Good evening, ladies and gentlemen (and gentlemen posting as ladies). It's time for the Blogger Mix And Match, a hideous experiment in crossposting concocted by ArminasX and Vint.

May I present to you: Teagan Blackthorne, one of the six of SL Fashion Avengers, and she is writing on the subject of The Evolution of SLex.

This article is for the Mix'nMatch

Topic Suggest by: Vint Falken

The Evolution of SLex
by Teagan Blackthorne(w/ advice from Laynie Link)

SLex, the acronym for Second Life Sex, is the first assumption that people make when you tell them that you are in Second Life.  Despite the fact that Second Life thrives in fashion, art, support groups, philanthropy and other areas, the belief that Second Life is for sex has been perpetuated by the media and reinforced by
recent television programs. 

SLex has grown from the text based interactions of old to a fully automated experience where, in some cases, the participants can sit back and enjoy the ride.  For those looking to explore an intriguing lifestyle but worried about the real world complications, SLex gives them a way to find an outlet for experimentation without risk.

In the beginning there was text for SLex.  Sure there were physical avatars but Ruth was never really erotica material.  The encounters may have started something like this:

Betty Boring: (thinking: wow, this is fantastic! I can finally do all those things I always wanted to do! I'm SO glad I met someone interested in this!) Ooh, baby... I'm so excited!

Bobby Bland: Me too... I...(Tries to think quickly of the right words to type to keep her interested.)

This type of exchange would go on back and forth with both parties trying hard to describe with words their actions and reactions to the event without scaring the other person off. The typer would second guess the right word to use opting for more technical term(breast) over the more familiar(boob) until it finally ends with the odd:

Betty Boring: OoOOOOOoooooooOOOOOOooooooOOOOO

Bobby Bland: AaaaaaHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I am not sure how we thought that this was the ultimate replacement for sex but, at the time, this seemed very intense.

The birth of SLex aids is what really brought SLex into a new realms of feeling and understanding. With the introduction of products like Xcite! And Strokerz Toyz(aka SexGen) the doors to SLex burst open wide.   Now the shy typers could be free to explore a more intense experience without worrying about what to type.   Xcite! not only gave guys their much needed male bits but also gave them dialog to go with their parts.  Women no longer needed to think about how to react to their partner but instead could play off the chat messages coming from their bits.  Now you add a Strokerz Toyz product to the experience and your avatar is having the most intense sexual experience that you have ever had in both your first and second lives.  Please remember that your lovely new parts from  Xcite! not only speak to your and your partner but to your entire chat range and not everyone wants to experience your SLorgasm.

As one explores Xcite! and Strokerz Toyz mainstores, you realize there is more to the SLex experience than creative sex between two humans.  You find a world of products that cater to many different tastes.   At both stores you will find many items that would fall into the classification of BDSM(Bondage/Discipline/Bonage/Submission) and at Xcite! A whole area dedicated to those of the non-human persuasion.  These other areas of the sexual experience can be vastly intimidating in your real life but in your second life you have the chance to have a taste of the forbidden without all the consequence or guilt.

Roleplaying is another aspect of SLex that can intensify your experience.  There is a virtual cornucopia of SLex roleplay areas for all tastes.  Each roleplay area has specific themes that range from the "awww, how sweet" to the "what the ****" and everything in between.  A quick search of the word roleplay gives a general idea of the themes that could be involved:  bdsm, capture, Gor, force fantasy, dolcett, furry, etc.  These aspects can be a tad scary for real life so some feel much safer exploring these ideas in the safer setting of their second lives.

The truth of the matter is that regardless of your sexual orientation or tastes, Second Life does offer you a chance to explore areas in your life that you might be too shy and inhibited to enjoy in your real life. 

So hold on to your bits and enjoy the ride.