Traveling Around The Grid

The building blocks of a safe and successful journey

Communicating in Second Life

One of the things that makes Second Life genuinely special is its community. Behind every avatar is a real person, and connecting with other residents — whether you're making friends, exploring together, or just exchanging a friendly greeting — is at the heart of the experience. This chapter covers all the ways you can communicate in-world.

Later on you will find a very specific section with several chapters on socializing in Second Life, which provides more details and clarifies several doubts, but for now, this chapter explains what you need to know at this stage.

---

Local Chat

Local Chat is the most immediate form of communication in Second Life. Anything you type in local chat is visible to every avatar within a certain range of you — think of it like speaking out loud in a room.

A screenshot of the Second Life Official Viewer showing the Local Chat window at bottom left

How to Use It

1. Press Enter to open the chat bar at the bottom of your screen.

2. Type your message and press Enter again to send it.

3. Messages appear in the chat panel on the left side of your screen.

Chat Ranges

Mode	How to Use	Range
Say (normal)	Just type and send.	~20 meters
Shout	Ctrl + Enter. Or type /shout before your message.	~100 meters
Whisper	Shift + Enter. Or type /whisper before your message.	~10 meters

Tip: Local chat is public within its range — everyone nearby can read it. If you want a private conversation, use Instant Messages instead.

---

Instant Messages (IMs)

Instant Messages are private, one-on-one conversations between you and another resident. Distance doesn't matter — you can IM someone anywhere on the grid, or even when they're offline (they'll receive it when they next log in).

Starting an IM

• From a nearby avatar: Right-click their avatar and select IM from the context menu.

• From your Friends List: Open the People panel (Ctrl + Shift + F), find the person, and click the IM button next to their name.

• From Search: Find a resident by name using Ctrl + F, open their profile, and click IM.

Offline IMs

If someone sends you an IM while you're logged off, it gets delivered to your email inbox (the one linked to your Second Life account). You can disable this in your preferences if you'd rather not receive email notifications.

---

Group Chat

Second Life has a robust Groups system — communities organized around interests, locations, businesses, events, and more. Each group has its own chat channel that all members can participate in simultaneously.

Joining a Group

• Groups can be found through Search (Ctrl + F > Groups tab) or by clicking a group tag above another resident's head and selecting Join.

• Many groups are free to join; some require an invitation or a small fee.

• You can belong to up to 42 groups on a free account (more with Premium memberships).

Using Group Chat

1. Open the People panel and go to the Groups tab.

2. Click on a group and select Chat to open that group's channel.

3. Messages here are visible to all online group members, regardless of where they are on the grid.

Note: Group chats can get busy, especially in large, active groups. It's perfectly normal to read along without typing — this is sometimes called lurking and is widely accepted in Second Life culture.

---

Voice Chat

Second Life supports real-time voice communication, letting you speak with other residents using a microphone rather than typing.

A screenshot of a Second Life Viewer showing the Voice Chat audio indicator over a resident's head

Enabling Voice

1. Go to Me > Preferences > Sound & Media.

2. Make sure Enable Voice Chat is checked.

3. Select your input device (microphone) and output device (speakers or headphones).

Voice in the World

• A white wave icon appears above avatars who have voice enabled.

• A green wave icon (animated) indicates someone is actively speaking.

• You can use voice in local range (like local chat) or in group and private calls.

To Speak

• Click the microphone icon in your toolbar to toggle your mic on and off, or hold Enter to use push-to-talk mode (configurable in preferences).

A note on voice etiquette: Not everyone uses voice — many residents prefer text for privacy, anonymity, or accessibility reasons. Never pressure someone to switch to voice, and don't assume someone is being rude if they decline. Text chat is equally valid and widely used.

---

Emotes and Actions

You can express actions and emotions through text using the /me command. Whatever follows /me appears in chat as a third-person action rather than dialogue.

Example: Typing /me waves hello displays as:

YourName waves hello

This is commonly used for roleplay, expressions of emotion, or adding personality to interactions. You'll see it used frequently in social and roleplay communities.

---

The People Panel & Friends List

The People Panel (Ctrl + Shift + F) is your social hub. From here you can:

• See which of your friends are currently online.

• Send IMs or teleport offers directly.

• View and manage your Groups.

• See nearby avatars in the same region as you.

Adding Someone as a Friend

1. Right-click their avatar and select Add Friend, or open their profile and click Add Friend there.

2. They'll receive a friendship request — if they accept, you'll both appear on each other's Friends List.

3. Friends can see when you're online by default. You can adjust this visibility in your privacy settings.

---

Profiles

Every resident in Second Life has a profile — a small public page where they can share information about themselves, their interests, their groups, and their picks (favorite places).

To view someone's profile:

• Left-click their avatar and select View Profile, or

• Search for them by name (Ctrl + F) and click their result.

How a profile looks in Second Life (it may barely vary depending on the viewer used)

Reading someone's profile before approaching them is considered good etiquette — it gives you context and conversation starters. Filling out your own profile, even briefly, signals to others that you're open to socializing.

---

Social Etiquette: A Quick Guide

Second Life has its own unwritten social norms that have evolved over more than two decades. Here are the basics:

• Respect personal space. Don't stand directly on top of other avatars or follow someone around uninvited.

• Ask before teleporting to someone. Unless you're close friends, sending a teleport offer out of nowhere can feel intrusive. A quick IM first is appreciated.

• Don't demand voice. As mentioned above, text-only communication is completely normal and respected.

• Read profiles before approaching. Many residents list their preferences, roleplay rules, or communication styles there.

• Be patient with new residents. If someone is clearly new and confused, a kind word goes a long way — the community is generally welcoming.

• Respect others' time. Sometimes a person takes a while to type a response; don't be impatient. There are many reasons for this—they could be physically impeded or busy. Don't interpret it as a lack of interest or disrespect. Things aren't always what they seem.

• Respect roleplay boundaries. Some areas are dedicated roleplay sims with their own rules and immersion standards. Check the region's rules (often posted at the landing point) before jumping in.

---

Quick Reference

Action	How To
Open local chat	Enter
Send an IM	Right-click avatar > IM, or People panel
Open group chat	People panel > Groups tab > Chat
Toggle voice mic	Microphone icon in toolbar
Emote / action	/me [action]
Open People panel	Ctrl + Shift + F
View someone's profile	Left-click avatar > View Profile
Add a friend	Right-click avatar > Add Friend

---

What's Next? Now that you can move around and talk to people, it's time to customize your avatar. The next chapter offers a comprehensive look at a crucial topic: the inventory system, its main folders, object types, the system library, and best practices for managing it.