The pregnancy and childbirth industries in Second Life keep coming up as a topic on this blog. But considering the depth to which this particular function of First Life matters, it isn’t surprising. I try not to pick on it, though. I am returning to it because of three words on a sign I saw while doing the Scarlet Letter Hunt: Gorean Baby Center.

Yes, my loyal reader, there are Goreans who put themselves through pregnancy and childbirth. Let’s keep in mind that in SL, pregnancy is a 100% conscious choice that must be maintained with real thought or else it fades into your inventory like last month’s clothes. What I want to know is if the folks who do this have thought their bright idea through completely.

The crux of the matter is this: do Gorean babies stay prim babies, or do they end up RPed by an adult as they get past the toddler stage? Think that one over slowly. Child avs in a space devoted to a culture whose primary visible purpose is the reification of slavery and sexual gratification. Whatever other trappings may exist, that is the core of it.

I have no idea how Norman discussed child-raising on Gor. I don’t care to look it up, either. It doesn’t matter to the biggest issue I have with it all. The presence of child avs in a mature-to-adult sim devoted to explicit sexual conduct is the surest ticket to getting your access rights suspended I can think of. Do they even realize this? They can’t claim that the kid isn’t exposed to it. It’s Gor. It’s the cultural norm. In First Life, kids find out their parents have sex. In Gorean realms, all else being equal, the kid’s exposure to the notion might be seeing Daddy whipping Mommy while she’s tied to a hitching post before taking her from behind.

SL is on a “make sure content matches the sim ratings tag” kick. How is having children running around a sim that ought to be tagged Adult going to look as they check to make sure private sims are rated appropriately?

I wish I could just have fun with this topic. I have giggled to myself and others about “baby’s first silks” and camisk onesies. I’ve had internal theorization parties about child-rearing in a male-dominated society and what the age of consent would be in Gor. But the real problem is the child av risk. The people who want to become The Breeders of Gor can’t possibly realize what they’re letting their precious realms in for. Being privately owned means nothing.