Have you ever wondered what possesses anyone to be so absorbed in someone else that they have to stalk them in a virtual world? From the day I started Second Life I have heard stories after stories of men and women in SL that are stalked. I’m not talking about profile humping, I’m talking about creating alts, following you around to the places they know you frequent, finding out where you live, watching said place, and trying to find out who you are spending time with. Usually this goes on after said stalker has decided that you are not worth their time and don’t want anything to do you with you or Second Life because their RL is so great. So if your real life is so great why bother worrying about what is going on in Second Life?
Now don’t get me wrong, we have all had our hearts broken on some level by the love of our lives in Sl or been hurt by someone. Much like real life it happens and maybe it happens more frequently in a virtual world where you can be and do anything you want. But does that give anyone the right to harass and stalk the one you can’t have? I’m all about profile humping; I love to see what people are up to and what they do. Sometimes I profile hump those that are no longer in my SL but I do it with caution. I don’t do it to harass said person, I’m just curious as to what is going on with them. For the most part I’m happy when those no longer in my life are happy. But I guess maybe I’m one of the few that feel that way.
As we all know when you go looking for something you’re bound to find something you don’t like and most of us deal with it and move on. Others send out their Calvary to stalk, harass and find out exactly what you’re doing, who you’re doing it with and create an alt for the sole purpose of sending off lines to people. There is a reason why people aren’t in our lives anymore, some of that is of our own doing (and yes I’m the first to admit to some of the wrong I have committed), sometimes it’s just people growing apart and sometimes the other person is totally at fault. But there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed much like in RL. In RL it’s against the law to stalk and harass someone, you can be sued, arrested and actually do time for stuff like that. Those rules don’t change when in a virtual world. Amazing how people decide that they can do it virtually and its okay.
What does stalking, harassing and just being plain ignorant accomplish? It may annoy us for the moment when we find out what’s going on, it takes a little time out of our time in SL in order to copy and paste your offline to report your ass to linden and maybe a few more minutes to pass it along to friends and family to have your ass banned from anything we can get you banned from. Although that part is kind of fun. Sometimes, we even waste our breaths responding to you and telling you what an Asshat you are for even taking the time to create an alt, finding our names in search and typing your opinion. Reality of it is, your RL apparently is not all that and neither is your SL if you have to entertain yourself with being just that…and ASSHAT!!!
After almost 4 years of being a member of the Second Life Community I have had some fabulous ups and some serious downs but there is one thing I know for certain, I love my RL and nothing is that important that I have to stalk anyone in SL or RL for that matter. There are many people in SL that I love and adore. They are my friends in SL and RL, many I have met in person and some I haven’t. I have had heart breaks, arguments and made some bad judgment calls that caused others hurt and pain. But no one has the right to infringe on others lives; no one has the right to stalk someone’s home, their partners or their families. Fact is, if you can’t handle all that comes with a virtual world then you should delete the program and forget you ever knew about SL.
A little lesson on the TOS – Community Standards of SL. We should all take a bit of time to read it.
All Second Life Community Standards apply to all areas of Second Life, the Second Life Forums, and the Second Life Website.
1. Intolerance
Combating intolerance is a cornerstone of Second Life's Community Standards. Actions that marginalize, belittle, or defame individuals or groups inhibit the satisfying exchange of ideas and diminish the Second Life community as a whole. The use of derogatory or demeaning language or images in reference to another Resident's race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation is never allowed in Second Life.
2. Harassment
Given the myriad capabilities of Second Life, harassment can take many forms. Communicating or behaving in a manner which is offensively coarse, intimidating or threatening, constitutes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, or is otherwise likely to cause annoyance or alarm is Harassment.
3. Disclosure
Residents are entitled to a reasonable level of privacy with regard to their Second Life experience. Sharing personal information about a fellow Resident --including gender, religion, age, marital status, race, sexual preference, and real-world location beyond what is provided by the Resident in the First Life page of their Resident profile is a violation of that Resident's privacy. Remotely monitoring conversations, posting conversation logs, or sharing conversation logs without consent are all prohibited in Second Life and on the Second Life Forums.
Alternate Accounts
While Residents may choose to play Second Life with more than one account, specifically or consistently using an alternate account to harass other Residents or violate the Community Standards is not acceptable. Alternate accounts are generally treated as separate from a Resident's principal account, but misuse of alternate accounts can and will result in disciplinary action on the principal account.
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