Blogs - Second living

Child avatars are one of the most misunderstood, intolerated, and generally blacklisted type of lifestyle to the majority of Second Life residents, next to Furries and Gorean roleplayers. It's not that there's anything really wrong with being a furry, gorean, or hey a child if you really think about it, it's simply a runaway train operated by you guessed it - Fear and Ignorance. The two have been life long companions in the Intolerance campaign for many types of lifestyles whether online or offline. One example of such a publicly widespread campaign is the battle against gay marriage going on in the United States. The majority of people opposed to the idea of gay marriage, are simply adding to a controversy that need not be as complicated or feared as it is made out to be.

But let's not lose sight of our topic. Basically what I'm trying to say is the only reason people write certain ways of living off is because they don't understand it and they never take the time to learn about it. Well, if you're here, curiosity or otherwise has peaked your interest so let me break it down for you in the simplest of terms.

Child avatars are adopted every day because of one simple thing: Love.

The reasons vary from person to person for becoming a child avatar, whether the person is physically disabled, had a rough first childhood and wishes to make up for it, or generally just wants to have something first life is not fulfilling for them (sound familiar?)

Even the adults who adopt them have their own reasons.

But when it all comes down to it, love is the central theme for becoming or adopting a child here in Second Life, whether it's because you want or need to feel needed or because you want to return the love that someone else has given you. I speak from experience, as an adult who not only has parents but grandparents in world whom I've been with for a few months. Because they have filled the void of family in my life, I am now ready to reciprocate the love they have given me and return it to a child who may need my love for their own reasons.

Not all of us are interested, or can cope with the idea of a romantic relationship but need love all the same. I can't speak for everyone, but it seems to me that familial love is often the simplest type of love when you break it down. Of course you have to work at it just like anything else, but the expectations between romantic love and platonic love are much different in the long run.

Sometimes, it's just nice to be wanted, needed, and loved in a family unit without the worries or stress of a romantic relationship. Once the right family is found, sometimes connections are made that can last a lifetime.