Selling at the Welcome Area

Here we have a preview of the Welcome Area of the future, populated with ads displayed by people who are using wiggler programs to keep their av's logged in despite the inactivity timeout that Linden Lab attempts to impose. The enterprising sales avatar shown below seems to be online well over 12 hours now, without moving a bit or saying a single word in public chat!

Just think how much easier initial purchases for new members will be when sales avatars like this become much more common at the welcome area, as they are sure to do if this one succeeds. - especially since the product being sold is a wiggler program that will keep an avatar online all the time.

Sorry, I cant make out a damn thing in that picture. Try upping your resolution.

Hmm ... aren't 3rd party program like that against the ToS? Or am I thinking of something else ...

Anyways, that really does suck. I'm guessing it's another person selling free stuff? Ugh, I hope this doesn't turn into an SWG problem where you have spammers running a macro shouting out what they're selling and where.

Edit: Yeah, I can't see the picture either.

that is against the welcome area guidelines if people would take a moment to read them

Agreed I can't read it, however, common sense tells me its an advertisement of some sort. Ugh, desperation has really got out of control. The newbs have very little money to start off with. Leave them alone until they at least get some more L's. Geez!

Here is the image, resized to 1.33 aspect ratio...

I still can't read it.

Anyways, if they're just idling there being an advertising nuisance, the easiest thing to do is just push them into the lake. Not with an orbiting push script or anything, but just push them away from the Welcome Area.

Problem solved.

LF

I abuse reported this person while I was in the welcome area today. When I'm wearing my mentor title, and I'm there, I feel it is part of my responsibility to uphold the SL policies even more so than usual. So I really had no choice.

They are sitting on the bench. And basically, the script above their head is advertising the sale of an item that will keep you from being logged off for inactivity. It states where to buy it as well. It is clearly soliciting, and is not allowed in the welcome area. Due to the fact that they are not online while they are advertising, it is not as simple as letting them know they are doing something against welcome area policy. That is why I had no choice but to report them.

It also explains how ppl are gaming the dwell system also. I sure as hell hope LL takes note Pen.

Cat

Same as these people who are paid to bombard newbies with group membership for clubs etc. You go on any given day and if someone is there doing that, half of the newbies have the club group in their name. Isn't this also against the rules?

Latonia

I didn't think it was possible to game dwell in that manner. Whether you stand in one place for 5 minutes or 5 hours the dwell is the same (or at least that is how I read it).

The folks who leave thier avatar standing around welcome with advertisements are just silly. In other games if you are in world and do not answer when a game moderator speaks to you it is grounds for suspension because they assume you are using a macro to game the system. I'm not sure if making yourself into an avatar billboard is gaming the system because you do not gain anything (like extra lindens or dwell) for time spent in the Welcome area. That said, it certainly doesn't belong in the Welcome area any more than group scouting or the people who shoot particles everywhere for hours on end.

i have fond memories of the trade bots in the derethian subway at arwic. they were eventually offloaded to the etheral marketplace (a mall sim) and the whole idea of trading with them became an offhanded joke. they all sold the same things (unlike sl vendors) for outrageous prices in an atmosphere of unbearable lag.

i don't see the point of wigglers in sl. if you want to game the dwell system, you do better to only log the alts onto your land for five minutes a day. i don't see the point of trade botting an av either when existing scripted vendors are acceptable and online 24/7.

Welcome to the Ahern-Morris Welcome Area!

If you're new to Second Life, we hope this is your first step towards a richly rewarding experience, filled with creativity, self-expression and fun. If you're a veteran of Second Life, we hope you enjoy the chance to meet newcomers and discuss and show everything you've seen, done, and created.

The goals of the Welcome Area are simple: to provide a friendly, engaging atmosphere for newcomers and veterans to meet and share positive Second Life experiences in a sociable environment.

Within the Welcome Area, we want veterans and newcomers alike to enjoy and contribute to the social activity taking place. As the first thing most new residents see upon leaving the Orientation Island, the Welcome Area helps shape many residents' initial opinions of Second Life.

Second Life's Community Standards and Terms of Service apply within the Welcome Area, as they do throughout Second Life. (Community Standards can be read in world though the Help menu; both Community Standards and Terms of Service can be viewed at http://secondlife.com.)

In addition to the guidelines established in the Community Standards, the following guidelines apply in the Welcome Area:

1. No Selling
New residents start with some spending money, but often don't know what they can buy with it, or how to get more money, when weekly grant bonuses begin, etc. Please give new residents a chance to find their way around, and don't use the Welcome Area to sell items.
2. No Solicitation
As in the real world, panhandling can make people uncomfortable. Residents (new and veteran alike) should not use the Welcome Area as a place to ask for money, loans, or donations.
3. No Mass Messaging
New residents are often don't know what's available in Second Life. While it's one thing to point an individual newcomer to suggestions that match what he or she has expressed interest in, it's quite another to try to teleport each incoming new resident to your business before they've even stepped off the Telehub pad. In general, suggestions made as part of conversation are welcome; however, unsolicited suggestions to join a group, or to go to a specific location, are not. Teleport offers made to residents in the Welcome Area should first be requested by the resident being teleported. If someone is offering you unsolicited offers, please report them by using the "Report Abuse" feature under the Help menu at the top of the screen.
4. No Violence
The display of weapons is allowed in the Welcome Area, as many are unique, creative creations that demonstrate that Second Life has areas where combat occurs between willing parties. However, the Welcome Area is a designated "safe' area and combat is not allowed there. Please refrain from using your weapons or you may be asked to leave the area.
5. No Risque Activity
While there are many locations in Second Life for Mature-related behavior, the Welcome Area is not one of them. Residents should refrain from explicit or sexual language, avatar appearance, and animations. Nudity is not permitted, although it's generally understood that newcomers accidentally lose their clothing once in awhile.
6. No Exploitation
Taking advantage of what new residents don't know, especially for profit, is one of the worst offenses committed in the Welcome Area (or anywhere in Second Life). Residents should not attempt to mislead new residents or capitalize on what newcomers don't know. A prime example would be persuading a new resident to purchase First Land and then sell the land to you, taking advantage of the newcomer not knowing (1) they can never buy First Land again and that (2) non-First Land may be sold at a much higher price.
7. Sharing the Space
The Welcome Area needs to be shared by all, and one resident taking up too much space poses problems for everyone else. Residents should avoid leaving large objects (including vehicles) parked in the Welcome Area. Please avoid avatar attachments that are so large they overlap with other avatars. . Any particle display should not exceed your avatar's personal space (roughly outlined by the sparkles that appear when you chat). In general, it's okay (even encouraged) to show off your big space ship, fearsome dragon avatar, or short-lived-but-impressive fireworks display. At the same time, try to avoid running over others in a delivery truck, swallowing avatars whole with the cabin attached to your head, or making the sky forever rain badgers.
8. Respecting the Airwaves
It's sad but true: many Second Life residents may not share your love for your favorite song. While that hilarious sound clip from your favorite show might be the perfect icebreaker, not everyone can truly appreciate how it's still funny the fourth time in a row. Worst of all, nothing ruins your day in Second Life like the ringing in your ears caused by wearing headphones with the volume turned up while someone plays a VERY loud scream. To reduce this auditory angst, sounds should generally be short, appropriate, and played once. Do not play music in the Welcome Area. Sounds should be within the 10-second limit; stringing short sounds together to make one sound bite is not allowed. Sounds should be appropriate for a PG area; that is, they shouldn't sound like swearing, and they shouldn't sound like any activity that you're not supposed to do in public. Unless the sound is a short conversational sound (such as giggling), playing it once is usually appropriate. Playing every sound in your Inventory should be avoided.

Linden Welcome Area Regulation
Linden Lab Liaisons and other employees (residents with the last name "Linden" may monitor the Welcome Area, and ask residents to move, alter their appearance, change or remove their objects or attachments, or other requests to promote the environment and server performance of the Welcome Area. Your cooperation is appreciated.

I squinted, and thought I could make out the guy's name. Dang, an abuse report so soon after a suspension? Am I right?

Haha! Sounds like Bonnie Bonovan?

I've seen these people before, and usually push them as far as I can while they're standing. Not sure I can push those who are sitting. It's annoying and not unlike different people advertising in the sandbox. I'm tired of seeing that Christmas stuff there every night.

Anyway, I used to think there was no use for a wiggler. Why be online when not at the computer? As others have said, it's easier and quicker to game dwell without a wiggler. But, I admit there was once when I wanted to be online longer than LL would allow. I wanted to be at a friend's b'day party but had to work. So, I set something on the keyboard to stay online. No big deal and I was at the party with a monstrous chat-log to read through later.

You are correct, however some people have a difficult time with that advanced concept and thus the "dwell gaming by staying logged in" myth comes about.

-AP

Yes I saw that today ...and an abuse report was made on him. I hope this kind of thing wont get worse at the welcome area...it looks real bad to someone new coming in. First Impressions are important I think. Let all try and send an abuse report when we see something like this.