Rudeness redux

I was on my virtual slice of heaven just now tidying up the graves and pumpkins, etc, from Halloween, when along came, oh, let's call her, Nubee Avatar. She walked right past me - almost cannoned into me. I said hello but there was no response. I'd never seen her before so checked her profile, and sure enough she was a newbie - the newest of newbies - rez day 1 Nov 2006. I charitably assumed she didn't know I was talking to her, although we were the only 2 people there, or that she hadn't yet mastered the complicated procedure we practiced SL-ers call chat.

Anyway, back I went to my tidying up and seconds later Nubee came back. "Ah," sez I to myself. "She's realised I was talking to her." So again I said hello, and this time I addressed her by name, just so she'd know that I was talking to her and not the hedges, trees, or Gov Linden (God bless 'im). Nada. Zippo. Zilch. I was just about to invite her to have a ride on my carousel, when a creaking sound told me she'd found the swings.

I walked over, stood in front of the swings and said that I hope she was enjoying her first day in SL. Silence. I went a few meters away to adjust my summerhouse and had my back to the swings when a sepulchral voice (well it looked sepulchral) said, "It is not my first day". Now we Europeans would write today's date as 1/11/2006, so I virtually blushed wondering if I'd misread it and was talking to someone who had been here longer than I. Or perhaps it was 2005 and not 2006 when she joined. Oh the shame of it. But no, there it was - 11/1/2006. I said as much to her and then added that she must be an alt. No response - just the creaking of the swings and the howling of the SL wind.

I went back to the swings and welcomed her to my parcel. I thought perhaps she was the kind of person who thinks chatting to the domestics is beneath her, so I wanted her to know that I was Lady of all this Vast Domain. Nothing.

A little peeved by now I said that it had been nice chatting with her and added three exclamation marks. Then, feeling a bit like Apu in The Simpsons, I said "Do come again!" and logged off.

Does anyone else think this is boorish behaviour? A simple "hello" back was all that was needed. She clearly spoke at least some English, so that wasn't the reason for not responding at all.

I for one do. As I said in the first thread, it's not about people doing or rezzing things that are inappropriate all the time....but often about their basic unwillingness to merely acknowledge you.

Her behavior was rude and snobish! There is no reason for such bad mannners! If she knew how to sit on the swing, she must have known to respond using Chat. You are far more gracious than I would've been after your repeated attempts to converse with her.

I can't always tell if someone's talking to me if there are others present, they don't say my name, and aren't looking at me. But otherwise I think it's polite to reply to polite inquiries. In fact, few people are able to get me to shut up on most occasions.

Perhaps she's roleplaying a phantom...

Or a mime.

Some people who are coming to SL from conventional MMORPG might not realise that there are no NPCs in this world. I've witnessed new residents asking people if they are NPCs or "real" people.

Well if you run into me or I acidentaly land on your avatar its because I am truly clueles and freezing up trying to get or find teleport out and I am not intentionaly trying to be rude.
Sometimes when I am in the other window I don't see someone talking. Perhaps the person was grumpy, distracted, or who knows
Most people sadly be it virtual or real get preocupied with whatever.there doing or wanting. LOL
I rarely run into people much when I am on. Which probably is good thing because I haven't upgraded my computer yet. This weeken hopefuly.
Today is my 2nd day or so of playing.
First day I went to few places, I went to Isle of White, beginers class was having major issues with literaly everything moving, etc.
No one even said hi do you need help?
I even went to freebie yard sale just because I was curious about itthat maybe two people I asume they were a couple and I was interupting so I left.
Then I went to another spot through the SLexchange to one of the atms.
Some guy asked if I need help then started to ask me for money.
Kept asking.
I did met one really nice person last night on the forums who is very talented builder, she gave me some nice stuff.

I don't have experience with any other on-line games, what are NPCs?

I often wonder, especially with players coming in from other games, if they just don't get it. If they don't understand that large chunks of SL would be considered "private" property, that it is not ok to pull your your weapon and shoot other residents or plop down that freebie house and set up the lawn chairs anywhere you find a bit of open space, that it's not polite to walk onto someone elses property and and sit on the swing without so much as a "how do you do".

I'm sorry, I hit the submit button before I intended. What I wanted to finish with was that we were all noobs at some point, wandering around without much of a clue what we were doing or where to go. I know there are still times when I mistakenly TP or wander onto someones property and can't tell if I sould be there or not.

I think it would be nice if every new player were handed a notecard (not something in their inventory never to be found) when they leave Orientation Island with some basic information about our little world.

Its bit disorienting when your new. I try to be respect of people's spaces but I did run into fence. It allowed me to even copy it I didn't know how to contact person so I sent teleport request saying thanks for the fence I am new and lost.
Then proceded to fly up running right into some invisible wals not know why I couldn't fly over head. Then I saw the red letters do not enter

Non Player Characters. They would be the Barnies in Half-life, the Inn's keepers in Diablo, etc. They are computer controlled, limited repitoire and conversation devices. People when they fist come into SL may be expecting to be running into literally dozens of these non-player types when they see everyone running about in their avatars. Mine is a little unearthly in simulation, so on top of gaping stares, the usual newbie question is, "R u a NPC?!" When I tell them no - I am a real person, they then usually ask, "Can I shoot u w/ my gun?" to which I point them to an avatar next to me - "You may shoot him." :>

Just kidding, I usually get silent when a new person asks where they may use or purchase weapons, as that is not the point of being in a *SIMULATOR*. Not to me at anyrate. Sometimes, newbies can be bent from a path of self-destruction. I have kindly guided a fellow online from one of these "Shoot everything that walks and get banned from 3-4 sims a day" types into a decent, productive member of our online family. Took him a while to catch on that there were real people running around in their virtual make-believe bodies. It turned him around 180 degrees when he realized that. He hung up his gunbelt, got a job, and is purchasing his first land soon! So even if they are rude little peckers, treat them well...

They'll usually come back, you being the ONLY person that will talk to their rude little faces - and that is when you begin to sculpt and mold them into model citizens. In the case of your spooky swing user? I have a spooky little girl that follows me around, TPs in unannounced/uninvited. I just do not acknowlge her in the least. Conversation of any type, including "Get out!" percipitates at least an hour of listening to why her life sucks so badly. After 5 minutes of talking around her to other friends - she moves on. Sometimes attentivores have better targets of opportunity after you clam up. I seriously think some folks do or don't do things just to get any kind of a rise out of folks too. So someone that responds with "I am not new here." with and account just made that day - well, start thinking about why that may be- especially if they cannot carry on an intelligent, courteous conversation. Ignore, and leave be - they'll take care of themselves one way or another.

Enough rambling out of me for now, I'll let you guys talk about this one amongst yourselves for a turn or three.

Yeah, last weekend a friend wanted to see what SL was like so he watched over my shoulder while I walked around. Ever time we encountered someone, he kept telling me to ready my weapon. This was Samurai Island I suppose, but still. Mostly I chatted with people and got a bunch of free swords.

Basically just computer-controlled characters (Non-Player Characters) that might give you quests or buy your loot etc.



Thing is, SL is a huge & confusing world especially when compared to conventional MMORPGs, and besides the ToS, there is not much in terms of "rules of the game". Take, for instance, "private property" - except in case of huge red banlines surrounding the plot it is often enough not clear at first glance if a plot is to be considered private or public. With time, one recognizes the clues that indicate residential / commercial etc; but from what I remember of my first few days in SL, it was mostly "zOMG stuff!!!"

Boorish, yes, and more than a little bizarre.

There are no experience points in SL, no levels, no loot (in the traditional sense) and no fixed goals. The one thing it truly offers is socialization, and if someone isn't interested in that then I can't fathom why they'd be playing.

LOL Carolyn - I tend to shoot first and ask questions afterwards. She must have got me on a good day.

To throw in my own experience with the "I am not new here" new players, My partner and I were shopping one day, when the Lucky Chair in the store turned to the letter of the name of a new AV who was wandering around nearby. Her profile showed her to be maybe 2 days old, I think (this took place a couple of months ago, so i've forgotten some of the details). I let her know about the chair, since at that young an age, she probably didn't know about them, and she could probably make use of the outfit that the merchant was giving away (and selling also, to non-winners... this was no freebie prize).

She won the prize. Instead of saying thank you, she demanded that we give her money. My partner advised her to get a job. I pointed to the money tree that the merchant had provided also, in which i could clearly see around 15-20L (amazing... I know. They are usually farmed, but the tree was new at the time, and so prob unknown to the tree farmers). I offered to teach her how to "pick" the money from the money tree and asked if she knew about them. She retorted that she didn't need my help, and said the "I am not new here, I know how to do it." comment.

I said ok, and my partner and I walked away to the opposite side of the store. IM'ing about how rude she was. Maybe 5 minutes later, she walks up to us and demands (not ask, mind you.... but demands) that I show her how to pick money from the tree. My partner and I had both had it up to here (/me holding hand above my head), so i cut and pasted her own words into chat... then, I told her that: I would not presume to tell someone so experienced as she obviously was how to do anything, since that would be an insult to someone with her obvious experience and skills.

She wasn't happy, to say the least. And we did end up muting her (and told her why) after several vitriolic comments were directed at us. We continued our shopping and ignored her

Yes, sometimes it's hard to tell if someone's talking to you, but I think we were the only 2 people in the whole sim! And the second time I used her name.



And just hours too late for Halloween LOL

Oh, now that's interesting - I didn't know that. So what do you do in a conventional game if you're a NPC? Is it like being a virtual tourist? Or more like an extra? And what is the point of being in a RPG if you don't RP?

NPCs are basically computer controlled, non player characters - no players can technically be an NPC. To put it another way, NPCs are programmed characters that the game creator places in the world to interact with actual players in a scripted way - for example - to give you a quest.

You make a good point, FD - I know I've sometimes overlooked IMs if I'm chatting, building or whatever. I don't think that applies in this case, though. She wasn't editing, doing a search, answering IMs or just AFK because her av was walking around. She may have been in mouselook on the swing but the fact that she spoke to me means she did know I was talking to her. I just wanted a simple hi or thank you.

BTW - we've all landed on someone at some time or another. LOL It's bound to happen when a lot of people tp somewhere - unless you move away from the landing point you're going to get flattened.

NPC's also can accompany you on the quests and fight beside you. My partner and I both play in another company's game whose name I will not reveal here, but maybe the initials GW will be okay. NPC's in that game not only assign quests, do rewards, act as merchants, but other NPC's called "henchmen" can accompany you on your quests, acting and behaving as other players... well, not quite... the NPC's act with computer logic as opposed to doing something irrational.

Oh that's true Aislin - but all the same, if someone says hello, it's nice to say hi back. And by Nubee's admission she wasn't new - so there was no excuse.

Francesca

If she pays you another visit and continues in her rude manners, IM me if I'm in SL and we'll both give her a hard lesson in social etiquette!!!!

My encounter pales next to yours. I like your rejoinder, though. I might have to use it if I run into Nubee again - LOL just for a minute I forgot what her name really is.

Oh and I've just had a horrible thought - what if there is someone called Nubee Avatar? I'd better check in-world. LOL

Oh yes we've all been there, you TP to a heavily populated place and land on someone else and another avi in turn lands on you. Then you try to move out of the way and because everything is still rezing you can't see where your going and start running into things and just hope that you aren't pushing someone else. LOL