Everything You Need to Know About Starting Out in Second Life (But the Lindens Can't Say)

SL for Nowt has a great advice guide for new Second Life users, all the stuff they really need to know as they first go in-world. Not how to move their avatar around or the usual technical minutiae, but the cultural wisdom that's just as important: Don't start out with a female avatar because you'll likely be harassed in the orientation area, don't be offended if you fly into red boundary lines, watch out for Bloodlines requests, because you'll probably find them annoying, and on and on, every point full of real SL street smarts. Read it all here, give it to your friends before they create an account.

Here's the keen irony: almost every point of advice in SL4Nowt's list addresses a common annoyance people mention when they say they quit Second Life soon after their first attempt.  But because much of it reflects poorly on aspects of SL community or the system itself, it would be almost impossible for the Lindens themselves to publish a list like this.  (Even if it would help them retain more new users.)  In fairness, however, the Lindens' position here is not unlike any other real world authority.  If a friend plans to move to San Francisco, I warn them where the worst street vagrancy is, what neighborhoods have a snobby reputation, etc.  Because they won't get that local scuttlebutt from the official city website of Philip Linden's pal Mayor Newsom.

Hat tip: Crap Mariner. Image credit: "Mar" of SL4Nowt. (Which once again, brings up one of my own bits of advice for SL bloggers: Please include full SL name bylines for proper attribution!)

Comments

[Pluton Karas]

Mr. Au,

I have been touring SL since December with the intent of refraining from purchasing Lindens through the exchange. To earn Lindens inworld I have worked as a research subject for a university and as a charcoal illustrator, I entered an essay contest and won second prize (earned L$2000), and have camped at a few locations. SL for Nowt provides a wealth of resources for avies like myself who want to make it inworld. Thanks for the great info.

Sincerely,
Pluton Karas