N00b help - Groups

I'm very new to SL, but all ready I'm hooked. I'm trying to find some like-minded people but have had marginal success. I've found some people who have taught me a lot about building and the program itself, but just haven't made too many friends. I spend most of my time trying to build, but yesterday decided I would look into joining a group or two, so I can meet some people. How do I do this? I can find groups and such, but how do I actually become a member?

thanks for your help...

Turnbull

Hi Jason - welcome to SL.

Check my tag line for the link to information on Awakening Avatars Group.

We have open enrollment - and I'd be happy to send you an invitation inWorld if you like.

Hi Jason. Many of the groups you see are ones you can join yourself. The private ones you'd have to go out and meet the members and pursue membership.

I would suggest finding group listings that sound of interest, looking at the member listing, finding a member who is online, then chatting them up about the group.

Good luck with it!

Welcome to SL Jason!

Groups are a strange beast. They can serve a purpose, like for sharing land, or for sharing information, or they can just be for funny titles (you'll sometimes see them above people's names). My personal advice would be to check out events that sound interesting to you, and then join the group from there if you feel like this is a community you find interesting. (And don't stress about leaving groups if you want, no one will be angry.) People can invite you to a group (you'll get a message in the top right corner of your screen) or you can go to Find -> Groups and join one that has open membership there. (There will be a button in the right hand panel to join)


As I can only really share my experiences, I prefer to hang out in the sandboxes, as I spend about 90% of my time in SL building something or other. The sandboxes can be schizophrenic, but I enjoy the hodgepodge of creativity and anarchy. I have met people I consider friends there, as well as making friends with neighbors, meeting people at events, and even a few here on the forums. Although overall I'm generally antisocial


Another thing you might want to try is look up "New" or "Newb" or "Noob" or "Welcome" under Find or Groups and visit the various places people have set up as welcome/teaching areas for new people. A number of these places have freebees or $1 items you can experiment with, take apart, see how stuff works.


If you're ever in Cordova sandbox and see me, feel free to swing over and say Hi - I can usually help with building questions as well.

Welcome to SL! I am pretty new, as well, but I have some experience with groups.

It really all depends upon what you mean by 'like-minded,' but many groups are open to new members--all you have to do is click 'join.' Some groups, on the other hand, are closed to new members or have restricted membership (they will have no 'join' button). You could contact an officer of any group in which you are interested to discuss your interest in joining.

I am in-world most evenings (I am on Central Standard Time in the US). If you would like some suggestions, I am happy to help.

Jason - I host a Newbie Welcome party every day at 4pm PST at the Shelter (although its not always on the calendar).

If you get a chance, stop by & say hello Its at Isabel 20,220

Travis

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm also on CST so as soon as my RL job gets finished I'll be back at it again.

Jason - one more point - when folks refer to time in SL - everyone typically uses PST (No matter what timezone their home is in).

I'm in EST myself - but imagine if we all threw out times, and had no reference point That's why PST is the standard

Hope that helps when you're looking for something to do!

Groups are a bit strange to me here. I initially expected people to chat regularly amongst their group, but any that I have been a part of never use group chat at all. Are there groups out there that use the group chat regularly, similar to the way guild chats are used in mmorpgs?

Very few.

It generally seems to be socially frowned on.

That is a shame.