Getting started

Hi. I'm getting started with Second Life and wondered how to connect to other users on SL. I've got the program loaded but don't know how to do anything beyond logging in. How do I chat with other people on SL? Thanks.

Hi, Alec! Welcome to Second Life

When you log in, you should appear on Help Island. This is a training area, isolated from the main world of Second Life. You can explore your user interface and menus without being disturbed by other residents.

Most likely, a few other newcomers will be there with you. You can communicate with them in three basic ways.

If you hit ENTER, a chat text entry bar will appear at the bottom of your screen with the cursor already inside it. Just type your text and hit ENTER again. Anyone within 20 meters of you will "hear" you.

You can also send a private message to anyone, wherever they are in Second Life. Use the IM/Call button by right clicking on an avatar, or use search to call up their profile, if they aren't right there with you.

If you click the Communicate button at the bottom left of your screen, you'll see a new window with tabs in it. "Contacts" contains a list of your Friends and your Groups. "Local Chat" is another way to display the chat going on around you, and provides a chat history function, in case you miss something. Other tabs with people's names on them will appear in this window when you send (or receive) an IM.

The third way to communicate is with actual voice instead of text. Voice is enabled by default. If you see a little glowing white ball above your head, and above the heads of other avatars, you have voice enabled. If you have a headset with a boom microphone, or if you have a laptop with a built-in mic, you can use this feature to talk. Even if you don't have a mic, you can use it to listen to others talking. You can designate a key on your keyboard as your "push to talk" key, or you can use the little "Talk" button at the lower right of your screen.

Once you feel comfortable moving your avatar about, and are through exploring the various menus and buttons, you can leave Help Island at any time and enter the main world. Go to the big green beacon that shines up into the sky, where there is a huge glowing sign that says "ENTER SECOND LIFE". Click the billboard beneath the beacon.
You will see a new window on your screen. This is a "landmark", used to teleport yourself to a new location. Click the Teleport button in the landmark window and you will find yourself in a Welcome Area. These tend to be crowded and noisy, so use the Search button to find other places to visit and teleport to them.

Good luck, and IM me in world (or send me a PM here in the forums) if I can be of help.

I have sent AlexC a copy of our Hobo Kit -- starter. It has lots of info for newcomers. I also sent a friend link so AlexC will have someone to talk to.

The Hobo Kit and other helps for Newcomers is available at Cookie ( 143, 110, 21 ).

Hi AlexC! Welcome to the forums. If you find yourself wanting to connect to folks you see on these forums, you can drop by the forum Hangout in Allana. There's a valentine's day party coming up - join the Forum Cartel group inworld to get notices.

There are also many other groups that are both social and oriented to helping new people. Once you get started, drop by NCI (New Citizen's Inc) in Kuula - they run classes on various aspects of using SL (including building things). And the have parties every week for new folks.

The Shelter is an affiliated place, a social club for newer residents.

Have fun!

The Shelter is an independent organization and is not affiliated in any way with NCI. We respect and admire the work they do, but we are not part of them and they are not part of us.