[MUD-Dev] Logical MUD Areas

[Koster]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brad Triem
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 12:23 AM
> To: mud-dev at kanga.nu
> Subject: Re: [MUD-Dev] Logical MUD Areas

> * the below is my opinion and not an accusation of another's point of
> * thought *

> We aren't in "Strange World" yet.  You are at the helm.  To think
> that you are online and someone is "typing" to you, and considering
> it as rape is absurd, in my opinion.  You could easily turn off your
> monitor if what you are seeing someone else type doesn't agree with
> you.  It isn't like someone is standing in front of you with a death
> grip on you with rape in their eyes.  It is the same as those who
> drive by an adult book store and bitch about the fact that it is
> there, as opposed to those who "choose" to enter it.  Allowing
> yourself into a situation is much different than being forced into a
> situation.

> This will hold true until we are so deep in the virtual world that a
> virtual hacker could actually tap into your brain neurons and
> prevent your muscles from reacting to the "thought" of removing
> yourself from a virtual situation.

But this exact thing DOES happen with just text. Have you never had
the experience of something sudden and surprising on a mud resulting
in an adrenalin rush, a mental freeze-up, joy, sadness, or anger? 
Those are physiological reactions triggered by our
perceptions. Perhaps they would go away with immersion goes away, but
they are nonetheless real. I've certainly many times had the
experience of just forgetting I could log off (during an argument, for
example).

There's that old adage, "perception is reality." In the case of muds,
it does seem to me to be true--and not just from a community
management standpoint. Heck, even non-interactive media succeed at
arousing physical sensations (and not just pr0n either).

I don't mean to minimize the impact of physical rape, but I've heard
enough people (yes, even those who have suffered real life abuse of
one sort or another) make the direct comparison that I'd very much
hesitate to dismiss it with "you can always just turn it off."

-Raph
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