A girl was allegedly raped in the metaverse. Is this the beginning of a dark new future?

[limbicnuminousity]

112. Adding some thoughts

The phrase "virtual rape" seems to bother some people while it offends others. It's obvious from the article, however poorly written, that nobody knows what to call it or what to do about it.

The author states: "The question of whether virtual rape is 'really rape'" The police described in the article state: "There is an emotional and psychological impact on the victim that is longer-term than any physical injuries." The psychotherapist in the article states: "Unlike in the physical world, there’s a lack of clear and enforceable rules in the metaverse." "Harassment," "assault," and "verbal abuse" all strike me as applicable descriptors depending on the specific circumstances.

I'm curious though. What line has to be crossed before society is obligated to step in and do something? Would anyone be okay with a group of teenaged boys calling their daughter a "whore" day in and day out every day at school? What if that harassment persisted through social media accounts due to doxxing and your child was being verbally assaulted every evening? What if they started scheduling regular times to verbally and/or physically taunt or threaten your child?

This is a personal question for me. Neo-nazis tried indoctrinating my kid a few years back and they did it online. From what I was able to discern, they like online gaming (as well as political forums). I resolved the situation but that resolution came at a deep and personal cost.

Casually dismissing the challenges of a virtual realm ignores the fact that a digital presence is required to live today. Email addresses and social media profiles are required in some schools and many jobs. Social media accounts are required if you want to network and advance in most fields requiring a college degree. Video conferencing is an increasingly common expectation in medicine or at work.

Protecting your own child is good and necessary but leaves a lot of people to fall through the cracks. The people who fall through the cracks become damaged. When they become badly enough damaged, they either need substantial investment in mental healthcare or they run the risk of becoming radicalized. Neither option benefits society.