Proposed Mentor Principles

If asked to mentor in a furry or Gorean sim I'd dress like a mentor... not like a furry or a gorean.

Some people are looking at this PG thing backwards.

You seem to be starting from the proposition that all mentors decide when they will be on duty, at which point they activate their Mentor tag, and proceed with a spell of mentoring. Then at some point, they decide to go off duty, and deactivate their tag.

In that context, I totally agree that PG behavior, whatever sim you are in, since you were only there because you were mentoring there would be a perfectly reasonable porposition.

But how about the situation of a Mentor who decides that whenever they don't specifically need to be wearing another tag, they will have their Mentor tag active so that any residents in the area can see they are a mentor and ask any questions they may have.

In this context, if you require that a worn tag forces totally PG behaviour, then all you will do is reduce the amount of time that friendly helpful mentors spend helping out other people in scatterd locations across the map.

If these regulations come into force, then I will quite cheerfully comply with them, by simply not mentoring except when I am at HI or WA. It would be a shame, since I usually get several residents a week approaching me elsewhere with questions about stuff, so the end result will in my case be no change whatsoever in my behaviour (which is usually PG anyways), but a marked cut in the time I spend wearing my tag.

If I were a mentor and I chose to leave my Mentor tag on so people will have a mentor in easy reach, it must come with that choice that I will speak to them in PG language regardless.

If for some reason I need to use mature language (say, for roleplaying or chatting with friends who are used to blue language) then it's a simple matter to turn off the mentor tag for a while then turn it back on later.

Inconvenient for some, but it's a behavior that comes with the mantle.

In my previous mentor-like role there were no tags. So I only used mature language (sparingly at that) only in private channels like PM (IM) and guild chats. Whenever I spoke in a broadcast channel, it's PG language no matter what.

It's even easier to just use PG language all the time. The mentor tag can stay on forever.

Volunteers are Linden-provided content? How do you figure? The Lindens aren't paying for our accounts, our clothing, or objects, or our time. We weren't recruited, we volunteered. What exactly are the Lindens providing? I do not consider myself Linden-provided content.

You're not suggesting that you're an individual are you?

I'd watch out mate. There will probably be something being added to the TOS to outlaw that..........

Even in a mature sim with mature tag on i only use Pg languge. I seen case where people were les then friendly with the mentor sign on and were rude and unhelping. When you have the mentor sign on with dealing with people. One is suppose to act as professional as possible. Well in the resent past a few times have not been professional in some case with a choosen few. But then again there are always dead spots in any system. Well atlease The group leader is taking this view point in the most part with problems in the group(s). 65% is a passing mark it seems in the group these days

Go for it, if you're around in the evening (GMT).

My comment is:
But this is a fact. You can turn off your mentor tag at anytime. Lets be realistic, how many people look at a profile to find out what the person is all about and if they do, and see the mentor group, you can let them know you are and then change to that mode if need be.
I feel all this chat about the PG mode is pointless when it comes down to being just a citizen. Lets all get beyond that and concentrate on the mentor group when wearing the tag.

When the mentor sign is "OFF" it means not on duty..........Whatever we do on this times does not reflect on the mentor statas.

The reason that the chat about PG mode has dragged on is, in my view, because it is sending out mixed messages, which is exactly why I had a problem with it in the first place.

This is not, as it has often been suggested, based upon any mentor's inability to conduct themselves in a PG manner whilst mentoring. It is simply a problem of sending out conflicting messages regarding the rules that govern mature or PG sims. Why not simply insist (as the Linden Terms of Service do) that when Mentoring (or, for that matter, doing anything else) in a PG sim, you conduct yourself in a PG rated manner?

Yes, I am aware that "Linden Provided Content" is supposed to be PG by default, but as I have said on a number of occasions, I joined the Mentor scheme simply to help new players gain some skills. I certainly didn't join it to become amalgamated into any sort of "approved content", and if that is the way the scheme is viewed then it only serves to reinforce, albeit regrettably, that I should not be any part of it. It's a shame, because I think it will put off a lot more people than it brings in.

If you take another look at the proposal, it didn't say anything about having to maintain PG standards in mature areas. While that is a possible conclusion to draw from that particular sentence due to the way it was written, taken in context with the whole proposal I don't think that was the idea being conveyed.

But regardless of how you interpret that section of the principles, I submit that while a mentor displays his/her Mentor group title, that person is, implicitly, a representative of SecondLife, and, therefore, responsible to portray a close example of the Community Standards and Terms of Service.

Each of us was admitted to the Mentor group under the approval of the Lindens. Being part of that group is a privilege, and not a right. I fully accept and endorse the need for group regulations, and the Lindens have every right to enforce regulations upon the group as they see fit.

Whether we remain conscious of it or not, Secondlife is a legitimate, revenue-generating business, and its staff depends on its success for their livelihood. When we, as their approved mentors, trod Help Island and the Welcome areas displaying the tag they've given us, the new residents see us as the face of Secondlife. Some of us recognize that, others don't, but the fact remains. From the newcomer's point of view, an avatar displaying the title "Second Life Mentor" is an authority both on and in SL. That said, it is prudent that a mentor act in a professional, organized, friendly and helpful manner. Doing so ensures the highest likeliness that a new resident will enjoy SL and continue to come back for more.

From my observations, it is sadly apparent that the Mentor group is not capable of self-regulation. The less regulated we are as a group, the less organized we become; the less organized we are, the less ability we have to help others. And as an unregulated, disorganized group giving less than optimal help, we lose credibility. And that should not be allowed to happen.


Note: I also agree with the person who commented that the principles proposed by Jeska (in their original form) are a bit ambiguous (though not fallacious). The manner of the first person to post a reply made it painfully obvious that more definition should be added.

I made my statement based on " Maintain PG standards of appearance and manners when wearing the Mentor tag."

There being nothing limiting that requirement to PG areas, it applies in Mature areas.

I think you're helping me make my point that the proposal is subjective in its current form. You're just choosing to interpret it that way. Others have interpreted it differently.

Can I second my own motion that the principles be given more definition and less ambiguity?

I've always been quite PG (and I dare say, even G) in my dealings with the newfolks.

Most of them are easy to relate to for me.

Occassionally there's an inevitable bad apple you can spot a mile away (like someone asking things that openly insinuate they're trying to find loopholes around the rules to allow them to do something broadly offensive or disruptive) and though I won't flat out deny them, I will warn them of the circumstances much like in this message and mention that what they asked/told me is most likely admissable as extra evidence in any AR I may file.

The question as to whether this applies in both mature and PG sims was asked, and the general consensus was given that it did, moreover it was further stated that Mentors are "Linden provided content" (apparently) and are therefore PG by default. So if there was any subjectivity in the initial statement, it was clarified thereafter.

Privilege: A special advantage, immunity, permission, right, or benefit granted to or enjoyed by an individual, class, or caste.

Many residents (new and not so new) percieve mentors as being the selected representatives of Linden Lab, and extend them certain levels of trust above and beyond the norm.

Plus, mentors may go to certain sims that other residents may not, having access to new residents during a critical formative period, when they are still developing their impressions of Second Life and what it has to offer.

Many businesses and clubs and such would love that special access, as it would constitute a competitive advantage.

Indeed, many of them view it as privileged access to new residents. Our critics view us as privileged, and what we have is certainly not a right.

Yes, Stan, I didn't miss the fact that most people on this thread seem to think that the principle of maintaining PG standards applies to PG and Mature sims alike. It's quite obvious. But tell me how the general consensus changes the wording of the principles as originally posted? Did all the general consensus or popular opinion motivate the Lindens to post a revision of the principles which provided any more clarity on the issue?

You seem to suggest that the general consensus has a retroactive effect. It doesn't - not yet anyway. Popular opinion doesn't prove a thing beyond revealing what everyone thinks. (Of course, if it were to come to a vote, that would be different.)

The principles suggested in the original post have not yet been altered by the author in any of the five pages of this thread. As soon as you, or I, or any of the other non-Linden posters have the authority to mandate policy through the expression of opinion, I'll surely concede your point...


And just so everyone's clear on my stance of this issue, I'm completely in favor of the policy that mentors should maintain PG appearance and behavior while displaying their mentor group title. As a couple other posters have expressed, I also have a background as a trainer for a large corporation. As I traveled with my fellow trainers to different company operations around the state, it was mandated that we all maintain "business professional" attire and professional behavior while we performed our duties. Even while we were in places like Buttscratch, California (obviously not a real place in CA, but some of the places we visited could easily have earned that name) where the employees and their managers could get away with very casual dress and manner, we did not. Our mindset wasn't "When in Rome...", it was "We are the face of the company." The way we presented ourselves mattered to those we taught.

Some of the trainers amongst our team did not keep up an appropriate appearance and behavior while at work; they were first reprimanded and then terminated. I was glad to see them go. It may sound harsh, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice my credibility or that of the other good trainers for the sake of a few misfits.

Now, do I think that the Mentor group requires the same harsh policies? Maybe. When it comes to Help Island and the Welcome areas, probably. As I've said before, SL is a business, first and foremost. Its continued success guarantees happy existence for all our avatars. ("Happy" is subjective too, though...hehe.) Its success is ensured by satisfied customers paying their subscriptions every month, and as mentors we often have influence over new and prospective customers.

Had our group been created by Sum Foo, living on his 512 plot, and been titled SL's Mentor Peeps, I wouldn't be so adamant about it. But it wasn't. The Lindens created this group so that people could voluntarily provide a service for them. I think of my mentoring time as professional time - I take it seriously. I'm still a huge dweeb in my off-time; I love to be silly when it's appropriate; I love to dress cute; sometimes I charge SL's beaches in skimpy swimwear; I've been a model to advertise a few risque items in SL's mature areas. I'm no prude. But I do all of that as plain old Phedre Dassin, perhaps with some other group title displayed. But when I put on my mentor tag I acknowledge the responsibility that comes with it, and I act accordingly. We all should - I don't think that's asking too much.

Well "ENFORCE" is a loose used action jeska does with mentors at times. I had two happensing where one IM with very rude and F@@@@@ used in the chat. While another times another problem mentor "WITH TAG ON" acted totally out of repect for the mentor by insulting and making putting down the group., during a problem time when we should have been acting as a team but caused the problem to grow into a even more bigger problem. Did jeska do anything? Did she reply to me? NO to both counts. Why? I don`t know. For whatever reason why she did not rely really does bother me. Why? because at times she seems to only act when some people say there is a problem, with others she does not even botehr replying back. Busy or not who knows.
I do enjoy servicing as a mentor and greeter and given alot of love to the group in the form of helping. But as any large group at time people that should not be inthe group will always put the group in a wrong light. Dream is high in the mentors? Why I don`t even know or care anymore. It hurts the groups and people laugh at us then repects when actions like this occur.

TY tat. all points valid and proof why myself and may others DO consider our /Privledge/ of being a mentor just that and nothing less. We /Volunteered/ to uphold these standards and there is NO JUSTIFICATION under any circumstance to ever not live up to those standards. There are many ways in SL to volunteer your time and help new people /without/ being a Mentor. If you cant uphold the guidelines for our group then please contribute, but do it somewhere else.

I really would wish that this tat is the head of the mentors would stop. We all have a say in this chat topic and no one person have higher rank then anyone else.

Umm. Nobody said I was, did they? I didn't read anything that said that.

She is not the head, nor the leader. But she is truthful, direct, accurate and a very sensible person to converse with. Its not her fault that being articulate and being a point of sensibility and reason gains her respect of her peers. I like and respect Phedre's post and opinions also. That does not mean I appoint her leader.

In the end we all do have equal rank and an equal right to voice our concerns in this thread. That does not mean we have all earned the same level of /Respect/ through our actions, mannerisms and ability (or lack thereof) to calmly express ourselves.