Black As My Soul: Utherverse

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July 28, 2006

Utherverse

I hate it when every blog links to the same story, but I wanted to comment about something I just read. According to CNN, there is a new "adult" social networking site, allegedly patterned after MySpace.

I won't get a MySpace account, and I don't think I will use this new service called Utherverse, either.

For one, I'm already in a committed relationship. I don't want or need a hook-up. If I did, I imagine I would try AFF or Collar-Me. I actually opened an account on Collar-Me a few years ago but I was too timid then to do more than lurk.

The spin in the CNN article was that this new site would protect people because no one under 18 would be allowed to join. Age would be verified by credit card. Even though the article claims they will scour the site for underage postings… I don't think it solves any problems.

Sadly, I know that anyone who wants to fraudulently gain access to the site is going to be able to do it, whether of age or not.

Additionally, while the thought is to protect children from sex and sexuality, this is not going to prevent kids from flocking to MySpace and it is not going to stop predators from trolling there. It just won't have that effect.

I think they should go farther, I think if they want to avoid controversy they would do well to limit the age to 21 and over. But frankly, I have no idea how you can prove to anyone that you are a certain age without ties to some form of material identification such as a passport or certified copy of a birth certificate. I know those can be forged as well.

I hope Utherverse can be successful. I think it's appropriate that like-minded folks can meet without fear or censorship. I think it's appropriate that there are institutions which champion an individual's rights to sexual expression in the manner of his choosing.

What I don't see about Utherverse is a compelling reason to change the "social networking" that I do right here.

[+] Posted by Sinner, who was transgressing at the time (July 28, 2006 1:29 PM) by thinking evil. [+]