KathyZog Destiny Offers Popular Music To Church Services

 By Netera Landar

Second Life plays a significant role in our lives. It offers friendship, allows us to be creative in unique ways, and consistently provides entertainment.

We begin the interview in Kathy’s disco roller rink.

For KathyZog Destiny, Second Life offers a welcome form of independence that enhances the quality of her real life. Kathy is a DJ and the owner of both Wishing Well Venues and the Church of Cozy Comforts. For 18 years, she has called this virtual world home and has opened many doors to venues featuring a variety of themes.

“I was born with my disability, so I pretty much learned to adapt to everything. My family didn’t let anyone say ‘no.’ I couldn’t say I can’t do it. My family came up with adaptive ways to be included in just about anything. Second Life offers me an opportunity to have a full life without my disability. In here, when I’m dancing, it feels like I’m dancing. It feels real,” explained Kathy as we stood in her disco roller rink. 

Woodstock Field brings you back to a time of freedom of expression

Kathy learned about Second Life through a friend from Canada who visited her and a former roommate. He said that he couldn’t visit that often. He also mentioned a virtual world called Second Life. 

“So, I went there and yelled at him for not coming to see me so much. From that moment on, I truly didn’t want to leave,” Kathy admitted. 

Rock around the clock in Kathy's 50's Diner

Shortly after, she became a hostess for one of her partners, who was a DJ. They met in real life and spoke via Skype. He taught her how to use the SAM Broadcaster Pro. Kathy learned the basics rather quickly. She then chose to host her own music events, because if she couldn’t come in-world, she would feel like she was letting people down. Occasionally, she will DJ at other venues and take pictures during events.

Kathy and Kragon give me a tour around the Halloween venue. One ghost has a habit of following guests around.

During the interview, her close companion, Kragon Vlodovic, joins us. He appears to be proud of Kathy’s accomplishments. He also informed me that he’s part of the Perfect Chaos band in Second Life.

Enjoy long summer days on the beach listening to Kathy spin your favorite music

Ask Kathy about her venue themes, and she’ll gladly tell you that, placement-wise, they are stacked vertically. She has a beach, a garden ballroom, and a ballroom in the clouds. A Halloween venue, Christmas holiday venue, ice skating rink, roller rink, Woodstock field, Mardi Gras venue, diner, cabaret, blues and jazz venue, and even a wedding venue, if someone needs a place for the reception. She can even provide the wedding service at her church.

For Kathy, some of the difficulties of being a DJ include getting the right songs. In terms of turnouts, she can get 3-5 people or up to 20. She has a subscriber for people without room for new groups. One for Wishing Well and another for DJ Kathy.

Put on your favorite gown and have a romantic evening at Wishing Well Garden Ballroom

What does she love about being a DJ? She loves meeting people and finding new music she wouldn’t have ordinarily chosen for herself. 

“I’m also a pastor of The Church at Cozy Comforts. I try to make our church as inclusive as possible. The service audio is pre-recorded and streamed into the land on the music stream. The service is also printed to nearby chat, where people who are deaf or hard of hearing can follow along. Having both the audio and the text available is also beneficial to those with learning disabilities,” said Kathy.

The Church at Cozy Comforts welcomes all for prayers and services

“The Church at Cozy Comforts believes that everyone should have the opportunity to hear and experience the Word of the Lord. As such, we accept all - every race, all ages, genders/gender preferences, and any shape. Many who are rejected from other churches come to our services,” she added. 

Netera 

Interview With Gwen Winchester, Co-Owner of Club Scorn

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

I recently had the chance to interview Gwen Winchester. Gwen is the co-owner of Club Scorn.  While Second Life has many clubs, Scorn is unique in that it has multiple venues that are the same club. Each has a different theme from beach, to 60s/70s, to post-apocalyptic, to ancient Egypt, and more. Gwen had a number of things to say. 

Bixyl: To begin with, describe to the readers what you do here in Second Life>

Gwen: I'm part owner of Scorn rock club with my husband. When I'm not DJing, I'm either building another venue, taking pictures and posting them on Flickr or going to other clubs.

Bixyl: How did you find out about Second Life, and how were your first days here?

Gwen:Hahahahah! Well that was back in 2007, and I girl at work turned me onto it. And SL back then was new and strange. It is much better for people who come now, they have no idea what being "ruthed" is or hiding in the water until your hair rezzed in and then your clothes.

 

Bixyl: Sounds like some interesting times back in those days.

 

Gwen: Oh my God, sadly the glitches back then were BAD!

Bixyl: Any examples that were particularly bad at the time but today you can look back and laugh?

Gwen: Well, lets just say there were times you were stuck naked and "ruthed" meaning all your attachments weren't there and you were stuck in the "taking a s**t" stand.

Bixyl: Ha ha! So what led to you and Scorn?

Gwen Winchester: Well WAYYYYYY back then, when I was "married" here in Scorn to someone who was barely on. My bff was dating someone who was part owner of a club called "Ripped" and she was telling me about it, so her and I decided that since they were having trouble with money and stuff, we figured we would get into being silent partners in this club. That is where I met Atterius, on his old AV. And from there we all had a great club that was on top at the time. 

 

Then things happened within relationships, not ours, but others. So Ripped was packed up to never be seen again. Atterius and I took a long break, me more so, and then we started Scorn, moved from different SIM and then we decided to buy a full SIM, and hence Scorn as it is today is what we built!

Bixyl:One thing about the club are the various venues across the sim for different events. How did that get started?

Gwen: Well, at Ripped, we had a changer that we would put the venue in a box and then open it with a menu and we could have the different venue. When we bought the SIM, we would have new ideas and we would just leave them, then we would decorate the land, and it ballooned from there.

Bixyl: Any particular favorites?

Gwen: Well, the original Scorn will always be the favorite. But can't say one is my favorite over another, since I put my everything into building them and try to make them perfect for my liking.

 

Bixyl: In the history of the club, what's been the most interesting and fun unplanned happening, that can be mentioned in the paper?

 

Gwen: Well the most unplanned thing would be how our staff has become our staff and then how they have made Scorn their home and feel like part of a family that we take care of each other. Interesting is that we have people who love being here and love see what is next to come. Aldaris and Charlee have been great as managers. Zee and Aldaris live on the SIM as well. I give thanks to all the family here at Scorn.

 

Bixyl:  This year, Scorn had it's own team for the Relay for Life. From your point of view, how did it get started and what was your part in it?

Gwen: Well I have to say Aldaris was a HUGE part in the Relay for Life, it was his baby, he deserves more credit then he will take. Atterius donated a lot of money, I donated my tips, and between Aldaris, Atterius and I was built our spot. Aldaris, Lily, Charlee, and yourself represented Scorn at the race. I feel it was a HUGE team effort and guest effort to put us on the board there. Aldaris was very proud as we all were.
 

I have to say the best thing about Second Life is that I met and married Atterius, We are partners in SL and hubby and wife in real-life, and that was 13 years ago!

Bixyl:  That is great news. I take it being married in real-life makes it easier to plan things here?

Gwen: Heeheehee! Yeah it does when you work as a full time team!

Bixyl:  So was there anything you have planned for Scorn in the months ahead, and anything for Team Scorn for Relay For Life 2024?

 

Gwen:  I will leave the Relay For Life up to Aldaris and as for Scorn, we will be doing new venues and hopefully adding some other DJ slots, but we will see about that.

 

Bixyl: Anything else you want to add?

 

Gwen: Without the loyal guests and all of the Scorn family, Scorn would still just be a beautiful SIM that no one enjoys! We love our family and all that enjoy Scorn. We thank them everyday for their support!

 

Club Scorn is at Elysium Tartarus, an Adult-rated sim. As of now, it has events three days a week, Wednesdays at 4 at Elysium Tartarus (87/162/315) with DJ Charlee, Thursdays at 8 at Elysium Tartarus (114/143/3915) with DJ Juana, and from 2PM to around Midnight at a themed location somewhere on the sim. Due to the sim's rating, no child avatars are permitted.

Bixyl Shuftan

SLife And Times: Two Sides of Banned For Being Furry

By Bixyl Shuftan

For most clubs in Second Life, it's not a big deal what you look like as long as you can fit through the door and behave yourself, especially if you tip. Being the lone furry or tiny at a mostly human club, or the sole human in a venue of furries might get you a few odd glances, but it's my experience seldom is anyone rude about it. If there's a contest that night, you might actually get a few extra votes and win as you're instantly recognized.

But as most people in Second Life know, eventually you're going to run into someone who has a problem with your looks. This was the case of one furry friend of mine whom was invited to a venue by it's hostess, and got booted because the rules of the place stated only human avatars were permitted, "I was sent an invite, to a club, only to get told I have to leave for being ME!" His name was an obvious clue to his avatar, "She KNOWS I'm furry. What the frack would someone knowing I'm no human invite me for?" He was furious, "I want to go back and torch that f**king club." But once he had a moment to calm down, suggested I try to get the point of view of the hostess, if she was willing, if I was going to write about the event. He did admit that the word "human" was in the invitation he'd gotten, but didn't realize it until after he came back from being away from keyboard pressed the "accept" button to the teleport request, so the part about it being a human event had faded away after several seconds before his return.

Contacting the woman in question, once she heard her name wouldn't be mentioned in anything written she only asked that the article be objective, "This is an important subject, I think." She was tired though, and trying to set up a time eventually we settled for answering questions by notecard. She had first met the fur in question through friends and had a positive first impression. Where she was hosting that night was in a formal ballroom, "In the ballroom it is clear that it is humans only. On the rest of the sim, everyone is welcome as long as they are covered. Not only is it clear in all the literature, the TP I sent that ******* took was very clear. To wit: '? I'm hosting at romantic *** **** ****** 2-4 PM w/ DJ _________, International Romantic Music. Join us? FORMAL, HUMAN?'"

She described the situation after the fur in question showed up, "I knew as soon as he landed as a furry that he was in violation of the venue's policy but there was no pressure. As host, I was in charge of dress code violations (DCV). One of the owners was there, as was the manager. They were very relaxed, both welcomed him in local chat, as did I, calling him my friend." She told me she decided to do nothing as long as no one complained, "****** was there for over an hour before anything was said about him violating dress code. ... The owner responded that Raccoon was my friend and that I would take care of it. ... When the guest complained, I reiterated that he was my friend and posted some comments I always make in support of furries when I see exclusion. One is, 'Did you know RL furries donated 12 Million to charitable causes last year?' ... I had to apologize to him on IM and remind him it was a human only ballroom. I have many furrie friends and always feel badly when they are excluded though I know from speaking with them that they are used to it. I also respect that each venue has a right to design and run things as they choose. My responsibility is to abide by the rules and in some instances, enforce them."

She would go on to say that avatar discrimination happened in other places in Second Life, "There are many exclusions in SL. Children are not allowed some places, non-human AVs, pregnant AVs, collared AVs, or particle emitters, for instance. As a woman, I am excluded some places. Sometimes it for dress, like 'must be nude.' I've been ejected from venues for non-compliance with that rule."

The way she saw it, the fur had fair warning, "He had notice before coming that it was human only so he chose to come as a furrie. He and I chatted, we all enjoyed the event, no one said anything until one of the guests complained." She did acknowledge that he was booted by the owner instead of being allowed to walk out on his own accord, "He said he would leave rather than create drama. Then he posted other's text in local chat, creating drama, disrupting the event, and violating TOS."

That last detail was the one big difference between how the two persons described the event. Talking to the fur later, he told me he never posted any IM conversation out in the open, "I have transcripts of everything." He also stated he was there for less than a minute before being asked to change. As mentioned earlier, he did admit to accepting the teleport request before noticing the word "human" in the invitation, but he had been away from computer, and the notice about it being a human event had already faded.

The hostess did have some final words, "We have the perfect opportunity to make something positive of this unfortunate incident. My personal philosophies and practices are to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. When we were planning the .... Clinic, some administrators wanted furries excluded but acceded to my argument on why they and everyone should be welcome. The salient points here are that being an activist can be noble, valuable, and serve the greater good. There are ways to be an effective advocate and ways to hurt your cause. ******'s behavior in this instance gave all those there valid reasons to exclude furries, setting back rather than helping. If you feel furries (or any group) is excluded, make a valid and rational case for why this should be reconsidered. I have shared a few of the points I use. Respect the venues. They have no obligation to follow any course other than their mission or business plan. If the venue is considerate enough to state an exclusion policy so there is no surprise, be grateful. Speak privately to the owners if you would like them to reconsider their policy. If you wanted to be respected and treated well, act that way toward others."

The idea of being grateful and respectful in the face of being given the boot is likely to be too much for many of my fellow furs in Second Life to ask for. They are very proud of their looks, and will see exclusion as an insult to who and what they are. A historic RP area such as 1920s Berlin they can usually let slide as the idea is to make it as close to the history books as it was. But a venue that's purely for entertainment such as the infamous "Frank's Place" that sees a furry avatar as the equivalent to ragged jeans and a t-shirt at a high-class establishment, that viewpoint is seen as a pile of waste matter.

Looking at the hostess' comment about "exclusions" one way, it could be seen as saying discrimination is a part of Second Life, and there's nothing that can be done about it. But looking at it another, it could be seen as saying not allowing someone into a club just because they're furry (or because they're not) is as justifiable as saying women are only allowed in if they're naked without anything covering their private parts.

While the Newser has written about this kind of situation in the past on occasion, fortunately, this kind of incident is rare. The amount of time I've been asked to leave a place because of my having a furry avatar can be counted on one hand after over thirteen years here. I've been to high class places with first rate musicians that while asking me to be neatly dressed didn't have a problem with my avatar. One investigation of a place in which someone was thrown out for having a nonhuman avatar revealed that there was a nonhuman on the staff and the incident was likely the result of a hostess' inexperience. Of those who prefer human avatars, most would rather be in places where they can invite their friends. One SL church operated for months with a number of furs in it's flock before getting a new pastor whom then insisted on "keeping it real" and telling the parish human avatars only. The majority of people, humans and furs alike, left.

So while this sort of thing does happen once in a while, it shouldn't define our Second Lives. It's best to take ourselves, and our tip money, to places that appreciate our company.

Addition: It turned out that the hostess had no problem with her name being given.

Bixyl Shuftan