So, while I can't speak for everyone who is involved in this exchange, I can tell you that my motivation, and indeed the principle motivation of the boycott itself, is to highlight certain issues and ideas, and generate some discussion around them. I believe that using, or condoning the use of skins such as these to represent sexual assault or domestic abuse trivializes a particularly horrendous part of our RL culture: it turns real abuse into a "game.". I think further that it desensitizes us to the battered woman, and in that sense contributes to the RL abuse of women, in exactly the same way that such images in mainstream culture do.

Why do we flip out over racist depictions here and in the media? Would we feel it was "ok" to RP the Holocaust, or racist lynch mobs? Are most people tolerant of sexualized ageplay in SL, even when we know it doesn't involve real children? I think not, yet there is this astonishing acceptance that depictions of violence against women are somehow "ok." And if even one person reads this exchange, and thinks "You know, that is possibly true," then I have achieved something here.

As for any "impression" I give you, I probably "seem" logical and methodical because that is the best way to get my message across; it doesn't mean I am not speaking "from my heart." You seem to be implying that these are not "natural" modes for women: that I should sound more emotional because that is somehow more "feminine." I'd like to think that "logic" AND "passion" or emotion are the property of BOTH genders. Speaking here, I use logic because I am trying to communicate ideas. But in other venues and forums, my voice can be quite different. It depends on what I am trying to communicate.

Yes yes, I know that statistically, woman are at a higher percentage of being abused, but in several cases there are husbands, boyfriends, men in general that get physically or even emotionally abused. Shit, have you ever seen the show "Snapped" 98% of the stories on that show are about WOMEN who abused and murdered their boyfriends/husbands. It's NOT right for it to happen to ANYONE, yet there's no boycotts over SL men skins that are cut up and bruised, is there? And plz do not use the excuse that Gala is being boycotted against basically because she is visible, BULLSHIT. If that's the case, you all are a poor excuse of protestors. Get your shit together and make a real difference.

I support you 100% in saying spousal abuse is wrong, but I DO NOT support the fact that you are singling out ONE designer out of countless ones for making a few bloody pixel skins.

"these are "battered-wife chic"" — I'm sorry you are only capable of seeing women as fragile helpless beings that can't defend themselves. Who automatically assumes that a woman with a bloody nose, black eye, etc.. is trapped in some horrible marriage where her husband beats her bloody. Who can only see the worst in things. In RL, 80% of my friends are boys, and we used to play football every sunday. Full on tackle football, and one Sunday I happened to get elbowed in the face and got a black eye. I'd be quite offended if you assumed I was being beaten by my boyfriend or husband. Just as if I were Gala, I'd be quite offended that you are assuming that the time and effort spent on these awesome skins were made to represent a battered/abused wife.

You know whats funny, Prokofy? You and Scylla are the only ones so far that have really opened your mouths about this subject on this blog. Now, this being such a touchy subject and a GREAT issue to support and fight against, people should not be able to be discouraged to speak their opinions, and I don't think they are. Your fight against spousal abuse as a whole, I think we'd all happy stand behind you. It's just… no one really shares your foolish assumption regarding the Gala Battle Royale skin line.

P.S. Why did you wait so long to respond to my comment? Did you assume that I wasn't going to see it??

As for kickboxing, in RL or SL . . . well, great! Go for it. i'm sure it is terrific exercise. I'm also delighted to hear about your business and your full lifestyle.

As for your speculations about MY life: these aren't worth the thirty or so seconds it would require to respond to them.

These aren't Halloween costumes; these are "battered-wife chic". We all get that, and those that aren't beaten by the violence of SL itself discouraging people from saying what they really feel and know all know that.

Gala wants to be cool and sell skins *shrugs*. She's no moral barometer for me. She isn't alone in this, and she just happened to be visible. It's not about her; it's about celebrating violence and being UNABLE to condemn it, as you are UNABLE to condemn it because you've become DESENSITIZED. That's important to keep pointing out.

Oh yes, I know your take on RP; Scylla. Sooner or later people take their violent fantasies to real life, they can't tell right from wrong anymore or fantasy from reality. Which is – and I really don't care about your studies and surveys but only about the people who RP with me and who I have know for almost twenty years in RL – complete bull shit.

So when I have done my job as a more or less successful but self-employed and hard-working businesswoman, I've talked with my husband about how our days were, I have made dinner, taken out the trash and checked the mail, I go kickboxing.

And as soon as I am back home I log on to SL, wear such a skin and beat and shoot the hell out of my friends who RP with me. And after a few hours of kicking and shooting and stabbing each other, I log off and fall asleep next to my husband. My stress is gone, my tension, my aggressions. What a perfect end for an ordinary life.

How about your life? Is it actually that balanced? Seeing the number of blogs you follow, entries you make and the like, you seem like Prokofy, an old cat lady who's a bit lonely and very frustrated. For Prok it's always about the money, for you it's always about women's rights. Let me tell you one thing: I am a woman and I don't need someone like you to fight for my rights. Seriously, you're trying to kill my fun in SL just because you don't have any either? How pathetic…

And please stop roleplaying as a feminist… no one believes you anyways.

And the skins are dropdead gorgeous btw!

This, coming from you, is hilarious.

You claim to know Gala's intentions when she made the skins, to glorify and sexualize battered women, and you call a boycott for them. Even after she told you herself this was never her intention, and here you sit accusing me of not having information? Lulz and lulz.

I also should have clarified with, "it's a matter of personal choice. I don't like violence, so I personally choose not to buy skins that depict violence — except ZOMBIE VIOLENCE! WOOT!" (sorry)

And my "if you (dear singular consumer) don't like these skins, don't buy them" statement is pretty much a given. People who don't like to look like they've had the crap beaten out of them — for whatever cause or reason — won't buy these skins anyway.

As to those who do buy them . . . well, they have their reasons, and I do believe that some of them buy them to make a "tough girl/strong woman" statement, and I do support that art form. The real men and women who are defending my country, for example, get pretty banged up and they're heroes in my eyes.

And if some people out there really are buying these skins out of some sick desire to turn abused women into a fashion statement, well, I have a rolodex of shrinks if anyone needs a referral.

In any case, Kimberly Rufer-Bach already responded to this same criticism from you on Prok's blog far more eloquently than I could do: I would suggest that you read her response and maybe actually digest it this time.

Why don't you restrict your comments to things about which you might actually conceivably have some information, instead of criticizing me personally on matters about which you know exactly zilch?

It is, in fact, Gala herself who makes the connection between BDSM and violence:

"The skins weren’t meant to depict violence towards women at the hands of men. Of course a few people will interpret it that way and I’m aware that residents of the BDSM community might purchase them with this interpretation in mind."

Interesting, eh?

Just because you were ignorant of Battle Royale, and didn't even bother googling it before you started you call for a boycott doesn't mean Gala should do anything to justify herself

What skin do YOU wear? I'm gonna hold a boycott against the artist who created your skin because you look like a bimbo and I want a written release saying the skins are not to be used for women to look like bimbos.

And then I'm gonna boycott you for wasting your time boycotting a skin designer on SL when there are actual women being beaten in RL and you are too busy whining on the internets to go volunteer somewhere.

I'd still have probably urged a boycott even had I known her putative "intentions" to begin with. What is objectionable about the skins has little to do with why she made them, and everything to do with how they are marketed and seen by others. What makes it even more objectionable is her note cited here that makes it quite clear that, whatever her intentions, she's entirely happy to sell these to people who WILL use them to depict violence against women. It's a bland disavowal, and a quick wink in the direction of RPers.

As for my conclusion, it isn't half as ugly as a skin depicting a woman who's had the crap kicked out of her. Sorry Ann, but I'm unrepentant.

Gala doesn't owe you anything.

Back to the skins…….

I read about an abuse survivor whose father used to beat her books to beat her.

Find it funny now?

Having said that, I don’t have anything against the skins at all. I am sometimes Neko and I’d use them to depict a battle, not violence against women. They represent strength to me.

But I still love Prok!

I don't know if you're an idiot, but I certainly think you're foolish. Spitting out rude insults to anyone who disagrees with you, or anyone who points out that you're behaving that way, shows that you have little interest in the actual matter that brought people to the conversation.

I thought we already lived through this sort of false association bullshit in the 70s and 80s with tabletop RPGs and heavy metal music "causing people" to do bad things?

These sort of skins have been around for years, yet Prokofy never uttered a word about them… I have a feeling that I know what this is really about. As is all too common with The Big Mouth, it maybe a guilt by association thing. Porkfly LOVES to find out who is friends with who by trolling peoples' profiles and their groups… and that's all I will say about that because in case I am wrong, I don't want to give the stubbirn old fool any ammo.

Scylla – people who think that they should be able to force their personal brand of morality upon others are themselves morally bankrupt.

Go ahead and reply but I won't be wasting my time reading anymore of your self-important nonsense.

We need honest advocates as women – not those who would tilt at windmills.

The fact that you saw these skins and screamed ABUSE!!! is your issue, not everyone sees things the same way, you didn't even check out the name did you?

For the record, I am as lefty as they come, socialist to the core

Prok and those who agree with (and worship) her, need to get out more, and get off their high horses. Maybe get a job or something and learn about the ways of the world.

You are an idiot. Enough said.

And I'll say….If you, or Prok, or Scylla or hell, anyone else ever got off your duffs and ran an event dedicated to raising money for the beliefs you feel free to raise as a flag for this "boycott", I'd come and I'd gladly contribute. Most of the people in this entire thread, the ones protesting you going after Gala, I am pretty certain would contribute. It's something we can all get behind. The people speaking against you all seem to agree that it's a worthwhile cause, but that you're going about it in an incredibly ineffective way.

I was trying to explain how the action Emerald described was not a boycott.

And in your original notecard you demanded or "requested" that the skins be removed from sale.

The fact that you modified your views does not change your original request.

I'm afraid I'm unclear on what point you are trying to make with regard to this boycott. I am boycotting Gala's product line because I want HER, the creator of these, to remarket the product. The action is directed not merely against the skin, because the intent is to convince her to do something about this. Therefore her entire line of products is being boycotted.

Of course, anyone has the right to choose how they want to apply this: it's not as though I am enforcing "rules" about the conduct of people who may choose to join this protest..