Murder at Ahern Welcome Area

My first day at SL, last Monday (4 days ago) my AV was assaulted and murdered at or next to the Ahern Welcome Area. I had moved outside of the welcome area to get away from the Chat Room activity while I studied the help menu. I could hazily see the shooting booth in the distance, but didn't know what it was. I was "Away" trying to learn more about using SL when someone came up and assaulted me. When I closed the screens so I could see him, he was using some kind of karate kicks on me. I don't remember his first or last name, but I'm pretty sure his second name was "Streetfighter".

A message came on the screen saying I had been shoved and hit with a script, did I want to report the abuse. I did report it, I was a little shocked and irritated at this experience. I didn't appreciate his kicking me, but didn't know how to hit or kick back, and had no weapons, so I decided to try being friendly and see what I could learn from him about SL. I asked the guy where he learned those kicks and why was he kicking me. He claimed his "mentor" gave him the script and told told him to go around kicking AV's.

I notice he had a pistol in his hand and asked where he got it. He told me to follow him down to the shooting booth and he'd show me how to get one and use it. He showed me the pistols on display there. He seemed more friendly at this point in time and asked me if I'd like to learn to shoot. I said sure. He used his pistol to shoot a few targets. Then he explained what I had to do to pick up a pistol, aim it and shoot at the targets. I took about 3 shots at the smiley faces, when I was assualted again, I couldn't see what was happening. Something made my AV go spastic, a black wire can shaped cage appeared around me. When the assault stopped a got another message that I had been assaulted and hit with a script, did I want to report it. I should have but didn't, I was more concerned with closing off the window so I could see what was going on. . I closed the window and got out of Mouse view and turned towards the guy. He appeared to be aiming his pistol at me. I got hit with something again, and again my AV went spastic and the black wire cage reappeared. Suddenly I was teleported back to the Welcome Area.

I was dazed and confused as to what had just transpired. It was tramatic. I thought I had just been murdered by wasn't sure. I was stunned by it because I'd read so much about how peaceful SL was. If I'd signed onto a violent gaming sight I would have been more prepared to defend myself.

I looked for the guy at the shooting booth, he was gone. I went back to the Welcome Area and didn't see him there. I didn't see any Lindens or mentors. So I went to the chat area and asked a female AV who looked (from her outfit) like she had been in SL awhile if she could tell me what had just happened to me. She and several other people explained that I had been murdered.

I asked for advice on what I should do about it. Since I had already turned in one assult notice, no one seemed to think I should do anything else. They assured me this kind of think doesn't happen very often, and that they usually just blow it off when assaulted and avoid that person in the future.

In spite of this rough beginning, I am very impressed with the creativity I have seen in SL. I plan on sticking around to see what I can contribute.

ArchTx Edo (Ron)
Architect/Project Manager
http://www.pbase.com/cptinrn/city_hall <---the last 6 years of my RL

ArchTx, this is just appalling. Sorry to hear you had such a bad welcome. There are trolls everywhere in life and we're getting our share in SL too. Glad you're sticking around a bit to see if you'll find a group you like better.

Thank you for the friendly and encouraging post. I can tell from reading the forum that there are lots of good, intellegent and creative people here. I look forward to getting to know some of you better.

I stumbled across the Police Blotter....

http://secondlife.com/support/blotter.php

... and was surprised to see that my abuse complaint does not appear on it. There does however appear to be a recent increase in other warnings and punitive actions this week. Hopefully the trouble makers are a passing thing and will get booted out soon.

ArchTx

Check your email - it takes a little time for them to investigate everything, but you will get email confirmations that the investigation has taken place.

Welcome to SL ArchTx. Like any large gathering of people SL has it's good and bad elements. Sorry you had to mee the bad element first, hehe. The good really do outnumber them by a wonderfully large margin. I hope you have a smoother ride while you get your bearings.

I'm cynically optomistic that what you say is true. There is too much brilliant creativity going on here to believe otherwise.

Thanks, I appreciate the welcome.

ArchTx

Welcome to SL, Arch. Sorry you had such an unwelcome into SL. I am happy that you were able to see past that and decide that you like it here anyway. I was also shot my first time in SL and got orbited. I also decided to stay regardless and I haven't regretted my decision.

It's a great place, ArchTx. Lots of great stuff happening around here, more than compensates for the stupidity you will sometimes encounter.

Welcome to SL!

Sorry you had a bad start but every community has some trouble makers! Gotta grit your teeth and bare it! Glad you could see through them to the rest of SL

hello again Archtx

Yup you did seem pretty upset and baffled about this trying to find an answer to why this happened.. anyones first day into SL is daunting even at the best of times.
Though i am happy to hear it has not put you off and that you are a level headed person who realises one incidence ( or several) does not reflect everyone in the world.
Like i told you there really are some amazing, talented, creative and friendly people in SL and i am glad to see you are sticking around longer to find out )

sometimes you got to risk getting muddy to find those gems

rhapzody

Thank you for the welcome. I'd like to understand what you mean by "orbited". Someone also used a term to describe what I experience when "hit with a script", something like caged? What is that all about?

Let me guess. I know that scripts can be used to animate my AV and make it gesture or dance. Do I understand that one can drop a script on someone else's AV and make them involuntarily do gestures or animations?

If so that is pretty rude, but how can it kill them?

Understanding is the best defense.

Thanks,

ArchTx

ArchTx, thanks for sharing your initial experiences in Second Life and I'm also disappointed to hear the sucky treatment you had to endure. Be reassured, the whole of SL ain't this way -- if it was, I'd be gone

"Orbited" means, yes, being shot by one of those cage things and sent flying up into the sky, almost as if you were going to orbit around the planet (although the gridverse is flat, LOL). The term was coined by Bel Muse, who has been in SL over two years, and I think the first device of the type was made by Casval Epoch, although not for greefer kin (troublemaker) purposes.

You can't be made to do humiliating animations unless you click Yes to the permissions dialog. For example, try going to a club and click on a dance machine. You should see a blue box come up in the upper-right-hand corner of your screen.

Take care.

welcome to sl. don't worry too much about the idiots. death doesn't mean anything here and you won't lose points or anything. just report the asses and have fun with your life.