New Policy Regarding In-World Whores
Linden Lab, today, banned virtual prostitution. According to the post on the company’s blog, the change in policy has been brought about by many complaints about many in-world “whores” not delivering the services that they promise. These “whores” often promise an unusually high rate of satisfaction, while charging a higher than standard amount to their customers. “Johns” are left, high and dry after these dirty sluts TP out - leaving upset “would-be depositors” with nothing to show for their investments.
From their blog post:
“As of January 15, 2008, it will be prohibited to offer sex or any other escort service for a fee (whether in L$ or other currency) from any avatar, such as a stripper or prostitute, located in Second Life, without proof of an applicable medical clearance and real life Pimp Permission Form. We’re implementing this policy after reviewing Resident complaints, sexual activities, and the law, and we’re doing it to protect our Residents and the integrity of our morals.
There is no workable alternative. The so-called escorts are not operated, overseen or insured by Linden Lab (that we know of), nor can we predict which will fail or when. And Linden Lab isn’t, and can’t start acting as, a virtual pimp or prostitution regulator.”
Though the wording of their blog post very closely resembles the same wording used when they decided to ban virtual banks that pay interest on their “game tokens”, the shock and horror of this move will surely be seen as far more widespread that both the gaming ban and banking ban, combined.
Many residents are seeing this move as a much-needed thing that should have been taken care of, long ago. The legality of prostitution exists only in a few areas of the world, and because the SL grid is worldwide, there is no way for Linden Lab to regulate it.
Malignant Narcissist @ January 11, 2008
This was a good one!
hehe
This one had me cracking up.
It’ll come, it’ll come… give it a few more months, and the Great Witchhunt will begin.
Mind you, LL is not doing this on purpose. If we’re able to run part of the grid outside of the US, and without LL’s interference — but having interconnection with the US-based grid — we’d live in a better place.