Some days ago, I was organizing textures while standing on the edge of Watermelinden Land, and two Resis visited and had the most smile-inducing of archetypical conversations. I don't think they saw me. Their names have been removed, not to protect their identities — I'd be more than happy to give my friendly greetings! — but because while I feel really blessed that I could overhear this exchange, it's certainly the kind of universal talk that many can relate to on a much broader level. A warm example of being helped while new to the Second Life experience:
P: oops
P: you ok?
C: sorry
C: I fell
P: I noticed.
P: Hope my head was not too hard
C: No didn't hurt me!
P: That's a strange place here
C: Yes it is!
C: I was just up in that watermelon thing.
C: It took me to YouTube to watch videos.
P: Oh, I didn't see you. I was there too.
C: I saw how to use the alt and ctl keys.
P: Ah!
P: You look pretty newbie, yet you are "old" in SL standards. Not much grid time?
C: I still have trouble moving about.
P: Or are you an alt?
C: I don't know!
C: What's that?
P: Well, is this a secondary account of someone? You have a primary account too?
P: Or do you simply spend not much time in here?
C: I am trying to learn what to do.
C: But not having much luck.
C: Just bumble around.
P: What's the problem?
C: Well, I can't seem to work anything right.
P: Well, it's not THAT difficult. What's your biggest obstacle?
C: I just am not clear as to what to do.
C: I see people earning money. I guess you need that here.
C: Some guy told me he sat on a beach towel and made money.
P: There is no "goal" in Second Life. It's not like World of Warcraft (for example), where you have a carreer to pursue.
C: I know that, but I want to be able to do things.
P: Sit down
P: OK.
P: First of all, you don't need ANY money in here.
P: But truth to be told, having SOME helps a lot.
C: How did you make the furnture?
P: There is quite a lot of things to see, explore and even buy without any money, or with as much as 1 L$.
P: The furniture was "rezzed" (= created) by a little tool I use.
P: OK, how much money (Linden Dollars) do you have? It's the green number in the top right corner of the screen.
C: Looks like L$0.
P: OK, here's a little to start with. No strings attached, no obligations.
C: Thanks, how did you do that?
P: You use PC or Mac?
C: PC
P: OK. Have you ever right-clicked on something?
C: No
P: Right-click on me.
P: You will see a pie-menu, just like the one you get with left-click, but with different options. One if it is "pay".
C: Yes, I see.
P: You can try to pay me 1 L$ back to see how it works.
P: Worked!
C: Oh, that's really nice.
P: By the way: ~270 L$ = 1 US$
P: Where are you from?
C: USA
P: Germany here
P: OK, when you right clicked, you also see the menu option "Profile".
… and thus on it went. Friendliness in the community was certainly a big attractor for me during my first days, and continues to be. Through Volunteers, both those in the official Linden groups and those who help just because they enjoy it, the Grid is a better place.
If ambient suffering exists, which it does, then, ambient graciousness must too!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
It's like the lesson of Callahan's Place: "Shared pain is lessened, shared joy is increased." Many things are improved when you have others around to help carry the load.
A wonderful example.
Both sides really going along well, that makes helping a great experience and gives even more of that warm fuzzy good feeling in the tummy when you could really help someone and they appreciated it in return.
*smiles*
@Erbo: Apt! *learns more about Callahan's Place*
@Tamara: Exactly! I myself was helped by volunteers in Second Life, which encouraged me to make tutorials in the future. A lovely cause-and-effect.
That's pretty cool. Typical of my experience in sl too. Pay it forward.
Yes, that is my idea of Second Life. But just now, after having been ejected from vehicles within microseconds of passing property lines which hung over public roads a few times – and feeling as if I was in the old southern US of movie fame where people confront trespassers with shotguns – I am not that positive anymore. You know, car returned to inventory, me in an incurable sitting position, trip ended – not too nice.
I am trying to establish what longer distance travel with vehcles is like (see my blog) and frankly, these things do tend to ruin it for me. And I am sorry to say but that's also typical of SL.
Clear the roads, Torley! And the waterways!
Yes, property lines are a big problem when you want to use vehicles (tour balloon / bus, fun way to show newbies around). Not to mention the imho rude 'security orbs', spamming you with "leave in 6.0 seconds or you'll be ejected" messages. By the time you have gone out of mouselook, read the message, clicked 'ignore' and tried to get your vehicle moving again, you find yourself in a weird sitting pose in another sim, unable to get your vehicle back easily.
But I think to get rid of these annoyances, prims would have to be treated more like real walls and doors. They shouldn't allow avatars to pass straight through them by sitting on an indoor chair.
And besides, I think if people put stuff on the mainland, they should agree it is open to everybody. If they want privacy, let them team up and buy their own private island, don't bug the innocent with it.
@skribe: I always get inspired hearing conversation like this, never gets old.
@Laetizia: That's harsh! It's been a long time since I went on an SL road trip. The last time I really traveled far tho, was by foot. Oz Spade and I, walking across the known grid at the time. I joined him for some legs of his journey.
@Daedalus: I've been in all those situations at least a few times There are clearly some differences between SL and "the real world"… I keep hoping someone(s) will make a continent which is an explorer's dream. Nevertheless, while we can't force people to be courteous to each other, I believe it's the best way to go.
On the subject of exploring, there's an excellent page with maps of Linden owned mainland at http://www.nandnerd.info/map.php so you know exactly what is considered the safest way of travelling.
@Daedalus: Thanx for the heads-up and reminder of that, I gotta check it out.