Something very disturbing is going on and it isn't even about the image below. This image just opened a can of worms that refuses to go back in. Here's the story:
Misprint Thursday, a well-known RL and SL artist, was ejected today from SL7B because her exhibit was deemed unfit. The image is below.
.jpg)
The image is part of an exhibit Misprint created to thank the people who have been a part of her SL collaborations. Misprint added the Barbie images in a show of support for a fellow artist whose work was rejected the previous day from the PG sim after being pre-screened and pre-approved. She chose the Barbie image as a way to ask the question "is this not PG?"
SHAWN Masters, a Moderator for SL7B, approached Misprint and asked her what the textures were about. There was an exchange between SHAWN and Misprint where she stated that the Barbie images were PG and not offensive, to which Mr. Masters replied, "not to the normal mind." The conversation continued with Mr. Masters stating that in SL,
SHAWN Masters: you do have pedifiles
Misprint Thursday: that has nothing to do with these pictures
Misprint defends her art as being PG and states she would like to take it up with Linden Labs. At the point, Mr. Masters points out that "there is one to my right." Misprint speaks to Blondin Linden for several minutes with no response. At this point, Mr. Masters re-enters the conversation by asking
SHAWN Masters: Misprint...do you have children
Misprint Thursday: Shawn-you are out of line
Misprint Thursday: asking me that
Misprint Thursday: that is not your business
Misprint Thursday: and has nothing to do with this
SHAWN Masters: there are on average....20 pedifiles within a 50 mile square
Misprint Thursday: listen
SHAWN Masters: SL is a breeding ground
Misprint Thursday: that has nothing to do with this
Misprint then asks Blondin Linden if he agrees that SL is a breeding ground for pedophiles. Blondin never answered the question. Misprint was then asked again to remove the images which she refused to do, standing by her assertion that the images were PG. Her explanation was met only with "good day mam" from Mr. Masters.
Misprint told Blondin Linden she was cancelling her premium account in protest of the process Linden Labs uses to determine what is PG and non-PG content. Misprint is asked by Blondin Linden to remove the images or be ejected from the sim. Misprint politely refuses and is subsequently ejected from the sim. Her Barbie texture was returned to her.
She was also ejected from the SL7B builders group and no longer has access to the rest of her art installation. Basically, parts of her idea are still standing and she is unable to access them.
This is wrong on so many levels. It's not about the naked Barbies, although that is ridiculous. Children play with Barbies every day. There are millions made off of the manufacture and sales of Barbie clothes. Those clothes don't just miraculously appear on the Barbies, they have to be placed on them somehow. Do you really think that Mom, or god forbid, Dad comes in and changes the clothes for them while the child hides their eyes? But I digress.
What it's really about is the absurdity of SHAWN saying that SL is a "breeding ground for pedophiles" and Blondin Linden not contradicting him, therefore, backing up his claim. The icing on this messed up cake is that a Linden would eject a passionate, creative member of the SL Art community over a naked Barbie and cutting her off from her own work. I can't imagine having my art compromised by anyone, not to mention being isolated from it, knowing that it is being used by the same people who altered it and denied my access to it.
Look out for naked Barbies. If you see one, call Mr. Masters right away! Pedophiles are sure to be nearby!
