Proposed Mentor Principles

I'm not a enrolled in the volunteer program (yet) beacuse I haven't been "playing" long enough, but am resubmiting my application again soon.

The other thing is that I haven't left HI yet even after over a month, I don't think I've got the record of the longest time (non registered volunteer) spent on HI (yet lol) but I also don't feel the "need" to leave and be "stranded" in the middle of no where. I've had a fair few people leave HI within a few days to a week of joining and msg me saying they wished they'd stayed on HI longer, for various reasons.

As for me I just like the place, as well as the volunteers that frequent HI regularly. Of whom I have found to be effervesently friendly, helpfull and most act accordingly as you'd expect someone in that position to act. I myself have helped a fair number of newcomers with various questions and problems including a few that the mentors at the time couldn't solve.

Over the past month I thought I would have seen a larger variety of volunteers visiting the island but there seems to be only a handfull or maybe two of vounteers that do, but that's not the point at hand.

I have the same thoughts as most regarding common sense when doning the volunteer tag of any kind, there's a certain decorum and etiquette that comes with the responsibility of being a volunteer.

You wouldn't want a volunteer firefighter going around dancing or what not while your house burns down, ok that's a bad example but you should get the point.

Being a volunteer "usualy" means that you want to contribute to the community/cause (and work for free ), not just the fact of being in one of the major groups in SL and having a shiny badge that says "look at me, I know more than you".

Yes it does sound a little narky at the end there but I'll blame that on lack of sleep and the fact I haven't had a good ramble in a while, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it .

Kasamax, HI's resident resident

Kasamax,

When you are ready to venture out, we will make sure you aren't stranded! Just ask.

Cheers.

On a formal note, it's fantastic to be here and see this discussion. Besides that,



the very thing of "common sense" has long been puzzling to me--I think I'm finally beginning to get it, but historically, I read into it too literally until I learned to follow more empirical examples. In other words, the old adage: "When in Rome, do what the Romans do."

I'm often found following the leaders, or taking cues from others. It's a constant process of adaptation, largely accentuated by bursts of, "Hey, I really like what so-and-so's doing! I'm going to imitate what I admire about them, but knowing me, my way of doing it is going to end up warped and unique."

And, I don't think it's hard to be a nice, helpful person. I don't think it's terribly challenging to ask someone how they feel, if they're following your particular style (as there are many valid ways to teach and educate), and soforth. Agreeable conduct on common ground which is broad enough to allow for that variety, yet is guidingly--and not mechanically "NO, DON'T DO THAT!"--is something that appeals to me.

Here at Linden Lab, there's an Employee Handbook. One part of it talks about "Do It With Style", and it doesn't give a precise definition that can be written in words, but in my interpretation, lays a foundation to be followed with actions. Like the ol' "You make mistakes, so you learn from them, you get better and tell others what mistakes you made, in hopes you won't make 'em too." Incredibly basic stuff--and incredibly timeless.

I'm not strictly a Zen Buddhist, but I take a lot of inspiration from Koans, and related types of proverbs which encourage creative thinking in that: they'll make you think, they won't give you an answer; you give yourself the answer! (Or, often, a wandering path you travel for awhile before attaining that knowledge.)

Without being too mystical, I am here today in large part because of fundamentally positive human behavior which encouraged me in kind. I remember asking for help many times inworld, and for me, it's more than "giving back to the community"--it's hoping to perpetuate passion about being better and experiencing new life, as opposed to a gray, apathetic sludge.

It's fascinating how some of these Mentor Principles could apply to a successful romantic relationship, or even any type of good bond between people. I like the kind of discipline that reinforces character. "Sensei?" "Break these boards with your head!" (Muahhaa.) And I LOVE generational knowledge. I wish we had a big orthogonal chart of "who taught who" here, infact. Some sort of genealogical tree o' assistance.

I do think it'd be really kewl to go to a private island requesting a Mentor which happens to have some very odd customs (within the Community Standards). Imagine what a howl that'd be if they made you run up and down the hill with buckets of water before you imparted the art of flexiprims unto the natives. And then some sort of cultural exchange, because it just so happens they have a university of their own. Hey, it could happen.



Aye, now there's a title! Are you blogging about your experiences?

Often I refer to the 'tyrrany of common sense'. That is, that given the same facts and reasons at their disposal, people generally select different courses of action.

Common sense isn't as common as we'd all like, not because we're not acting sensibly, but because we don't really have much common criteria for assessing what sensible is.

After all, people act the way they do for a single, overarching reason: "Because it seems like the best course of action at the time, from the available options."

It always comes down to that.



Kasamax was exiled from Help Island an hour or two after his post. It would be nice for him to write up his experiences, though.

Principles aren't rules, at least not necessarily, and I don't know if enforcement of the principles is something to even worry about by us if they were. We should know what our goals and principles are regardless, if anything for those (the majority) who WANT to do the right thing. But, I would think if someone were in gross violation of these very liberal principles a Linden would respond to your IM if the Mentor in question didn't. The Volunteer group is composed of Mentors, Live Help, Instructors, and Greeterstol·er·ance - (to-ler-ens) The capacity for, or the practice of, recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.

I am in my right mind, so far as I know, and I want to be tolerated. One demonstrates tolerance by accepting others rights to have their own beliefs and practices even if they do not share them. Would it be better not to state that our -goal- is to provide accurate information because currently some don't?

All of the activities you mention here are very popular among residents. Having a well rounded set of expertise across the entire group could not be possible without experts in everything one can do here. I've noticed quite a few people in Second Life who wear clothes, shoes, hair, and go shopping (pretty much every single resident, volunteer and Linden). I'm glad if we have some experts in those realms that are willing to share their time and expertise.

I agree that if one doesn't know the answer to a given question whatever the subject, its always better to ask, refer them to someone else, or let them know you will find out and get back to them than blow smoke. Im not sure anyone would dispute you on that. My answer personally would be that if you see it or hear it happen so often, let the resident know the right answer diplomatically, and IM your fellow Mentor the same information so that they know it in the future. Reviewing the Community Standards (http://secondlife.com/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=Community+Standards) can probably clear up some of your questions.
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Content, communication, or behavior which involves intense strong language or expletives, nudity or sexual content, the depiction of sex or strong violence, or anything else broadly offensive must be contained within private land in areas rated Mature (M).
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I don't consider a "Don't hate me because I'm Gay" T Shirt to be in violation of these Standards in any way, but a Linden could clarify if it is. tol·er·ance - (to-ler-ens) The capacity for, or the practice of, recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.

I don't like the inconsistency. The application of PG rules to PG sims, and Mature rules to Mature sims should apply to everyone, whether they are mentors, greeters, residents or Lindens for that matter.

When rules are applied inconsistently, people immediately doubt the validity of the rule and are far less likely to take it seriously or adhere to it.

As far as "acting properly and strving to be a good example of a Second Life citizen" is concerned, who defines what is "proper" and what is the definition of a "good citizen"? Everyone will have their own view on that, and I think thats how it should stay.

I would also say that I don't personally believe that Linden Labs have the right to expect anything of Mentors, except that they give up some of their time to help out, and that they observe the TOS. If they want volunteers to act like paid employees, then scrap the volunteer schemes and take on paid employees!

Agrees with Stan, Volunteers are Volunteers not paid staff. Plus with so many diff cultures in SL what is PG to one is XXX to another.

Have a wonderful weekend!

KC

Sky – I am not trying to be picky. I am asking for clarification. Please elaborate on what you mean by “ghettos” When I think of a ghetto, I think of a very poor neighborhood where people are born into and die in, with little hope of leaving.

I don’t see that in SL. I know of no Gay sims. However, I bring new people to the Furry and Elf sims all the time. I hardly think of them as ghettos. Gor, I stay out of because I don’t agree with some of their practices, as I understand them. However, if someone requested me to take them there, I would.

I see diversity as differences. Acceptance and tolerance are believing that someone else can be different from you and still be good. This can be in gender, sexual affirmation, race, religion, etc. I can accept someone else living the Gor life style without wanting it for myself.

I think it is natural for people with similar wants and beliefs to group together. That is why you have sims for Elves, Gors, and Furries. They were all made by people wanting to practice the Gor, Elf or Furry lifestyle. At the same time, I expect any of them to accept my straight female, rather traditional and boring, lifestyle.

Jen

Stan – We need to meet in-world. If we are going to be adversaries, please let’s be friendly adversaries.

I agree to disagree with your views on this subject and acknowledge your right to disagree with me



Jen.

Grab a dictionary. Mine says: part of a city, esp. a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

Sky's using it in its meaning of an area occupied by a minority group or groups. The slum tie is a rather more recent one - the Jewish Quarter in England's medieval cities were ghettos, but usually rather well to do ones, unless the King was too in debt and throwing them out.

And there are definitely lesbian only sims out there, Amazon Nation for one. I'm not sure about gay men having an SL ghetto.

Grab a dictionary. Mine says: part of a city, esp. a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups.

Sky's using it in its meaning of an area occupied by a minority group or groups. The slum tie is a rather more recent one - the Jewish Quarter in England's medieval cities were ghettos, but usually rather well to do ones, unless the King was too in debt and throwing them out.

And there are definitely lesbian-only (as only as anything in SL is) sims out there, Amazon Nation for one. I'm not sure about gay men having an SL ghetto.

I assume he was talking about the English connotation. In the US the key word to describe a ghetto is “poverty”. If you would take the very same minority group out of the ghetto and, put them in a middle-class neighborhood, it becomes a “community”.


Jen

Here is my point on that. One does not demonstrate tolerance by accepting, they do by tolerating. It seems almost an oxymoron to tolerate acceptance or accept tolerance.


Please, please don't read this as a jab back at you, in all honesty, it isn't.
I am familiar with the TOS/CS. I read them often and pass them on to many a citizen, new and old alike. The issue is the difference between wearing your mentor tag and just being a citizen. e.g., I work for a bank. In my business life, I am out. However, wearing that kind of shirt is not considered appropriate for the workplace nor are the other items in the C/S. (Content, communication, or behavior which involves intense strong language or expletives, nudity or sexual content, the depiction of sex or strong violence, or anything else broadly offensive must be contained within private land in areas rated Mature (M).) Failure would place me on the unemployment role.
The very same would be true of a voluntary position; say at a local library. As a representative of the library, you must not only uphold the standards, you are also accountable for not following them as well.
Away from both of these environments (when my tag i.e., name badge, is off) is perfectly acceptable by my peers. It may not be acceptable for everyone (and may only be tolerated by some) but wearing the shirt or cursing won't land me on the unemployment line either.
Now swapping tags in the middle of an arguement to say or do something, then replacing it when it's all over, is unacceptable.

A LESSON: Never hit the stop button after you have clicked on SUBMIT. Seems it comes out twice when you submit again.....


Here is my point on that. One does not demonstrate tolerance by accepting, they do by tolerating. It seems almost an oxymoron to tolerate acceptance or accept tolerance.


Please, please don't read this as a jab back at you, in all honesty, it isn't.
I am familiar with the TOS/CS. I read them often and pass them on to many a citizen, new and old alike. The issue is the difference between wearing your mentor tag and just being a citizen. e.g., I work for a bank. In my business life, I am out. However, wearing that kind of shirt is not considered appropriate for the workplace nor are the other items in the C/S. (Content, communication, or behavior which involves intense strong language or expletives, nudity or sexual content, the depiction of sex or strong violence, or anything else broadly offensive must be contained within private land in areas rated Mature (M).) Failure would place me on the unemployment role.
The very same would be true of a voluntary position; say at a local library. As a representative of the library, you must not only uphold the standards, you are also accountable for not following them as well.
Away from both of these environments (when my tag i.e., name badge, is off) is perfectly acceptable by my peers. It may not be acceptable for everyone (and may only be tolerated by some) but wearing the shirt or cursing won't land me on the unemployment line either.
Now swapping tags in the middle of an arguement to say or do something, then replacing it when it's all over, is unacceptable.

I agree with you KC, however, would like to interject this piece.
At the workplace, we are governed by a set of standards that we dare not cross. Winking at someone could wind up as a case of sexual harrassment. It is in the perception of the individual receiving the message and though your intention might not have been to offend, it really is perception. If the recipient feels a wink is an unwanted advance, (this could be due to culture or personal experiences) then no matter how well intentioned, the recipients feelings are valid and are taken into consideration. If fact, it doesn't even need be the recipient, but another individual close by that could bring a case against you.
Now I know this isn't RL and that this is an extreme, but it's an accountable extreme that we must live with.
Behind every avatar there is a thinking, feeling person and as mentors we need to remember that and yes, be accountable for our actions.

Heaven help me, I'm making a post on the forums. While I'm no longer a mentor, and I'm nearly all discussed out on this topic, I've been asked to toss in my two cents here. Maybe my name still carries a bit of weight with some people, in any case I know many excellent mentors who haven't posted here, kindly get off your rear and join the fray. This is your future we're talking about here, or at least the future of a program you know you care about, just like I did. Don't take stuff sitting down.

Now, the Principles themselves are pretty darn good, I have no large objections with them. Every time I've ever wanted to throttle a mentor, or smack them upside the head, it's because they were breaking one of these principles, which in my mind makes it quite worthwhile.

As for the PG thing, Linden provided content is PG by default. Volunteers are Linden provided content. Now, everybody break out their Logic 101 textbooks. Therefore, it should follow that mentors should be PG by default.

However, as much as I like these principles, in their current state they're absolutely positively worthless, save silly disscussion by silly people on silly forums (like me, hooray!). But why are they worthless, Lethe? I'm glad you asked! They're worthless not because of the words themselves, but because there's no enforcement planned. Don't follow the principles and...surprise, nothing happens! Yes, you're volunteers. Yes, LL has every right to tell you what to do, and frankly they should, because a whole lot of you sure as pie need it. Yes, you're free to quit any time you want, for any reason. Even something as lame as "I don't want to follow them principle thingies, and I'm gonna get canned if I don't, so I'll just take my ball and go home." To put it simply, I'm not willing to sacrifice the quality of experience for new residents (and other residents helped by mentors) just because you think mentors should be self governing. Or that mentors should be free to do whatever they want. So yeah. If you're going to spend all this time gathering input on these things, why not make them worth the ePaper they're printed on?

I Love these principals. They are ALL valid and reasonable requests. My specific views on PG vs Mature content is that a Mentors BEHAVIOUR should at all times be PG. Now this is strictly behaviour. They should not be asking a new resident EVER what their preferences are on the subject or encouraging anything above a PG content level.

Now if the resident is curious on their own merits and asks a question, a Mentor should feel free to provide the answers IF that Mentor is comfortable talking about it themselves. If the resident is the one who FIRST asks where the places are and what is available there is nothing wrong with a Mentor then asking if the new resident would care to see any of the areas. It should be up to the resident to bring up issues that are above a PG content. There is nothing wrong with residents being curious.

Now if a Mentor does show them around where some Mature areas are that contain non PG content, the Mentor SHOULD NOT under any circumstances have their personal behaviour be above a PG level. Give information and be PROFESSIONAL about it.

Under no circumstances should a Mentor engage in flirting while on-duty, be using any form of adult specific language, guestures, animations or sounds, and should NEVER even consider doing anything beyond that.

So providing information on those subjects if fine, IF the resident asks first, but the Mentors behaviour should never be outside of a PG guidelines. I think instances of this happening should be abuse reported and if there are multiple offenses they should be permanantly removed from the Mentor program.

We need ENFORCEMENT with these principles though. A simple guideline is not enough.

Here is he point I assuming sky is trying to get at. Jeska Is the Leader of this group ( well the Linden atleast ) ............ But I sure hope We get more top leadership from the top top person in the group. Then just the people looking to win over the top people with with their know-all style of remarks and fugure head types of actions.

Well as Tat said, I'm now on the mainland (watch out). Also it was a about 2 days after my post that I "left" HI.

I think this event is a prime example of this thread. As unpleasent and unwanted as it was for me, I beleive the mentor who initiated this event was doing what they perceived to be "right" at the time.

Why they thought that it was "right" is not the point at hand (they could have just had the shits at the time) and I will address that later in the post, the point is that they followed a certain "protocol" at the time.

I won't go into exact details I.E names and exact chat, because it's not needed.

"A short time ago on an Island far far away.."
I was minding my own business testing a building I'd made in the sandbox (and had been doing so for hours before hand) and was test flying a few of the freebies crafts I was given in a package. I took a spin past the hub and had a visitor land on my wing, this mentor asked me to leave HI as my account was over 30 days and jumped off (I presume they checked my profile and the account creation date). I explained to this mentor that I wasn't ready to tackle the mainland at the present time, the mentor said they had contacted a linden to see what action should be taken. A linden showed up and we had a chat, after a while I eventualy was going to be allowed to stay.

At this point I took it upon myself to continue my "exile" to the mainland.

So that's the short of it, the tall of it will be completed in about 10 years when we have the technology and special effects power.

There are many aspects of this event that can be questioned... (but I will only go into a few that I'd like to)

#1: If I wasn't "stuffing" about testing things, would I have gone un noticed and left to be?
#2: Why THIS person out of many mentors that were frequenting the island over the few hours I had been there, chose to take this particular action against me?
#3: Why I was not told in the begining and have not found anything anywhere about there being a "time limit" linked to account creation date for staying on HI?

The impression I got from everyone and get from HI is that HI is there to familiarise new users with most of if not all aspects of SL before they get plunged into the mainland.
Now my question is, who deems that a person is "ready" to tackle the mainland and be thrown to the wolves? If there is a (unwritten) "time limit" linked to account creation for being classed as a "newbie" and remaining on HI then it should be well noted and in plain view for all (who want to take full advantage of HI) to see, just like the fact that "once you leave, you can not come back"

I admit I'm not that slow of a learner, and I'll live for not getting to stay on HI the extra few days or so that I would have liked to (even though I was given that option).

End note,
I commend the mentor who started this turn of events on the fact that they did follow a certain decorum and protocol in relation to the matter of "time". But the fact I got singled out and picked on by one person whom had only seen me 5 seconds prior, I'm still simmering on that one.

As for the Linden.. Hope to chat again soon & thanks for the bear

As for blogging, I've got 3 posts on the forum now. 2 of which are in this thread and are probably longer than I'd have liked them to be :-\. So no, there will be no Kasamax blogs... *hear's everyone sigh with relief*

Anyway I've now got a headache lol so I'm signing off

Kasamax, The resident formerly known as (HI's resident resident)

Maybe.



Hard to say. Only the mentor in question can provide their reasoning.




Because there isn't one. Some people discover right at the outset that their video cards or network connections can't handle SL. They go on hold for a few days, weeks, months to correct this, and then come back.

Your birthdate might have been three months ago, but you may have just only finished orientation island 10 minutes before. We get a few of those on a fairly regular basis.

So no - there's no policy I'm aware of about removing people that have 'Been there too long'.

I never met Kasamax during any of my visits to the island. I only read his post here, in this thread. I was impressed with what he had to say and thought it contributed to the discussion.

So I am more than just a little troubled by his “banishment” from Help Island. The unfairness of it makes me really angry. By what right does any Mentor take it upon his or her self to decide when someone has been on HI long enough? It smacks of stories I have read of past and present totalitarian governments who can arbitrarily take your house or drag your family off to jail.

I have never seen or heard of a time limit on HI. I have told more than one person, “There is none.” This is a bad precedent and it saddens me and makes me embarrassed and ashamed to be a greeter-mentor if we are going to act like that.

Jen

Based on my varied experiences (outside SL) the rule of PG to all mentors is good.

While mature language is acceptable in mature areas, so is PG language.

Professionals and corporations never use "mature" language for any of their official internal or external communications. All official communication is PG rated.

Besides, the restriction does not apply to the mentors all the time, it does so only when they put on their mentor tag. When I see the mentor tag, I as a resident EXPECT that they will deal with me in a professional manner and tone, which includes but is not limited to communications fully in PG language no matter in what sim I am and even if I'm using mature language.

Mentors can perform all their tasks in PG language, and as official representatives of a company I do expect that they will conduct their official business in a professional tone ... which in the international business community is PG rated at worst.

I have served in the capacity of something like a mentor and as a forum moderator in another game. There is absolutely no mentor-related task or situation that requires mature language. I have dealt with idiots, trash talkers, troublemakers, and their ilk. Still found no good reason to use mature language.

To me, a mentor that resorts to mature language to do his job is not capable of holding the post.