taco taco taco

I’d like to preface this article a little before you get to it. This was an idea I proposed in November or December to the Fat Studies panel chairs at the National Popular Culture Association/American Studies Association Conference that was held in March of 2008. The project itself began in January and I stopped collecting data in February. Everything you see here was presented to around 20-25 people in the panel to which I spoke in March. Being a procrastinator, I put off writing this article until now and got around to posting it in the beginning of June 2008. I hope this clears up any confusion on my intentions and about the purpose of this project.

- Marissa

It’s pretty easy to be skinny in Second LifeTM. In fact, because it’s so easy, why would anyone choose not to be? In pretty much all westernized cultures around the globe, being svelte and attractive (you can’t forget attractive) are some of the most desirable traits to have. No, your sense of humor does not matter here. Even if someone had a choice between a skinny ugly person and a pretty fat person, I guarantee the skinny ugly person would be chosen. What’s up with that?

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This is the group shot of all those who chose to participate in my fat project:  

Hello! I’m writing here in the hopes that someone out in the fashion scene might be willing to help me with a project.

I am set to present a paper at a conference about being fat in a virtual world. I’m looking for both guys and gals to help me by wearing a fatvatar around for about 12 days while keeping documentation of the experience that includes answers to some pre-written questions that I have come up with. I also want to go out as a group a few times and document what happens and how people react.

I can ensure complete privacy in my paper and presentation, but I would prefer if you would be willing to participate as yourself and not as an alt.

If you are interested, please IM me in world (Marissa Racecourse) and I will give you some more information.

By the way, the 12 days does not have to be consecutive. I will be giving three weeks to work on this. The project begins on Monday, however, so the sooner the better!

I just want to wish everyone a fabulous new year. I hope it is your best yet! 

As for 2007, I reached two important milestones in my life: I graduated college and I met the love of my life.

Enjoy yourselves :) 

This is an off-topic blog post, so feel free to skip it if you aren’t interested!I haven’t posted an actual blog lately - it’s just been tacox3 stuff -  but I wanted to do something I’ve been meaning to do forever: I posted a paper I wrote and presented at the Mid-Atlantic Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference in November. It can be found under papers on my blog.

The paper itself is about relationships in Second Life and tackles the question of whether or not people are able to separate their real life feelings and emotions from this virtual world. To do this, I asked participants questions relating to their views and opinions on what constituted fidelity both in the game and in their first lives. The paper was done through my university and I went through all the proper channels to insure my subjects are both kept confidential and safe.

I invite anyone and everyone to read it and give their thoughts and opinions on the topic, and to open discussion on the matter. I am curious about what other people think who actually are involved in relationships in the game. 

Back on the subject of taco taco taco, I’ve heard it through the grapevine that people are somewhat unhappy with my taco boxes because they are so prim heavy, so a sculptie taco is being created as we speak :) New freebies and releases soon to come!