Second Life compare to Teen Second Life (Skoolaborate in particular)

I thought I would write this on the train on the way home, as it's something I have been thinking about quite a bit lately.
Since going into the censored, calm and also uncluttered environment of Skoolaborate(TSL), I have been more inspired to build and communicate 'in-world'(some lights, cameras and a van for our machinima making class, as well as several positive and productive conversations). The classes I have held there have all been a joy.
I returned to the main (adult) grid on the weekend to shop for some talking animations I could use with the machinima films we are making.
My experience was something that has kept me away from the main grid in recent times, without me being fully conscious of it.
Firstly even though I knew what I wanted, and knew it existed, it was impossible to find it without wading through piles of adult animations.
Which had people testing them.
When I see two avatars acting something out, unfortunately I know that there are two people controlling those avatars(possibly both male based on some statistics) and the whole experience of shopping for a talking animation(seemingly innocent) - turns into a walk on the depraved side of virtual life.
Sadly it seems there aren't many experiences which don't in Second Life at the moment.

Going through all of this has made me realise how good it is to be in a controlled and smut free environment.
This is something which few people in the main SLpossibly consider due to commercial concerns, which involves traffic, but perhaps the adverse could be true in the future.
Benefits include;
- There is no content, so people have to use their imaginations rather than their vast inventories.
- No griefers (no strangers at all, period).
- No obvious idiots - I would like to phrase this in another way, but it's not just the griefers, it's that being in Second Life is often like sitting on the train around 4pm listening to schoolgirls gossip(except they are 40ish). I find this incredibly annoying. The schoolgirls who do gossip are thankfully (so far) not using Skoolaborate for that purpose.
- No ads everywhere, sales pitches messing with facts.
- Less lag.
- People are there for good reasons, and worth talking to and meeting(either teachers or students.) I have met some great people in Second Life but it is always through a personal introduction or connection of some kind.
- Being able to look at something and say, 'this guy made it all from scratch, and he is from here...."
- Kids have to make things, there are no cheap short cuts.
- Responsibility/Accountability (linked to all above).

There are some bad things;
- I have less control personally- money/land/returning objects/scripts and things I have already done in the main SL(going to Sydney should fix half of that).
- We are trashing the place at the moment, leaving a lot to be returned (same issue, I need more permissions).

The thing about the regular internet and real life, is that to a certain degree, people cannot act out their fantasies in public(on an unwilling audience anyway).
In a virtual world they can, for better or worse.

Please note that this blog has been written knowing that our own students cannot access it from the school network. If your students can and you have any issues with any of the content, please feel free to contact me directly.