Hiding in SL from your friends.

Privacy in SL sucks as it is with cameras going anywhere. But lets say I don't want anyone to know I'm online when I login.

Is there a quick way to turn off visibility to all your friends prior to login?

Is there quick way to turn it off after you login?

I also noticed, that even if you are not visible to certain friends, one can click on the name to IM. That gives it away that you are online. Shouldn't SL just say Offline and store the message if you set the privacy flag? When I did some work for casinos, there always had a flag called NRG (non regisered guest). In essence if someone called looking for the guest the operators would lie and say guest wasnt there. I want this same flag here.

Any ideas and suggestions are appreciated.

create an alt

Go to your "friends" list.

There is a checkbox for each of them so leave it un-checked if you don't want to be visible to that particular friend.

There is a checkbox next to each one of the names in your "friend's" list.

Leave it un-checked if you don't want that particular friend to see your online status.

Yup, this is the only way to really hide. Then prepare to create another alt because no doubt you'll tell some people about your alt, so then your alt needs an alt.

Sorry - I didn't read your whole post.....


And sorry for the double post - damn 503 error was the culprit.....

I know I can do that with one friend at a time. I have about 30 on my list and would be a pain to have to go to each one. I normally like being visible to all.

But maybe I didn't phrased my question properly.

I'm looking for a quick on/off visible to everyone on my list especially before logging in.

I'm also looking to be invisble to people who will IM you anyway to see if you are online and hiding from them.

Anyone get my questions?

I think they understood and gave you the best answer. Even if you hide your status to friends they can IM you (as you pointed out), or look in a common group and see if you are online. Really, the only way around all of this is to have an alt you use when you want to be hidden.

There is no quick way. The 'show invisible' hasn't worked for a while, also any of your 'friends' can just look in a groups info that you both may be and and see you are online.

Like Egon said, Create an Alt. If that wont solve the problem, then remove said 'friends' from your list if all you want to do is hide from them.

Hmm if they annoy you when you are busy, kick them from your friends list
Or just create an alt, it also stops customers annoying you when you are with friends.
Best yet for you and your partner to have an alt each only you know about for real private time together.

I also find hiding the car in the backyard, turning the phone ring volume off and keeping front doors and windows shut helps keep friends from intruding.

Hmmmm..............did you take a page from Linden Lab's customer service manual?

Lol true isn't it, I wondered where I got that trait from

omg, Tegg is a Linden!

Just to add..... they will also be able to see whether you are online from the calling cards in their inventory. There is no way to be completely invisible. And there is no way disable visibility before you log in either.

Ive always found honesty is the best policy...I tell people who IM me if Im busy.
If they cant accept this then....well....I wouldnt consider them particularly good friends.
Conversely, I would expect my friends to do the same if theyre busy.

Yes, I do exactly the same. If a friend IMs me when I'm busy, it just takes a moment to say 'Hi hope you're well. I'm busy right now, I'll IM you later ' Those who are on my list are all genuine friends, and if I can't take the time to at least say Hi, that's a poor reflection on me.

And if I IM someone to say hello and they're busy, it's always a np see you later response, usually followed by a big friendly smile.

Real friends are diamonds who should be treasured. A few warm words of greeting cost nothing.

Also, if someone is so inclined they can see if you are online by clicking 'Find your friends online' link from the SL home page.

I agree with what Kelly said.