the sims online

WARNING: This episode's audio quality is exceptionally, exceptionally bad. Special thanks to Will Kraus for cleaning it up. In future episodes, I’ll be using a better mic.

Is a journalist who reports on virtual events that happen in a virtual world still a journalist? If you choose to present yourself as a rabbit online, does that say anything meaningful about who you really are? I spoke with Peter Ludlow, founder of The Alphaville Herald about living your life—fully online.

Referenced articles:

Raking muck in "The Sims Online" by Farhad Manjoo (Salon, 2003)

Evangeline: Interview with a Child cyber-Prostitute in TSO by Peter Ludlow (2003)

A Real-Life Debate On Free Expression In a Cyberspace City by Amy Harmon (2004)

Alley and Caitlin discuss the wonder that was The Sims Online, back when everything came on disks and most of us millennials were getting into things we weren't supposed to be in!  Reach out to us on social media or email and let us know if you remember anything we remember and reminisce with us!

Welcome to Under the Plumbob Podcast -- the podcast about all things related to the EA-Maxis series of games called The Sims! We avoid the real world by talking about our made-up ones. Join us weekly here at Under the Plumbob Podcast. 

Thanks to all our behind-the-scenes queens that help make each episode possible, especially Jen for editing.

CONTACT US: email us your Sims stories (anything you want to share) and we might read it on air in a future bonus episode; also contact us if you create custom content and/or mods and want to do an interview or have us just share your details. Email address: undertheplumbobpodcast@gmail.com 

Subscribe now and you won't miss any episodes. You can also follow us on social media: @plumbobcast Twitter / Instagram; @undertheplumbobpodcast Tumblr;  find us on Twitch and YouTube (as Plumbob Podcast); subreddit r/PlumbobPodcast 

Also we now have merch (https://shop.spreadshirt.com/utpb-merch-shop) and Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/plumbobcast)! Check out the options if you are so inclined. 

RELEVANT LINKS 

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/game-over/

CREDITS

Intro & Outro -- courtesy of our creative guru Alley