Group Idea - Feedback Please

Hi all;

Sticking my neck out here, with a group idea.

At the moment I'm in a slow-dance jazz type of place. As usual...people are paired off on the dance floor, and others are standing around. It's not the type of place a girl can ask a guy av...and I don't know that I'd want to anyway. The point?

There has to be other people who avoid going to paired-off types of places because they don't have someone to go there with. Or who simply would like to meet more people in SL easily. Or who are new and would like to meet people to just explore SL with. Or any combo of those three categories.

I'm considering starting a group called Hey, Friend with a charter something like:

For those who just want someone to go somewhere with in Second Life. Without any strings or romance expected. (If it happens, that's up to you!) For dancing, for exploring Second Life, for just meeting new friends. Please have something in your profile so people know a bit about your likes in Second Life. Please have a non-newbie av to better express yourself. (Newbies, I can help you with clothes and such.)


===

Good group idea? Bad group idea? Any other suggestions for what to put in the charter? Thanks. I think I will start the group right now, and if people want to join, do. It will be called "Hey, Friend." Free to join. =)

Actually, I think this is a neat idea. Go for it.

^ Thank you! ^

It's a great idea. I am sure many people will like it.

If people can group chat they can contact each other to go and do something together.

I am sure it will become huge success.
I will remember to tell newbies coming for my money tree about it, if I can get a hold of them before they click the money and run

Thank you! I really appreciate it.

I think it takes 24 hours to show in search, but I've submitted it. & Thanks again.

I left the part about 'newbie avs' out of the charter so far. I wasn't sure if that would make people feel self conscious. Thoughts?

Is it a group that you can have general chatter in? You might want to clarify that.

I was wondering about that. People get annoyed by too much group IM.

But I'm not sure new people will know how to click group info, and IM who is on.

It would probably be easier for most if they can send out a hey friend in group chat.

What do you all feel on that?

I would imagine that you need a little general chatter, but some folks to moderate it. People need to IM to find out if anyone is interested in attending X event or shop. If they get a small group of folks together, great... but no long and protracted discussion about stuff.

I think group chat works better for finding out who's online and interested in meeting up. Just make sure you don't tolerate spamming in chat. Group notices annoy me way more that group chat. Plus, if folks forget to turn off receiving group notices, it can cap IMs pretty fast.

The group sounds like great fun- and i wd second the yes go ahead and chat thing- no spam of course- but i hate groups where someone decides to prevent chat. There are Groups where No Chat is important - but heck, I for one depend on that stuff to know what's going on in places and folks in the know about what ever the Group is about. Sometimes i sit in my workshop for hours building and group chat from groups is great entertainment. Personal preference of course.

Group chat will no doubt work.

As an NCI instructor I know how popular the New Citizens Inc group is. It can be slightly annoying if you don't want that constant stream of IM's on your screen, but it is always possible to close that IM. It will stay closed until you relog or open it yourself.

If you set up some rules regarding spam etc, it should be ok - at least if it is moderated -

I think the more problematic thing is to determine what is spam.
If somebody says: "he, anybody want to come with me to Club A" then that is not the same as somebody pasting an event held in Club A in. But, you may get arguments as to where the line is drawn.

So, I would write very specific and clear rules, and show these in the group description, and perhaps send the note card to every new member.

And then stick to your own rules...

Does sound like I will need moderators for when I'm not on.

Group chat to a point would be okay with me, I could just put something in a note card on how to close the IM chat box, and asking that people use it mainly for finding people to go someplace with and then take it to IM for more general chat if someone complains. Or something like that? Lol. I wouldn't want it to be a sort of repressive rule but I wouldn't want someone to chat TMI type of things all day on it necessarily either...if it obscured the purpose/stopped others from posting.

Sometimes it *is* a matter of a fine line I guess. Mostly I want people to be able to feel comfortable and to just find someone to hang/dance/explore with.

Absolutely no spam/ads would be allowed; and as far as I can tell now, there wouldn't be group announcements per se, unless maybe a rule update or something. But that would probably be a group notice rather than something posted in group IM. Thoughts?

A note card of rules does seem essential thank you for that tip. I think I should put in it, something about how to notecard any (hopefully wont be any) abusive behavior to report the offender to me so I can look into it. I hope it won't happen but it's always possible that someone would mistreat/verbally abuse another person they meet there. I've run into maybe one or two such people in all my stay in SL but it happens.

ETA: tips on rules that might be good for the note card/tips on how to handle abuse complaints or spam ads offenses, most welcome. =) And thank you SO much!

I find the group IM's I get from the Forum crowd are entertaining - not intrusive at all. I don''t think they are moderated, nor are they abused.

I'm a devoutly chaste SL resident. (Not exactly chased either.) Part of the reason I wear a puppy dog avatar is to show I'm not playing the field and that I'm not going to Age/Sex/Location a woman or start in with some hokey creepy chat up line. I have often longed for gardens or forests to explore that aren't full of smootching cuddling pose balls for couples only.

So I'm all for your group. Where do I sign up?

Yay! Would love for you to join Hey, Friend, Weston.

Would love to have everyone who's posted in the thread as a member should they so wish.

Soon as LL posts the group, click to join; it's free!

Should be sometime tomorrow hopefully and tyvm again. yay

I think it's a great idea, but it might be too good of an idea and be very, very popular....so what's the chances that it turns into the same dance/jazz club you're talking about that there are guys and gals standing about, both too afraid to talk to each other, much less ask anyone to dance? I've always been a big fan of the guy asking me to dance, but it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. I think you have a great idea, but this is just something to think about.

P.S. I will be looking up AND joining your new group ASAP!

I *hope* no one's too shy to jump in and say "hey friend."

Maybe not being there 'in person' will help - dunno. Glad you will be joining.

I guess I will have to keep a watch on people working for clubs/places continually just inviting people *there*. It should be about people enjoying SL together - in pairs or groups or whatever.

I think this is an excellent idea and when I have freed up a group I shall be joining yours.

When I first joined SL I used to socialise a lot but this tailed off as I got more involved with building and learning to script. By the time I got round to catching up with folks, they all seemed to be partnered off and busy playing house. I would imagine that's a common problem. I am still very busy most of the time, but when I do get time to let my hair down a bit, it would be great to be able to find people to go to events with.

I think if you allow group chat (but no spam), but don't allow group notices except via yourself that should work. You could have an "ice-breaker" event once a month or so.

Also, I don't think I'd put in the bit about newbie avatars. We all started somewhere and most don't stay newbie-looking for long once they get out and about. Also, what a person's av looks like is the last thing on my mind when I meet new people.

good luck!

This is a great idea. Being relatively new, I'm still looking for places to meet people but its not easy. I did go to a ballroom/jazz type place but they were all paired off.

I will join as soon as the group appears.

I think this is a great idea also...am I getting this right? If we are a member and I have an occasion that I want to attend, but not alone, I can IM the group and ask if anyone would like to join me? That type of thing?

Will join as soon as I see the group come up.

Ashe

If that's how it works, I'll join too. Occasionally, I have events I'd like to attend and can't find anyone available to go with me...so I don't go.

Great idea, Clarissa.

Sounds a bit like Caledon's Victorian Ladies' Society, without the hoop skirts.

ETA again rather than double posting. The group is up! Yays.

Input most definitely welcome, here, or in IM here or in world, as to putative rules, as well as tips on the tech side of group management (oops, I didn't know where to learn that). Things like: How to warn/ban someone (hopefully never necessary). How to send out a group notice with attachment er, attached. Group announcements are planned to be rare. My aim is to have this be more about the membership. And members will definitely not be getting cross promotional palaver from me. (i.e. "members get 50% off today only at blabla store.)

I plan to only send out group announcements via 'notices' if I need to send out the rules note cards, or if there is a(n official) group event, which I'm still not sure of yet or planning at the moment. Might be good for an ice breaker, though. But the main focus is on spur of the moment stuff or grassroots invitations within group membership. Not so much from me.

----

Ashe1 - yes, that is *exactly* the group's intent and purpose. Fingers crossed, it will work exactly like that.

spinster, great suggestions. I agree with you and have left out the bit about 'newbie avs' in the group's charter. What was I thinking. Every av is welcome, so long as they are PG (clothed where appropriate i.e. animal/robot/machine avs are fine as is) and/or not against SL rules etc. This is SL - what's appearance? Lol. In fact I even put something about tolerance/diversity of avatars in the 'rules' note card.

I've just spent approx. 3 hrs writing and fine tuning the group rules (dos and don'ts) as well as a basic tips note card for the 'newbies' should they want one. Anyone who'd like to read these, IM me in-world (or here, if you prefer) and I will send you the cards. Suggestions are *always* welcome.

I might be needing Moderators too...probably will, but each thing in its own time. This is mainly to help people navigate when I'm not online, and so people have another resource to report any major infractions to. The rules are all based upon courtesy and safety, in effect, and stemming annoyances such as spam ads etc. Basic common sense rules really, I hope. Even if I did get a bit severe and wordy in places. But, I figured, those who do not intend to break any rules will just think "pfft, I wasn't going to anyway" and skim past it; and the ones who did intend to misuse the group, will hopefully be put off by the stern tone.

*Everyone* (ETA: must be over 18 in real life) is most welcome and I am thrilled about the positive response. yay

PS Lindal sounds like I should join that one too...I love Caledon, and Victorian thingys in general. =)

Not to bump, but I had a question.

I can't figure out yet how to change group tag titles. Right now, it just says "member" over someone's head. Not ideal.

How do I change group tag title and how do I offer it to those already in the group? Do they have to quit group and rejoin, to get the new tag option(s)? (Also, suggestions welcome for tag titles. So far I just plan to implement "Hey Friend" as a title. Or maybe "Friendly" but that might get the wrong sorts of responses if/when worn around SL - Lol.)

Also we have 11 members so far, but more are welcome. So long as they are friendly/polite and out to have some fun...(PG emphasis). Send 'em on over, those of you who posted you might.

Go into Communicate, select the group and click Info.
On the Members And Roles tab, select Roles.
Select the Role Name (such as "Everyone", and you
can change the Title that goes with it.

If you want people to be able to activate more than one Title,
you need to invite them into additional Roles -- the Title goes
with the Role. Group members can change their active title
on the General tab in the lower righthand corner.

*Thank you* much appreciated!!

I had tried tinkering different ways with it. I hadn't tried to click on the old role and change that. Seems simple once one knows how, huh? Lol.

Thanks so much, again.