Virtual Rape Is Traumatic, but Is It a Crime?

[_ID_]

anonymouse - you bring up an interesting point about letting the things on the internet remain free from the constraints of real life. I agree with you.

The internet when it first started was very much anarchy in how it operated. Only the strong survived. There are still corners of the net that have this kind of lawless environment. IRC is one of those. For anyone who has ever gone to that arena, there are areas of IRC that (by some peoples definition) are of the most perverted and depraved subject matter. Even though these areas are by all rights more demented than anyone would want to admit, they exist, and no one is trying to stifle their existence. For those that have no clue what I am referring to, it's probably best it remains that way. For those that do, you know that every crime imaginable occurs in the virtual environment of IRC.

Personally, I believe that what happens in the virtual realm (aside from child abuse, to include child porn) should remain there. Places such as IRC and Gor and Second Life are places that allow us to explore our fantasies, our desires, our dreams in a fashion that let's us safely play out things that we would never do in the real world.

[Sir_G]

anonymouse - you bring up an interesting point about letting the things on the internet remain free from the constraints of real life. I agree with you.

The internet when it first started was very much anarchy in how it operated. Only the strong survived. There are still corners of the net that have this kind of lawless environment. IRC is one of those. For anyone who has ever gone to that arena, there are areas of IRC that (by some peoples definition) are of the most perverted and depraved subject matter. Even though these areas are by all rights more demented than anyone would want to admit, they exist, and no one is trying to stifle their existence. For those that have no clue what I am referring to, it's probably best it remains that way. For those that do, you know that every crime imaginable occurs in the virtual environment of IRC.

Personally, I believe that what happens in the virtual realm (aside from child abuse, to include child porn) should remain there. Places such as IRC and Gor and Second Life are places that allow us to explore our fantasies, our desires, our dreams in a fashion that let's us safely play out things that we would never do in the real world.

I agree fully with what ID has said here. Whilst I agree people can be hurt on emotional level virtual rape is not really possible. Close the window/program when someone becomes obnoxious and its all over. Then block em if it's on a chat program etc.

The online environment should be used to do the things we may not have the opportunity to do in real life or to hook up with people we can do them with. Safe, sane and consential that's what matters.