Cybersex

Please note that this blog may contain material that some may find offensive

The other day my mum and i were talking about pornography on the internet. She recalled helping me with a 'miniature project' on eyes when i was in grade 3. We went on the computer together and put in what we thought were appropriate key words into google to research the topic. Immediately links to pornography sites popped up. At the time I did not notice as my mother quickly navigated me away from the pages, but it is quite evident that when using the internet, it is very difficult to avoid sexually explicit material.

I believe engaging in cybersex through chat sites is perfectly fine if it is consensual and both parties are of age. However there are problems. How do you know who you are engaging in cybersex with? You may think you are chatting with Tracy the hot supermodel, when in fact, Donald the 50 year old overweight nerd who doesn't hold hygiene as a high priority is on the other end on the line.

Second Life is known for its online sex activity. The only 'no no' in Second life is creating child avatars to engage in sexual acts with. Censorship is a major issue. Ultimately I believe it is the person who is providing the access to the information on the internet that is responsible. For example, if a teenager is accessing pornography on their home computer, then it is the care givers responsibility to censor the information available to them.

Digital representations of people engaging in cybersex are very unrealistic of the average man or woman and typically represent a porn star image. People who engage in cybersex may have more of a sense of confidence and security because they can portray themselves the exact way they want to be perceived. There are no excess body hair or dimply thighs.

We have all heard of people being addicted to sex, and cybersex is no different. In fact the internet just provides another outlet for people addicted to sex to satisfy their cravings. But if you are married and engaging in cybersex with strangers, are you cheating? I would argue yes. A sexual act is a sexual act weather it involves physical contact with another person or not.

There are serious risks with cybersex and pornography, like sex offenders taking advantage of children, or simply children stumbling across inappropriate material. However, there are some people who are cashing in. There are online prostitutes in communities such as Second Life who engage in virtual sexual activities in exchange for money.

In summary, i believe there is nothing wrong with cybersex or online pornography, if it does not contain any illegal activity, is properly censored, contains the appropriate warnings and is accessed by adults. However, it is very difficult to enforce these rules.

Posthuman

By definition the ‘posthuman’ starts out as has a human mind but through the extensions of technology, becomes something that is no longer human. Some believe it is the prototype for the future body, but really, this is not so far fetched. With today’s technology we are able to minimise the possibility of passing on genetic diseases to our children by eliminating certain genes and changing others. The sex of a baby no longer must be left up to chance, parents can now choose weather they want a boy or a girl before the mother is pregnant. The possibilities are endless, from chameleon like skin to beings that do not age. The posthuman could potentially become like a car, with regular servicing and replacing worn out parts.

Where do you draw the line from human to posthuman? Those that participate in the online community of second life could be termed as posthuman. There is a human mind behind the virtual being you see on your screen. Video games allow people to become posthuman. They can be the hero in a video game and save the damsel in distress when their real life job may be much less fulfilling such as working at the drive through at McDonalds. One of the reasons online communities and people who participate in posthuman activity are able to portray their ideal self. They can alter their image, make their waist a bit smaller or their muscles a bit bigger. They can live out their wildest fantasies without while still remaining relatively anonymous, in fact second life is known for being a place where people can come together and have virtual sex with complete strangers. People may be driven to posthuman activities because they are not satisfied with their life in the real world. They may not be sexually fulfilled or not happy with their body image. With a simple click of a button, that can all change in second life. People can be whoever they want to be.

But why would you want to? The 'ideal' woman is fed to the public through the media and what society considers desirable. Would you alter the genes of your children in order for them to fit this 'posthuman' stereotype? I would argue that our differences and 'flaws' are what make the world an interesting place. To quote a popular Groove Armada song, 'If everybody looked the same, we'd get tired of looking at each other'