Top 5 Tips for the Newly Born

All the tips are great, and I am so happy to know that so many people out there are mainly concerned with peoples feelings and comfort zones. Now let's get the good stuff!!! I want to know all the cool tricks like for instance;

typing "/me gives everyone a big thumbs up" makes it like I actually did it (sort of), and things like that.

So many people can do things like make howls and purrs and meows and other things, how do they do that?

Some people have text above them that explains what they are looking for in SL without being a pulic group per say. Are they just making a group of their very own for this purpose only?

The butt grab tip is something I have never heard before and is by far my favorite, but I bet there are tons more things like it, come on, us newbies are dying to know!!

The Meows and growls etc are either gestures or sounds that you can get as freebies, or buy. The titlers are another freebie gadget that allows you to create a custom title. They are available in a lot of freebie shops. Or do like I did. ask someone who has one where they got it. They will more than likely give you a copy, or at least tell you where they got it.

I so wish I had read this forum when i first discovered second life, it would have saved me alot of time and frustration. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of nice genuine people on sl who are always willing to help if you are having a problem with anything. My top five tips are probably only repeats of what has been said before but here goes.
1. Treat other people how you would like to be treated yourself. Being friendly does not cost anything.
2. Check out the freebie places, yes there is alot of junk, but for newbies they are a god send.
3. Learn to organise your inventory. Put your things under your own tags. I have all vehicles in a vehicle folder and all my tiny avators under tiny stuff. Obvious I know, but heck it helps when your trying to trawl through you mass of inventory.
4. If you come online and you see a friend is online dont hound them to death. A simple Hi will suffice, they may be busy doing other stuff. People get really annoyed when they are constantly getting bombarded with Ims
5. Dont butt in. If you see two people sat on a seat, its fairly obvious (well it is to me) that these two people are in a private Im, so please dont interupt them. If they want to reply, they will, but if they say they are busy, leave it.
Have a good SL day.

You only want 5? I'll try to cut it down for you ...

5) Don't beg. Plain and simple. Don't go around asking for money. Don't ask for free items, especially if it's something you see in a vendor. If you want free money, search for a money tree. Which brings me to number 4.

4) Use the search tool. Search is your best friend. If you want to locate people, places, things for sale, freebies, etc ... use the search tool. Want free stuff? If you use the search tool, you'll find "Freebie Warehouse" and "FreeDove" and a plethora of other locations to find all sorts of free items. Search also applies to these forums. The fact that you're reading this means you're intelligent. Search the forums ... tons of info here.

3) Sort your inventory. If you aren't disciplined enough to place items in the correct folder as soon as you acquire them, then at least block aside some time every week to sort your inventory. If you don't sort it out, you end up with an "objects" folder full of so much crap that you won't be able to find anything when you want it. Also, see the box at the top of your inventory window? That's a search tool for your inventory. If you want to find that silver bracelet you bought, type bracelet in the search box and you'll find all your bracelets in inventory. If it's something you got since the last login, then look in the "recent items" tab ... easier to search recent stuff than your entire inventory.

2) No, I don't want to F**K. Put some clothes on and put your d*ck away. All SL girls aren't RL girls, and all SL guys aren't RL guys. Some people in SL even change their avatar back and forth between male/female. Not everyone in SL wants to cyber. If you do, that's fine and that's your choice. You're free to do it ... that's what makes SL so great. Head over to Sumos Playpen in the Sky ... all the free sex you want. But please, don't walk around with the newbie free c*ck. At least go visit Xcite and buy the proper equipment.

1) Number one thing for newbies ... there are real people behind those avatars ... real people with real feelings and emotions. Don't be an eThug.

I have a box of quality free stuff for newbies. Whenever someone I don't recognize, or someone who just stands out as a newbie, strolls into the area, I immediately check their profile so see how new they are. If they have a blank profile and/or a birthday less than 2 weeks ago .... I try to help guide them in SL. If you're nice, polite, don't beg, don't act like the "typical noob" ... you will probably get a box from me that will help you get started with your new SL experience. I've been known to take newbies to the good free places. Several businesses have low-cost high-quality items just for newbies to help introduce them their product. I'll take you to a few of them. If you're nice, polite, etc ... and willing to spend 30 minutes with me, I'll take you shopping so you can get good stuff at low or no cost. 30 minutes with me and at least you won't *look* like a n00b.

I have nothing to add, but thanks this thread is great.

1) If you're at an event with live music, or a live DJ and everyone is enjoying themselves and chatting about how cool it is - join in by typing something, not by using sound gestures. They want to hear the music, not badly sampled clips from your favourite tv show or howling.

2) If you absolutely have to cyber in a mall, do it in IMs and without taking your clothes off. Include lots of "/me glances surrepticiously arounds" if you like. You did know you could emote in IM, right?

3) If you like someone's build, and they've put it in "Search > Places" the please put it in your picks. This is how we find the cool places and nothing screams "I am dull" louder than an all blank profile.

4) If you use Picks as a photo album, do bear in mind you are still giving people a set of teleport co-ordinates. (c:

5) The stuff you find you use the most won't be the things that you spent the most on. If you're a guy, for example, look for the "Prince Charming" skin in the library folder. Prim hair isn't compulsory, either.

A lot of great advice has been given here, so here's my $0.02 cents worth. I know most of us are not fond of reading legalese but people (like me) spend time writing those land covenants so you know up front what to expect when renting or buying a parcel. Read them carefully and ask questions if you do not understand. Trust me, the landlord knows them by heart and will use them if he or she needs to.

1)Beware of Land swooping -
If selling land, keep in mind that just becuase you cant see someone there - It doesnt mean no one can buy it out from under you. Make absolutely certain you set up your land sale properly before clicking okay. NEVER set the price low and set sale to "Anyone" you will be swooped faster than you can blink.

2)Guard your objects-
Automated systems will scan all the prims you own on a regular basis. Anything you list for sale will be made public on Electric Sheep's website. Make sure any item you have that is rezzed is not listed for sale. (Edit Object - General - near the bottom of the EXPANDED version)

3)You have no Privacy-
Worse than that, some people will be quick to defend others rights to spy on you. Do not say things you dont want others knowing in Open Chat, use IMs. If you are having cybersex dont assume no one is watching. Do not assume just becuase your not on someones freinds list they cant find out when youve been online and the places you hang out.

4)Get ready for prejudice-
As a new person expect to be assumed to be a griefer, alt or a beggar. You have to be prepared to convince people you are just a normal new person to Second Life.

5)Expect no sympathy -
Ignorance of the facts of Second Life is no excuse. You are expected to know the ins and outs of selling land and editing items , two of SL's most complex and costly functions - and get it right, the first time. You are supposed to know you completely lack privacy. And you are supposed to just grin and bear it when you get reminded in uneccessary ways.

Sadly, this is not always the case. I have seen one case of one small-time landlord who simply copied the Dreamland covenant - apparently without reading it very carefully or understanding it. But with reputable estates you won't have this problem.

1....If you are new, start building Karma now...the person that helps you today, well they were helped by someone their first few days in SL, and that is 99.9% of the reason that 99.9% of folks who come to SL and stay, do stay!

Much about SL is chaotic, but the Karmic wheel gets enough grease to spin silently and perfectly forever here!

Do your part, grease the wheel, whether it be a random act of kindness, a helping hand, a bit of advice, or just being friendly!

2...Find a good translator HUD and wear it (I reccomend the Babbler, which you can get for free from anyone who has one...just ask)! SL is global, and we all have a responsibility to ensure that we can communicate! Some of the best SL friends I have do not speak English, nor do I speak Portugues or Francais.

3...Never ever buy/accept anything, then "change it up a bit" and re-distribute as your own inspiration...it's not, and 9 times out of 10, you will end up giving it/selling it to someone that knows something about the original creator!

4...Most of the most-valuable artistic/creative/entertainment experiences in Second Life are overlooked and free! If it is a place with a bizillion green dots, you can bet that either money-machines or MickeyMouse-DonaldDuck rubby-rubby are there...if you are looking for something more, look around, explore, you will be surprised what great things are to be found away from the rat-race!

5...Take the time to say "Excuse me" before you interrupt a conversation...or after you accidentally bump into someone after a lagg attack...and "Thank you"/"You're Welcome"...yes, they're *only* avatars, but the things that would annoy folks in RL, well, they can annoy folks in SL too...and nothing goes further toward endearing you to a stranger than showing them your respect for their space and feelings!

From reading this thread it seems to me not everyone is agreed on some of the points. I think there is a consensus about not pestering with IMs or sex, normal rules of politeness that is.

What there seems to be more of a division about is how to regard the spaces and privacy. My own feeling is that why connect to a multi-player environment full of new people to meet and things to see if you are going to resent them meeting you and seeing you? If I needed to talk to some people in private I would IM them or something.

I went into what I thought was a public area yesterday, a coffee bar, and there were two people at a table having a chat. I would have expected in any other online game/world/chatroom to be reasonably welcome to sit down and join them as long as I was respectful and on-topic and didn't spam etc etc etc. But it turned out they were having a private conversation and I was sensitive enough to leave them to it.

But why why? They could have each teleported to their own "home" and IMd each other from there. It seems reasonable that people can make their plots of land invite-only, but it's stressful for a newcomer when you *can* get onto the land but *shouldn't*. Also wrt looking through windows, I thought that if people make beautiful homes they would want people admiring them and dropping in. Otherwise you might as well log off from a multi-player game and sit in private in your real life private home.

Ok that's my opinion, doesn't mean I am going to ignore all the etiquette that has been accepted and behave just as I want, but I just think it might be more fun if either there was more of a feeling we were in the game to share ourselves - or if there really is this difference in concept, why not divide the world into two halves, one for the pro-privacy people and one for the pro-openmixing people and have an optional warning message when you're about to enter the pro-privacy side so that we can start to be careful about where we land and what we look at.

Couple of things -

Just becuase people are not IM'ing doesnt mean you should butt in on their conversation.

If that conversation is in a residential area and they apear to be at home You are automatically butting in. Some will feel thats rude. Even if they are outside, unless you are their neighbor - you are butting in.

If people are having a conversation at a venue such as a cofee shop, club, bar, bus station = well no thats not a "private" type place and you wouldnt be intruding on them - there is no ability in SL to have a low voiced conversation at a table - And people shouldnt monopolize the local chat area in a venue and not allow others to join in.

What Im trying to get across is it is not IMs are private conversatiosn and Local is public conversations.

Also - some people have this impression "hey this is a social game why are they playing it if they dont want to be social?"

They do want to be social - they just dont want to be social with you.




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(using You in the figurative sense rather than towards the quoted poster)

I understand. And my natural social skills allowed me to pick up and respond to that. But what I see as a possible problem is if this sort of thing is defined as a guideline to beginners, those people who are good mannered and intelligent, the very people existing residents would probably wish to meet, are going to be reluctant to start conversations in case it is against etiquette. I think it would be very helpful if there was some convention about how to show whether you are open to general socialisation at any time, or whether you are having some "me" or "just me and my friends" time. Some sort of visual or contextual sign that people can look out for if the don't know many poeple and are looking for someone to chat to.

Hi all,

I'm a not so very new newbie anymore but I've read this thread from the beginning all the way to the end. All the tips are useful for everybody (but more for the newbies) and should be applied by everyone.

I only wish I read this thread the first day I was in SL. But on the other hand I've met some interesting people (and they are becoming very good friends) and they helpt me in every way they possibly could. So I agree with the people that say 'Everybody in SL is willing to help you if you're just a bit kind to them'. It IS true.

And thanks for opening up my eyes because I am someone who was falling in to a everyday patern. Going to places I always go to, doing things I always do. The next time I log in I'm definitly going to 'search' for new things!

Keep the #5's coming, the really new newbies can use them!

Kisses,

Camden

Re. #2, I have a hard enough time trying to remember to wear underwear. So embarassing to wear a cute skirt and be out somewhere and discover I'm "flashing" or that others can cam up my skirt -- the modern version of wearing polished patent leather shoes.

Re. #3, that's the missing lyric after "Don't stand on Superman's cape. Don't spit into the wind. Don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger."

My L$2 worth... The reason I own land in SL is to give myself a secluded place that if I should suddenly rez nude or wearing something risque, there is a pretty good chance that I will be alone. If I suddenly rezzed and unexpectedly found a stranger hanging out in my place, I might not be too happy. I realize that there is nothing I can do about the occasional passer-by, but I hope that most people would be courteous and look around and continue on. Or at least skedaddle when I drop in.

There aren't that many secluded places for newbies to call CTRL-SHIFT-H. Or at least I didn't find many back in the day when I was a newbie.

kinda short on time so not going to do a top 5
But you can join the Bewitched Hair Update group and upon joining you can pick out a single hair in a single color and the owner Sheltered Heart will send you your free hair
She also sends out all new releases to group members so you will never again have a shortage of hair
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Masan/101/112/40

oh yeah...when teleporting always be flying in case the persons floating in the clouds

#1 Start getting your inventory organized NOW!

Welcome to second life.

1) Never walk away from an opportunity to communicate. Your network of friends is your treasure here - months later i am still in touch with people i met in my first days, and they have helped me immeasurably, and i hope i have helped them too, which has given me great pleasure, I am going to their weddings now!

2) Dont gamble.. dont get tempted... the house always wins. Having said that, i made my first lindens on a club sploder, this is the only safe way to bet. Never bet more than 5 Linden (if the sploder wants more than that, go find another sploder) and 8 times in ten you will get your 5 linden back ... one time in ten you will get nothing back (the owner has to make something out of it) but one time in ten you might win hundreds of lindens... its how i got my start in SL. With my winnings of over 500 linden in one night!!! I got a good skin, good hair, and a good job at the end of it.

3) Go to Ivory Tower and take the building course. The first sections are simple, and it gets more complex as you go... when your brain can't take any more in, stop, go out and look around with a 'Builder's eye' . Right click on houses, objects, furniture, and press 'edit' and there all of a sudden you can see how things are put together out of shapes.. then go back to ivory tower the next day or in a day or two and take the steps you did before, and a few more.... Repeat this process... Then take some courses listed in the events part of the Search... You get free textures, free tuition, you come out with something fantatstic that you made yourself, and you meet new people. Tip the teacher, he or she deserves it. Watch Torley Linden's videos, and see the making of Suzanne Vega's guitar on the website... it was that which got me wanting to build

4) Dont beg, dont be an a**hole, dont ask for sex, dont push people around, dont wander around naked, dont ignore people who talk to you. This isnt ok in real life, and it isnt ok in SL either. You just make everyone pity you and set yourself back.

5) Dont be afraid to ask for information or assistance. Everyone remembers how it is to be new, and most want to help a newbie if they are polite. And as has been said before... when the day comes and you realise you have ALWAYS been in SL and are no longer a newbie, Pay it Forward.

SL is wonderful... Still wonderful... Thanks to everyone that makes it so. Enjoy your SL

Newbie here in the forum (first post - yeah!) and relative newbie in SL. Thought I'd give my top five things I've learned based on my first couple of weeks in SL. (Female, by the way).

1. If my FL description indicates that I don't want to get involved in real life, and, in particular, that I really don't want to share my personal details with you, please don't keep asking where I'm from, how old I am, etc. I am in SL for one reason, and one reason only, to live a life I can't live in my real life. I consider this more of a fantasy playground than a social interaction site for meeting potential mates in real life. If I wanted to meet you in person for a cup of java, I'd refer you to my MySpace page and go from there.

2. My avatar is (according to the "touch here for your height" thingies) a mere 4' 11" tall (1.5m). My avatar's face also hints at being younger. These are both by design. This does not mean my avatar is a child. I am not a pedophile. If you still think in your mind that I am some kind of pervert, remember that as I look at your seven foot tall frame, with your furry body, tail and ears, I'm thinking similar thoughts about you. However, I don't express them to you, diss you for your interest in furries or accuse you of promoting bestiality. I respect your own style of expression and/or your SL lifestyle and I am willing to leave it at that. To each his or her own.

3. A lot of free stuff sucks. So does a lot of expensive stuff. There are jewels to be found, though. Learn to throw out the junk as soon as you realize that it is.

4. If you are in a public spot having sex on the beach, don't assume there isn't anyone around to watch. Don't IM me and tell me to buzz off and leave you in private. Buy some property, get a house and do it somewhere I can't see you. Duh. (By the way, I wasn't watching, I was logged in doing some maintenance on my inventory. See #3).

5. Guys - keep your fancy "equipment" unrezzed unless I ask to see it. 'nuf said.

ok point well taken. but what if the guns are only for looks and not action
(the same goes for swords and ect)

and is it too much to ask to at least say something on the search profile of a place
not to carry weapons instead of banning people on sight(yes this has happed to me
once or twice)
because of my computer/internet performance them notecards
don't show up all the time and the prim with the rules textured on them
takes too long to fully appear.

OK, now that I've been on SL for a couple months now, here's a couple I wanted to add:

1. Guys, learn how to use your camera controls. When I'm at my favorite beach reclining in a chair, it's rather disconcerting to see you standing in front of me and staring. Figure out the camera controls, grab a chair a discrete distance away and check out all of the action. Know that I do the same thing while I'm innocently reclining and working on my SL tan.

2. It's been said before, but let me make it clearer: Right-click, Profile, Read. Good boy. Now, click the 1st Life tab. Read. Read it again. Is it clear? Thank you. And, no, I still won't chat with you on AIM or send you my Myspace URL (I don't have one, so there.)

3. When you see someone in front of you that has been "typing" for 10 minutes and you can't move - the area has reset. Log off and come back again. Things will be working again. Extra bonus - the area will probably be less crowded. (Took me a bit to figure this one out).

Some of us have websites that go into detail about our businesses and/or Second Life. I can only speak for myself, but I made my website to save hours of repeating myself.

Please, please, please...if you see that a business owner has a website, take a few minutes and look at it. Thank you !

1. Understand before anything that people are NOT here solely for your entertainment. Everybody is here for their own reasons. Outside of the occasional bot-run avie, there are no NPCs (non-player characters) in this world. Consequently, nobody you run across is under any obligation to give you information, a job, money, sex or even the time of day. Not that people will never be helpful--many people are very willing to help out newbies and get them on their feet. But they'll be much more helpful if ask nicely and don't demand.

2. A/S/L (age/sex/location) is actually a very personal question, and NOT one you should be asking of someone you just met. Some people come here to live completely different lives, and they really don't want to talk about the fact that they're an office clerk from Cleveland, Ohio in that thing called Real Life. If people want to talk about their flesh lives, they'll volunteer the information--don't press for it.

3. Avail yourself of as many freebies as you can manage when you're starting out. Not only does this save you Lindenage in the short run (since you can get all this crap for no money at all) it also saves you in the long run because you won't be spending Lindens on stuff you can just as easily get the equivalent of for free. You'll learn to appreciate what's worth spending money on--and you won't get ripped off by people taking freebies and reselling them.

4. Try your hand at building, try your hand at scripting, try your hand at texturing. Classes are frequently listed in Events and many are free. At the very least, you gain an understanding of what goes into making things and know quality work when you see it.

5. Unskilled jobs and camping chairs are a waste of your time. The fastest and easiest way to get Lindens is to bite the bullet and buy some with actual cash money. You can get over a thousand Lindens for the price of a Super Value Combo Meal at your average fast food restaurant. This beats the hell of of camping any day of the week.

#1: When someone helps you, be polite. Don't be rude, even if support is their inWorld job.
a) Thank people who help you. Most often, it's NOT their job to help you.
b) Consider tipping them, especially if it is not their job to help you with an item or problem, just as a thank-you and acknowledgement that they generously spent their inWorld time on YOU. But I even tip instructors in classes, if the class has entertained or educated me. You can tip somone by right click on their avatar and Pay, or by Profile - Pay if communication is by an IM.
c) If it IS a business - Consider adding them or their location/business to your Picks by Edit-Profile.

#2: When someone asks in chat or group IMs for help, and you don't know how to help them, do NOT feel obliged to answer. It just spams everyone in that group.

#3 Don't ask for RL information, such as age, gender, location, job, marital status. Any answers can be lies anyway; and it is rude. This is SL, not RL.

#4 Report Griefers. Don't be one. Read the Community Standards more than once.
http://secondlife.com/corporate/cs.php

#5 Remember you are in a virtual environment, not a real one. Be patient and realistic about lag, and people's interest in and their ability to respond to you. Remember typed and read communication can come acress a LOT stronger then really intended. Remember that "you" is a very confusing term; use names, politely. If you aren't familiar with Netiquette, google it, today.