‘they are aware we exist’. Really, I would think that anyone could set up a SL location for any candidate, I don’t see how they could be prevented, legally, so long as they didn’t solicit or accept funds, or actively defame anybody.
Derek Licciardi said on March 5th, 2007 at 8:05 am:
The piece was well done. Suprisingly unbiased and unjudging of John Edwards. I expected something much more sensationalistic and left with just the facts. Sex exists in SL. John Edwards’ campaign exists in SL. Some of the sex shops are what many people would deem unacceptable.(rape, child porn…) Terrorist groups are in SL or at least terrorist sympathizers. John Edwards’ campaign is in SL. There’s no problem with him being there except what’s he going to do about the seedier side of SL and the negative association it can have on his campaign.
Of all the things I saw in that piece, the Edwards camp not having someone logged on 24×7 to greet potential voters was the one issue that jumped out at me. It’s the one issue he has real control over whereas the sex and terrorism groups are going to be there no matter how loud he screams. Interesting piece mainly because it didn’t condemn the users of SL like is so common in media.
Raph said on March 5th, 2007 at 9:04 am:
FOX news? Ohmyfrakingods, someone still reads FOX news!
Heh, I don’t read Fox News. Or watch it, either. I was pointed to the video from somewhere else… don’t recall where now.
csven said on March 5th, 2007 at 9:07 am:
I think the race may be on to create avatars of opponents and put them in compromising positions…

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