Perhaps the idea of acquiring a second identity is to flee earthly pains. After all avatars do not age, gain weight, sleep, or even die. Or, is it a place where women finally have the freedom to be safe? Perhaps not, because there have been many reported cases of rape on virtual worlds. Arguably, it is not as horrible as "real-life" rape, without repercussions of physical harm or alterations, or pregnancy, but, emotional reactions and scarring have indeed been reported.

Even the experiences of sexual interaction between male and female avatars border on rape, as many of the actions involve the female avatar as the passive character. Often, there are these "pose balls" which service actions like: "hand job" or "blow job," obviously geared toward the satisfaction of the male avatar [6].

With crimes such as these, this Second Life becomes more and more like our first world. Except, terrifyingly enough, there are no repercussions of an avatars actions. Is this merely a place where men can go and rape without prosecution? It sounds more like a hell than a refuge.

Rape, one of the most serious crimes against womanhood, and essentially, humanity, exists on Second Life. How then, is it a refuge, when serious crimes such as these, prevail?