To those who know me well, they’ll know that my avie has gone thru quite a few changes in the last couple of months. The most notable of this is she’s completely neko now. Not just part time, all the time. She’s also sporting a lovely leopard skin.
The reasons for making these changes isn’t really the point of this post. The fact remains that this is who Bailey is. Now last night I was out shopping with a friend. This friend happens to be a child av and that child av is my daughter. The person behind the av is a good friend and I am old enough to be her mother!
The point of all of this was a couple comments directed toward me in IM. I’ve also heard a number of comments from other people about child avs. Course I’ve heard loads of comments about nekos in general, Gor slaves, kid avies, furries etc etc These comments range from the bland to vile things I’d never repeat.
Hearing these comments disappoints me. This is second life, a place where you can be anyone and anything you wish to be. Shouldn’t everyone else be able to do the same? What does it matter to you if I’m out shopping with my daughter? I’m not asking you to recognize her as my daughter, I’m not even asking you to say hello. Ignore us if it makes you feel better. The same would be said for all the others I mentioned above.
If your out shopping and you see a Gor slave kneeling half naked or a furry, or a vampire or any of the others I’ve mentioned above and you don’t like it, ignore it. They aren’t asking for you to interact with them. They are simply there to shop just like you. Don’t stare, don’t grimace and don’t run to AR them. Leave them alone, let them shop in peace. No one is asking you to interact with someone you don’t wish to.
I will say though, it’s still polite to say "I’m sorry" when you body slam someone trying to get in the store.
So yeah, I’m disappointed in some of my fellow residents. Who knew that when we logged in to SL to escape the crap in RL we’d let all that bigotry, hate, and intolerance in.
The next time I’m out shopping with my daughter or son and someone makes a comment, I’m going to ignore them. I’m not going to waste a moment of my time acknowledging them and their small minds.
The next time your out shopping and you see a Gor slave/master think abou this before you comment, would you tell a neko to take off their tail and ears before going shopping? Does the fairy or angel need to take her wings off? Are you going to tell that Vampire , sorry put the teeth away? What about the robot , can’t even imagine what problem anyone would have with a robot.
Stop being judgmental against someone because you neither understand why they do what they do nor approve of it. It’s not up to you to like it, or approve it. They are entitled to live their own second lives as they see fit.
*end rant*
UPDATE: I’ve closed comments on this post and I will no longer allow comments on this blog that do not stay on track with the message delivered in the post.