Seeking Pleasure in a Virtual World: Revisited

“Whatever our values, we carry them with us into this place, and they are tested against a new set of possibilities and constraints.”

At first glance, from very early on in our marathon 2+ hour discussion, it seems that we have established that we are indeed moral beings. Oddly enough, a topic that has been bouncing around my circle of friends and acquaintances in both worlds, to one degree or another, and unbidden across varying circumstances. Even the populist media seems regularly to ponder this most existential of questions, with noticeable recent headlines about the sentience of viruses alongside the incessant opining of how war is probably wrong. Here we are at a stage of human evolution which affords us perhaps the time and certainly the energy to find ever more clever apparatuses to conduct our ongoing experiment of self-awareness, and yet one can’t help but feel that there’s a ruling minority of folks out there that don’t read writing left so rudely on the wall(s).

“Perhaps pixels are not as intimate or sacred as flesh?”

This is perhaps the heart of the matter, if not the matter of the heart. We all however agree that the level of personal emotional investment in SL can vary wildly, and reflects proportionately what one takes away from the experience. And that hearts break just as easily in-world as out.

“And those are mainly the creators and the people that get deeper meaning here.”

The old computer maxim still holds true: garbage in=garbage out, good stuff in=good stuff out. Turing would be proud.

“How many of us have noticed our analog avatar taking on traits from our digital lives? I know I have.”

“And in RL, I sometimes think of how [my avatar] would react to a situation. Because we are two different people.”

Aside from the humor value of trying to right-click someone to check their profile while you’re at the drugstore buying cat food, it seems that one can’t help but identify and at least at some levels acknowledge a rather surprising degree of cognizance of the multifarious aspects of our consciousness, vis-à-vis (pun intended) our personality development in SL. Being a vague Freudian myself (please forward all hate mail to my junior Literary Forensics professor), I see this as akin to giving our id and superego a doughy little homunculus to conduct a passion play on stage as large as the entire planet. But I’ve always been a romantic that way.

“And really, I see escorting as a form of therapay [sic] for the masses.”

“Well the fact is, sex is part of what keeps me here; engaging in it or not, it is in the digital air.”

Ah, the transactional romance culture; as unlike as Edwardian and Victorian, in ways, yet as constant as time itself. The world’s oldest profession may have been trumped by scripting (though I doubt it; I don’t doubt the first script was created to be placed in a pose ball), but it remains firmly ensconced in the human condition. It is something that we need, and it is in our nature to seek it, even revel in it—by rights and good sense we should revel in it, for it is an integral aspect of our own divinity, this power of creation and connection. We are troubled gods, indeed, but constant seekers, and SL is a wonderful garden to sow.

“But I’ve sought out people who prefer reading an erotic novel written for them only, on the spur of the moment.”

“To keep it here, to play the sexual and the sensual out as the experiences of our avatars, to respect their ownership of that experience, is the crux of what drew me to this talk. The development of that as an art form.”

After we ponder the wonders of creation, the revolutions of the planets, we try to express that to our companions, and thus Art is born. From cave painting to pixels, it is the engagement of the sense that we all seek, of knowing that we indeed have a higher consciousness without and within, and that it watches us, most amused by our every exploit.

I would like to thank all those that attended; it was a grand feast of which only a few morsels are presented here for your reflection. It was a wonderfully paced exchange of ideas; the conversation flowed like the wine of Khayam. Please note that the editorial content is mine alone, thought the quotes are directly transcribed from the discussion, with my own amendments to punctuation and spelling in the interest of readability. Also I apologize for taking so long to post the review; computer problems prevented me from doing this sooner.

I encourage all readers to pursue your time in both worlds ever-mindful, for that is the basis of a life fulfilled.

Shrutiyan Anatra, 27 March 08

Satyagraha

As an Indian in SL, how could I not link to this:Joseph DeLappe's walking performance art.

The Ides of March event: Seeking Pleasure in a Virtual World

This is the inaugural round-table discussion for the Kama Sutra Institute. Our topic will be the pursuit of pleasure in SL--the many forms it takes, how it differs or aligns with 1st life, and to what ends it is taken.

Much of the press, both mainstream and in the blogosphere, regarding Second Life revolves around its economy (or un-economy, as some would have us believe) and pleasure-seeking (read: escorting). Fundamentalists take umbrage, those with an agenda manipulate, the Fortune 500 downplays, and...well, the fundamentalists again take umbrage. Yet every newbie signing in to Second Life for the first time will have their first sexual encounter (or at the very least be propositioned) within hours of being in-world. What happens in a virtual environment where most of the prevailing societal norms and constraints (and, indeed, those of the physical) no longer apply? While there are many outlets to seek pleasure in SL--from the very forward-thinking reality experimentation, beautifully-designed sims of fantasy and fancy, to interpretations of RL thrill-seeking (e.g., FPS games, roleplay, racecars and rollercoasters, et cetera)--the preponderance of escorting has raised many an eyebrow.
Yes, you can go newbie-fishing in the welcome areas, yes there are hundreds of sims where a roll in the hay (or sand, or clouds, or aether) will cost you nothing more than time. You can go to innumerable escort houses and nightclubs and titillate the night away (or your lunchbreak at work) for a nominal fee with any size shape or manner of public woman (or furry, or angel, or devil, or alien, or...). But there exists above the strata of the mundane a new, elite class of companion that seeks to enrich every moment spent in her company, who values an avatar that has taken care to present [it]self with distinction and knows that value for value is not lost on some, and who seeks pleasure in a manner at times innocent and pure and at times with the intoxication of a fallen saint.
How has this path been paved? And where does it lead?
That shall be ours to answer.
The round-table discussion format serves to exchange ideas among willing minds, expand the boundaries of the status quo, and in the best tradition of thinking people everywhere to elicit change in a tangible manner, one person at a time.
Several friends and SL luminaries will be invited to participate; seating for the general public is *strictly* limited to 15 and *must* be confirmed via IM to me directly; the parcel will be closed to those not on the guest list once the event starts.
Updates will be posted during the week.

The Maidenhead

Welcome to the Kama Sutra Institute in Second Life: A *Private* Learning Institution

‘Where are you going, beautiful hips … to whose body will those swelling close-set breasts of yours like the golden goblets grant their touch? Who will mount swiftly into your broad secret parts, that are like a great golden wheel enclosed in a golden band, the embodiment of heaven?’ ~~ The Ramayana

The Kama Sutra Institute is established as a learning center where the pursuit of pleasure in SL is put in the proper perspective of Dharma, Artha and Kama. In this tradition, sexual desire is recognized as innately and simply divine in nature, and the pursuit of earthly delight as crucial in the karmic cycle as any other social or spiritual pursuit; the ancient sages acknowledged that the sexual act itself elevated the spirit to that realm of bliss from which all of creation was engendered. Our activities will include round-table discussions, learning workshops, private study and (hey, I'm a girl!) our own retail clothing line.

Please IM me with a request to join the Kama Sutra Institute group.
There are three main sections:

*Apsaras*, our referral service for 'celestial courtesans'; able to seduce the most pious saddhu…in the epics there are tales of penitents who were so fired with lust at the mere sight of these heavenly nymphs that they were immediately thrown into orgasm.

*Maharajas*, the select patrons of ourcoterie. Maharajas, in addition to enjoying the benefit of our divine company, are treated to special members-only performances and lectures at the Institute.

*Kama Sutra Couture* members enjoy updates and freebies from our fashion line. Kama Sutra Couture is dedicated to providing the finest in Indian ethnic fashion and the best possible customer service. If you feel strongly about the work, please nominate me for the Best New Designer category at the Merovingi Fashion Awards! A great fashion showcase and it supports two charities close to my heart, breast cancer research and doctors without borders.

All the best,
Shrutiyan Anatra