Second Life - Day 3

Yes, I'm a complete noob, I'm on day 3 and have only been on the mainland for 1 of the 3 days. The first 2 days I did alot of reading and moving around noob island.

I finally take the leap to the mainland, there were a few people at the little park where you pop in, I stood around for awhile looking at my map, trying to figure out where to go. Hmm people, I decide to fly to where some green dots are on my map.

Casino, I don't think there were any live people there. Check map, move onto the next populated location. Strip Club....try again, casino.

Ok, I'll just kind of fly around. I would see one/2 people on my map and head that way. Never a straight line, buildings, invisible walls. When I do finally get near some people they are in a home and I will not intrude.

I am a total noob, I'd just like to know where people hang out. I did find a couple of dance clubs but no one talks....is this a world of bots?

I'm not sure what I'd like to do in game but I do know that meeting a couple people would be a good start...if I could find them.

Kolsch, next time you are in-world, head to a place called The Shelter. It is a club that focuses on the new resident to SL, always friendly folks, no campers and lots of freebies.

Use your search tool.

You can search popular places. (popular places tend to have many people there)
You can search groups (maybe look for a group that has similar interests)
Youcan search for items or stores that interest you.

One day a long time ago, I plugged in Hawaii in my search and lo and behold...hawaii was there.

TPed to the island and wandered around. I met a nice girl who explored with me and after awhile we went our seperate ways....had a great time.

The search engine is a wonderful tool...as long as its working. LoL

Each time you pass by another avatar, click to bring up their Profile, then check to see what places (if any) they've picked.

That's a great sort of randomizer for finding new places to explore.

My pick for favorite place is Svarga. Do a search, then TP there. You won't regret it!

I highly recomend a website called secondseeker.com which has reviews of interesting places to go.

http://www.gabrielguyer.com/slparksandrec/slprsr_search.php is also an excellent guide to parks and green areas

I miss Spitoonie Island...I always brought new people there. Anyone know if anyplace like that exists anymore?

thanks for the replies so far. i will check out the above mentioned locations and spend some time plying with the search tool. i also like the idea of checking where others have been, that's my kind of random adventuring.

thanks again. and i definately welcome more ideas/suggestions.

There is a board on Ahern Island welcome by pathfinder with lots of tips of places to see.

Hello Kolsch,
Welcome to SL.

No, there are very few bots in SL.

I have to ask: Did you try and talk to the people you saw first? Or did you just assume they were "bots" because they did not speak to you first?

People who don't talk, could be:
1) Away from their keyboard at that moment. If you see the words "Away" or "Busy" next to their names, that is a good indicator. Also, if you see them on a dance pad or camp chair with hover text nearby saying they have earned X amount of L$, that's another good indicator.

2) busy in IM's with other people. The IM window normally appears over the open chat window. So, you don't notice that someone is trying to speak with you.

3) busy trying to create something. This is obvious with builders... you will see their builds in progress. But Scripters have a big script window open on their own PC's and are so focused on their project that they will lose track of time. My own partner does this from time to time.

4) They might be waiting for you to say something first. Of the last 5 noobs i've spoken with, 4 of them said nothing and walked away. This is actually quite normal, so some folks no longer even bother to say hello first, assuming that they'll be ignored. Say hello, and be polite and respectful of them and you will find yourself overwhelmed by how friendly people will be.

5) SL is international. There are more and more non-English speakers here every day. Many that i've met, note it in their profiles. Don't take lack of a response as being ignored.
It might be that they are trying to figure out what you just said to them. There are several exceptionally good translation scripts in SL, but these take time to bring online if you weren't expecting to use one.


The Shelter is a wonderful place for new players to go. Another good place is Free Dove.

I also recommend taking classes (free) at Teasers University or Academy of Second Learning. The Ivory Tower is a great place to visit if you want to learn building

I'ld be careful about "green glob" mapping if i were you (using the map to click on masses of people). There are combat sims and you could find yourself tp'ing into the middle of a battle.

lol, since you mention it i did tp into a gun range. i managed to not get shot and no one attempted to hurt me in anyway. interesting though.

thanks for the other tips, i have to admit i'm pretty shy when it comes to people to i have spoken very little in game.

Heh...there are worse things in SL you can TP into besides combat sims

If you are going to scoping out green dot clusters, make sure there is an event attached to the cluster, you can enable those icons on the big map. Personally, I would avoid dropping in on groups of people where there is no event happening.

Kolsch, pull up your Search window, pick Live Music from the dropdown list..and hit search. You'll see a whole list of current/near upcoming live music performances..you can even request a Notify which will send you an automatic tp for the correct time and place! Live Music events are great for meeting people who wont' shoot ya! not to mention, you'll hear some fabulous SL musicians

excellent, music is one of my passions. i'm not a musician by any means of the word but i love listening. thanks for the info, i'll check it out first thing.

This could really do with being addressed. Time and time again I've found chats quietly scrolling through the background of IM window.
Is there a setting to change default IM window position such as top left?



The other day I quietly sat on a wall just outside the door to one of my favourite watering holes and spent a very pleasant afternoon chatting to regulars and answering newcomers questions. This was very heartwarming.

Bilbo - just move the IM window. You can drag it anywhere you want.

Hiya Freckles! <wave>
I do do this but am sure that on relogging it defaults to bottom left?

try a search for Busy Ben's car lot, it's generaly populated, and had a nice selection of real people. (mostly nice)

I believe (can't remember the actual update version), the IM window did stay where you dragged it, but got broken again when the fixed other things that weren't broken either

My favourite Tab in search is the Events Tab... if you are allowed into mature areas, make sure you check the 'show mature' and just click search.. you can teleport right from the listing to places where people are having fun, add a reminder for up and coming events that interest you.. drop in and just say Hi... start with the Host (if they haven't already said Hi to you and you have replied), work your way round the room, join in and viola...

The time that you are on can also effect how many really active people are on. I'm on GMT and in the morning SL can feel quite deserted - except for the campers, the Antipodeans and some die-hard lucky chair hoppers. Lots of G'days!

Anyway I find it a good time to explore the different lands and buildings that people have set up. I walked around a lot in the first few weeks. I also spent some mornings hopping around the money trees, basically using them as random way points to start a stroll. It was a good time to check out people's houses when nobody was home to disturb.

Chellonia Regent

Me & My Wife are kind of new to and I understand what you mean when you want to find a good friend in the game.. When the Grid comes back on, Id love to hang out with you and stuff and try to show you around because not all of Second Life is like that... Im Beau Daniels just look me up

/me waves back!

Hmmmm mine doesn't snap back. It stays where I want it. How annoying that you have to reset it all the time.