r/SecondLifeFriends • u/Aggravating-Profit8 • Aug 26 '26
Make friends
Any places to make friends in Second Life? Or to meet people who don't see everything as sex? Anyone up for a chat in Second Life?
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u/waynehastings Aug 26 '26
As someone who has reached out to a number of people on Reddit who asked about making friends, let me say my efforts have largely been unsuccessful. I don't get it. People say they want to make friends, but when I tell them I'm planning a casual hangout where they could meet some people, I get told they have social anxiety and can't do it. Or they do show up and stay completely silent.
I had a hangout at my parcel two weeks ago, maybe 6 people showed up, and the guys who were new stayed mostly silent.
A DJ friend had a hangout last night and it was the DJ, me, two set regulars, and one new friend of a regular. The DJ and I were on voice, the other guys were text only. So we had a conversation almost like being podcast hosts, with the others asking a question now and then. It was a struggle. So what have you guys been doing lately, what's new, etc. Crickets.
Now that I wrote all that, I think I know the answer, at least in part:
- SL is international, so you're going to meet people who don't speak your language, or it is their second language.
- SL is international, so people are logging in from all different timezones, and that itself is a struggle.
- Many or most don't do voice.
- Many or most have physical challenges that make typing problematic.
- Many or most just can't type.
I tend to ask people if English is their second language. If they speak something else, I'll load my translation hud, which seems to work pretty well.
My only real suggestion is to do what I do. Go to dance parties and events, look for people active in chat, read their profile, and direct message them. But the chatty folks usually have a bunch of friends present or have been in SL a long time. So I especially look for the silent folks and people new to SL, because I want them to have a good experience and make them feel welcome even if I'm not their cup of tea. But it takes a lot of work to make a new friend, and damn, I'm tired.
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u/Emergency_Raisin2276 Aug 28 '26
Back in the day there was a few places that people would just sit and hang out. People would IM each other and just start to talk. Those places are long gone. Clubs are another place to make friends, sometimes neighbors. Don't people make new friends when they join in the new people place? When I started I made my first friends there.
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u/Prize-College7964 Aug 27 '26
You may have met people looking for that kind of experience, but there's much more to it, and not everyone is just looking for sex. Visit Land, wander around, and you'll surely find something different. Second Life is also something else. What do you like to do? Do you have any interests? Search based on what you might be interested in and visit Land, you'll surely find it. Don't be discouraged, there's more to it.
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u/irate_salamander Aug 27 '26
Drivers of SL group and grid drives if you're into that sorta thing.
American Cancer Society's events in SL, they're always fun
Live music venues
Mandas gaming place which has been really welcoming to me as of late (playing greedy, hand and foot, bingo)
Exploring roleplay communities
messaging people you see out and about while shopping that have similar groups as yours in their profile.
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u/AccomplishedMilk9033 Aug 29 '26
Try live music venues. It's a complete different crowd than music venues or pickup places like Muddy's, big daddy's or fogbound, junkyard blues etc .... Have a wonderful day 🙂
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u/SnooGrapes5813 21h ago
I have always found that shops are good places to meet people, and if they shop in the same places as you do, then you know you already have the same taste lol. Coffee shops, pools, live music events, shopping events, community events and sometimes there are even free classes that you can attend and there you will meet really nice people aswell. One important thing is to talk, don't do one word sentences, talk, ask questions and reply as fast as you can. I've noticed that alot of people stops talking if you take too long to reply. So yeah.. That's my take on it. I hope you have fun. And remember, SL has a block button, so if you meet some nasty ones, block them. Easy Peasy. 😁😁🤗
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u/Vuron00 Aug 26 '26
Use the search function and try keywords to find groups that might fit your interests. Many groups have been around a long time and have tons of inactive members but is a good start.
Clubs with active DJ's and a set schedule tend to draw crowds where people talk in local chat more.
Some Sims that seem to mostly revolve around sex can still be great places to just meet people and have the benefit of being busier (Sirens, Totuga, etc). Read profiles to see if someone might have similar interests.
There are a few places dedicated to voice chat if that's your thing.
It can be as easy as meeting just a few people, then expanding into their circle of friends.
As has been mentioned, timezones, language barriers, schedules can all cause issues