What do you like to see in Profiles?

Ok, so the thread about are you really looking gave me a question. With everyone talking about reading and writing profiles, some people have mentioned liking a few things, not liking a few things and having a hard time writing their own. So, what kind of information do you like to see in someone's profile? An elaborate story, something more personal about who they are and what they are doing?

I struggle writing my profile, mainly because I don't like writing about myself and don't even know where to begin, but also because I'm not sure how much information is too much information. I have been working on a poem that I intend to put in my profile that relates to me.....but I have serious writers block.

** Forgive me if this has been done already, I created this post on a whim after reading another thread that I didn't want to derail **

#1- RL Pic if you're a hot lookin' female!

#2- I like it when I see someone mention stuff like Married in RL, 2 kids, and a dog. Stuff like that. I think folks can mention that kind of thing without it being too personal.

Many like to see different things.

For RP oriented characters - a pick or profile that details a bit about the role

For general - a little information about you, your likes and dislikes.

I tend to prefer no RL info for the most part ( age, gender if you want)... too easy to fake... and too much is asking for trouble


Definitely list the languages you can understand!



edit : Just be aware I would say 99% of folks don't seem to bother with reading the profiles...

I think your 2nd life tab should be best used to describe your avatar and your inworld behavior. In a way, describe what you want to be. If it's roleplay or "Keep it real", describe that and use a picture that would best give people what to expect when they see you inworld. That way if people find you in search and happen to see you wander by, they can recognize your avatar and maybe strike up a conversation. I've met a few good friends that way. (^_^)

In 1st life, put whatever your willing to reveal about yourself. Even if it's just a statement saying you don't want to reveal anything. It's also a good place for ground-rules that you might not have room for in your 2nd life tab. I have avoided many dangerous situations that way. And lately have dealt with my own demons the same way. (=_=)y

Sometimes I wonder if I will get in trouble for having my first life picture being a naked picture of myself.. but it does hide anything objectionable.

Me too!. I like it when people come into SL to have fun and yet are still prepared to acknowledge their RL selves.

Too many people hide their RL avatars because they see them as a liability to having fun and mixing with others. I suppose this may be true in some cases.

Personally I like to see some originality or at the very least practical information. For example if that person is a vendor a pointer to a pick for a landmark or if a role-player some info about that. Maybe whether they are new to SL or an old hand. Any special skills or an indication of their willingness to help or what they like to do in SL.

I put "not looking for love" in my profile and that somewhat cut down on the come-ons.

I don't want to see another profile that says "XXX is my bro. Don't mess with him or I will kill you." Uh, yeah right. I smell drama magnet.

If I'm hand-holding someone new I often point out the profile and advise them to put something in there even if it's just "I'm new to SL. Please help me if you see me struggling."

Good question, Stormy!

Things I like to see (in no apparent order; I am sure I will think of more)

*I like knowing why people started SL
*how long they've been active (although I know I can find this elsewhere on the profile page, but..)
*if role playing, tell me something about your role, and the RP site you are in
*some may find it handy indicate interest/disinterest in... relationships
*if a business person, something about your business. I like checking to see what's the best way to contact someone: IM, notecard, email. etc.

I like to see humor and intelligence

but most important I like to see non-violent, non-rude, non-arrogant things in them.

I like to see what their interests are and what they like to do in SL, along with some general other general info...if they like meeting new people then having something thrown in about it being ok to message them. I like to see some of their favorite hangouts in their picks with descriptions of why they like it there written by them, not just taken from the land description.

I have a lot of things that really irk me about profiles but at the risk of offending anyone I'll keep that to myself

It's your Profile page, so I think you should put whatever you like. A poem, rules, drama, a quote, a picture of your RL dog, your favourite colour, what you're reading at the moment, the people you admire, a picture of your favourite boots, a funny story (mishap) about yourself, etc.

Just keep in mind that strangers (potential friends) are going to read it and may make assumptions about you. Not only on what you write, but how you write it. Example, if I see a long list of what a person dislikes, instead of what they enjoy, not only will I know what they don't 'like', but I'll assume that they have a pessimistic outlook on life in general.

All types of profiles give you _some_ information about the person, even the ones that are basically empty, (newbie - alt - doesn't want to socialize).

Wow, great info guys!! I think the thing that I struggle with is writing interests and such without it sounding as if I was answering a survey about myself.

I am an inveterate profile reader. I am intrigued by profiles that tell me a little about the person's interests. A profile that shows a sense of humor is always appreciated - I can't really describe that a priori, but I know it when I see it. I also like profiles that encourage friendliness. Profiles that say "I love to meet people so don't be afraid to say hello" are highly appreciated. Quotes and such can be nice, if they have real meaning for the person and convey some information about who that person is.

Mostly I like it best when I get something from a profile that gives me information I can use to open a conversation. Like "Oh, I see you are a teacher - what subject?"

I am put off by negative exhortations in profiles, though I understand why people feel a need to use them. "Don't offer me friendship without talking to me first;" "No sex please;" etc. seem to me a waste of profile space - the people who are going to run afoul of these admonitions are probably not people who bother reading profiles.

(It's still my experience that more people do not read profiles than do. I can say this because there is a certain question that I am still asked by two out of three visitors to my cafe even though the answer is in my profile.)

"If you mess with so-and-so, you mess with me," as mentioned above, is also a turn-off. Why would I mess with anyone? Why would you feel that the first thing you say to me should to be a warning that I shouldn't mess with someone? It just doesn't seem very friendly.

Another one I frequently see and am somewhat put off by is "I am the property of so-and-so and any problems with me should be reported to him/her." I have never had any problems that I've had to report to anyone, but if I did I think I would have a hard time respecting such a request in a profile. If I have an issue with you, I am going to confront *you*. I want to respect people's choices to role play various BDSM/slavery/pet scenarios but I would prefer to be left out of the game.

I agree completely! I was asking the question more out of curiosity then for pointers as I have noticed in some recent threads that there are a few people that have strong opinions on profiles and read them religiously. I myself, don't read profiles that often and my profile is rather bleak and I don't think tells much about me at all. Just a few snipits!

For my 400th post of largely forgettable nonsense, I am going to chuckle at a paragraph that almost entirely mirrors the thoughts I have every time I see one of those profile entries

Yea. The worst are the ones that, as others said, include "Don't F**K WITH ME" or the ones that read like really really horrible Goth Poems.

I think by stating "single-not looking", "here just to have fun", "married in RL", and so on would give an idea of what you're about in RL. No sense talking the drudgery of Marriage to someone who's single. Stating you have yungin's at home gives other parents something to chat with you about.

It all gives a new person or you something to talk about and a frame of reference.

I realized all of this talking to someone who wasnt even close to being born in the 70s and they had no clue what the Gas Rationing of the 70s was or even that it happened.

Oh sure, just leave us hanging in suspense why don't you!!

I am in the D/s lifestyle and I do confess to not understanding the reporting any problems to Master rule myself...only because when I roamed free as a bird no one had any problems to report to me about me then..so why all of a sudden would there be problems?

Though I think it could be just a thing to make a point that that person is owned maybe.



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O/T Great flicker page! Loved the travels of you and Brann!

I like reading profiles, it's enjoyable for the most part. I like reading a brief intro about what their avatar is about, and the same with the 1st life profile, I like seeing something, even if it's just telling me it's none of my business. At least they took the time to put _something_ there. It's nice looking in the language box to see what languages a person speaks, and to see what skills in SL they practice.

What always gets me is the people that brag about how tough they are in their profiles, or go even further to make sweeping and indirect threats like: "I'll kick your ass if you *bleep* with me or my babe." or "Don't mess with me or else my badass friends will get you!" I guess it's because in my viewpoint internet tough people = juvenile minded idiots that couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper sack in RL. I tend to instantly mute those types of individuals or at least have a good laugh at their expense.

I think that may be why with the various capture role-play areas, as well as in the gorean model sims (where an unowned woman is subject to being enslaved at any time)

You may well be right Tiana. But as Madhu says, on the off chance that someone causes me "trouble" (how? he wonders), I will politely inform the miscreant directly that they are being an utter tosspiece as opposed to tracking down their owner to announce "oi! so-and-so's being an utter tosspiece, what you going to do about it then, eh?"

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and thank you. I love the travels too

I like seeing a little bit about the person, especially the kind of stuff that interests them

I detest when folks use their picks to put stuff about family and blah blah.. (some is ok, but when it is over and over and over, it is too much) and the if you mess with so and so you are messing with me crap... blech

I often wonder what means these tough characters will adopt in order to administer an ass kicking to me, on the off chance that I look at them funny or something.

Maybe there's a store doing a roaring trade in ass-kicking anims, rather like hugs

*blue popup box in top right corner*

'Don't *bleep* with me or my babe', an object owned by CyberWarrior1234 Tosspiece would like to

Kick your Ass

Animate your avatar?

Yes No Mute Point and laugh

Oh had a few of them with the don't mess with me tags up annoy me on my land... they only did it once.

Freeze, damage enable, unload nice shiney toys, damage disable , add to ban list

haha well since they have all been mentioned by other people already then I guess I'll give it a go. My dislikes are...

The people who have a list of rules to need to adhere to if you are going to attempt talking to them. Its cool people say to send a notecard vs. IM due to cap restrictions...but as Madhu and Isabeau said...it's a turnoff when its all pessimistic stuff.

The slave profiles that re-direct you to a master or say nothing except "collared on such and such date to" and thats it. I don't have a problem with people who are into the bdsm rp, just like to see a little bit of info about people in their profile...not a redirection to a master. I guess maybe putting that in a sub's profile is part of the rp though. I don't know...just not for me.

Also not a fan of skanky profiles....male or female.

And the most popular choice...The profiles warning you not to F*** with so and so or you'll have to deal with the wrath of whoever. Those make me laugh and scream drama queen/king.

My biggest pet peeve are people who put nothing in their profile....I know its their choice, but just put a little somethin! If they are new its acceptable, but I see a lot of AV's from early last year and before that are out and about with great looking avatars and a totally empty profile.