Friday, June 27, 2008

Going hardgor



Just recently I asked if there was anything particular anyone wanted us to write about and got the request that more about what Gor and Goreans are about would be nice. I’m happy to fulfil that call to duty must admit on the other hand that I know about us much about Gor as I do about Thai semantics. I think, though, that one of the more important things about Goreanism is the slave bit – it has at least been what has interested me most. That and running around shirtless with a sword.

So, if I’m going to discover Gor for this blog I’ll probably have to have a slave. I’ve therefore set up this little application questionnaire for slaves in spe that will hopefully show your aptitude and attitude. Don’t blame me for any mistakes; I have no idea what I’ve written here. (So what’s new)

Slave application form:

Note: If you have troubles filling in the bubbles with those iron cuffs on try „right click / detach“

During a drink serving session how man times are you required to kiss the glass?
( ) 10
( ) Kiss the what?
( ) Kiss the glass? You can kiss everything but the gl in the last sentence!

What would be your first sentence when greeting your master?
( ) „Greetings Master, I am at your command“
( ) „Wassup? Cool broadsword, dude“
( ) „What the hell do you think you’re doing coming in at this hour?“

Upon rezzing at a location what pose/animation would you most likely use?
( ) Nadu or tower
( ) What’s a nadu? What’s a tower. I’d stay standing.
( ) I’ve got this „crotch kick“ I might want to try out on you.

Being collared means...
( ) ...that I have found a Master to follow and obey.
( ) ...I’m logging into SL as a dog?
( ) …I got nabbed by the cops. Happens all the time.

What might a typical description of yours be while doing the nadu?
( ) .../me kneels to the ground before you, her petite body arching and her pert breasts tightening as her head is cast down
( ) .../me is still not sure what a nadu is.
( ) .../me ain’t naduing for anybody, no mater what it might be.

Why do you want to become a kajira?
( ) To submit to the power of another fulfils me.
( ) I’ll answer that one as soon as I find out what a nadu is.
( ) Who ever said I did?

Are you a white silk kajira, that is a glana – or an „opened“ red silk slave?
( ) I have been saving myself for you, Master.
( ) If the opened red silk isn’t to revealing I might go for that.
( ) You really do have no idea what you’re talking about, right? Well, at least we have that in common.

Say in two words or less what you feel about being a krajira.
( ) Yes, Master.
( ) Uh, what?
( ) F**k off!



An ony must (whatever an ony must do)




I had actually been waiting to post this as soon as some new article came out stating that obligatory „in Second Life users can anonymously".... well, do whatever they want.

For example, and this only because I couldn't quickly find a current newspaper article about anonymity in SL, you can go to a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. But that wasn’t what I was getting at. My point is, and yes, I'm slowly arriving there: Why does every one talk about the anonymity of users in SL and never mention that our Avatars are living in a society that would make the TSA clap its (leather clad, iron fisted?) hands in glee? My point - and I'm finally got there – your Avatar is anything but anonym.

If I had been trying to find another reason to write I could of taken this: Matilda, who I've talked to sometimes but never set up as a friend, recently sent me an IM – and maybe because we were not friends and she couldn't know I was online she carefully pointed out „I hope you don't think I'm stalking you, but I've got a question you might be able to answer." (And no, the question was not „Why don't you return my calls, you bastard! Who do you think you are? And who was that floozy I saw you at Sax?".)

Actually, I've forgotten what she did want to ask me, but it certainly wasn't that nor did I feel stalked. But, if Matilda had wanted to (and I emphasize that she didn't!) it would have been easy enough. Why? Because, to make my point again, our avatars can be hidden about as well as Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Meaning: Not at all. Or, said a bit differently: You can teleport, but you can’t hide.


Take Profiles, for example. Love 'em, read 'em, use 'em every day But they do say more about you then you might appreciate. I once met a Spanish girl who had something along the lines of "Hot Free Sex "-Sim in her profile that I, as best I could, casually asked about.

"What!!!" She shrieked - making me feel like the pervert for asking. I politely pointed out that she had but one item in her picks and that was the aforementioned place of enthusiastic exploration of others.

"What!!!" (I got again) and then a "Let me check! 1 sec". I received a long explanation that sounded vaguely familiar to "this isn't what it looks like, dear, let me explain." She adamantly argued that she hadn't put it there and I said things like, "Yes, I would have been surprised" while I thought things like, "Yeah, sure."

I'm less tough on Group Memberships though, as offers to join occasionally pop up as soon as you enter a sim and are quickly accepeted. And maybe wandering around with "Pussycat Devoted" (or something like that) in my own profile has made me less willing to criticize that oversight.

But take Groups, for example. Trying to hide from some one? Made it so a friend (lover, enthusiastic acquaintance, stalker) cannot see your online status? He, she or it can. All he needs to do is be in the same group as you and most groups – especially stores and clubs– are set up to show just how many happy members said group has. It'll also show you who is online or when they last logged in, though only the date.

Told your girlfriend that you're not going to be on tonight and then sneaking in? She just has to check one of your groups. If she's not a member she can usually quickly join – and then even leave again afterwards. That's called covering your tracks (which is what you failed to do, bubba).

Or take Creations. Anything you build or create in SL will hold, until eternity (well, until it's deleted), you name on it. This isn't a bad thing, and probably pretty useful for actual builders. Like that dance ball you've been using? Right click, more, information and you've got the name of the creator – and can usually go from there to their profile and on to their store. But lot's of other stuff gets tagged as well. Notecards, landmarks, pictures. It's sort of like signing any porn mag you've ever bought and then giving them away to charity. (Okay, an unlikely situation, but it’s a bit like that.)

Used to dabble in making male appendages before moving on to more exciting ..ehm… less exciting builds like chairs? Those dangly bits might still be around (and explain why you keep getting the IMs "Hey, can I get this in a lighter shade and, like, quick?") It's all there and it's all got your name on it.

And this is just the normal stuff, that probably has you yawning already. SL, of course, offers loads of little tools for the more inquisitive, stalking nature as I found out while researching this. Sim scans which tell you who’s in your vicinity. Chat spys that you can latch on to someone and at least hear what they are saying even after you've left the sim (happy, as far as I know, only open chat and only restricted to that sim). Avatar online probes which will report the online status of anybody, friend or foe. And then, because anything that can be sold in SL will be, detective services that will snoop anybody you ask them too (and I’m suspecting also provide loyalty checks on your new partner).

Friday, June 6, 2008

No news is.... well no news


A few people have mentioned that I haven't posted anything here for a while and complained. I'd like to reply to that. The problem is, I say, "I can seem to find anything clever to say at the moment." And usually I then hear: "Oh, that hasn't stopped you from publishing earlier posts."

Anyway. I'd like to promise that Notes From SL is still very much alive and what looks like rigor mortis is actually just a state of deep thought. I have a number of topics rattling around my head to write about. Some good, some bad, some bland, some sort of like those littles stones or maybe they're beans put in Mexican gourds and just rattling for their own sake.

So, instead of deciding to write the one thing or the other, I've decided to put a few ideas up to vote. I mention the topic and you say things like "No". Or "Ehm.. NOT!" Or maybe even "I'm off to read that blog about frog mating again, sorry."

Anyway. Here goes, my ideas to blog about:
1) Dance Balls: Is being out of sync bad style?
2) Anonymous: Why your Ave is not as hidden as you think
3) Show Transperancy: Why didn't Linden Labs name it "Reveal Pervert?"
4) Hot Sax: The best Club in SL ever. A place every one should visit and support. The easiest ways to give tips, how to invite your friends, how to pass LMs of Sax to other people.
5) Unsolicited plugs: Notes From SL in pay of certain Jazz Clubs?
6) Ruth-Less: And why you are, deep down in your SL soul a woman (Ruth) and don't know it
7) That's so Gor'ing: Why running around with a sword (and a slave) gets tedious after a while.
8) Note from SL predicts the election: Because.. well like.. Obama's gonna win (you heard it here first).
9) Places not to go to in SL: Because I'll have to go back there, though I don't want to and LM them and then you'll go there although I warned you not to.
10) Ten reasons why you should visit Hot Sax regularly.

Sooooooo.... feel free to add your comments, or add other ideas of what we here at Notes From SL could write about