In Bridget M. Blodgett’s article, “And the Ringleaders Were Banned: An Examination of Protest in Virtual Worlds,” she breaks down the factors of her theoretical framework that focuses on the aspects of virtual protest. The first of the four corners to her framed theory is the degree of virtualization. As described by Blodgett as “attempts that are usually seen as enhancing offline protests or movements, adapting older ideas, civil disobedience, to modern technologies” (4). The second factor is legality. In short, this is “a measurement of how legal the actions of the protests were both in planning a protest and holding it” (5). The third measurement would fall under the name of cultural homogeneity that is “how similar individuals within the protest are to each other in regards to their cultural views and identity” (5). Last but not least, we have limitations on participation. This is the measurement “of if and how individuals are prevented from participating in the protest” (5).
An example of a protest that fills in Blodgett’s frame from corner to corner is that of Habbo Hotel. This raid has been going on ever since July 12, 2006 and is possibly the most controversial of all time. On this holiday, many players change their looks in order to flaunt an afro with a gray suit. Sexy. This tradition was born when the public heard rumors of the Habbo creators claiming racist by banning black-skinned avatars for no reason whatsoever. As if a wardrobe change was not enough to sock it to the creators, these dedicated gamers would stand in front of and block the entrances to swimming pools and simply say, “Pools Closed” to all who tried to enter. For all of those who simply wanted to take a virtual dip on the hottest afternoon of the summer, had to face the wrath of a legal, well-thought out protest that would make Bridget Blodgett feel like a proud mother and send the right thumb of every Habbo Hotel employee right back into their pie hole.
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