What do you do on Help Island?

I haven't gone onto OI at all, as I didn't see much point with the various automated stuff there to guide people through.

As far as HI is concerned, I've just turned up and said "Hi, everyone OK? Need any help with anything?" which is, admittedly, hardly original, but it yields questions and often a general chat, which as Tateru mentioned, is more useful than just constant Q&As.

If I get no response, I tend to wait a minute or so and then say something like "Well, let me know if you need anything". Sometimes they still don't reply, sometimes they do. I don't see much point in the "I SAID: ARE YOU OK??" approach

I resemble the remarks about not wanting help on Orientation Island, and wanting it after I left, enough to comment here.

I came into the world on October 28 this year, just over two months ago. I spent a LOT of time on Orientation Island, reading all the notecards and designing an avatar and an outfit. I think I was there three hours before I went on; I had a pretty good idea of the image I was trying to create, but it took a bit of thought and experimentation to get what I wanted. Yes, I still wear pretty much the same avatar, with only a minor tweak on day 3 (once I found some nicer clothes, I found that a slight adjustment of torso length made them look better) -- I even eventually had a custom skin made to match the skin tone I chose in Orientation! The outfit has, of course, long since been replaced with cooler clothing.

While I was going through that design process, I really didn't feel any need for outside help. The Orientation notecards and the process itself were easy to understand. Furthermore, I would not have welcomed design input at that point; I was trying to achieve MY image of who I was going to be in-world, not somebody else's idea of who I should be.

But when I emerged at Waterhead (which is where new arrivals were coming in that day, not to the overpopulated zoo that the Welcome Area often is), things were different. I had my avatar in place, and some notion of how to walk and fly, but no real idea of what to DO. Fortunately, there were Mentors there to take me in hand immediately, offer me some lovely gifts (including a walk that I still occasionally use and some clothes that I still wear), and give me hints about what to see and what to do next. If it had not been for their help, I might well have left the world, clueless about the rich experience that was waiting for me here.

It's true that less technically experienced users might want some help at Orientation. If people are having trouble understanding the controls and so forth, a bit of assistance would be just the thing. But I would caution against being too heavy-handed about intruding on the Orientation experience; creating YOURSELF is an intensely personal experience, and some people need to do it in an inwardly-focused way.

I know. I need to actually DO that.

"Hey N00b, I'm talking to YOU! Can't you see the words I'm typing?!"

I Live Help when I'm there and in between IM's ask new players i see wandering around if they have any questions. Generally they do.

So far I've never really had to do anything to start off.... people tend to come to me to ask stuff, so rarely have I had to say hi before someone lands beside me and says hi themselves...

I log conversations I have with new folks in HI that have a lot to say. It's cool to remember those times when it's quiet there.

When others are there I tend to get quieter, I'm nervous about butting in on people (see Susie Boffin's thread)

Maybe we should all be big fiery birds?

I tend to visit the various OIs and stand there to see if anyone has questions. I do have a welcome card which I give out, welcoming the new player and introducing myself. After that, I don’t speak unless spoken to.

When on HI itself, I will answer questions if asked. Otherwise, I might just say “Hi.”

Suezanne, I don’t think anyone answered your question about the Greeter request? Yes, we get a green message notice that someone has requested us as a greeter. That will only happen if our greeter button is turned on. Sometimes, a Linden will send an IM across the group requesting someone to help a newbie. Also, I have had mentors IM me asking if I could help someone.

Jen

After OI I stumbled on Help Island and stayed there for 4-5 days, learning sculpting, scripting, particles...anything anyone would teach me.

I am eternally grateful to people like Garnet Psaltery, Tateru Nino, Trimming Hedges, Groove Mechanique and many more.

Their soft approach made Help Island a memorable experience, something fun and very interesting.

Once my account allows it, I will apply to become a Mentor on Help Island as well. If I can make someone's first experience as good as mine was, all the better

Thanks for the kind words, dear.

We're always trying to improve the experience.