Introduction

I'm Ariel Erlanger, and I own a little Second Life business called Æ Designs. I'm hoping to develop this blog into an online guide to what I feel is quality BDSM design in SL, and also of course I'm also hoping to shamelessly promote myself and my little outfit. It also seems to me that there's a bit of a lack of useful information out there for people who are thinking of starting businesses in SL, particularly in the fetishy and highly sexualized industries, as well as a general lack of transparency about businesses that already exist. Since Æ Designs is apparently going to be a viable business, I figure that gives me a little traction out there -- maybe my opinions on style in SL and business development might be valid, and might carry a little weight. I have to say I'm not especially good at self-promotion. When you read or listen to other people talking about their own products, I've noticed that most people go in one of two ways when they evaluate what they've made: 1. They think it's garbage and they can't believe anyone would buy it. 2. They think it's the most amazing stuff ever and they can't believe anyone wouldn't buy it. In other words, most people don't seem to be able to evaluate themselves very accurately, and I know I'm the same way. I always fear, when I'm praising something I made, that I'm falling into that second category, and that my irrational overexuberance is like, obvious to all, and that I'm making an ass out of myself. So it can be a little embarrasing to heap praise upon yourself, but since that's kinda what a blog is all about (that and emo drama) please forgive me in advance if I'm just humiliating myself here.