ok, there is sex and gambling, but is there anything else?

I will admit that I still think of myself as a noob. I've been here a little over a month and am still finding my way around. Yes, I'm learning building and scripting - that is an interest of mine - call it a hobby. I have also recently acquired my first land.

I see alot of potential here. I've met a number of very nice people here and thoroughly enjoy meeting people and going to live music events. I've been doing a lot of exploring of Halloween places this last little while. I imagine that there will be some big parties coming up in SL. After all, everyone could easily take on a costume here.

I do not like seeing this negative attitude towards the free accounts. I started that way and there is no way that I would have paid for this without trying it out first. I know that there is a problem with people joining anonymously, but they could provide bogus information for name, etc. and still get in. I think that, in the long run, letting people join for free will get more people actively participating. The more people get interested in non-sex and non-gambling activities, the more prevalent they will become.

I got my sister to join SL because she could get in free. She loves to go dancing.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. I've said my piece (as disjointed as it is).

I'm still seeking. I've tried my hand at the big two, and I've decided gambling is not worth it, and the other is fun to explore but can't be all you do. I'm not a builder, or creative enough to sell. I'm not really willing to invest the real dollars in to trying a shop of some sort, though I might eventually. I'm really hoping this will become a good place to hang-out and make friends. I'm just not finding the right spots yet. I'm still hoping.

(of course, my limited time and the constant crashing is sort of hurting my search)

I started with a free account.
I needed L$ so I camped and later found the freeplay tables (doesn't cost a thing)
I worked long hours as a guard (running in the background while I worked in RL)
Saved my money until I could buy the things I 'needed'
Some of these things I thought I needed was anti-griefer weapons (spells)
I used them a couple of times in defence... worked well.
I hardly ever even think about them now, I no longer hang at the casinos.
All this time (all work & no play...) I took classes to learn everything I could.
I even held an impromptu class when a teacher couldn't make it!
I rented some land and built a house.
I bought some guitars (being a musician in RL) and am now streaming some shows at LIVE Music events, building some new listeners that I never would have reached otherwise.
Recently, I've built some instruments, played with animation, and am trying to learn how to get a script to make everything work the way I want.
I've been having a BLAST!!!!!!

So if you're out there looking for something to do...
Come see me play! and all the other musicians!
Mostly what people do here is... be their true self,
behind the mask, the mask is removed.

It's really what ever you make of it. ^_^

Incorrect. SL I believe is still predominantly female. At least the last time I heard it was 50 something % women vrs 40 something % men. That was according to actual genders when you had to give credit card info to sign up. While I may argue that the 'women' in sex clubs are actually male, there is a large population of women within SL. Most of us don't like to be hit on by the newbie males and usually just hang out with friends.



Don't give me that crap. I advertised for a customer service rep months ago and had 3 applicants. May not be the most fun job in the world, but its easy and pays pretty well.


Very few people go to events. Why? Too many people in one spot and SL lags out far too bad. Then the crap shoot the events page is. What many people who've been here for a while have private parties with their friends or sit around and hang out.



Why have conversation? Because conversing with a like minded person fun. And oddly, the point of life, in my opinion. Why would someone go to SL to do that? Because there is another person on the other side of the computer who you couldn't have met in RL because they don't live in your city/state/country.

As for the relationship.. completly incorrect on that one. There is no such thing as impossible when you are talking about relationships.

Don't give blanket statements that just because you cannot find SL worthwhile that there isn't worthwhile things. Think of it like moving to new big city. The popular places are the tourist traps. What you have to search for is that neighbourhood pub that is right for you. Keep looking, you'll find it eventually.

When I first joined SL, I was a free account, too. I went and did the camping thing because (admittedly) I didn't spend enough time on welcome island clicking hands and asking questions (I don't know if that's impatience, stupidity or ADD on my part, but hey, that's what I did....)

I ran across 2 people who I became fast friends with. Not just because they were the only ones chatting in a room fulla afk campers, but we found each other funny.

I wandered around and found The Bluffs where there is not only really pretty landscape, but some really beautiful artwork.

One of my friends found Bora Bora Island and we went surfing (I'm just as bad at that SL as RL lol)

So after being helped to find a really nice shape place and a great skins place, and modifying my hair 23487293478 times, I finally get an avatar that's super sexy! I started a group, bought some land (thanks to the tier donations of some of the members) and we have a club now.

So what do I do? Sure, I dance, I even do a little escort work, but one of my favorite things to do is use the silly walk with Mood Mixer and walk around like an idiot banging into my friends in the club while they sit there and shake their heads at me.

Waste of time? You betcha!! But it isn't all I do and when I fall into that silly mode, it has me laughing like I'm in 5th grade again

::nod:: Most of the females I know in-world are female IRL. Very few of them work for LL, and fewer still work/ed in sex clubs,

When I started - on the same free but verified account I have today - I tried my hand at camping to make some cash, and couldn't wait 'til Tuesdays for my L$50. Then I started to make friends (I had this a bit easy, because I already had some friends in-world, and they introduced me to friends). I landed a job hostessing at a mall (No, not a euphamism for sex work: I really do just meet and greet, while making such the merchandise stays safe and clutter-free), and I pick up a few odd jobs building now and then. I also have a very small amount of items that I sell in-world.

For me, the biggest thing is interacting with others in-world, I've gone into all that before.

Mari

i very much appreciate the detailed rebuttals of my positions earlier.

as i wrote in a later post, despite all that, i've decided to remain. my reasons are quirky, and i don't feel i need to go into them.

i think the potential of SL is great, if only they can get around some of their technical problems. i see in them a commitment to do just that. hence, my conclusion that in large measure i am remaining because i want to help to fix that.

i am surprised regarding the demographics of SL. is there any independent survey that gives what those are? reports from Linden Labs?

on the other hand, granted that this is a new world, and that i, as a tekkie type, am willing to give it more than a fair shake, i think newcomers might easily feel isolated and estranged. moreover, comparisons with RL cities and communities are inappropriate, since the forces and factors which create those and their social dynamics only exist in SL by imposition and shared fantasy. the observation was made: events are "bad" because lag is high there. in contrast in RL, the opposite is exactly the case. it's exciting and fun with be with so many others.

i am pointing this out because i've committed to the SL community, and want to see it be better. that is not served by looking at things with rose-colored glasses or by dichotomizing folks into "with us or against us" categories.

all the above being said, it remains for the most part a land of baubles, even if they aren't expensive. that needs to change if SL is going to survive. and, oh, people may take on whatever jobs that are there, but remember SL is competing for RL time. if RL time is more valuable, few will commit to an SL job paying little and demand a lot of it.

the "going to survive" is not a question of the idea or technology being bad. it's a question of a big pocketted competitor coming in, learning from Linden Labs' mistakes, and deliverying a better experience. in this business, that is always just a matter of time.

There was a poll in the General area of the forums a couple of months ago, back when they were still open. 852 people answered. Replies to polls are anonymous. The SL forums are probably not a fully representative sample of the SL population, but this gives at least SOME indication of who is here. A summary of the results:

Male playing male: 42.14%
Male playing female: 14.79%
Female playing male: 3.76%
Female playing female: 39.32%

In this sample, men outnumber women, 57% to 43%. That's a much more even ratio than most online games or communities have. Certainly we can't say that there are "no women here".

I have listed our place as newcomer friendly, set out some freebies, and the "jewels" that arrive to chat have been the highlight of my SL experience recently. I was trained as a newcomer helper in my last chat, so i know a bit about the lost & confused feelings a newb has. So i chat and help in my own little world, one thing i always ask is what they want to do in SL or see, then i teach them how to use the search for places..am amazed this isnt taught on the newcomer island. Its instant access to whatever you might be interested in, i highly recommend that any new person to SL use it, i still do for exploring. Have been in over 2 yrs and i still find new and interesting things to see and do.

I think most of the things I was going to suggest have already been covered, but there are one or two points I'd like to make.

For the record, I am female in SL and RL, LOL. I have never tried sex or gambling in SL, and that's the way I intend it to stay.

I met a not-so-new newbie a while back who thought he had to pay for classes. All the classes offered by ASL, TeaZer, NCI and other institutes of higher learning [G] are FREE. The materials are FREE. The instructors don't get paid, either.

There are groups for almost anything you can think of - including a number of support and discussion groups. One way of finding groups to join is to look at others' profiles and their group list. By clicking on their "Picks" tab you can find interesting places to go. Somewhere in these forums, someone started a thread about interesting sims (sorry, I'm too tired and caffeine-deficient to provide a link).

Various religious bodies have a foothold in SL. Most of the Christian denominations are covered, there's an Islamic group, a strong Buddhist presence, and I am a member of SL Synagogue. You can find places of worship and meditation areas all over SL.

RL artists, musicians, architects follow their vocation in SL too. The various magazines - someone's already mentioned most of them, but there's a new one, Konstrukt - are always on the look-out for writers/photographers (that's photographers in SL). You could set up your own RL blog about your SL experiences. Check out Resident-run websites in these forums for links to such blogs.

I love SL (and probably spend far too much time here). I can't wait to log in each day. In RL I'm disabled and chronically sick. I feel excluded from life a lot of the time because I can't get out much. In SL I can teleport and fly. Even being able to run is a bonus, LOL.

Unlike other "games" there are no objectives or goals other than those you set yourself. If you can dream it you can probably do it in SL.

Enjoy!

Actually, we do get paid, though we're not getting rich. Linden Lab gives an L$500 payment to instructors for each approved class (per class taught, 5 student minimum, 2 classes a day maximum per instructor). Some schools ask instructors to share some of the payment with the school.

There have also been a few attempts at running classes in Second Life that require tuition payments, such as Second Life Community College. (They were offering series of more advanced classes than most of the things taught in SL; I think they charged L$2000 for a 10-session series.) I don't know of any that are currently active, however.

Quick Question,,
50% women,
40% men
..................

What are the OTHER 10%?

Angel.

Trannies? Heh.

If you read what I wrote, I stated 50 'something' vrs 40 'something.' I do not remember the exact numbers so I wasn't going to say it. But my mind keeps going to 57% vrs 43%.

Post google search:

Found a news article and my mind isn't failing me yet. I just had the number mixed up.

SF Gate article 9/2006


I do remember hearing PR stuff that the number was higher a couple of years ago.

I'm starting to not have fun.

I went to some casinos, but can't figure out how to use the slot machines. Why isn't there info on how to do this? No one there will talk to me. What's up with that?

I think there could be a lot more helpful info. I went through the noob forum, but it didn't tell me what I want to know, like if I'm just a basic, non-subscriber, what can I do, or not do?

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

NCI and The Shelter are both non-commercial new resident hangout spots, and safe places to get started if you're new. Most of the folks that hang out at both enjoy being around new residents, and are friendly to questions if you have 'em.

Both places offer free content and activities that are friendly for new folks

The game has alot of adult content (AKA SEX ) but thre are otehr places what are not so.Just click off the "MATURE" box in find under"PLACES" and "EVENT" and you find all kinds of NON MATURE CONTENT ..............
Hope this helps

There is NO 'Art' in SL. It is all design!

I am engaged and have two daughters and two baby boys (twins). I am very happy with my family.

I have to take issue with Lotka, when she says it is impossible to have a romantic relationship in SL. I am in one right now, where sex is not part of the deal, but cuddles, kisses and courtly prose very much so.

I started as a free member, and thus now have my own land as a paying resident. Free accounts are vital if this place is to become a true community. I was very lucky to meet the people I have met as a newb, and try to do the same myself, when I'm not busy on my land and being silly with my lover.

I am not interested in gambling, although SLingo at the Play pen is quite fun, mainly because the hosts make it so. Sex in SL? I have never seen the point in cybersex, and if I want to get that sort of relief from the internet then there are plenty of other sites out there! No, I came here to meet people, learn to script, build etc, after seeing an article on the BBC about SL. I have met people from all over the world, and now have a wonderful, romantic, sexless but very satisfyingly sexy love relationship with a fantastic woman from the US.

Lotka, if you really want to get the best out of SL, leave all your RL crap in RL where it belongs! If you come in here as you are out there, complete with all your baggage, you will never get the idea. This is somewhere to come as a child, as a newborn thing with no preconceptions, and discover what you can really be. Dream it here, and you will be it here.

My two penneth worth. Lotka, IM me if you want a chat, or not, but I hope you find something of the joy here that I have.

You are certainly hanging around in the wrong places then. I've met at dozens of people just hanging around and chatting.

What you should do is go to the "search" utility and type in a word that interests you. Sports, movies, Stephen King... whatever. Odds are there is a group of people on the grid that like the same thing and would be happy to meet you.

And if that doesn't work, there is still the sex and gambling!

Hello, yes there are other things to do other then sex, and gambling. I host a game in SL that is a lot of fun, a social game, good time and a good laugh. The game is called Primtionary. It if like the game called pictionary that people play irl. You pick a level that you feel you can build at, there is easy, medium, hard and evil (a warning tho, evil is evil) Evils take a longer time to build and you have to figure out a way to build it, for example an evil is alibi and a easy is box. You don't need to build, but the audience loves for people to try. I am aways in im if you have problems. If you can pull out a prim, then you can build. I host twice a week. Once on Wednesday 7SL time and once on Saturday 7SL time. It is also a way to win Lindens. You win 25 Lindens for guessing what the person is building on stage and 25 Lindens for building yourself. This is not a board game, it is a very interacting game. I do post it in events so look it up and check it out. I also host the event as a themed event and for guessing the theme you win 50 Lindens. Hope to see you there.

nawww.. i think you should go!

SL can be a magical place, where you can do or be anything, as to why would people want o go to a discussion about things as opposed to watching a video, well, i guess if you prefer no interaction, there is no way to explain it to you. As for the only job is prostittution, hmmmm i guess tell that to a very long list of women ( and men) who are now not only supporting their SL habits with inworld buisness, but are now making their RL living here. From what you have said, in general, it sounds like you just do not like to interact with people online, and if that is teh case then no SL is not the place for you.

For people who want to see some wonderful places, here is a link to a thread of places to visit in SL

/108/18/77801/1.html


i miss this thread, i found some truly wonderful places through it, anyways i hope you spend some time to explore and enjoy the place warts and all.

I was reading a few posts back about prejudice towards those with free accounts. It's not that their accounts are free, but that they're unverified. There's a big misconception that in order for one to become verified, he/she has to go premium and pay monthly for the account. Not true, at this writing anyway. Giving CC or debit card info or purchasing Lindens with a CC, debit card or through Paypal (which has verified you through your bank account) will verify you.

There is a universal pay service, PaybyCash.com that maybe LL could look into accepting for those not in the US or Canada who can't use Paypal, which I wouldn't mention unless I knew they weren't some fly-by-night company. Here are some that use that pay service: http://www.paybycash.com/options/featured_merchants.php


Btw, you can opt to click off the Mature selection when doing searches. You would pretty much eliminate the sex side of SL that way.

Furries, Goreans and Ageplayers, of course!