User:Zai Lynch/Mentoring 101

What Mentors Should Know

Some Abbreviations In Common Use

Abbrevation	Meaning
OI	Orientation Island
OIP	Orientation Island Public
HI	Help Island
HIP	Help Island Public
AR	Abuse Report
TP	Teleport
LM	Landmark
IM	Instant Message
BRT	Be Right There
LL	Linden Lab
ALT	Alternative Avatar (2nd (3rd, 4th...) Avatar of someone)

There are many more but I think that these are the most important for the group chat.

Suggestions

If someone asks for "An Italian Mentor @ OI 3 for NAME", please don't ask for a TP in return. It's way easier for you to open up the Map, type Orientation Island 3 and hit the TP button then it is for the other one to find your profile in the group or in search to TP you.

To be able to answer questions about the tutorials on Orientation Island, you should have a look at Volunteer OI^🖈, catch an Orientation HUD (beneath the HELP ISLAND sign in the middle of the island) and then start the tutorial on your own to get an impression on where problems might occur.

Save one unused Orientation HUD in your inventory. It's not possible to reset scripts at the Orientation Islands and if a newbie and/or a bug breaks a HUD, it's good to have one handy to replace it.

If someone in the group chat asks for a specific Mentor and you wish to attend, please answer something like ok, be right there. This way, other Mentors are informed that this request is obsolete and there won't be about 10 Mentors popping up to just one request. Remember: We're more than 2500 people...

In group chat, ask directly what you are looking for and provide all necessary informations. Questions like Is there a spanish mentor available are just causing spam and maybe a flood of IMs for you. You could write instead I need a Spanish Mentor for NAME at PLACE. S/he'll come there if s/he's available.

There is no way to get out of an Orientation Island by using the search and pressing the provided teleport button. It just won't do anything, also it's highlighted. Newbies can't use the map to do the job as well, 'cause for them, there is just a blue field displayed with nothing on it. So if a newbie wants to leave an OI to a specific place, don't tell them to use the search or the map. The only chance to leave it is using a landmark or receiving a teleportation invite.

Make sure that you read the Volunteer Group IM Guidelines before writing in the official Mentors group. If you want to chat, please join the Mental Mentors.

There is a Mentor Question and Answer Group running which you might want to join. Read more about it.

We encourage new and existing Mentors and Apprentices arriving to create a Wiki Profile Page for yourself on the Second Life Wiki so people can always find you. There is a Quickie Wiki Intro page which might help you to do so.

If you are not sure how you can find places where volunteers are needed, have a look at Inworld Locations for Volunteers.

Don't trust the dots! Orientation Islands might appear empty on the map while there is still the chance that they are pretty crowded. Just teleport there to have a look.

FAQs

How can I teleport someone to an Orientation Island?

The person you'd like to teleport needs to be another Mentor or a new resident on another Orientation Island and you got to activate the Admin Mode to enable teleports. The Admin Mode is switched on by pressing CTRL + ALT + V for Windows or Linux and CTRL + CMD + V for Mac OS X.

What should I do if an underaged (< 18 years) is on the main grid?

File an Abuse Report, include the relevant chat which makes you think they might be underaged and they will become redirected to the Teen Grid. There is no chance that s/he got accidentally on the main grid 'cause you got to enter your date of birth during the registration.

When I leave an OI or HI, my Home destination is the first place I TP from there. Any chance to avoid that?

No. You can only TP to your Home location first (CTRL + ALT + H) before going anywhere else so your new Home equals the old one. This is just for the restricted OIs and HIs not for OIP and HIP.

Do I have to file Abuse Reports? How and when to do it

Note: You don't have to file Abuse Reports. However, it is good to inform other residents on how they can manage it and when it is appropriate. Click here to read more about it.

What can I do if I think a resident might be in a personal crisis / suicidal?

If you are not sure about the resident, ask directly if s/he thinks about harming her- or himself. If the answer is any other then Heck no!! please encourage the resident to search for professional help and provide a suicide hotline appropriate to the residents location. Here are some. If you feel overstained, ask for help in the Group Channel.

What should I do with someone who is advertising the own business / passing Landmarks to own businesses at a restricted OI?

Talk to the person. Ask politely to stop it. If s/he doesn't stop, AR (if you feel comfortable with it) and let LL decide on it.

In case I don't know which Resident is responsible for a grief but I'd like to file an AR. Whose name can I fill in?

In the case of an unknown source, it is permitted to enter the name of Blue Linden instead of the name of the unknown resident in the AR. (Check over here).

Troubleshooting

Here are some links to common issues which might be experienced by a resident in SL and how to handle them.

Usefull Tools for Mentors

Mystical Cookie offers her MystiTool HUD for free if you are a Mentor. Visit her Main Store in Avendale^🖈, activate your group tag and click on the box in the north eastern corner of her store with the hovering "SL Mentors! Click Here!" text. TYVM Mysti!

The so called Multi Gadget by Timeless Prototype is available for free if you wear the Mentors tag. Go to the Volunteer Headquarter in Tenera^🖈 and look at the boxes. TYVM! You'll also find nice Mentor shirts and other items.

There is a Mentors Freebie Store at SL Volunteer Island^🖈 with lots of full permission freebies to offer new residents.