Manage your inventory from the start
Open boxes right away
If you don’t have land to open boxes, I recommend the region called Alethia. It has been my home for years when I didn’t have a home - 8-hour return and spaces to try on clothes. It’s a great place to build if you don’t have land. It’s also a great place if you are looking for photo ops
If your item came in a box, delete the box it came in. It gets confusing which box has been opened and which is an item with the same name. If it has COPY permissions, most creators provide a way to re-send a copy to you if you need it to be resent.
Build a folder tree that makes sense to you (most likely your needs will change, there is a method I have used to start my tree over twice now.
Put your new item in the appropriate folder right away. Do this from your “Received” Folder too.
Do not keep junk items (you may go to a place offering a box of freebies - go through it and delete the junk - most of it will be junk)
Check your lost and found folder for anything that may have been returned to you. Make sure you check the items in this folder before deleting everything or hitting empty on the folder. There may be no copy items in it. I lost some things along the way by emptying the folder without looking.
DO NOT set your trash to auto empty on log out.
Sometimes you will delete a no copy item on accident. You cannot get it back.
Before you start your day, look at your trash folder for any no copy items or items that may have been deleted by mistake. Then empty the trash for a fresh start for the day.
Do not accept random gifts or invites for an animation to do something, even if it looks like they are sending you the animation, you may be giving them permission to do something with or to your avie.
I am a Bloodlines Queen and know that some players will send a bite/scratch/etc. to a new person in SL (or anyone regardless of who they are really - I still get them sometimes!) in hopes that someone will mindlessly or unknowingly accept it. They will feed on you and since you have been bitten, if you do decide to start playing Bloodlines, your soul will automatically go to them unless you drink a special potion before you put on your HUD.
It’s a dick move all the way around. The person doing the action gets to feed and then they may gain a soul and can basically hold it ransom for someone to buy it if they want it back.
If you rent land, DO NOT hit the "revert" button.
It does not reset your land to where it was. It takes it down to the bottom of where your parcel ends under the water. You'll have to build it back up again. I learned the first time. Evil fixed it while I sat in the corner of the parcel and cried.
There is an online marketplace to buy stuff.
You can find lots of free and cheap items without having to TP to many stores InWorld. Note: sometimes a store will offer free or discounted items that are only available in their InWorld store. I use both depending on if I have time to shop InWorld.
Marketplace is where I do most of my shopping. I don’t always have time to jump around from store to store and wander around trying to figure out what I want to buy. Although I recently discovered some event groups I am enjoying and have started going to shopping events.
There are crappy people in SL just like there are in RL.
Sometimes they are really crappy because they are behind a computer anonymously.
Mute and block anyone you see fit without notice.
You most likely will have pressure to get into a relationship.
You most likely will get pressure to have slex (SL sex). I once had a guy boot me from his place because I told him I didn't emote.
People may dump their problems both from RL and SL on you. (you are not obligated to fix anything for them or be their counselor)
Recognize the red flags that come up for you and don't be afraid to do what's best for you.
There are many clubs (not night clubs), groups and organizations that have volunteer positions you can participate in and fundraising events you can be a part of.
Here are a few that I know in Second Life:
American Cancer Society
Some of the following cancer-related groups are sponsored by the American Cancer Society and some may not.
Hope Haven
Relay for Life
Strides
One Billion Rising
You can find more at the NonProfit Commons
You don't have to use the SL Viewer.
Depending on what works best for you. They differ in functionality. I started with Pheonix and now use Firestorm.
Evil and I both wish someone had helped us learn about changing our Avies and putting on clothes.
I struggled for a little while until a friend I knew from RL helped me.
Wear vs add. My general rule of thumb - Wear body parts, Add clothing, accessories, and props
Layers - I’m not sure how to explain this. Is there any other seasoned SL Residents who may have some tips?
Worn tab - t will show you everything attached to your Avie.
I wish someone had shown me "search" in world to go to places.
It’s set up to be a keyword search and you can control if you want G, M or A results. Search is my go-to for looking up pretty much anything and everything. You can do a web search right in SL! Plus you can find events, people, groups, land for sale and any classified ads for goods and services.
Teleporting is the main way to get from one place to another.
I had no idea I could use search and get off the island by teleporting.
Landmarks are important to get back to places that you like.
Don’t forget that folder tree from the start in the Landmarks folder. They add up really fast and some only say the brand name so you may not be able to remember what they sell or who they are. Make sure you go landmark hopping every few months to see what is still around or what has moved.
Whew! I obviously figured things out, it would have been nice to have a guide.
I know some of these things may be a different experience now. I haven’t experienced what it’s like to be a new resident for many years.
What tips do you wish someone had given you when you started SL?
Manage your inventory from the start
Before you start your day, look at your trash folder for any no copy items or items that may have been deleted by mistake. Then empty the trash for a fresh start for the day.
It does not reset your land to where it was. It takes it down to the bottom of where your parcel ends under the water. You'll have to build it back up again. I learned the first time. Evil fixed it while I sat in the corner of the parcel and cried.
You can find lots of free and cheap items without having to TP to many stores InWorld. Note: sometimes a store will offer free or discounted items that are only available in their InWorld store. I use both depending on if I have time to shop InWorld.
Here are a few that I know in Second Life:
Depending on what works best for you. They differ in functionality. I started with Pheonix and now use Firestorm.
I struggled for a little while until a friend I knew from RL helped me.
It’s set up to be a keyword search and you can control if you want G, M or A results. Search is my go-to for looking up pretty much anything and everything. You can do a web search right in SL! Plus you can find events, people, groups, land for sale and any classified ads for goods and services.
I had no idea I could use search and get off the island by teleporting.
Don’t forget that folder tree from the start in the Landmarks folder. They add up really fast and some only say the brand name so you may not be able to remember what they sell or who they are. Make sure you go landmark hopping every few months to see what is still around or what has moved.
I know some of these things may be a different experience now. I haven’t experienced what it’s like to be a new resident for many years.
