Dont Feed The Noobies!

Ok, finally, it's my turn to rant.
Since LL decided to throw open registrations, and quit giving new players any L, its totally changed the nature of the game, as we all know - for one thing, businesses that cater to new people (fairly cater - not the rip off artists) have suffered greatly, and now we have the new SL denzien, the panhandler.
I hardly ever go to the main grid anymore, due to the lag, and constant griefer attacks, etc. However, in a few visits to Waterhead this last week, I have seen repeated cases of:
People selling freebies of all types
People walking around begging L
Etc.
Also, these new players are telling others, "Oh, just go around asking people for L, thats what I did, and I got like 2500 dollars, etc"
Here's the feed the bears syndrome at work. I'm all for helping new people out. I always point them out to yadnis, give them some transfer clothes, or a skin.
But I dont give out L, and I dont give out guns, cars, etc - all they do is try and pawn them off for L to some other new person.
Like the guy standing in the middle of Waterhead, yelling that he had "700L guns for just 100L" (freebies of course) - for an hour, and no one says jack to him.
If you want to help people out, then send them to yadnis, or a casino - you give them L, and nice freebies, and all you are doing is enabling them, to keep right on begging, and they teach other new players to do the same. How about we put an end to this now, instead of it becoming another SL wide massive issue.
So dont feed the noobs L, give em helpful info instead!

The method I prefer in dealing with panhandlers, is giving them a current Money Tree notecard (you can pick one up at NCI). Its full of landmarks to money trees, and it usually means them teleporting away, and out of your hair.

Freebies are important, however. Its often freebie items that get new residents hooked on our world, and spark the interest to make their own creations. It was Jopsy's "No-Frills Particle Script" that first got me interested in scripting when I was new. I'm sure others have similar experiences.

Freebie sellers spit on the original intentions of the creator, agreed. I just think that new residents should have access to the muse that freebies become for many

I agree! If you feed them, they become a nuisance not just to you, but to others as well, and they'll never learn to make it on their own. If someone comes to me, begging, I tell them to go find money trees or something, never give them money. (except I did to a friend, who lied to me about paying me back...not a noob even..back to the point...lol.)

If they don't come begging, just asking for advice, I give them lm's to Yadni and other freebie places, some stuff that I have myself etc. There are well-mannered, nice newbies out there, ones that will surely be good to SL. Sometimes they're just so hard to come by

I get a lot of these messages as well.

I also get a lot of people asking to work at my shop. And when I say, "No, I like doing all my own work," they ask again and again, often referring to how great of a builder they are. I try to point them to the Search->Employment feature, but more than likely they just went to the next shop listed in the classifieds and tried to get hired by them.

I really don't think these people are adults, as I don't see a grown man or woman begging for a few L$ in a virtual world/game (however you see it).

LOL yes, I get those too. World class builders and scripters, that have been on SL less then a day.

And to be a little clearer about my rant, I'm not saying NOT to give people freebies - they do have a very important function in the game. I'm just saying maybe we should quit giving them items that they are going to try and resell - weapons and some of the nicer freebie vehicles come to mind. Id rather send them to Yadnis - not only does that teach them to fend more for themselves, maybe if they get it from Yad's for free, they wont be so tempted to try and sell them. A lot of the cases I have seen of freebie reselling, were due to items that someone had given them.

I was going to say something witty, than realized everyone would look at my creation date and go 'GTFO NOOB, IMMA RAPE YOU WITH MA LAZER'. Damn you, Super Info Highway.

Damned petty criminals. If they had ambition they would at least try some serious fraud like a pyramid scheme or setting up a fund for a corporate project with an alt created over a proxy and with a throw-away-contact.

I tell them to click the little blue dot with the $L symbol on the upper right hand of the screen and they can magically get as much money as they need

Point them to one of the following locations:

GNUbie Store in Indigo
YadNi's Junkyard
http://SLBoutique.com/free/

And point out to them to stop begging, as in a realm where you don't need shelter or food, it's truly classless, and not necessary for survival... or even better, tell them to click the blue L$ in the upper right hand corner to talk to your accountant!

Regards,

-Flip

This is exactly what I tell them. Most say they do not want to put real money into a game, at which point I remind them that time is money, and they are wasting mine. As mentor, I am always supportive and encouraging to any new resident that needs help or wants to learn something. But also, as a generally hard working person, I have little sympathy for those that are unwilling to work themselves.

I had to put my freebie tattoo's on 'NO TRANSFER' because I found out that some people are really cheap and they aren't creative enough to make their own stuff...so they sell other people's freebie stuff as if they made the stuff themselfs.

I've mentioned before that I don't think it's unwillingness to work. In fact, I think it's desire to work that puts at least some people off buying L$ to start with. They genuinely want to earn their way, but haven't realised that in SL (unlike many "games" you need an initial investment, and the things you have to do in order to earn money are totally different from the things you do with the money once you've gotten it.

Oh, and I tend to refer newbies to Premium membership rather than LindeX, since it helps LL more and gives them a "connection" to SL for a longer period, but that might just be me.

I keep a rolled up newspaper and a spray bottle full of water handy.

<hides>

Oh boy, I sure haven't seen much of this problem. Maybe some people are like this, but most are not. As somebody who has spent a lot of time assisting new residents, I can tell you that most people come here with very unrealistic expectations. They hear you can make real money, but they are not willing invest real time and effort. For example, they want to create t-shirts, but are unwilling to read a tutorial on alpha channels. Or they want to build a vehicle, but are unwilling to spend a couple of hours at the Ivory Tower.

I do think another thing is at play here though. With other MMOs, buying money is often seen as cheating or in some way a dirty practice. So people just don't want to do that, and especially not in their first week. For some reason, begging for money is more acceptable to them

*shrugs* I send them all over the grid, to various places that actually give them the skills they need. I do need to pick up the current money tree list, though.

I always go with the idiotic motto of, "Give a man a fish..." For some reason some of them decide the fish belong in the ear. Those are the ones I give up on.

Why does that four-letter word raise the hairs on the back of my neck?

I have actually started today writing up a notecard with some of my favorite Landmarks in-world to hand out to newbies. Thinking I need to add some moneytree spots as well. When they ask for money, that is what they will get.

In the last 4 weeks my track record with newbies has been crap - out of like maybe 25 that I've actually engaged in conversations with, only about 3 were decent. So that leaves 22... 8 were griefers, and the rest panhandled, asked for free sex (I am not an escort or even look like one most days), or threatened to blow me up if I did not give them money.

It seems to be unverified accounts that mooch for money. Hello..how hard is it to get a credit card and charge $10 to it for some $Lindens? You want to make money here? Quit your dayjob? Buy a summer home? Ok...... try doing that in REAL LIFE with no skills, manners, or money. IMO if you do not care enough to learn the system and culture, then you do not deserve to make money or even be in the game. No one ever claimed SL is the right game for everyone. Go play the SIMS or something.

Off to finish my notecard now.... It's not much, but it makes me feel better.

I've had to put all my freebies to no-transfer as well. Thanks, Ms. Bergman, you're a real gem.

I also have a problem with people who expect free L$ for nothing, but not nearly as much as leeching, talentless freebie re-sellers. There's so much you can do in SL for free, it doesn't cost anything to join; if you want the premium stuff, then frickin' spend the price of a movie ticket or a video rental for the hours entertainment and job you'll get from the purchase! Pointing out that L$3000 = US$10, a movie ticket cost, normally brings some people down to earth.

That's three Munchflower skins for US$10. What a steal!

Regards,

-Flip

The problem is perception. It is hard to tell initially what L$ is worth. It seems relatively easy to get. I myself spent a few days 'camping' to get started. Then, at somepoint, you realize that contributing to the game is a better way to go. (monetarily or content wise)

There will always be this transition period. As long as we don't make it easy for undeserving avatars to get free L$, the n00b period for new players will be shortened.

Part of the problem is perception: SL is not a game. It's an online world, or a platform, but not a game.

While it's primary purpose is still undeniably entertainment, as every month passes more and more businesses and educational institutions are finding new ways to use the platform to their advantage in new and innovative ways. As time passes and this distinction becomes more clear, I think this problem will fade a bit.

It still amazes me, however, that people have no problem paying for entertainment elsewhere: movie tickets, renting movies, amusement parks, pay-per-view, online games... yet it seems to be such a large issue here.

Regards,

-Flip

I keep getting people with accounts created in the last day or so TPing onto my store for whatever reason and wandering around with humping animations. I haven't even engaged them in any capacity but it's still weird.

Why is it that before even learning how to build, the newbies automatically manage to find the humping animations?

Yeah, where do they get those things, heh? I had a run in with a naked humping jerk in a store, too. Hmmm....

(Buy Josh's cool avatars)

haha, free press! w00t me!

IM me for a copy of the actual notecard... the landmarks didn't come through the cut/paste. Of course the Adult landmarks are where I frequent the most.

Since the boards are closing and I feel somewhat of a responsibility to get my avi's name forever remembered here...

---------------------------------------------

PB&J : Podcast / Blog / Journal
Audio Voyeurism At It's Best...

The PB&J podcast was started in Feburary 2005 and is published when I get around to it!! It's my take on Motherhood + Marriage + Music, with a big dose of Jersey Girl wit thrown in.

Check out the PB&J Podcast at : http://pb-j.blogspot.com

- Lynette Radio
PB&J Pool & Deck, Bbang (106,45,52)

===================================

Second Life Information

Second Life has become my "home from within my home" and I actively help other SL residents find what it is in this world that interests them.

I'm putting up boxes of freebies when I can. Please note that these freebies are NO TRANS due to several of my own freebie creations showing up for sale. If you have a friend that is interested, share the landmark above so they can come by for their own stuff.

I have also included some landmarks below for some interesting places and sites around Second Life. These are some of the best of the best in Second Life - I hope you enjoy them! (Please note that some locations / stores may have changed since creating these landmarks.) For more ideas and locations, just use your SEARCH button (then choose EVENTS or PLACES for example) at the bottom of your screen

~~~~~ HOW TO GET MONEY ~~~~~
***You don't need a house, own land, or have money to enjoy yourself in Second Life.***

You may NOT panhandle or threaten for money, not only is it extreamly rude and disrepectful to people that get their L$ through the proper channels, but it is illegal. Not sure you can afford Second Life? Well, the game is not for everyone.

My first suggestion is to upgrade to a paid account, you receive a signing bonus as well as weekly stipends. Check out SecondLife.com for more information.

With a paid or free account, you can still BUY MONEY by using the little blue L$ button at the top right corner of your screen, search for MONEY TREES (where those with money donate to those that do not have), search for camping chairs, or create something in-world that can earn you money. While it is true you do need some technical skill to create objects in-world, there are plenty of places in SL you can learn for free. Just as you cannot expect to start a business or earn money in the real world without knowledge, skill, talent, manners, or money, the same holds true in SL.

~~~~~ LANDMARKS ~~~~~
Freebies & Newbie Areas:
?Education:
€Other Podcaster Hangout Locations:
Dance Clubs:
Annimations & Poseballs:
Homes for Sale:
Adult (visit at own discression):
?Clothing, Hair & Jewelry:
?External Shopping:

It sounds like you and I basically agree - I've never had anyone say it directly, but there seems to be a sort of dynamic that buying money is "cheating". I haven't, though, had many people saying that they want to make real money - the majority say they just want to get some L$ to spend on things.

And I still believe that the mismatch in the type of work is more of a problem. For example, your case where they want to create t-shirts but don't want to learn about alpha channels. If you take the point of view of someone coming in from outside, thinking of and writing up fun slogans and drawings to put on t-shirts is quite a long way away from learning the technical details of how computers store transparent images, and many current art packages throw a whole lot of awkwardness into the process as well (especially making alpha channels )

If someone wants to design cars, then learning the generic rules about how to build things may not appear to be much to do with cars at first. The Ivory Tower I seem to recall was adding a section on vehicles last time I went there, but it mostly seems to focus on architecture. (Do they still have plane building tutorials at Abbott's?)