What do you like to see in Profiles?

Oh and RL photos in the SL main tab bug me.

I check them all the time. I'm nosy. I wish there was a lot more room on them. The web page part has potential, but the window it is in is terrible.

Listing languages is very helpful. Especially when you've got a cryptic IM from a customer!

Mine's mostly contact info. My pic makes it clear that I change appearance (age, gender, phylum) - I've seen this disturb people and I'd rather get that hurdle over with right up front. I also deliberately included pics of me in a furry and child shape, both as a litmus test and a reassurance.

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One of the funniest I've seen was from a customer whose account was about a month old and didn't realize that full frontal nudity pics might get them in ToS trouble. I complimented and let her in on the oddities of our PG-XXX world.

I had a hard time doing my profile because I don't like to talk about myself much either. Instead of trying to author something well worded, I opted to save the space and put in some single descriptive words that might be used to describe how I am at times, like impulsive, smartass, and creative. Also, rather than write a novel about the things I like, I put in the couple things that really annoy me to no end.. seems to work for me and have been thanked for having them in there.

For me, the most helpful thing I see (and LIKE to see) in peoples profiles are the things that give me an idea of why this person is in SL, what kind of person they are, and why perhaps this person is talking to me. There's nothing more annoying than a profile mini-novel full of song lyrics, and quotes, and poetry, and after reading all of it you still dont have a clue as to what kind of person they might be, and haven't found a single thing that might be a common interest or conversation topic. Dead air isn't a whole lot better than a blank profile to me.

i haven't actually looked at anyone's profile yet. (i'm still relatively new)
but in MY profile, i just put factual things. what i do, what i like, etc. boring RL stuff.

I also don't read all profiles - not from lack of interest, but more because I forget to.



Well, something you can do is, say you love cooking, instead of simply writing that you love to cook, write "If your looking for a great <insert your favourite dish> recipe, IM me!"

Or if you have horses in real life, add a picture of your horse in the pics Tab.

If sports is your thing, insert the latest news about the team your following, or a logo pic.

When I do read profiles though, I prefer the quirky ones to the bio ones. Just my preference...

You could always put a list of what makes you happy,

- chocolate fudge sundaes
- thunderstorms
- seeing someone lose their hat in the wind
- flip-flop season
- revolving doors
- the window seat in a plane, etc.

Serious stuff is fine, too.

haha thats great! I always assumed they would just orbit me or something. I have been tempted to mess with someone just to see what their over protective AV bodyguard would do.

I absolutely MUST start reading profiles because intellectuals like the one Max described are just the sort of people I'd love to meet. Such invitations cannot remain unanswered!

Like Isabeau I just forget to read people's profile! There is so much to do, it seems, that it just doesn't occur to me.
Neither has it occurred to me in a long while to see if there is anything in MY profile. Must remember to take a look at that tonight.

I think this is common with older residents because they tend to assume you know what they're about simply because they're in Second Life. To them Second Life is a place to create stuff. So they don't feel a need to explain themselves. They're not necessarily here to form friendships.

The times are changing though, and these days the majority of folk are here to just socialize. So now it makes sense for people to advertize their interests. Especially now that profiles are searchable.

/me types 'Bum sex' in Search.

Anyone who has something along the lines of 'No drama please!' is one to steer clear of - experience has shown that the louder they claim to wish to avoid drama, the more they will cause it.

Saying 'Taken, sorry girls (or guys)' is annoying too - how arrogant are you? What makes you think I WANTED you? lol

Yes, the pseudo-Mafia type comments are just amusing and do make you sound like a ten year old. I spotted one the other day that said.... 'Mess with X and I will hunt you dwon!' My dwon is, of course, terrified that the big bad bunch of pixels is going to do something nasty

Any store owner who's profile consist of 'don'ts' annoys me. 'Dont IM me, don't offer me mall spaces, I don't do returns, I don't do customs, I don't like Goreans, I don't want your friendship, I don't .......' This all may well be the case - but this sort of profile just puts me right off wanting to give this person my money. What if I did have an issue? They sound like they would not bother to help in any way. Why should I go there when there are always others offereing good things AND more helpful sounding attitudes.

Naked pictures on profiles, especially pictures of your avatar bonking another - why? Not because I am prudish, just coz it is SO TACKY! lol

And finally on the First Life tab - 'My RL is private - don't ask!' or 'Don't bother asking, I keep SL and RL seperate' - There is nothing wrong with wishing to remain anonymous, nor with wishing to keep SL and RL seperate. But why sound so unfriendly? A bit of wit and imagination and you could put something here - if in doubt, pop something about your SL. And adding your country of origin can be really helpful, btw - much less chance of an understanding if you mention that English is not your first language for example.

*Fu gets off her soap box and waits for someone to rip into her own profile, lol*

I don't doubt it. When I run into new residents one piece of advice I give them is how to read others' profiles and to fill out their own, at least a little. I'm thinking about adding a "tell me you read my profile and I'll give you a free gift" part to the end of my profile just for fun. I seem to remember having done that in the past.

A good friend of mine added that to the very bottom of her profile, it says something along the lines of "If you have read this far into my profile then congratulations you win a free set of eyes from my store (seriously, send me a notecard)". I believe she's had it there for about 6 months and says only 1 person bit at it.

Oh, I love profiles! I fiddle with mine often (and then forget for long periods, but oh well...) and I love to go around the room reading what everyone has to say for themselves.

I am a sucker for humor. Gets me every time.

Like Rhaorth said, it's annoying when someone uses all their picks for a photo gallery of their friends. It's "Picks," not "Pics," darn it!

I love to wade through people's groups and check out what they're into.

A blank profile? Sigh. I sometimes wonder if people are even aware that they have profiles attached...

I love reading profiles and tweak mine constantly. On the 2nd life tab, I want to know a bit about the SL you. Mine has some tidbits about what I do in SL, how I view some things here, and also has a comment reminding others to fill their profile in - I am amazed at the number of people that read my profile and comment on something in it but pretty much have a blank profile themselves. My picks are mostly places that I go to - I don't have a problem with one or two pictures of people, but more than that is usually overkill. The 1st life tab should have something - anything - just not blank.

I think we're all saying in this thread what _we_ like to see in a profile, i.e. what would make us want to meet that person. In reality, whether a profile is blank, negative, humorous, full of pics instead of 'picks', does exactly what a profile is intended to do - tell us a bit about the person.

Don't mess with my friends = Drama.
Height, weight, gender, nude RL pic = want to take a guess?
Storyline = RP
Don't IM me, bother me, etc = not interested in socializing.
Blank = New, Alt, or doesn't care about others finding out about them.

Whatever people choose to show is fine by me, it gives me fair warning.
Potential cool person - Potential Asshat...

Basically I read the sl profile and check out their Picks, see if I find any new places to check out.

In picks I like to see interesting places or shops that the person recommends or visits regularly. If they are a store owner I'd like to see a pick for their shop.

In the web tab I really like it if they have a snapzilla page. Then you can just browse through their pictures and see what they've been up to.

In the main page I like to see... anything. Blank profiles are terrible!

Very good point! Whether you like a profile or not, it does serve it's purpose, even blank ones I suppose. Then again, there are people like me that just have no clue how to describe themselves. My profile has a lil sumpin sumpin in it, but doesn't really describe the person that I am much. At least not in my opinion.

I like to see actual picks in the picks tab. It's nice when people share the locations of interesting places to visit.

I don't like the Picks tab. It might upset my friends if their build doesn't get listed.

I prefer to be discreet about my faves.

ok vacation time 2k
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me, really don't care. my profile gives you an idea who my ava is. with a hint of the RL me in there. if i want anyone to know more about me, well it's my choice
what i do here in SL should have no bearing on who i am RL.

I just recently started adding picks...mainly cause I was being bugged by a friend to add picks....sheesh!

That is a double edged sword. IW, everyone is hot. When you start looking at FL pics, it takes away from the focus on personality. I don't like meeting someone and having them mention my RL pic before I even get to know them. It is a total turn off. One thing that I like about SL is that we are based 99% on personality. If you have both...fantastic! If you have a great personality...I don't care if you are 90, bald, and fat. If you are totally hot IFL and are an egocentric idiot IW...stay away.

As far as profiles go, I even belong to the profile junky group. I love 'em. I look for insight into the person inside the the av. It can be poetry, passions, thoughts, feelings, experiences. Personally, I don't care much to hear about their FL other than in the FL section. I like to hear what their interests are (sports, hobbies, etc.) IW and out. What they like to do IW - skills, hobbies, passions.

If you are having problems writing your profile, start reading profiles for every person you see. Decide what you like to read and what you don't care to read. I have read a couple of awesome profiles! I remember those people. And I always try to let them know that I liked it.

One rule that I have is not to lie. Don't write what you think people want to hear or what you think the opposite sex would like. Write from your core. If people are going to like you, that is a good place to start.

Agreed...I feel like I've been pretty opinionated in this thread (maybe too much!), and am a hypocrite cause I hate my own profile. I do describe my interests and stuff but nothing really says much about me. I think I have a new project for this evening...I'll re work my profile and try to make it more interesting keeping in mind all the tips posted here

Smoke, you have been about as opinionated in the thread as everyone else! That's what the forums are for and you have added to the topic very much!

It is totally your choice!. It's also my choice who I choose to spend time with.

I personally don't like to spend too much time with people that are cagey about who they really are. In the same way that I wouldn't enjoy spending time with somebody in RL that went around with a bag on their head. It's their choice though and I'd not force them to take it off. But I understandably wouldn't want to hang out with them.