Whew. Help Island has been mega-busy. 12 hours today in my first session, and 52 orientations. That’s enough for a deck of cards, sans jokers.

(The jokers were there, but I don’t count them: The fellow who wouldn’t answer but walked up to me later and did some body-builder gestures at me, then wandered off and logged out; Mister no-pants – No, you do not make me hot, sirrah; That crowd)

There were a few jumps out to the main grid, in response to newbies urgently flashing the Tat-Signal, on top of all of this.

The best ones are the ones who spend at least a day on the island. They socialise better, they are more confident, and they learn faster and run into fewer problems on the grid.

Some of them come out looking like experienced oldbies. They get some initial orientation, they hang around with the volunteers, they practice, they listen, they chat, and some of them help out and teach, passing on what they know.

We’re getting a heck of a lot of Christmas traffic. Not sure why, but Help Island’s been darn busy, particularly today. Thankyou Zero Linden, and Patsy Linden for coming out and mucking in when our volunteer resources were spread thin. Katiahnya, SuezanneC, Brian Engel, Ginny Gremlin, Blueman, Toy; Thanks for just plain being there. Everyone else who popped in and out to help, bless you. We needed it.

Soon as I get this food down, it’s back in again for the next shift.

It’s so much fun introducing people to new ideas. SL is a new idea for most people that is in itself full of new ideas. Like a tantalising mysterious box, full of wonders.

We had something of a mentor jam this evening, a few newbies a few mentors, some good conversation and comfortable surroundings, questions and answers and trying things out. We all learned things, and that’s the best result of all. You can teach without learning, but .. well, try not to do that Learning is so much more satisfying.

Those newbies? They’ll be back. For sure.