I think this is a pretty ridiculous concept. The idea of even examining racism within emarginated worlds is a complete waste of time. The fact that people like Nakamura strive towards racial equality in a MUD is bewildering to me, as there is actually virtue in working toward such a cause in REAL LIFE. As I realized what Nakamura was writing about, I almost put the book down when I came to the part that mentioned how you had the option of being a "giant pickle." When I see a ****ing giant pickle walking down the street, then, and only then, will I take seriously the issue of racism in a MUD. The whole point of the MUD is for geeks to pretend; a chance for teens and adults to act like 6 year olds, turning one's bed into a pirate ship with hardly any work. There is less point in participating in a MUD if you base your character on your real self. If you want to attempt to find a chatroom that may somehow resemble real life - where real social issues like racism actually matter - don't look in an MUD based around mid-evil castles, wizardry, and life sized pickles. If Lisa Nakamura really wants to see the racism that exists on cyberspace, she should go check out a white power, Aryan-nation chatroom on the IRC. She attacks the "LamdaMOO" for not making race a required selection. Isn't that a good thing? Leaving the chance for encountering racial discrimination in the hands of the participant? Is she not the one perpetuating racial stereotypes in assuming saying: "In the absence of racial description, all players are assumed to be white"? (p. 145) This essay is just stupid... I don't understand why Nakamura tries to theorize about "the boarders and frontiers of cyberspace" in reference to a MUD. I bet less (way less) than half of a percent of people who use the internet regularly do so for the sake of MUDs. Let’s not create social problems in imaginary worlds. If you want to end the problem, just close the damn browser window.