is Bitter there? I'd rather talk to her than Disappointed

After answering Miss Sumie's comment on the one problem area with Caledon's entry for SL5B, I thought I'd do a little digging.

I started here with the operational definition of PG as restated by Shay Sunnyside:

[17:53] Shay Sunnyside: Under the definition of PG some of but not limited to the following will be prohibited: Nudity: Exhibits must not contain Mature content, if you are unsure of the rating of some of your content please contact a Coordinator. Ropes and Chains, graphic images or exhibits showing someone being bound will not be allowed, this also includes other content that may represent someone being bound in a sexual way.

Let's take that further.

The official PG definition from the MPAA:

A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision.

The more mature themes in some PG-rated motion pictures may call for parental guidance. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use content in a PG-rated motion picture.

Canadian theatre and entertainment regulations list PG this way:

Parental Guidance (PG): Film is not suitable for all children and parental guidance is therefore advised for younger viewers.

I had difficulty finding UK film ratings, but Terramedia had this reference:

PG (or Parental Guidance): parents are advised that some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Now, I realize this is media-inclusive; the problem here is there really aren't ratings for other forms of art and media. There was at one point a rating system proposed for fan fiction, but it doesn't have very clear categories:

Fiction K+ rating: Suitable for more mature childen, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.

Fiction T rating: Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with some violence, minor coarse language, and minor suggestive adult themes.

Well, I'm actually a bit wrong--there are music ratings, but they're slippery (though George Starostin's ratings list deserves more notice). They pretty much consist of no rating below age 17, and a Parental Advisory sticker for music with 'mature' themes.

[Note from the Editrix: Sir Edward Pearse comes to the rescue by tracking down the Australian media ratings which are as follows:

PG: Parental Guidance recommended. The content is mild.

[So there's that one too.]

This is unhelpful.

So we default back to film ratings, and what the film ratings from the three countries listed for PG tell me is:

* Some profanity is allowed;
* Parents are instructed to pre-judge content as it may not be suitable for all ages;
* Brief nudity (generally in a non-sexualized setting) is allowed;
* Brief violence is allowed if integral to the plot;
* Drug use is not allowed to be shown.

Unfortunately, the Labs deliberately complicate this general understanding. From the SL Wikia site:

PG (parental guidance) is a simulator rating. Used in a similar fashion as the movie rating "PG". Nudity, sexual content (even paintings), and profanity are not allowed in a PG sim. However violence, such as damage-enabled land and weapons are allowed. Actual parental guidance is not required, but the familiarity with the rating makes it a good choice for easily knowing what is and is not allowed in that sim.

So, from this, one could infer that the 'familiarity' with PG ratings means little; what they're actually saying is:

* No nudity of any kind is allowed;
* No sexual content (even in the form of paintings) is allowed;
* No profanity of any kind is allowed;
* Violence (including virtual death) is allowed;
* Actual parental guidance, in the form of RL parents of the RL 'child' in question is not required, as all 'children' under 13 are prohibited from entering the adult grid.

Miss CodeBastard Redgrave says that the "Boudoir Rouge" series is meant to honor and show appreciation for those exceptional women who've helped her in her SLife. While I think this is laudable, and do not disagree with its intent, I'd ask again--women in lingerie are PG?



And once more, not to single out Mairead Fitzgerald--if there's anyone who can take all the varying aspects of Gorean life, and make them shimmeringly lovely, it's her--but this is, to me, a woman bound into pose, and--by dress--seemingly someone's slave. Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't strike me as PG.

But then, again, PG, it's so slippery, as I've said. And, for all of me? Given the choice any day--given the choice even involving flesh-and-blood, actual children--of exposing them to sexual content over violence? Bring on the sex. I'd much rather children see sexual imagery than bloodspatter and guts on the floor.

But again, that's just me. I'm not a Linden.

In other news, StarGate Worlds has announced they're seeking beta testers. Go sign up if you want to.

Also? The Japanese need better translators:



And yes, that is a giant mushroom on top of the booth.

I'm not sure if I want to risk SL5B again, but if I do...I'll let you know.