Ever been in a situation in which something so outright provocative is muttered, one just doesn’t know how to respond?
Some months ago, I got an invitation by a friend to go to a club where she was hosting at. So I headed over. My furry foxboy avie with it’s ears and tail clearly stood out, being the only one with a nonhuman look. Except for one. There was also an elfgirl there, from Europe, dressed in Medieval fashion. But the music was anything but, and we all had a good time dancing to the trance music.
Not too much was happening. We chatted about goings on, and joked a little bit. None of us paid more than the slightest attention when there was an announcement from an AO that it was being worn by the elfgirl. We just continued dancing.
Then all of the sudden, the AO blurted a phrase that took us by surprise, one I had never witnessed either in Second Life or real life, except on television: “White Power!” The rest of us were shocked into silence, the elfgirl seeming oblivious.
Why in the heck would someone in a fantasy avatar be using a phrase heard being used only by racial supremacists? We continued in our dance animations, too shocked to think of turning them off, not saying anything. Then the AO went off again, “White Power!”
It was about this time that this red foxboy responded with sarcastic humor, “Well, white and red furred anyway.” That remark got a chuckle from someone. Someone else finally asked the elfgirl what she was doing wearing that AO. She explained she had gotten it from someone, and had no idea it made that phrase.
It was about this time I thought of another idea. Among my collection of avatars was a mouseboy, one that was white in color. I then switched to that, slipping on his lab coat. Just as I was finishing rezzing, there came that vile phrase again, “White Power!” I then responded with the *squeak* *squeak* *squeak* sound effect.
The tension in the room instantly deflated like a burst balloon with a bunch of LOLs, the elfgirl included, “Ha ha, where did you find that?” “Mousie!” “LOL White Mouse Power!”
Sometimes, the best thing do do with such ugliness is to make a laughingstock out of it.
Reprinted from Second Life Newspaper.
Bixyl Shuftan
