Perspectives

Though some of what residents explore in Second Life is totally from the pure imagination of others, much of it is reincarnated places, events and experiences from First Life.

Residents can visit an English village, parts of Paris, or even Amsterdam. Many people enjoy sky diving, swimming and surfing. Musical concerts abound, as do theatrical plays. A lot of what is in First Life crosses over into Second Life.

Another such example is escorts -- those who would provide the luxury of their company in exchange for some financial benefit. In First Life, the services they provide may or may not be sexual, whereas in Second Life, it is cyber, voice or cam sex being sold.

Many female residents are able to make enough income from escorting that they don't have to work in their First Lives, though they are unable to rely solely on income from cyber sessions; they must expand their services to voice and cam sex in order to make enough.

Allegedly, SL millionaire Anshe Chung was able to start her land baron enterprise from L$ earned by working as an escort in-world, a journey I'm sure many hope to emulate.

Interestingly, where it's illegal in most First Life locations to have sex for money, the practice would never be forbidden in Second Life, simply because there's no actual sex taking place.

Still, it amazes me that, in Linden Lab's effort to sanitize the grid, escorts haven't been told to confine their street walking to the adult continent.

On a lighter note, with Linden Lab's penchant for taking over all things that make money (think L$ conversion, shopping boutiques and land/house rentals), I'm surprised the company isn't pimping out their employees.