Outing the Alts (sort of) or Welcome Area Adventures

I spend a lot of time standing around down in the Welcome Area. It can be boring at times, but it can also be a fairly interesting seeing the antics of the residents trying to warp the minds of the new arrivals. I really have to wonder about some of the first impressions people obtain arriving at the Start Area.

The other night I was down there and it was fairly busy, lots of people milling around chatting about this and that, a good mix of old and new residents. I then notice two girls that are brand new and looked the same (female shape #1). I looked a little closer and I see they both have the same last name. "OMG, its twins!" I go over and start talking to them and they both seem a little clueless, one moreso than the other.

A few minutes later, I notice something that makes the situation a little more interesting. This clueless couple of sisters, that can barely read a notecard, have custom realistic skins and custom textured hairstyles! Okay, so its a couple of old time residents posing as newbie twin sisters, lol.

No problem, its a free world and they have every right to do this. If they had waited a week or so to change their skins and hair, I probably would not of even given it a thought. But this is too classic. I decided to ask them, "Hey, your brand new but you have custom skins, those are usually fairly expensive (especially for a brand newbie) how did you afford to buy them and figure out how to wear them?" *crickets* I sort of laugh it off and let it go, but a minute later the smarter of the two IM me and asks, "What are custom skins?" LOL, too much!

Anyway, I got a kick out of it. I dont really care or want to know who they used to be, thats not really the point. I just thought their execution of their plan was pretty funny.

So, hello to all the regulars that hang out in the Welcome Area and to all those new people I have met down there. Please share your funny or odd observations your have made in the Welcome Area. I would also like to hear about how you were welcomed and what sort of first impression you formed about arriving to SL. Did you stick around because of or in spite of that impression?

This is meant to be a fun thread, please no personal attacks or mudslinging. Just fun stuff about the Welcome Area in generic terms.

Actually Loki...

I do tend to put on my alt and hang out at the Welcome Area quite often... just to observe...

It can be quite funny, seeing the reactions of people... and how a relatively unknown av is treated, compared to someone that the whole world has heard of...

I never got to do the whole walk into the welcome area as a fresh goggle-eyed newbie as the friend who intorduced me to sl insisted on tping me to where he was when I'd barely finished making my av.

I feel like I missed a right of passage.

*Considers making an alt so she can do the newbie walk*

rite, ahem

rite, Ahern you mean...
or maybe rong or even wrong... it's just silly...

There are custom skin textures?

Damn.. I must be a newby.

Someone make me one! Will pay!

PC

I went past the welcome area the other day on my way to Lady's show and tell event. It took everything I had not to say something to the chicky with the "if you need land IM me!!" green text floating above her head. I just kept walking.

Cath

OK, I created an Alt to work on stuff. And those that know me, know that is laughable. I never work. Period. Maybe from time to time I have a burst of creativity. But that is neither here nor there...

I have an Alt. And ONE time, and one time only folks, I broke down and went to the newbie area and rezzed a box on my head to be funny. It was funny! It WAS!

It wasn't? I never considered that. I am "the new" forum asshat now. All flame me!


My Alt name wasn't even that clever. *sob* I am Myaltav Fonzarelli. And that name is only cool because of the possibility of someone calling me "Fonz". I've said too much. Signing off..

Loki, a newbie can do and buy as much as any old timer. It's called GOM.

They'd still need to know where to find things, lol

Hmm, never really had any experiences with that. But I'm always pleasently surprised when someone comes in and is already familure with virtual worlds, or has been looking for something like it.

Hanging out at the welcome area is one of those fun things that make me love Second Life because of the newbie optimism of someone still, hm, pure I guess would be fitting for it. Heheh.

My welcome area experience was pleasent. I did what I do for most things, got to know the interface etc. I went through all the extra tid-bits around, like sitting on the bench, etc. Then I think I ended up at the end of the platform near Stage4, however it seems like I was further away from it, I *do* know it was near the old Events Board, because a bunch of people had gathered there and were talking, I just walked around observing not really sure what to make of everything. Then thankfully Jeff Linden I think came in and made someone put on clothes and took us all to a newbie class that was just going to start at Stage4, so I had good timing.

I didn't talk much at first either, since I usualy have this quitness to me when trying out new places, so sorry to anyone if you thought I was ignoring you.

Not sure who all was there, I know there was someone with wings... big black wings... and uh... a bunch of other people that had particles around them when they typed! Sure you can help narrow it down with that.

It was also night-time when I came in.

I can give you a pretty good account of my first time in the Welcome Arena, simply because it was just a couple days ago. =)

The VERY first time I arrived there, there actually wasn't anyone there. No welcome wagon. =( So, I walked around the little boardwalk, went down into the New User Building Area and threw down some shapes and got familiar with the "Inventory" screen (checking out all the clothes in the library was kind of fun!)

The next time I went back there were a LOT more people there, Loki being one of them. Everyone that hangs out there is generally pretty friendly, after all, it must take a lot of patience and dedication trying to teach new arrivals the ropes of such a large and sometimes complicated world such as SL.

I go back to the welcome area several times a day to hear new tips, see who's around, and look for answers to questions I may have come up with on my travels.

I think it's a great place, and I'm glad that there are regulars that hang out there to help out the less fortunate!

i remember my first day like it was yesterday...first person i had any kind of conversation with was vincent fate....what a sweetie...he took me for a ride in a car and showed me his house...was so very impressed...then i went back to the welcome area and promptly got sucked into a casino cult it took me months to get out of...and im free now! long live MADIERA!!!!

Hey Loki there is one other explination, some custom skins use the method of replacing certain files on your hard drive, Not a practice I am a favorite of however I have seen it done.

If this is the case and its a person that has invited someone else to join and the newb is using the Person who is a long standing members computer for the initial creation time. Then yes they could effectively have a custom skin initially and not know it as everyone else would see what was on the orginal persons computer av skin.

anyway I digress

Shadow