mentors/helpers

Tonight I've met a few people new to SL who really wanted to be shown around, given some basic tips, and basically been introduced to SL. I'd love to do it myself (and used to) but I'm busy at the mo and my 'interesting landmark' folder is a bit sparse. And just being sent somewhere is confusing unless you have someone with you.

I looked in the mentors section of the forum and searched in world but couldn't see anything really useful. I know there are people out there that love showing people the ropes but I don't know how to find them. Can someone please advise so I know where to look if this happens again - and I have names of new people now who really want a clue if you're interested!

Haylp! It's not good to leave nice new people stranded

There is a group of volunteer helpers vetted by Linden Lab called "Second Life Mentors"; they tend to hang out at the infohubs, Help Island Public, and of course on the (inaccessible to other residents) Help Islands that new people are born on.

They might want to go to the Shelter or NCI.

NCI is a really useful place to find helpful people. They also have tutorials and classes on SL related things...so it's a really good place to start when you're first born.

Yes. NCI is a really good place and the people are very helpful!

Totally NCI... Funny thing too.... Exactly when you posted there was a new resident question & answer event. That would have been the BEST place to send them at the time. (^_^)

Anyway... Don't hesitate to send them to Kuula and let the NCI crowd show them around. (^_^)

Or... Lately... Caledon and NCI started their own Orientation site with a lot of great walk-through tutorials here >>>>

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Oxbridge/92/198/28

I've walked it myself, and even unstaffed it's a great way to gain an understanding of "what do I do here?" (^_^)y

Try Help People Institute:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Help%20People%20Island/33/31/24

NCI is good...especially the self-explanatory walkthrough tutorials at Caledon Oxbridge.

Help People! is great too...there is almost always one or more live helpers at their in world location.

Help Island Public often has one or more Mentors on duty.

And you may always pass my name to newbies needing assistance.

If they are deaf or disabled, and disclose that information, send them to Virtual Ability. We have a lot of them coming through our Open Gate now, but if they are disabled and don't come in that way, we'd love to have them referred to us. We do have kiosks on the infohubs, though.

Naughty Neva is firing up a mentor thing, too. Dunno them and am not affiliated with them at all - just parroting what I read here: /118/eb/304908/1.html .

I founded a group which exists to help both new and longer-time residents of Second Life find people to go around SL with. It's called "Hey Friend". It is free to join it. There are no strings and no ads, no promotions. It exists for its membership, which includes myself.

Basically you just open group chat and say hey, friend or in some other way ask if anyone wants to go do something (emphasis on PG activities) in Second Life. This could include touring it to familiarise yourself with it or just to find new places. It could include dancing. Group rules so far are Linden Labs TOS and CS rules found on the SL main website.

The more members the better it could work because the more likely someone else will be on also wanting to go do something in SL but not on their own. So if that helps, direct all interested parties to group search, they are welcome to join. (Group's also in my in-world profile)

OR have them IM me (via SL or whatever, here too if they are logged in) - but make sure they mention this thread! I love to show new people around...I don't always have time but could try to make some. I keep newbie kits and landmarks for them, too.