Newbies - Love Bomb or Harass?

Newbies are the future of SL... and I don't just say that because I'm new myself!

Which is why I think it's shocking that some people wanna harras them. I've heard on a few occasion folks talking about going out of their way to scare newbies, and even saw some people working on 'traps' for newbies! I think that's awfull! Maybe we should all negatively rate folks who we see doing that kind of thing?

On the positive side I think folks are generally courteous and helpful to newbies - I know that was the case with me! I think we could do even more as a community to welcome folks and to get them involved, maybe have more recruiting events for active groups, or maybe group representatives hanging out at the welcome area to recruit people. I know that as a newbie groups seem quite exclusive unless you're personally invited - and you never know which ones are still active. I' m thinking like college at the beginningof the semester!

What do folks think about these issues? Have things been tried already?

I have to say... I've been trying to catch a newbie for my very own for a *long* time, and I never even thought about using traps!

Thanks for the idea, Aestival!

Seriously, though... I'm sorry to hear that there's a lot of that going around, still. I like to think that most people who really do like to be social on SL don't harass newbies... it's sort of defeats the purpose. But there will probably always be those on SL who just like to cause grief, or who just like to make money... and I'm not sure there's a way to stop them.

That's why starting classes, welcome areas, and Mentors are so important. Thanks to all of you!

--Carolyn
(The Aunt nobody knows who never lifts a finger to help anyone because she's lazy and no fun but still appreciates that other people do it)

Hi Aestival -

Welcome to Second Life!

You might go to the SL Group Forums area here and browse through the many listed groups.

Most have open enrollment, including ours, Awakening Avatars Group which also has lots of newbie resources! You're welcome to join us.

Enjoy your SL!

Welcome to SL Aestival!
I have found the easiest way to meet people in SL is to just find the green dots on the map, fly to them, and introduce yourself. As far as groups recruiting at the welcome area, that is generally frowned upon. There are however usually a bunch of people hanging out there, willing to help.

As far as trapping newbs, I am guilty. But in my case it's for science. I am a professor of newbology and am constantly conducting experiments. I have several trapping methods, all painless. In most cases I release the newb unharmed within a few hours, they seldom remember a thing as the probes I am now using have a delete memory function.

If you have any questions or want to hang out, IM me inworld, I will be on in a few hours.

Thanks Merwan, I *will* join!

Of course until you actually invited me I don't think I would have even looked into your forum to find out how open it was... maybe I'm too shy, but I think it would help a lot of groups and make newbies feel more welcome if there was more active recruiting...

Maybe there could be a "group fair", or groups could take turns at the welcome area at a recruiting booth... Just thinking aloud!

So *that's* how I got this tag on my ear!

First the sheep, now the newbies....

be afraid, be very afraid.

Aestival (love that name!), that's a *great* idea!

Back when I was in college, they always had a student organizations fair at the beginning of each year, so new students know what's around. A group fair for SL would be really cool!

--Carolyn
(The Auntie who gives her opinion on ideas, but of course has no plans on how to make those ideas happen, and really seems to just have a fascination with her post count going up and up, while never really saying anything)

dude u really do harass noobs as do i. remember when we used to do it for evening entertianment? oh my...good times.

Excellent!

As a Mentor, I'd be happy to put on a Group Information Fair at Stage Four.

I'll schedule it for later this week to give it some time to get kicked around and for Schwanson to return all the newbies he's got hidden throughout the pastures of SL.

Most Excellent !! Let me know Merwan !

Aestival, you make me ponder some things... I'm not sure how effective a "negative rating" system works, because already, I've seen several fine people who were caught in what seems to have been a "negative ratings war" before my time that was perpetuated by malicious, mean people who caused trouble. I don't know what happened to them, or why the ratings were never pulled out for that reason. If there were real troublemakers, I would hope the Lindens are made aware because the proverbial Linden buck stops with them. I'm thinking if someone has their account terminated for repeated violations and personal attacks and harm to others, likewise, their ratings should not count for anything. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

In the words of the famed sci-fi writer Harlon Ellison, "Not everyone is entitled to an opinion. They are only entitled to an informed opinion."

I was fortunate to have been caught in a bubblemine, sent flying across two sims by a lightsaber, bitchslapped, etc. but have all of these things explained to me BEFOREHAND by well-meaning people, as to make them fun. I see how all of the aforementioned could really ruin a newbie's SL experience.

I don't think any particular mob mentality for hunting down problematic avs is healthy, although I do agree that if a newbie -- or anyone -- is being harassed and others are nearby, then a united stand should be made.

To me, hating on newbies (and I am a newbie myself as of... now) is like hating on babies and children. We were all there once, so if we lift each other up instead of putting the green sprouts down, we'll strengthen the entire Second Life community. There's a lot to be said for Mentors (and I'm not just talking about those PSAs either ).

People get into this mode, they start to say things like "well, I've been around since beta so this is the way things have to be".

It's painful, cause we all fear change, but in the end we need to let the newbies win out because, like you said, they are the future.

Of course, I'm a newbie .. mabye my attitude will change in a year or so

My first memory of Second Life was that balloon shooting range and someone nailing me and getting a nice popup window to report abuse. I didn't offcourse I ran off and started hording the biggest baddest weapons I could get my hands on and now they mostly just gather dust in my inventory. It's all just part of growing up in a metarverse I guess.

So I guess SL sorta mimics reality in you go for basic needs to start like Food Water Shelter, but you don't really need those needs in a virtual world so what comes next protection security and big ass guns hehe. Then it's where do I find a good detachable.

Wierd how needs start to change the longer your in it.

I used to like covering myself with rocks and pretending I was a geological feature in Morris...

I'd wait for some unsuspecting Av to walk near me and hit one of the dance anims and make ARGH noises like I was eating them as the giant rocks swarmed around them.

Oh, and the time I stole Darko's Hum-V and ran over everyone in Ahern...

Apart from that I think I'm fairly Newb friendly......

Siggy.

OMG!!! That sounds SOOO exciting. It's on my list of things "To Experience" in Second Life. Surprise me sometime please, will you? That sounds sooo much fun.

I take my Newbie hunting very seriously. SOMEONE has to keep the herds thinned. And besides, Newbie is good eatin'.

Hmmm babies & newbies - good cherub food...

*** taking little doggie I bought last night and hiding him in the black hole I call inventory ****

what the hell is a love bomb? drop one on me plz.

I got a love bomb for you!

Schwan, you know Darko is really a wolf 'in' sheeps clothing right ??

lol. nice.

IT's scheduled Leck - and I have started a new thread about the role of SL Groups.


Groups in SL & Recrument Fair


Event announcement:

SL Group Recruitment Fair

LL -

Why is the above thread locked, deleted or where is it??

It's a discussion about a Mentor event at Stage 4 on sat.

Please advise.