Let's have a toast for the douchebags, let's have a toast for the assholes...

Usually you don't see much depth in Stardoll users. Why should you? It's a fashion site that promotes conventional beauty, wealth and the general lack of imperfections or a personality. It is rare to come across an enticing project that isn't based upon such shallowness.

A few days ago, I read a heartbreaking post on MDM, written by Aislin Victory, about her cousin Emily, a girl who committed suicide as a result of relentless bullying. I am truly disgusted that just because one doesn't like someone's appearance, they feel the urge to taunt them to the point they want to hurt themselves.

Bullying isn't that uncommon an occurrence on Stardoll. About a week ago, Austin (alexapie200) was tormented on his own guestbook by fellow Stardoll users because of a photoshopped picture of himself sporting... lipstick and blush. (More on the story, here.) The comments were nasty and, unfortunately, many people called out on the victim of this situation for not blocking his bullies. As if this horrendous act rightfully enraged them and it is only common sense why they had to keep throwing tirades at him. As if it's his fault that some people have nothing better to do with their lives. Frankly, I don't care if this person is a famewhore. Hell, I don't care if he's called you "fat", or a "bitch"; stooping to such a low level just to publicly humiliate a child is exasperating.

Bullying is neither acceptable nor will impress anyone, and, fortunately, there are some people who have realized it. Aislin, for example, decided to launch 'Beauty Week', in order to "remind everyone how beautiful they really are". She even took to the popular blog to reach out to talented Star Designers to help her create T-shirts in her cousin's memory.

She's not alone, though. On the same blog, mere hours ago, I read an interesting post by Dei (To_Royal), who led me to The Stardoll Peace Project, created by audreyxbeth. No, this isn't a flower children gathering. It's more of a "star vehicle" for talented Stardoll users who wish to have their projects showcased in a more accessible platform. As the name indicates, bullying is not tolerated and no form of discrimination is acceptable. (I wonder if Reece will finally find a place where he is wanted.)

Hopefully, more people will follow suit; projects such as those mentioned above are to be applauded by the Stardoll community.

Come on then; applaud!

Crontradicting Oneself

Nudity on Stardoll no longer constitutes a taboo.

Many popular magazines and blogs have used it  in the past, as a form of expression and art, above all, while other projects have thrived thanks to the controversy nudity is bound to bring. Many would say that a graphic that doesn't involve the virtual nipples of a pixelated beauty would be more controversial than one that does.

And while most claim that all is done for the sake of art, that we are all born naked et cetera, maybe it's high time to stop trying to find the message behind a virtual ass and see it for what it is; a virtual ass.

Yesterday, yet another Stardoll related project was launched; Risque Magazine, a new, daring magazine, bound to agitate the still waters of the conservative Stardoll community. Its creator, the talented Aislin Victory -who, by the way, penned all of the articles- started things with a pompous Editor's Letter, stating that nudity can be considered a form of art. Which is true, on certain occasions. The magazine itself is filled with half-naked beauties, Lady GaGa quotes, empowering articles and a rather irrelevant, ostensibly, to the magazine's theme piece about cyber sex on Stardoll.

To be quite frank, I found it a bit contradicting, if not hypocritical. Being a fan of Aislin's and, in general, all for self-expression, I simply find it strange that she would write a grandiose article about how cyber sex is terrible and on the next page show a butt naked model. As easily as one can claim that nudity is a form of self-expression, a bratty, hormonal pre-teen can claim the same for wanting to "fuk hawt boyz".

Just as I've mentioned in a previous post, I am no prude. However, I do feel that sexualizing a website aimed towards children and labeling it as art is plain wrong. As far as the feeling good about yourself people seem to so easily use, I cannot understand how empowered and confident a teenager can feel upon viewing photoshopped images of perfect -and unreal- figures that bare all, pompously exclaiming it's self-expression.

So, to conclude, I believe that if the original intent of the magazine was to make young -and easily influenced, I might add- girl to feel good in their own skin, it failed miserably. Which is sad.