cyberape should be allowed in cyberape muds

The reading that I choose is Dibbell. The reason I chose Dibbell is because I find the whole idea that cyberspace may often seem to be a place that is supposed to be free of physical constrictions, and yet people naturally have a tendency to put their physical presence into their avatar a very interesting one. The main reason I find it interesting is because people, in real life, project an image of themselves. The image is projected through the clothes they wear, the way their hair looks, and many other characteristics. In real life, some projections may not be chosen such as facial structure, etc. (although it can be changed), but the reason I find this fascinating is because many times, when people enter these MUD’s, they don’t realize that they are actually putting themselves (meaning their real life selves) out there through a digital space.

When Moondreamer ended up crying after she was raped by Mr. Bungle, it shows just how clearly she was attached to her avatar, even though she didn’t realize it at first. I find the fact that people get attached to their avatars even when they don’t mean to a very interesting concept. In the article, there is one quote that fully illustrates the unique space that divides the digital world with the real world: they are trying to figure out how to punish Mr. Bungle for the rape. They wonder if he could be punished for making obscene phone calls, or perhaps by contacting administrators at the university. I am more on the side of the anarchists in the room, believing that when it comes to the digital world, there should be no punishment for crimes unless they transfer over into the real world. If, however, there is a rule on the site that states there is to be no foul language, and one swears, then they must pay the consequences for that action, but the digital world as a whole, if it were to start being policed by the government for example, the digital world would lose all its attraction in my opinion.