Some Newbies...

[ginger_lewis]

...are actually decent folks.

I noticed someone lurking on my property while I was there but idle. He tried to use my sailboat and I saw the "You're not the owner" message in chat. So I went outside and asked him if I could help.

He said (in broken English, his native language was German) he was new, and lost, and looking for places where there were people, and he'd been flying around the mainland and saw my dot on the map.

I gave him a few landmarks for places like the Shelter and the NCI. As an afterthought, I gave him a freebie sailboat too, taught him how to find it in his inventory, how to rez it and how to use the Edit window to move it to the water when he rezzed it on the dock by mistake. He picked up my instructions really well, and loved the boat, and I gave him a few pieces of advice about sailing, and sailed with him for a little while before I lost track of him.

Half an hour later he sailed back again, just to say thank you and how much he'd enjoyed the evening, he sat with me and we chatted some more, and off he went.

Now I feel all fuzzywarm and happy, just had to share.

(And, actually, am seriously considering being a Mentor of some kind. I know the official program isn't accepting new applicants but I'm sure there are other places).

Comments

[cuppycake]

That is awesome, and I wish someone had mentored me like that. I'm still relatively new..I do know the basic concepts like putting clothes on and navigating around. I just don't know where the good places to go are for events, educational purposes, museums, and that kind of thing.

I am basically a SL tourist. I like to look at the beautiful things people have made, but I don't really associate with anyone much.

[ginger_lewis]

When I first started in 2006, I had no help and I was totally lost, and I think that contributed to me getting bored and giving up. This time round, a friend gave me a LOT of help (now ironically that friend's quit and I'm still here)

I always reccommend the NCI for education about SL. My friend gave me that tip, and I ended up going to just about every single class they do. Well, except for Scripting, which I know I can never learn. I think their classes are brilliant, and even if I never intend to use these skills for any kind of business, they're so useful to know.

For events, and museums, the best thing is just to use the Search, depending on what sort of thing you're interested in. I don't know any museums (not my thing - I prefer social activities) so I can't help you on that one I'm afraid. Events search is something I use a lot though. If you find a venue you like, and they have regular events, there's often a group to join so you can get advance notice about what's forthcoming.

My favourite pastimes in SL are live music events, fishing, sailing, helping new folk, and photography. I'm always on the lookout for strange and interesting locations to take snapshots.

[cuppycake]

I've never actually done any of the fishing or sailing stuff. I think I tried, but it cost money. Is there a good place to do it for free? :)

[ginger_lewis]

You can get a demo fishing rod from any 7 Seas vendor (try a search for 7 Seas, you'll get a lot of hits). The demo rod is not free but it's very cheap, but it's only good for 5 goes, then you have to get another. The pro rod is well worth it though, if you can afford it.

You can drop by my place to pick up a free sailboat and you can sail free anywhere you can find water where rezzing is allowed. Oh, like my dock, for instance *grin*

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Badger/213/233/82

You can also fish here once you've got a rod.

[keptwench]

You are made of awesome. :)

[ginger_lewis]

aww thankyou! *blushes*

I spent most of my online time last night hanging out at The Shelter, and actually did end up helping a couple of people there too. I'd forgotten how much fun the Shelter is.

[cocoajava]

About a year ago a newbie with bad hair and a cute tux dropped into my loft directly in front of me, startling me out of a writing haze. Turned out he was pleasant, and we ended up sharing poetry. These days, he's a respected photographer with a gallery in my town.

Good for you for being a welcoming, open person! You might make a good Mentor, indeed.