Comments on: The Age of Virtual Consent http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:10:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-10766 Bonnie Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:20:53 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-10766 <b>Perhaps because if someone's digital avatar dies, they can be brought back to life ( no harm, no foul), but how do you un-rape someone?</b> That's a good point, but remember, even this virtual rape is in a way consentual. When you sign up for <i>Sociolotron</i>, unless you really haven't done your homework, you know what you're getting into, and even if rape isn't what you "want," it must be, indirectly at least, otherwise you'd be off playing <i>Second Life</i>, where the worst that can happen is a little unvited Xcite! groping. Perhaps because if someone's digital avatar dies, they can be brought back to life ( no harm, no foul), but how do you un-rape someone?
That’s a good point, but remember, even this virtual rape is in a way consentual. When you sign up for Sociolotron, unless you really haven’t done your homework, you know what you’re getting into, and even if rape isn’t what you “want,” it must be, indirectly at least, otherwise you’d be off playing Second Life, where the worst that can happen is a little unvited Xcite! groping.

]]> By: Eric from Minneapolis http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-10703 Eric from Minneapolis Thu, 06 Jul 2006 16:52:43 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-10703 The only way to enforce such a thing is to more closely tie the digital persona to the actual reality of the person (removing the ability to hide, but limiting other freedoms as well). I would like to note that although you point out that cyber rape is possible, in Sociotron, its a part of the game. I feel the odd one out on this issue, but I find that more disturbing than the idea of people killing each other virtually (fps and avatars). Perhaps because if someone's digital avatar dies, they can be brought back to life ( no harm, no foul), but how do you un-rape someone? The only way to enforce such a thing is to more closely tie the digital persona to the actual reality of the person (removing the ability to hide, but limiting other freedoms as well).

I would like to note that although you point out that cyber rape is possible, in Sociotron, its a part of the game. I feel the odd one out on this issue, but I find that more disturbing than the idea of people killing each other virtually (fps and avatars).

Perhaps because if someone’s digital avatar dies, they can be brought back to life ( no harm, no foul), but how do you un-rape someone?

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9389 Bonnie Tue, 27 Jun 2006 23:39:35 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9389 <b>how on Earth would you police the cybersex dens of iniquity?</b> That's my point. And I'm glad no one seems to be up to it yet, I do wonder what it would be like... how on Earth would you police the cybersex dens of iniquity?
That’s my point. And I’m glad no one seems to be up to it yet, I do wonder what it would be like…

]]> By: FerrousBuller http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9351 FerrousBuller Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:59:45 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9351 It's hard enough enforcing, say, statutory rape laws in cases involving willing minors; how on Earth would you police the cybersex dens of iniquity? "Pray nothing bad ever happens" doesn't exactly work as a social policy... It’s hard enough enforcing, say, statutory rape laws in cases involving willing minors; how on Earth would you police the cybersex dens of iniquity? “Pray nothing bad ever happens” doesn’t exactly work as a social policy…

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9277 Bonnie Tue, 27 Jun 2006 01:37:06 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9277 <b>I'm ambivalent as to how such ratings should be enforced in a virtual age.</b> And how they ever can be enforced... I'm ambivalent as to how such ratings should be enforced in a virtual age.
And how they ever can be enforced…

]]> By: FerrousBuller http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9223 FerrousBuller Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:32:07 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2006/06/25/the-age-of-virtual-consent/#comment-9223 "Is cybersex really sex?" As with most things in life, it depends on your definitions. If you define sex as "physical intercourse," then no, it obviously isn't. But by that definition, a lot of things don't count as sex. OTOH, if you include things like porn and masturbation and flirting under the general banner of sex - or "sex-related activities," if you prefer to make a distinction - then I think cybersex has a seat at the table too. Or to put it more generally: do you define sex in terms of the mind or the body? Because if you define it in terms of the body, then cybersex isn't sex and therefore shouldn't be regulated or restricted, or at least not on the grounds that it's sex. OTOH, if you define sex in terms of the mind and the ways in which our brains respond to sexual stimuli, then cybersex counts and there are the same grounds for regulating it as, say, porn, IMHO. My view is that cybersex is "close enough" to "real" sex that it not be rated E for Everyone. That said, however, it <i>isn't</i> "real" sex, either, so treating it as one and the same is silly. As with ESRB ratings, however, I'm ambivalent as to how such ratings should be enforced in a virtual age. “Is cybersex really sex?”

As with most things in life, it depends on your definitions. If you define sex as “physical intercourse,” then no, it obviously isn’t. But by that definition, a lot of things don’t count as sex. OTOH, if you include things like porn and masturbation and flirting under the general banner of sex - or “sex-related activities,” if you prefer to make a distinction - then I think cybersex has a seat at the table too.

Or to put it more generally: do you define sex in terms of the mind or the body?

Because if you define it in terms of the body, then cybersex isn’t sex and therefore shouldn’t be regulated or restricted, or at least not on the grounds that it’s sex. OTOH, if you define sex in terms of the mind and the ways in which our brains respond to sexual stimuli, then cybersex counts and there are the same grounds for regulating it as, say, porn, IMHO.

My view is that cybersex is “close enough” to “real” sex that it not be rated E for Everyone. That said, however, it isn’t “real” sex, either, so treating it as one and the same is silly. As with ESRB ratings, however, I’m ambivalent as to how such ratings should be enforced in a virtual age.

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