How do you handle panhandlers?

This isnt about newbs, its about panhandlers.

I can not stand them in RL and refuse to give them any money. I am always ready to deal with one and have my personnel protective device close at hand which have a license to carry

In Second Life I mute and ignore them. They are children mostly and there is nothing they can do to harm me.

Every little bit helps people.

You will find losers like this in ANY on-line Multiplayer game. Not that SL is a game.

The thing is, they might be using the same logic - since it's only a game, why do you need it, and why does it matter if you give them some? (Please don't answer this here, I know the answer, but if they're new they might not.)

Calling them losers seems really harsh to me. SL is very different from most online games/worlds and people can take time to realise that. Even when they do realise it, all it takes to be poor in SL is to not be good as an artist or programmer - it's hardly fair to say anyone who isn't one of these must be a loser. Yes, if they hang around and keep bothering you they're a pain in the ass, but that just doesn't mean they're a loser, just a pain in the ass

I've never been asked for money by a user who wasn't a newbie (that is, less than 90 days), and those new folks usually get directed to money trees, the L$250 for verification, or the NCI virtual stipend.

I offer to teach them to how make stuff and sell it in-world. That'll either drive them off in a cloud of self-righteous indignation, or they stay and get a free lesson. The latter group generally do seem to have a more successful stay in SL long-term.

Guess it's all in the attitude one has towards SL.


- Newfie

Well no wonder the sandbox is full of broken hearted, bitter newbies toting guns and shooting anything with prim hair and bling.

LOL

Troy

I too have been asked for money by new users.

Usually I say no if it is the first thing they ask me. If it's a talented newbie, I usually give them the copy enabled textures, builds and freebies I have. In this sense I donate information rather than cash.

Just like in real life, you can give a newbie lindens which they will waste on prim hair, or you can teach them how to make prim hair for which they will be forever thankful when they become the next prim hair mogul.

Troy

I had one in a wheelchair approach me the other day with this long drawn out story about how she needed money in SL to be "cool" because she couldn't be in RL.I asked her why she wanted money and she said "so I can do fun things here" so I gave her a lapdance ,ungrateful wench didn't even tip me.

You don't know that they aren't newbs. I assume that if they are asking for money they must be newbs.

And you know what else? I didn't see you jumping on anyone else's post who assumed panhandlers=newbs or else panhandlers=scammers. Why didn't you point out to those talking about money trees that this isn't about newbs?

How do you decide if they're talented or not though?

But, you are deserving of much respect for teaching new folks to make prim hair. Seeing how most of it's built just hurts my head.

I'll give them a notecard with a lot of various ways to get some L$ (Lindex, building/selling, jobs, camp chairs, etc), a free avvie from my selection, and usually a few boxes of textures for building - as building stuff requires textures more than anything, usually. ^^

I shoot them. Or orbit.

Ha ha.. just kidding.

There is just no understanding some people.

I was in big-unnamed-store yesterday when 2 newbie women with identical avatars and matching ballroom gown outfits came in, put down a tip jar, and began wailing away on guitars. If the store owner had seen them, perhaps they would have been thrown out, but I thought they were funnier than heck. I snapped a picture and gave each 20L. It seemed clever to me and the laugh they gave me was easily worth the 40L.

If the first thing someone says to me is to ask me for money, I tell them no. Then I recommend that they go to Lindex and spend a couple of dollars to buy some to get started, and tell them where the "Buy L$" menu choice is. I also recomend that the best way to earn Lindens is, just like in the real world, spend the time and effort to learn how to do something that other people find useful, and then sell those goods or services.

If, at that point, they are still polite and seriously acting like an honest newbie who wants to get started but hasn't got a clue what to do next, I'll give them a bunch of free clothes and stuff to get them going, and will ask what they like to do - what interests them in real life that they might like to do in SL. That sometimes can turn into suggestions for what they might do in SL to earn money.

If they get rude or threatening, I would just sit, AR them and ignore them, or teleport away.

See, I would have given them some lindens too. These two are actually doing something to earn the money. They aren't begging, they don't ask for money they just put out the tip jar and start “playing”. You get something for your money (entertainment) and they actually earned it.

I don't mind helping newbies out at all. But there is a difference between a newbie needing help and a panhandler.

If a newbie shows up on my land, I and my partner are always very polite and welcoming. I have even made up a notecard that has landmarks to places where newbies can learn how to make money (the Ivory Tower, the Particle Laboratory, etc). I give this to them and then we talk to them about what kinds of things seem to sell well in SL.

But if some av just shows up and the first thing out of their mouth is “can I have 50 linden”, then they aren't worth my time or effort. If they can't even show enough courtesy as to say hello to me first, then I don't feel the need to show them any in return. We usually have fun tormenting and teasing those types before they leave in a huff.

The only time I have ever given a total stranger money was when I was in a good friends store. I was there with another friend who was shopping and this woman showed up and was friendly with us both. After wandering for a while she casually mentioned how she loved one particular outfit but didn't have the 150 linden to buy it. She didn't directly ask for the money, just sort of implied a request. Since this woman had been nice and polite, and the store was owned by a really good friend of mine and I knew the money would end up in her pocket anyway, I gave her the 150 lindens. Besides, I knew that if my friend had been there, she probably would have just given the outfit to her for free. (If she ever finds out I gave that girl the money she would insist on giving it back to me, not that I will ever tell her.)

See, I would have given them some lindens too. These two are actually doing something to earn the money. They aren't begging, they don't ask for money they just put out the tip jar and start “playing”. You get something for your money (entertainment) and they actually earned it.

I don't mind helping newbies out at all. But there is a difference between a newbie needing help and a panhandler.

If a newbie shows up on my land, I and my partner are always very polite and welcoming. I have even made up a notecard that has landmarks to places where newbies can learn how to make money (the Ivory Tower, the Particle Laboratory, etc). I give this to them and then we talk to them about what kinds of things seem to sell well in SL.

But if some av just shows up and the first thing out of their mouth is “can I have 50 linden”, then they aren't worth my time or effort. If they can't even show enough courtesy as to say hello to me first, then I don't feel the need to show them any in return. We usually have fun tormenting and teasing those types before they leave in a huff. My partner refers to those types as "tossers".

The only time I have ever given a total stranger money was when I was in a good friend's store. I was there with another friend who was shopping and this woman showed up and was friendly with us both. After wandering for a while she casually mentioned how she loved one particular outfit but didn't have the 150 linden to buy it. She didn't directly ask for the money, just sort of implied a request. Since this woman had been nice and polite, and the store was owned by a really good friend of mine and I knew the money would end up in her pocket anyway, I gave her the 150 lindens. Besides, I knew that if my friend had been there, she probably would have just given the outfit to her for free. (If she ever finds out I gave that girl the money she would insist on giving it back to me, not that I will ever tell her.)

In RL I do this as well. I was once approached by a homeless guy who asked for bus fare for a few jokes. I honestly didn't expect he was going to really use it for the bus, but I gave him double for the effort. Plus, one of the jokes was actually pretty good. Wish I could remember it now... I just remember it was pretty funny coming from someone who looked so crazy.

As no one else is asking, can i have 1 linden please

I send them off with links to slboutique and exchange which have freebies and also advise them to visit welcome areas/sandboxes with freebies.

I give them a list of money tree locations.

I point them to the handy dandy Chip Midnight Worship Mat that Siggy made me a year or so ago. It makes them do the "I'm not worthy" bow continuously and every so often spits out a line like "Blessed be Chip who annointeth me in Linden dollars!" It pays out a dollar for every two minutes they spend on it.

Ha! Came on here to see if something like this happened to somebody else after an experience just now.

Basically, a female came over to me and my pal at Waterhead in a wheelchair, and said she hated to bother us but her and her brother were in a car crash about nine years ago and would we make a donation to pay for their college. After a few moments of silence, it was pointed out that neither her mother or father made it. Then she put a tip jar out...and when nobody put money in, she called my friend a retard. Then her brother came along in a wheelchair to somehow corroborate her claim about the accident.

I put their pictures on Snapzilla for posterity. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to post the direct URL here...but they're undoubtedly on the front page still.

chip! oooh that's great. i'd buy that lol 8D